The Approach of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treating Cancer

The core idea of traditional Chinese medicine in treating cancer is to strengthen the body and eliminate evil, emphasizing the combination of holistic regulation and individualized treatment. It mainly intervenes through regulating the balance of qi, blood, yin and yang, enhancing the body's disease resistance, and inhibiting tumor development. The main methods of traditional Chinese medicine for treating cancer include strengthening the body and consolidating the foundation, clearing heat and detoxifying, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, softening hardness and dispersing nodules, and using poison to combat poison. It should be treated by professional traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in formal medical institutions based on syndrome differentiation, and cannot replace modern medical routine treatment.

1. Strengthening the body and strengthening the foundation

By tonifying qi and blood, regulating organ function, and enhancing the body's immunity, commonly used formulas such as Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang and Si Jun Zi Tang are composed of medicinal herbs such as Huangqi, Codonopsis pilosula, and Atractylodes macrocephala. For patients with weak constitution after radiotherapy and chemotherapy, symptoms such as fatigue and loss of appetite can be improved, but caution should be taken with warm tonics for those with yin deficiency and excessive fire. During the treatment period, regular follow-up blood routine tests are required to evaluate the efficacy.

II. Clearing Heat and Detoxifying

Using anti-tumor active clearing and detoxifying herbs such as Hedyotis diffusa, Scutellaria barbata, and dandelion, it has a certain relieving effect on symptoms such as local redness, swelling, pain, fever, and thirst that may occur in tumors with heat toxin accumulation. The representative formula Huanglian Jiedu Tang should be used under the guidance of a doctor to avoid long-term and excessive use that may cause gastrointestinal discomfort. Modern research shows that some heat clearing and detoxifying drugs can induce apoptosis of tumor cells.

Thirdly, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis

uses blood activating and removing blood stasis drugs such as Danshen, Curcuma zedoaria, and Polygonum multiflorum to improve tumor microcirculation disorders, and is suitable for patients with qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome who have purple tongue texture and fixed pain. Formulas such as Xuefu Zhuyu Tang can assist in reducing cancer pain, but are contraindicated for patients with thrombocytopenia or bleeding tendency. It is necessary to cooperate with imaging examinations to monitor tumor changes and prevent the risk of promoting metastasis.

4. Softening and dispersing nodules

The use of drugs such as oysters, turtle shells, and summer grass that have softening and dispersing effects to treat palpable lumps on the body surface may have a certain intervention effect on precancerous lesions such as thyroid nodules and breast hyperplasia. Formulas such as Seaweed Yuhu Decoction should be used in combination to avoid damaging the stomach, and solid malignant tumors should be treated with surgical resection. During the treatment period, monthly palpation should be performed to evaluate changes in the tumor.

Fifth, using poison to attack poison

The use of toxic medicinal herbs such as bufonis and bufotalin to inhibit tumor growth under strict dosage control requires a prescription from an experienced traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. This type of medication may cause adverse reactions such as nausea and arrhythmia, and liver and kidney function should be monitored during medication. Modern purified Huachansu injection and other preparations have been applied in clinical practice, but it is not advisable to try folk remedies on one's own.

During the treatment of cancer by traditional Chinese medicine, moderate exercise such as Baduanjin and Taijiquan should be maintained to promote the movement of qi and blood, and Tonic Diet such as lily Broth of white fungus and yam Congee that are easy to digest and absorb should be selected to avoid spicy food. Regular Western medicine imaging and tumor marker re examination should be conducted, and the use of traditional Chinese medicine during surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy should be fully communicated with the attending physician. When symptoms such as unexplained fever and sudden weight loss occur, timely medical attention should be sought, and blind reliance on a single treatment method should be avoided. Maintaining emotional comfort has a positive impact on improving immune function.