Tumors
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Treatment
In clinical practice, most tumor patients seek TCM treatment when their condition is already severe, often accompanied by multiple complications. Symptoms may appear as Yin deficiency, yet also exhibit signs of Yang deficiency and blood stasis; or they may seem to have Yang deficiency while also showing symptoms of Yin deficiency with dampness and toxins; amidst the dual deficiency of Yin and Yang, there may also be stasis and phlegm accumulation.
How to deduce a coherent treatment strategy from the collected symptoms and establish a correct understanding of the relationship between the root cause and the symptoms is crucial for the continuation of the patient’s life.
1. Immune Function and the Occurrence of Tumors
Simply targeting tumors without addressing the underlying causes is not advisable; strengthening the body and solidifying the foundation is paramount.The pathogenesis of tumors lies in the presence of tumor genes within the body. Under normal circumstances, due to the body’s strong resistance and immune function, especially against powerful immune responses, tumor genes remain suppressed or in a “dormant” state, allowing the body to function without issues.Once the body is invaded by harmful genes, damaging its resistance, particularly leading to weakened immune function, the tumor genes are activated by these adverse factors. In the absence of control, cells undergo “genetic mutations,” proliferating rapidly and forming tumors.TCM posits that the formation of disease is primarily attributed to insufficient Zheng Qi (正气, vital energy). As stated in the “Huangdi Neijing” (黄帝内经), “When Zheng Qi is present, pathogens cannot invade; where pathogens gather, Qi must be deficient.”In TCM, Zheng Qi refers to the body’s adaptability to external factors, its resistance to pathogens, its immunity to diseases, its internal repair capacity after illness, and its vitality.According to the principle that “internal causes are the basis for changes, while external causes are the conditions for changes,” the fundamental reason for tumor formation is the body’s low resistance and immune function, especially when immune function is compromised.
TCM
2. TCM Treatment of Tumors
Tumors are classified as chronic consumptive diseases.This condition can lead to Qi deficiency and damage to body fluids, and in severe cases, damage to organ functions, even leading to organ failure and rapid onset of malignant cachexia, ultimately resulting in death due to the separation of Yin and Yang.Thus, it is evident that the deficiency of Zheng Qi is not only an important internal cause of tumor development but also a fundamental contradiction that runs throughout the course of the disease.Therefore, the entire treatment process for tumors should emphasize strengthening the body and solidifying the foundation, rather than solely focusing on tumor cells or indiscriminately using detoxifying and anti-tumor medications.If one neglects to strengthen the body and solidify the foundation, even if the tumor is surgically removed, it may seem as though the root of the disease has been excised, but the tumor genes lurking within the body remain, and the internal environment that supports tumor growth persists, potentially worsening the condition. Under these circumstances, if the tumor genes encounter an opportunity, they may lead to postoperative recurrence or even metastasis, a situation frequently observed in clinical practice.Undoubtedly, focusing on the body and strengthening the foundation should be the correct approach for TCM in treating tumors.
Tumor patients either have a pathological basis of Qi deficiency from the outset, or during the progression of the disease, due to the excessive presence of pathogenic toxins, the Zheng Qi is damaged, quickly leading to Qi deficiency, with symptoms such as fatigue and weakness, particularly pronounced in patients undergoing chemotherapy.Therefore, the treatment of tumors should first emphasize strengthening the body, particularly focusing on Qi supplementation. When Qi is sufficient, organ functions can be robust; when Qi is abundant, blood circulation can be smooth; when Qi is vigorous, resistance can be enhanced. Additionally, the spleen and stomach are the sources of Qi and blood production, serving as an important guarantee for supplying nutrition to the body. Tumor patients may experience impaired spleen and stomach function due to the accumulation of pathogenic toxins, phlegm and stasis, Qi stagnation, and dampness obstruction, or due to direct damage to the spleen and stomach function from prolonged chemotherapy, leading to poor digestion and further affecting the functions of other organs, exacerbating systemic Qi deficiency and even accelerating the progression of cachexia.At the same time, attention should be paid to strengthening the spleen and protecting the stomach Qi; a strong spleen and stomach will ensure abundant Qi and blood, enhancing resistance and prolonging life. Furthermore, it is essential to focus on kidney supplementation to solidify the foundation. By nourishing the kidneys and replenishing the true essence, especially for chemotherapy patients, kidney supplementation can enhance the kidney’s excretory function, timely eliminate toxins from the body, reduce the harmful effects of toxic side effects, protect the hematopoietic function of the bone marrow, and extend survival time.Based on the principle of “holistic view,” tumor lesions affect the entire body, and overall regulation should consider the whole. The “holistic view” is the essence of TCM and serves as the fundamental approach to achieving reliable therapeutic effects in TCM clinical practice, especially in treating tumors.
