Oncology Report from former student now studying in Chengdu

[Guest guest]

Hi

 

That was a most interesting report from Chengdu. My summary is:

 

SINGLE HERBS cited in descending order of citation frequency

(herbs in the first 3 rows were the most often cited):

 

***** (10-12): Danggui, Gouqizi, Huangqi

 

**** (9-7): Baizhu, Ezhu, Sanleng, Danshen

 

*** (6-4): Dangshen, Fabanxia, Wuweizi, Maimendong, Chenpi,

Fuling, Gancao, Suanzaoren, Xuanshen

 

** (3-2) for special use: Bajitian, Duzhong, Fuzi, Huangqin, Jiuzi,

Roucongrong, Rougui, Shanzha, Shanzhuyu, Shashen,

Shechuangzi, Shengdihuang, Shengjiang, Shudihuang, Xiakucao,

Xianmao, Jinyanghuo, Jiegeng, Jixueteng, Niuzhenzi, Sharen,

Tusizi, Xingren, Yujin, Zhebeimu

 

* (1) for special use: Banmao, Banxia, Banzhilian, Beishashen,

Buguzhi, Dazao, Guya, Hongshen, Huoxiang, Yanhusuo, Zexie,

Zhike, Zhishi, Zhuling

 

FORMULAS mentioned were:

 

Fufang Banmao Jiao Nang,

Huangqi Fu Xheng Jiao Nang,

Liu Jun Zi Tang,

Shashen Maimendong Tang,

Wu Ling San,

Zan Yu Dan

 

Could your contact in Chengdu double-check the ingredients,

indications, doses, etc of those formulas?

 

Best regards,

Phil

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

<

 

Oncology Report from former student now studying in

Chengdu.

 

I have annotated a few days in clinic in Oncology Dept. What you

will discover is two totally different approaches to Oncology, yet

there is one similarity. Both practitioners draw on same formula &

use it over & over & over again. Of course there are variations

based on presenting symptoms, but basic formula remains same.

Difference in formulas is because both doctors differ in their

theories.

 

4/19/04

Doctor argued that old ways of cancer Tx are basically ineffective in

his experience. ‘Old way’ sees cancer as either of following

Patterns: Xu, Xue Stas, Toxin, or Phlegm Stas. While these

complications can result in cancer, they are not root of cancer

pathology. When disease is treated on that basis, results are

ineffective.

 

Modern research shows that cancer cells are almost identical to

normal cells. Difference is that a normal cell will go through a full

life-cycle: new cell, adult cell, old cell, dead cell. cancer cell,

however is just a new cell that never achieves a full life-span. In

stem-cell research, if you take normal cell of a frog & a cancer cell

of a frog, both will develop into a full frog. In other words, there is

very little difference between those cells, just possibility of

development. Using this theory, this doctor finds clinically that one

can transform immature cancer cell into mature cell, by acting to

Build both SP & KI, not unlike treating a child who cannot develop

physically by acting to support SP & KI.

 

He says that chemo, radiotherapy, & surgery are necessary. He

says that HM & WM approaches to cancer should be combined.

When used together, possibility of success increases by 33%, not

to mention that side-effects of cancer Tx decrease by 33%:

patients don’t experience alopecia nor does their WCC fall as

much.

 

He thinks that chemo, radiotherapy, & surgery are necessary

because it takes time to transform cancer cells into adult cells.

Also cancer cells tend to congregate into tight bundles, which

eventually cause local Xue Stas, thus leading to necrosis. More

necrosis = more Stas to contend with, be that Xue, Toxin, or

Phlegm Stas. So he believe in combining TCM & WM.

 

He tends to prescribe same formula (Zan Yu Dan) to most patients.

It is used to Tx impotence in KI Yang Xu w dual Qi Xu & Xue Xu.

Ingredients include Roucongrong, Fuzi, Bajitian, Rougui,

Shechuangzi, Xianmao, Danggui, Baizhu, Gouqizi, Yinyanghuo,

Shanzhuyu, Shudihuang, Jiuzi, & Duzhong. He also commonly

prescribe a separate decoction of 30-50g Hongshen alone because

it has been shown to kill cancer cells & boost immune system.

