Huachansu, a Chinese medicine that comes from the dried venom secreted by the skin glands of toads, may slow disease progression in some cancer patients, according to researchers.
Use of huachansu is common in China and approved by the Chinese Food and Drug Administration. It is widely used there to treat patients with liver, lung, colon and pancreatic cancer. Chinese clinical trials conducted since the 1970’s have demonstrated the anti-cancer properties of huachansu.
Even with a dose up to eight times higher than conventional doses used in China, researchers observed only low toxicities or side effects.