cancer remain high, and it has become a major disease threatening people’s health.
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that by 2020, there will be 15 million new cancer cases each year. Surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are the three magic weapons of Western medicine to treat tumors. However, the trauma of surgery and the adverse reactions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy have discouraged many poor or elderly patients who turned to Chinese medicine for treatment.
So, can Chinese medicine cure cancer? How does Chinese medicine treat cancer? What are the misunderstandings of TCM treatment of cancer?
Listen to the professional answers from the master of traditional Chinese medicine, Professor Liu Jiaxiang from Longhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Chief Physician Li Hegen and Liu Lingshuang of the Oncology Department of Longhua Hospital.
Can Chinese medicine cure cancer?
Our answer is of course yes. Radical surgery to remove the cancer is an ideal method for tumor treatment, but some patients still have recurrence and metastasis after the operation, not to mention that many patients are already in the middle and advanced stages when they are diagnosed, and they have lost the opportunity for surgery. In recent years, in addition to advocating early detection and early treatment, tumor treatment advocates multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment for advanced tumors. Traditional Chinese medicine and integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine can be an important approach, which also highlights the characteristics of Chinese tumor treatment.
A large number of studies have shown that the treatment of tumors with traditional Chinese medicine has various effects such as alleviating patient symptoms, improving the stable rate of lesions, resisting recurrence and metastasis, improving compliance with radiotherapy and chemotherapy and targeted therapy, improving the quality of life, and prolonging survival. Concerned and affirmed, its position in tumor treatment has become increasingly prominent and has become an indispensable part of comprehensive treatment. It has become an indisputable fact that Chinese medicine can treat cancer. How does
use Chinese medicine to treat cancer?
Chinese medicine emphasizes the holistic concept, that tumors are the local manifestations of systemic diseases. The occurrence and development of tumors are mainly due to the deficiency of righteous qi, imbalance of yin and yang, dysfunction of viscera, and invasion of external pathogenic factors, leading to stagnation of qi and blood stasis, and accumulation of phlegm and poison. Yin Yu forms cancer over time. The growth of tumors will further deplete the body's righteousness, and righteousness will promote the development of tumors.
Syndrome differentiation and treatment of organic combination of strengthening the body and removing evil has become the consensus of most doctors in the treatment of tumors. The specific application focuses on the following aspects:
1. Combination of syndrome differentiation and disease differentiation: "Syndrome differentiation" is the four-diagnosis method of looking, smelling, asking and cutting. , Get the patient’s symptoms, signs, tongue coating, pulse condition and other information, sort, summarize, and analyze the information under the guidance of TCM theory, infer the cause and pathological mechanism, understand the ups and downs of the body's Yin and Yang Qi and blood, and the insufficiency of the viscera and meridian, and according to This legislative prescription formulates treatment principles from person to person, and targets prescriptions and medications, which embodies "individualized" treatment. The so-called "disease differentiation" of
is to give specific treatment based on the diagnosis and characteristics of a certain tumor.
The combination of syndrome differentiation and disease differentiation can make the treatment more targeted and the clinical effect is better.
2, the combination of strengthening the body and removing the evils: strengthening the body and removing the evils are two major methods of TCM treatment of tumors, and the two are complementary.
What we are talking about is different from Western medicine's "supportive therapy", and it is also different from the common people's "eating tonics". It is based on the principle of "deficiency and replenishment" in traditional Chinese medicine.
"Quieting evil" means using the methods of softening and dispelling lumps, clearing away heat and detoxification, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis and even using poison to fight toxins to eliminate tumors.
In the treatment, strengthening the body and removing the evil must be well integrated, so that the strengthening of the body does not hinder the evil, and the elimination of the evil does not hurt the right, so as to achieve the purpose of "treating the disease and keeping people".
3. Combination of local and whole: tumor treatment should not only see the local part and not see the whole, blindly abuse the attacking drugs, and ignore the patient's systemic conditioning. As a result, it will only kill the spleen and stomach, damage the righteousness, change the syndrome, and endanger life. The patient is not helpful! The most important thing for patients with advanced stages of
is to live well, live long, and deal with the relationship between the local and the whole. The patient can still survive for a long time with the tumor.
What are the specific methods for treating tumors in Chinese medicine? Traditional Chinese medicine is commonly used to treat cancer, such as oral administration of traditional Chinese medicine, intravenous drip, external treatment of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, qigong and other methods. Drug therapy is nothing more than two categories: strengthening the body and eliminating evil.
1. Strengthening and Pei Ben method: is an important rule of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of tumors, which can be used in various stages of tumors.