Here are a few cases that we saw today:

 

(1) Sinusitis in 70 yo female: previous Dx was nasal mass from

lymphoma. Tx was w chemo. mass in sinuses appeared gone from

MRI, but her WCC was low, she had alopecia, & she still had

sinusitis w a thick yellow discharge. She also was complaining of

poor sleep. Her tongue fur was greasy & white & her pulse was

tight, wiry, & thin. Dx was poorly done.

 

Formula: Shudihuang 30, Bajitian 30, Jiuzi 30, Suanzaoren 30,

Danggui 20, Fuzi 20, Duzhong 30, Huangqi 60, Shanzhuyu 20,

Rougui 1-, Yinyanghuo 30, Gancao 5, Baizhu 20, Shechuangzi 15,

Gouqizi 30, Buguzhi 20, Xianmao 30, Roucongrong 10, Tusizi 30.

 

(2) Non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 54 yo male: had two Txs of chemo,

which so-far were unsuccessful. Patient had low WCC.

 

Formula: Hongshen 50g to be taken as a separate decoction.

Shudihuang 30, Bajitian 30, Roucongrong 30, Shanzhuyu 20,

Danggui 10, Fuzi 30, Jiuzi 15, Huangqi 100, Baizhu 15, Rougui 10,

Duzhong 30, Wuweizi, 15, Tusizi, 30, Yinyanghuo 30,

Shechuangzi 15, Xianmai 30, Sharen 10, Zhishi 10.

 

He does very little TCM Dx. He admitted that he could not really

feel pulse qualities. He also was trained in his undergraduate years

at TCM school but spent 6 years of his graduate studies studying

biomedicine, specifically focusing on Oncology. He doesn’t seem

impressed w TCM’s theories & Pattern Differentiation. It doesn’t

however, mean that information he is imparting should be thrown

out or rendered useless. It is something to contemplate & possibly

experiment w on patients.

 

4/20/04

 

Today I watched another doctor in Oncology Dept. His view on

cancer Tx was totally different than yesterday's doctor. His

approach was more TCM-based. He looked for Patterns, but he

also tended to prescribe identical formula to everyone. He argued

that radiotherapy & chemo are Txs by Fire. Because they are Hot,

they tend to Injure Yin & Qi & create Heat symptoms such as

bitter taste, dry throat, yellow urine, irritability, rapid pulse, etc. If

Heat is severe during Tx, Tx should be to Purge Fire. If Heat is mild

but still present, Tx should be to Build Qi & Nourish Yin.

 

(1) 62 yo female w LI cancer. It's possible that patient had no chief

complaint or presenting symptoms other than LI cancer. It is also

possible that translator did not translate for us. patient had surgery

twice, once in 2002 & also last year. tongue was enlarged &

presented w thick & greasy coating.

 

Formula: Huangqi 30, Dangshen 30, Fuling 30, Baizhu 30,

Fabanxia 20, Chenpi 15, Shengjiang 20,Huoxiang 15, Danggui 15,

Gouqizi 30, Wuweizi 30,Sanleng 15, Ezhu 15, Danshen 30

 

I can't say that I understood case above, but formula tends to be

used over & over, except w minor variations. Also, patient was sent

home, as were many today w following patent: Fufang Banmao

Jiao Nang. I can't say I have ever seen it, but main ingredients

must be Banmao (Blister Beetle) to Clear Heat & Clear Heat Toxin.

 

(2) ST cancer w LV metastasis in 57 yo male. LV has multiple

masses. Unfortunately cancer was discoveredin its late stage, so

no surgery or chemo could be prescribed. Basically Tx, both

biomedical & TCM, is palliative. presenting symptoms are:

epigastric distention, severe pain in epigastrum, edema, poor

appetite, distention w even smallest amount of water. edema

appears to be climbing up legs. patient cannot sit up because it is

too painful. Tx is to promote appetite & relieve edema. doctor

believes that edema is a result of malnutrition & protein shortage,

either due to a lack of dietary protein and/or inability to process

food.

