Description
Camptotheca acuminata, also known as the Happy Tree, Cancer Tree, or Tree of Life, has many medicinal uses, including:
Cancer treatment
Camptothecin, a compound found in the tree’s bark and leaves, is used to treat cancer. Camptothecin and its derivatives, such as topotecan and irinotecan, are used in chemotherapy to treat ovarian, colorectal, and small-cell lung cancer.
Traditional Chinese medicine
In traditional Chinese medicine, extracts from the tree are used to treat a variety of health concerns. For example, the bark is used to activate blood, remove toxins, and relieve itching. The leaves are used to clear heat, remove toxins, and relieve itching.
Psoriasis
In clinical trials, a concentrated liquid from the tree was used to treat psoriasis. 13 out of 101 patients showed 100% recovery, 29 showed greater than 90% recovery, and 32 had 50-90% recovery.
The whole plant of Camptotheca acuminata is poisonous, and the toxic constituents are camptothecin and its derivatives. These compounds can cause diarrhea, hemorrhagic cystitis, and in severe cases, death.
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