Buzz
The prevalence of complex diseases is increasing, causing widespread concern and anxiety. Among them, liver disease in Vietnam is skyrocketing. Instead of seeking medical attention, many people are turning to various herbal remedies recommended on health forums. One such remedy is the dog giving birth plant.
Dog giving birth plants are widely available for sale at the bustling Hải Thượng Lãn Ông herbal market in District 5
Dog giving birth plants are being sold extensively in the market
Among the myriad of herbal remedies for liver disease such as bear bile, trichosanthes fruit, artichoke, balsam pear, dandelion, Astragalus, honeycomb…
One standout is the dog giving birth plant, which holds a prominent position due to its easy availability, affordability, simplicity, and widespread use, garnering much attention and favor.
This has led many to encounter life-threatening risks such as hypotension, infertility, and compromised immune function…
The fever... reaching its peak
During a routine check-up at the Hoa Hao center about a month ago, Mr. Tran Van Hai, 62 years old, residing in Phuoc Long B ward (District 9, Ho Chi Minh City), was diagnosed by a specialist doctor and confirmed to have hepatitis B virus infection.
Determined not to take Western medicine into his body
Due to fear of the side effects of Western medicine causing one illness to turn into another, Mr. Hai resolved not to take medication. He decided to self-treat using various herbs like those widely circulated, recommended, and advertised for liver diseases.
Mr. Hai initially consumed Astragalus, then switched to dandelion, and most recently, he turned to honeysuckle: With his cautious nature, Mr. Hai avoided using actual dog giving birth plants, instead opting for commercially prepared packaged honeysuckle available at Western pharmacies under the scientific name Lonicera japonica.
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In Ho Chi Minh City, the dog fruit tree is widely available, from online markets to traditional medicine stalls like those found at the intersection of Dien Bien Phu Street (between District 1 and Binh Thanh District), Pham Van Hai Medicine Market (Tan Binh District), and especially at Hai Thuong Lan Ong Traditional Medicine Market in District 5.
Here, you'll find 100% authentic traditional medicine with over 100 establishments selling dog fruit trees without limitation. The price per kilogram is surprisingly low, ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 Vietnamese dong.
At the traditional medicine store Thiên Minh, managed by Ms. Minh, it's revealed that the dog fruit tree is the boss when it comes to liver treatment:
'It's so common and affordable that there's no worry about adulteration or confusion with similar herbs like Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Panax notoginseng, or various types of mushrooms. That's why our customers are very satisfied with it.
The dog fruit tree is sold at a bargain price
Some people buy several kilograms every month, using it for consumption or as gifts for loved ones. Its effectiveness is undeniable, so they purchase it in such quantities every month.
Not just in Vietnam, but in Cambodia too, we've observed that both the Vietnamese and native Khmer communities consider the dog fruit tree or diệp hạ châu as the 'viagra' of the liver leaf.
I remember when we visited the largest traditional medicine market in the capital city of Phnom Penh, Urrussey, we saw packs of dried dog fruit tree slices being sold for 15,000-20,000 riel per kilogram (equivalent to 60,000-100,000 VND).
Upon inquiry, we learned that the locals refer to the dog fruit tree as 'prak phơ-le'. Mrs. Chanh Da, a Hoa Chinese Cambodian, who runs a traditional medicine stall, revealed that this herb has only become popular again in the last 5 years, with the majority of buyers being Vietnamese-origin Cambodians.
Viagra of the liver leaf?! This phenomenon isn't limited to Vietnam but has also spread to our neighboring country Cambodia and even exported to countries like the USA, Canada, Russia... in the form of personal imports, where family members assist in obtaining it for relatives abroad for prevention and treatment purposes.
The current situation clearly indicates the immense popularity of the dog fruit tree, demonstrating the significant trust people place in this herbal remedy, often likened to the 'viagra of the liver leaf'. The question remains: does this herb truly deserve such recognition?
In addition to being called diệp hạ châu, the dog fruit tree is also known as diệp hòe thái or lão nha châu.
In the Vietnamese Materia Medica, renowned Professor Emeritus Đỗ Tất Lợi lists the dog fruit tree, known in full as the 'saw-toothed dog fruit tree', as a perennial grass growing up to 30cm tall with an upright stem, branches, typically red in color, and small reddish-brown flowers growing between the leaves...
This plant grows wild in Vietnam and tropical regions, with medicinal harvesting possible year-round but optimal during the summer season, commonly used fresh or dried.
'Based on the characteristic of its dangling fruits under the leaves, ancient physicians referred to the dog fruit tree as diệp hạ châu.
Diệp means leaf, hạ means under, and châu means gem, implying the seeds beneath the leaf surface' - Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner Tran Sy Thanh (a student of Le Huu Trac Traditional Medicine School in Ho Chi Minh City) explains the significance of the name diệp hạ châu.
According to the late Professor Emeritus Đỗ Tất Lợi, people often use the saw-toothed dog fruit tree as medicine by grinding it with salt to treat beard ringworms, and acne.
Additionally, fresh or dried concentrated dog fruit tree is also consumed (20-40g of fresh tree per day) to treat liver diseases, fever, eye pain, and snakebites.
'In 1988, Blumberg and Thiogarajan reported treating 37 patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) using saw-toothed dog fruit tree (STDF), achieving negative results in 22/37 cases after 30 days.
The authors also demonstrated that STDF contains a substance that inhibits the DNA polymerase enzyme of the HBV.' - excerpt from 'Vietnamese Medicinal Plants and Drugs'.