 

Formula: Huangqi 30, Fuling 30, Baizhu 30, Fabanxia 20, Chenpi

15, Shanzha 30,Zhuling 30, Zexie 30, Danggui 15, Gouqizi 30,

Sanleng 15, Ezhu 15, Yanhusuo 30.

 

It looks here like we have variations of Liu Jun Zi Tang & Wu Ling

San + some Hbs to Move Xue. patient was also sent home w a

pain killer + oral compound of amino acids. I am not sure why latter

was prescribed, maybe due to fact that doctor thinks that lack of

protein is biomedical cause of edema.

 

(3) Naso-pharyngeal carcinoma in 45 yo male; chief complaint is

right ear obstruction. had 36 chemo Txs & is currently undergoing

radiotherapy. Thrombocytopenia; so radiotherapist curtailed Tx until

platelet count goes up. Accompanying signs & symptoms include

a pale face, thirst, & lassitude. tongue is enlarged, pale &

toothmarked w a thick & greasy, yellow tongue fur. pulse is

slippery & rapid. According to doctor Tx principle is to Build Qi,

Nourish Yin, Clear Heat Toxin, Quicken Xue, Aid Circulation &

Move Xue Stas.

 

Formula: Huangqi 30, Dangshen 30, Fabanxia 20, Danggui 15,

Gouqizi 30, Wuweizi 30,Sanleng 15, Ezhu 15, Danshen 30,

Xiakucao 30, Huangqin, Beishashen 30, Shengdihuang 30,

Xuanshen 30, Maimendong 30.

 

The patient was sent home w Fufang Banmao Jiao Nang &

Huangqi Fu Xheng Jiao Nang, two patents I am unfamiliar with. It

looks like base formulas are Liu Jun Zi Tang w Shashen

Maimendong Tang, here. Unlike previous formulas, this

emphasises to Nourish LU Yin w Shashen, Shengdihuang,

Xuanshen, & Maimendong. Maybe this is because patient has

naso-pharyngeal cancer. But chief complaint, ear obstruction,isn't

addressed directly. Of course that obstruction can be dealt w by

treating root, but there doesn't seem to be much of a branch Tx.

 

(4) LU cancer in 75 yo male; right LU initially had cancer, but that

had metastasized to left LU upper lobe; had 27 radiotherapy Txs +

surgery. presenting symptoms include: weak knee koints w light

pain, tastelessness, poor appetite.dry throat, palpatations,

shortness of breath, bitter taste, dry mouth, cough w sticky,

stringy Phlegm, poor sleep. tongue coat is thick & greasy. Tx

principle, according to doctor, is to Build Qi, Nourish Yin, Clear

Heat, & remove toxin.

 

Formula: Huangqi 30, Baizhu 30, Gancao 30, Shanzha

30,Danggui 15, Gouqizi 30, Wuweizi 30,Sanleng 15, Ezhu 15,

Danshen 30, Shashen 30, Maimendong 30, Xuanshen 30,

Suanzaoren 30, Huangqin 20, Xingren 15, Zhebeimu 20, Xiakucao

30, Jiegeng 20.

 

Again, we see a formula being used continuously but altered

slightly, either to emphasize or deemphasize a Tx principle or to

promote another principle. But base formula is there: Huangqi,

Baizhu,Dangshen, Banxia, Chenpi,Danggui, Gouqizi, Sanleng,

Ezhu, Danshen. basic Tx principle that this formula emphasizes is

to Build Qi, Yin & Xue, as well as Quicken Xue & Move Xue Stas. It

also appears that in LU cancer w radiotherapy or chemo, doctor

wants to Nourish Yin w Shashen, Maimendong, & Xuanshen. & in

case above because there was a cough w much Phlegm, Tx

included Huangqin Zhebeimu, Xingren, & Jiegeng.

