Knife bean is a common leguminous plant that includes varieties like knife beans, French beans, and yardlong beans. Their primary components consist of urease, phytohemagglutinin (PHA), knife bean amino acids, among other substances. In addition to the seeds, the roots and husks of knife beans are also used in traditional medicine.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, knife beans are categorized as sweet-tasting, warm-natured, and non-toxic. They are believed to have the ability to warm the middle, replenish the kidneys, and invigorate vital energy. Therefore, knife beans are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for regulating the digestive system, promoting smooth Qi circulation, and contributing to kidney nourishment and tonification.
In addition to their traditional medicinal value, knife beans have shown some anticancer pharmacological effects. Research has found that direct injection of PHA from French beans into viral tumors in mice can significantly inhibit tumor growth and increase the survival rate of the mice. Furthermore, PHA has been observed to increase the transformation rate of lymphocytes in cancer-infiltrated pleural effusions, playing a crucial role in the body’s anticancer defense.
However, it’s important to note that current research is primarily at the experimental stage, and there isn’t enough clinical evidence to confirm the precise anticancer effects of knife beans on the human body. Therefore, further research and verification are needed before knife beans can be confidently used as an anticancer drug or adjunctive therapy.
In summary, knife beans, as a common leguminous plant, have the effects of warming the middle, replenishing the kidneys, and invigorating vital energy. Moreover, knife beans exhibit certain anticancer pharmacological properties, particularly the PHA component found in French beans. Nevertheless, more scientific research support and clinical trials are required to better understand and utilize the medicinal value of knife beans.
Knife beans, as a commonly used Chinese medicinal material, also have several common applications in traditional Chinese medicine formulas:
- Incessant Hiccup from Digestive Tract Tumors:Roast the seeds of knife beans and consume them with plain water. This formula is used to alleviate the symptoms of intractable hiccups caused by digestive tract tumors.
- Nasopharyngeal Cancer and Sinus Cancer:After drying knife beans over a slow fire, grind them into powder, and take this powder mixed with white wine. Consume it twice daily. This formula is used for treating nasopharyngeal cancer and sinus cancer.
- Vomiting in Patients Unable to Swallow due to Esophageal Cancer:Boil the husks of knife beans along with salted olives and Pinellia ternata into a soup. Drink this soup twice daily. This formula helps alleviate vomiting symptoms in esophageal cancer patients.
It’s worth noting that patients with excessive gastric heat should use knife beans cautiously.
Historical medical texts have also evaluated knife beans:
In the “Dietetic Prescriptions of the Suixiju,” it is mentioned that the tender shoots of knife beans can be used to make pickled vegetables or consumed as a vegetable dish. Mature knife bean seeds can be used to make candied fruits. The seeds of knife beans have the properties of sweet taste, temperature warming, Qi descending, and hiccup suppression.
In the “Essentials of the Medical Forest,” it is indicated that the roots of knife beans can stop bleeding and regulate kidney Qi, having a certain curative effect on heart pain. It can harmonize the functions of the heart and kidneys by balancing the interactions between water and fire.
These historical appraisals demonstrate the important role and wide applications of knife beans in traditional Chinese medicine. It is considered an herb with the attributes of warming the middle, replenishing the kidneys, and invigorating vital energy. However, the dosage and usage should still be determined based on individual circumstances and professional medical advice.