Studies have shown that the method of strengthening the body can improve the symptoms of deficiency syndrome, enhance human immune function, inhibit tumor cell proliferation, induce tumor cell apoptosis, and resist tumor recurrence.There are several specific treatment methods:
1. The method of replenishing qi and invigorating the spleen: is the basic method for treating spleen-qi weakness. The clinical manifestations are fatigue, low voice, shortness of breath, spontaneous sweating, loose stools, and tongue quality. Pale fat with tooth marks, thin white coating, commonly used drugs include Astragalus, Codonopsis, Radix Atractylodes, Atractylodes, Poria, Yam and so on.
2. Method of nourishing yin and promoting body fluid: is used for the syndrome of yin deficiency and internal heat, clinically low fever, hand, foot and heart heat, dry mouth and throat, night sweats, upset and insomnia, difficult stool, red or crimson tongue, little moss or bare peeling Moss, fine pulse. Commonly used medicines include American ginseng, Southern Adenophorum, Northern Adenophora, Asparagus, Ophiopogon, Habitat, Scrophulariaceae, Dendrobium, Trichosanthes, Tortoiseshell, Turtle shell, Polygonatum odoratum, Polygonatum, Ligustrum lucidum, Zhimu, etc.
3. Warming kidney and strengthening yang method: is used for kidney-yang deficiency syndrome, symptoms include chills, cold limbs, tinnitus, backache and soft knees, fatigue, frequent urination at night, loose stools, pale tongue, thin fur, thin pulse . Commonly used medicines include cooked aconite, cinnamon, antler, Morinda officinalis, Cistanche, Curculio, Xianling spleen, Cynomorium, psoralen, etc.
4. Method of nourishing yin and nourishing blood: is used for the syndrome of yin and blood deficiency, the main manifestations are dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, chlorosis, pale nails, backache, fatigue, thin pulse, pale tongue, etc., common after tumor chemotherapy For patients with low blood count of bone marrow suppression or hemorrhagic anemia, commonly used medicines include rehmannia, angelica, donkey-hide gelatin, tortoise shell glue, shouwu, medlar, longan, red dates, spatholobi, etc.
2. Elimination of evils: is a commonly used method of attacking evils in Chinese medicine. It is mainly used for patients with evils. There are several specific methods:
1. Clearing away heat and detoxification: is used to treat cancer patients with evil heat. If the clinical manifestations are fever, enlarged lumps, local burning and swelling, thirst, yellow urine, constipation or jaundice, red or crimson tongue, yellow tongue coating, pulse number, etc., it can be treated with clearing heat and detoxification method. Choose Oldenlandia diffusa, Scutellaria barbata, Scutellaria, Solanum, Aesculus, Snakeberry, Baiying, Shandou root, Sophora flavescens, Serratia vulgaris, Prunella vulgaris, Smilax vulgare, Skyflower seeds, Yuba Grasses, wild grape vines, vine pear roots, Smilax chinensis, Phoenix grass, Coptis, Scutellaria, Phellodendron, octagonal lotus, etc.
2. Phlegm-resolving method: If you see local lumps, swollen lymph nodes, etc., use the method of resolving phlegm and softening the firmness of phlegm. You can choose the saponaria thorn, prunella, seaweed, kelp, raw oyster, corrugated seeds, Shan Cigu, Southern Star, Huangyaozi, Zeqi, Snake Liugu, Pinellia, Bombyx mori, Cat's Claw, Zhamu, etc.
3. Activating blood and removing blood stasis method: is suitable for tumors with blood stasis manifestations, clinical pain and definite place, skin wrong, blue or dark tongue, or petechiae, petechiae, or bruising spots under the tongue, or Blood stasis syndrome such as vein dilation, narrow pulse string or astringency, often choose three-lens, zedoary, chuanxiong, salvia, red peony root, peach kernel, safflower, angelica, ground turtle, pangolin, ghost arrow feather, Wangbuliuxing, Shijian Chuan, trumpet creeper, cattail yellow, wulingzhi, centipede, scorpion, saffron, etc.
4. The method of regulating qi and reducing inverse: is suitable for qi stagnation and qi inversion syndromes with poor qi, showing chest tightness, chest and hypochondriac pain, gastric cavity and abdominal pain, belching, hiccups, breast swelling, slippery or stringy pulse Thin, thin and white moss. Commonly used medicines include August sage, Citrus orange, tangerine peel, Chuan Pu, Amomum villosum, Koren, Muxiang, Neem Seed, Corydalis, Cyperus rotundus, Wuyao, Citrus aurantium, Betel nut, Bupleurum, Su Geng, Rose, Chinese rose, green calyx plum, agarwood, inula, clove, odorifera etc.
Chinese medicine plays a unique role in each stage of tumor treatment. The characteristics and advantages are mainly manifested in several aspects:
1, improve symptoms, improve quality of life, and prolong survival.