'Recent reliable scientific information from India suggests that the dog fruit tree prevents virus reproduction due to its inhibitory effect on the viral cell copying process of hepatitis B virus.
Accordingly, Dr. S. Jayaram and colleagues at Madras University (India) conducted experiments on 28 volunteer hepatitis B virus-infected individuals, administering them dog fruit tree (dose: 250g) for 1-3 months, resulting in a 54.5% recovery rate,' said traditional medicine practitioner Hanh Lam.
The data above suggests that the dog fruit tree is a valuable medicine for individuals infected with hepatitis B virus. However, it does not mention conditions such as liver fibrosis, liver cancer, or hepatitis C.
Pharmacist Truong Phuc Trinh (in charge of pharmaceuticals at the Niem Tin Charity Doctor Delegation, an organization specializing in assisting cancer and HIV/AIDS patients) affirms that the information about the dog fruit tree curing the aforementioned liver conditions is inaccurate.
Traditional medicine practitioner Nguyen Trong Ba (Dong Y Association of Dong Nai Province) agrees with this assertion and notes the curious phenomenon that, along with individuals suffering from liver diseases, even healthy individuals also highly revere the dog fruit tree.
'Those who favor the dog fruit tree are often heavy drinkers or individuals who regularly consume alcohol due to their profession. They believe the dog fruit tree is good for the liver, detoxifying it, hence they use it for prevention,' said Lam.
As for women, they primarily use the dog fruit tree to achieve smooth skin. They believe the dog fruit tree is good for the liver, and since the liver's function is to detoxify the body, a strong liver will eliminate toxins from the body rather than storing them.
When the body is free from toxins, achieving radiant skin is within reach. This belief is extremely harmful.
The dog fruit tree.
The dog fruit tree is cultivated in large quantities.
The deadly risks... Traditional medicine practitioner Nguyen Trong Ba said he has encountered many patients who, due to their 'obsession' with the dog fruit tree, consumed it recklessly. After a period of receiving 'energy' from the 'dog fruit tree viagra', their normal liver leaves became fibrotic, shrinking:
'Just a month ago, Ms. Mai, 40 years old, from Long Khanh town, experienced pain in the lower rib area, fatigue, weight loss, poor appetite after drinking dog fruit tree water daily in pursuit of skin beauty...
Upon her visit, I advised her to go to the hospital for a more specific diagnosis with X-rays. The result was that the specialist doctor determined she had liver fibrosis.
The cause was her liver leaves were overworked, leading to imbalance, damage, and thus illness.
Pharmacist T.P.T., on the other hand, has a different concern. According to him, the mentality of 'eat what's good - drink what's good' has been a hidden killer claiming many lives, with the dog fruit tree being one of them. 'Rushing to use the dog fruit tree, many people believe that its medicinal properties will promote a healthy liver and gallbladder, thinking they will have healthy liver leaves and gallbladders.
They are unaware that the dog fruit tree is only beneficial for those with hepatitis B virus infection, while for normal individuals, it is extremely harmful as it causes a sudden increase in bile secretion.
Anyone involved in the medical field knows that bile has detoxifying effects, but when it is in excess, it will accumulate in the old intestines, leading to long-term blockage and an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
Regarding the nature of the dog fruit tree, some traditional medicine practitioners, pharmacists whom the writer has contacted, stated that the dog fruit tree has a cooling nature, thus has a cooling effect.
The issue arises when regular and excessive use of the medicine by individuals with a cold constitution becomes extremely harmful because at that point, this medicinal plant not only fails to balance them but exacerbates their coldness.
Once the body becomes imbalanced, various diseases arise, especially reducing fertility in women and causing infertility in men.
'Regarding infertility, this is the conclusion of some doctors based on the foundational principles of traditional medicine, which is plausible, but no research paper has addressed it specifically.
As for the dog fruit tree's extreme danger for pregnant women, it is true due to its properties of constricting blood vessels and the uterus, leading to miscarriage when ingested.
Dried for sale display
Even more hazardous, the dog fruit tree also has blood-dissolving properties. Using it recklessly, without illness, will lead to serious diseases,” pharmacist T.P.T. cautioned.
On the morning of May 3, the writer of this article met with traditional medicine practitioner Dieu Hoa – in charge of the herbal medicine section at Phuoc Thien herbal medicine store – Hung Can Pagoda (Member of the Traditional Medicine Association of Can Gio District – Ho Chi Minh City).
Discussing the dog fruit tree, this traditional medicine practitioner confirmed that while it is indeed effective in treating hepatitis B virus infection, it is not suitable for everyone. It is not the case that the more you use it, the healthier your liver and gallbladder will be, nor should it be used excessively as many mistakenly believe:
'Normal individuals without liver damage who abuse it, especially those who drink concentrated dog fruit tree extract, will suffer from red blood cell destruction, some cases leading to blood clots, and sometimes miscarriage…
It's not just the dog fruit tree; consuming a single herb (using only one type of medication without combining it with others) is extremely dangerous.
If the dog fruit tree has blood-thinning properties (reducing red blood cells, lowering blood pressure, and weakening the body's immune system), then cases of consuming only turmeric for stomach pain will lead to gastric thinning complications.
Gotu kola is cooling, but it's only suitable for individuals with high blood pressure (those with low blood pressure will experience decreased pressure – Editor), and the queen herb prevents and treats cervical cancer effectively, but excessive intake will cause vomiting…”
Curated findings
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