 

(5) 38 yo male w testicular cancer. patient had previously had one

of his testes extracted surgically. current chief complaint is

shortness of breath. Other presenting symptoms include: ST

distention from gastritis, lassitude, & a rash on his back that

appears, to doctor, to be herpes. doctor comments that evils tend

to invade after chemo, radiation & surgery, since all of these

procedures Injure Qi & Yin, making body more prone to invasion.

patient's face is pale w dark circles below eyes.

 

Formula: Huangqi 30, Dangshen 30, Fuling 30, Baizhu 30,

Fabanxia 20, Chenpi 15, Gancao 6, Dazao 30,Danggui 15,

Gouqizi 30, Wuweizi 30,Sanleng 15, Ezhu 15, Danshen 30

Suanzaoren 15.

 

Again, same basic formula. Little attention paid to Pattern

Differentiation. Suanzaoren was only thing unusual w formula

because patient didn't even complain about insomnia. He

complained of lassitude. Either translation is not making it through

to us, or doctor is a little lax. doctor did, however comment that

generally after surgery or chemo, a patient has an 80-90% chance

of recurrence or metastasis. This is most important period for

preventative Tx. If there are no signs of cancer after 5 years, patient

has a very good chance to survive. If there is no cancer for 8-10

years, Tx is considered a cure. If, however, cancer appears <5 year

period, survival rate decreases 25%. If metastasis hits 3 places,

there is almost no survival. If, however, you use Hbs, these odds,

according to doctor, change dramatically.

 

(6) 75 yo male w esophogeal carcinoma. Originally patient's chief

complaint was difficulty swallowing. After CHM patient now has an

easier time swallowing. He also had a geographic coat. patient is

coming in for a follow up formula for Tx. He presents w spoder nevi

on his face. His tongue is purple w spot & is wet & quivering. He no

longer has a coating, which doctor deems to be a good sign that

his Tx is working, since previously patient had a geographic

coating. doctor believes that coat has sloughed off & will slowly

grow back again, not geographic, this time. According to doctor,

Dx is Xue Stag.

 

Formula: Huangqi 30, Dangshen 30, Fuling 30, Fabanxia 20,

Shengjiang 20,Sharen 30, Guya 20 Shanzha 30, Danggui 15,

Gouqizi 30, Gouqizi 30, Maimendong 30, Shengdihuang 30, Yujin

30, Zhike 20, Banzhilian 20, Gancao 6.

 

Basic root formula is there, except for main Xue Stas Hbs

(Sanleng, Ezhu, & Danshen). Dx was Xue Stas, but he seems to

Tx Stas w Danggui & Yujin. In this rendition of base formula, he

emphasizes to Transform SP & ST Qi.

 

(7) 52 yo female w a mass in head. patient has undergone surgery,

but not all of mass was removed. For last 4 months, she has had

CHM Tx. After 4 months w Hbs alone, mass is decreasing

according to CT scan. Original complaint of dizziness also is

improving. Today she had yellow & tired complexion. Her

hemoglobin count is low; tongue red, dusky w spots on sides.

According to doc, 60% of cancer patients have spots on tongue.

 

Formula: Huangqi 30, Dangshen 30, Baizhu 30, Fabanxia 20,

Shengjiang 20,Xiakucao 30, Danggui 15, Gouqizi 30, Niuzhenzi

30,Wuweizi 30, Sanleng 15, Ezhu 15, Danshen 30, Jixueteng 30.

 

The only thing unusual about formula is addition of Niuzhenzi &

Jixueteng, possibly added to improve hemoglobin.

 

Today’s Tx was totally than what we saw yesterday. Nevertheless,

same formula was used w every patient, except w some variations.

Yesterday's doctor based Tx on modern research; today's doctor

treats on basis that biomedical therapies Injure Qi & Yin; so goal is

to Build Qi and Yin, + Transform Phlegm, Quicken Xue, & Move

Xue Stas. Two totally different approaches to cancer Tx can both

be effective. One must ask how effective are they & what research

has been done to justify either method? Hopefully, I can find these

out in coming days.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

 

Best regards,

 

Email: <

 

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