Chinese medicine emphasizes that under the guidance of the principles of syndrome differentiation and treatment, the selection of Chinese medicines that support righteousness, cultivate vitality, and treat insufficiency are used to regulate the functions of yin and yang, qi and blood, and viscera meridians, enhance internal disease resistance, improve immune function, and achieve a strong body. The purpose of eliminating pathogens, inhibiting the development of cancer, improving symptoms, relieving the condition, and prolonging life are also the outstanding advantages of traditional Chinese medicine in treating tumors.
2. Traditional Chinese medicine prevents gastrointestinal reactions caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Chinese medicine believes that radiotherapy and chemotherapy are evil to the human body, which can damage the spleen and stomach, causing loss of appetite, general fatigue, nausea and vomiting, stomach discomfort, chest tightness, congestion, diarrhea or constipation, white and greasy fur, slippery pulse, etc. Gastrointestinal disorders.
Common treatment methods include invigorating the spleen and regulating qi, harmonizing the stomach and reducing the adversity, invigorating the spleen and resolving dampness, etc. Pingweisan, Erchen Decoction, Wendan Decoction, Huanglian Wendan Decoction, XuanAddition and subtraction of Fudaizhe Tang, Tangerine Peel Zhuru Tang, Jiangru Banxia Tang, etc.
3, Chinese medicine prevents and cures bone marrow suppression caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy can cause bone marrow suppression, common white blood cells, red blood cells and thrombocytopenia, severe cases affect the smooth completion of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, reduce the efficacy, and even complicated infection, bleeding and life-threatening, manifested as dizziness and fatigue, pale complexion, sore waist and knees, tongue Pale texture, thin fur, thin and weak pulse, can be differentiated as liver and kidney deficiency or deficiency of both qi and blood. Shiquan Dabu Decoction and Liuwei Dihuang Decoction are often used.
4, reduce tumor recurrence and metastasis after surgery.
Chinese medicine treatment can reduce surgical complications and promote postoperative recovery. Long-term use can reduce recurrence and metastasis. It can also stabilize and control residual cancer foci for palliative surgery.
TCM treatment of tumors advocates objective, individualized, precise, and comprehensive treatment guided by the principles of syndrome differentiation and treatment. It is by no means a single drug can show miraculous effects.
We have to warn patients that they should not rush to the doctor if they have a tumor, and blindly believe in folk remedies, secret recipes and various advertised novel therapies to avoid delays in effective treatment. Instead, they should seek regular treatment from specialists.
The so-called "Chinese medicine treatment" that over-exaggerates the effects of monotherapy or health care products and lacks a holistic concept is an irresponsible approach to cancer patients. Don't believe it credulously.
Among the common malignant tumors among Shanghai residents, lung cancer, colorectal cancer and gastric cancer are among the top three, and lung cancer has once again become the number one malignant tumor. In the treatment of tumor patients, in addition to surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and other treatment methods, "Chinese medicine", which plays an important role, is increasingly recognized by everyone.
So, for cancer patients, those treatment errors should be avoided when seeking Chinese medicine treatment?
Is Chinese medicine treating cancer exaggerated?
TCM treatment of cancer has its own characteristics: for patients with advanced cancer, it can improve symptoms, improve quality of life, and prolong survival; for cancer patients after surgery, it can prevent recurrence and resist metastasis; for patients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy, there are Reduce the side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Chinese medicine treatment of cancer has also been exaggerated, mainly in several aspects-
1. One recipe cures all cancers.
It has been spread on the Internet that taking 1 to 2 centipedes a day to treat cancer, and eating raw loach to treat cancer, and folks also say that toads are dried or burned into ashes and eaten to cure cancer. This statement of
actually brings disadvantages to the systemic treatment of Chinese medicine and may also delay the treatment of patients.
2. Expand the success of the case infinitely.
once reported that a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia was clinically cured in a Chinese medicine outpatient department after treatment by Chinese medicine. This is just a successful case, and it does not prove that this Chinese medicine treatment program is 100% effective for all leukemia patients.
3. Cancer patients can only take traditional Chinese medicine without surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and other treatments. This statement of
is one-sided. The treatment of cancer by traditional Chinese medicine advocates multidisciplinary treatment. For patients with indications of surgery and radiotherapy and chemotherapy, we advocate that multidisciplinary treatment should be performed simultaneously or sequentially if the patient's physical condition permits.
Specifically, TCM treatment has two basic characteristics, one is a holistic view, and the other is syndrome differentiation.
According to Chinese medicine, the formation and development of tumors are closely related to the balance of righteous qi and evil qi in the human body. The weak righteous qi, the invasion of evil qi, the long-term obstruction of qi and blood, the endogenous phlegm, and the mutual accumulation of phlegm and blood stasis. Building blocks. "Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic" says, "The righteousness is insufficient, and then the evil is in it." Through the use of Chinese medicine to adjust the body's functions, support the righteousness, improve the body's disease resistance, so as to achieve the anti-tumor effect.
How harmful is the abuse of proprietary Chinese medicines?
There are more than 100 kinds of anti-cancer Chinese patent medicines commonly used in clinical practice, and the dosage forms include injection, oral and external use. The rational use of anti-cancer Chinese patent medicines is the key to ensuring and improving the clinical efficacy of Chinese medicine in treating tumors, and it is also an important prerequisite for maximizing the anti-cancer effects of Chinese medicines.
should be used in accordance with the doctor’s advice and carefully read the drug instructions: there are many kinds of anti-cancer Chinese patent medicines, and the composition of the medicine is different, especially for injections. Before use, you must be familiar with the characteristics of the medicine, the method of use, the common dosage, the toxic and side effects, etc., so as to maximize Maximize the effectiveness of the drug and reduce side effectsreaction.
Abuse of proprietary Chinese medicines can lead to the following hazards-
First of all, although most of the anti-cancer Chinese patent medicines have no obvious side effects, some patients will still have uncomfortable reactions after a long period of use, and should be dealt with in time during clinical use.
Many patients will buy a variety of anti-tumor Chinese patent medicines on their own after listening to patient introductions or watching various advertisements. mistakenly believes that the more types they eat, the stronger the anti-cancer effect, and that natural Chinese medicines have no side effects . Views like
are very harmful. We often say that "medicine is three-point poison." Even botanicals have certain toxic and side effects.
For example, long-term or overdose of Huachansu Tablets and Xiaoaiping Tablets may cause liver and kidney function damage, which can be relieved after stopping the drug, or cause liver and kidney failure.
Long-term use of compound cantharidin capsules without adjusting according to the patient's physical condition may cause gastrointestinal bleeding.
Therefore, in outpatient clinics, doctors usually ask patients to review blood routine, liver and kidney function and other indicators once every 3 months to monitor changes in indicators. Once abnormal liver and kidney functions are found, they will adjust the type and dosage of drugs in time. Or stop the drug directly.
Secondly, the use of proprietary Chinese medicines cannot be separated from the differentiation of symptoms and diseases of traditional Chinese medicine.
The essence of Chinese medicine treatment lies in syndrome differentiation and treatment. Taking colds as an example, some patients have clinical manifestations of nasal congestion, runny nose, fear of cold, pale tongue, thin white fur and floating pulse. We think it is cold and cold. Treat with Zheng Chaihu granules; some patients have fever, headache, tongue Red moss, thin yellow veins, floating number, it is Fengreganmao, treat Yinqiao tablets.
Because the two causes of colds are different in etiology and pathogenesis, the treatment methods and medications are also different. If you use it at will, it may cause the disease to repeat and prolong the disease period.
Furthermore, due to the particularity of the prescription of anti-cancer Chinese patent medicines, some drugs emphasize the contraindications of compatibility, and attention should be paid to the method of administration and food contraindications when using them.
Such as Shenyi Capsule, use it with caution for those with fiery-heat syndrome or Yin-deficiency internal-heat syndrome; Ganfule tablets, with obvious bleeding tendency, take it with caution; Anticancer Ping pills, do not eat mold food during medication; compound Tianxian capsules, avoid cold and hard , Fishy, spicy food, etc.
Can radiotherapy and chemotherapy be combined with Chinese medicine?
Chinese medicine can alleviate the side effects of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy, and has a certain effect of increasing efficiency and reducing toxicity.
Clinical studies have found that Chinese medicine can alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy. For example, the use of Chinese medicine for strengthening the spleen and stomach, or the use of external Chinese medicine treatment methods (auricular acupoints and related acupoint application) can improve nausea, vomiting, and constipation;
Drugs for replenishing qi and blood and liver and kidney can improve the abnormal peripheral blood picture caused by bone marrow suppression;
can protect liver and kidney by adding liver and kidney drugs to protect liver and kidney functions. Patients with
may develop radiation pneumonia, radiation esophagitis, radiation enteritis, and local skin damage after radiotherapy. You can use Shashen Ophiopogon Decoction, Baihe Gujin Decoction and other herbs that nourish yin and promote fluid to improve the adverse reactions caused by radiotherapy, such as cough, Expectoration, dry throat, sore throat, diarrhea. Patients with mutations in
who have undergone genetic testing can use molecular targeted drugs. Targeted therapy can see generalized rashes, skin itching, or symptoms of increased stools or irregularities. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the bright red color of the rash is a manifestation of exuberant heat toxins and excessive blood heat. You can choose "Xijiao Dihuang Decoction" to clear heat and cool blood; diarrhea is obvious, which belongs to damp-heat betting. You can take medicines for clearing heat, promoting dampness, thick intestines and antidiarrhea to relieve Toxic side effects.