Although tumors are local lesions, their growth in different locations is closely related to specific organs. Since organs and meridians are interconnected, and Qi and blood flow together, local lesions can affect other organs, leading to an overall imbalance of Qi, blood, Yin, and Yang.For example, in lung cancer: lung cancer patients often exhibit symptoms of Qi deficiency, Qi stagnation, and Qi obstruction. Prolonged Qi stagnation can lead to blood stasis, resulting in symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, chest tightness, and chest pain. Qi stagnation can transform into heat, with heat pathogens accumulating internally, leading to phlegm; phlegm obstructing the lungs can cause coughing; the lungs and large intestine are interrelated, and prolonged lung tumors can disrupt the descending function of the large intestine, leading to constipation or difficulty in bowel movements; due to the failure of the large intestine’s Qi to descend, turbid Qi cannot be expelled, and clear Qi cannot ascend, coupled with the relationship between the spleen and lungs, prolonged lung disease will inevitably lead to spleen deficiency, resulting in symptoms such as abdominal distension and poor appetite; additionally, the relationship between the lungs and kidneys means that prolonged lung disease can further lead to kidney deficiency, resulting in a series of kidney deficiency symptoms…Therefore, the treatment approach for lung cancer should not be limited to the lungs but should focus on the overall situation, addressing the whole body while supplementing Qi, solidifying the foundation, transforming phlegm, eliminating dampness, promoting lung Qi, and softening and dissipating masses. Depending on the specific situation, treatment may also involve clearing heat and detoxifying, nourishing Yin and moistening dryness, cooling blood and stopping bleeding, benefiting Qi and consolidating blood, or strengthening the spleen and harmonizing the stomach to solidify the foundation and restore vitality.Thus, treatment should not be confined to the local tumor but should be based on the overall situation, distinguishing between different tumor locations and stages of the disease, integrating the conditions of the entire body, including organs, Qi, blood, Yin, and Yang, and applying differential medication for overall regulation to achieve satisfactory therapeutic effects.In TCM treatment of tumors, the principle of “not treating the tumor directly” is emphasized; treatment does not confront the lesion head-on, and the methods and medications are not confined to tumor cells but focus on the overall condition of the body for holistic regulation.
Through strengthening the body and solidifying the foundation with holistic regulation, the functions of the organs can be improved, enhancing the patient’s constitution, increasing the body’s immunity to diseases, and its repair capacity after damage, ultimately enhancing vitality and striving for survival with tumors, thereby extending life.Due to the long treatment duration and continuous medication, it is essential to constantly grasp the relationship between the pathogenic and the righteous, striving to eliminate pathogens without harming the righteous, and to strengthen the righteous without assisting the pathogens, while paying attention to protecting the stomach Qi, ensuring that strengthening the body and solidifying the foundation runs throughout the treatment process.
TCM Health Preservation
3. Ganoderma Lucidum Injection
Ganoderma lucidum, a supreme product and miraculous medicine, is the only precious medicinal material that can harmonize the five organs of the body, showing good effects on the overall regulation of the five internal organs.
Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi)is a type of the Ganodermataceae family, confirmed by historical physicians such as Li Shizhen to have the effects of strengthening the body and solidifying the foundation. According to the “Illustrated Guide to Large Fungi in China,” Ganoderma lucidum is the best variety among all fungi for treating cancer.Ganoderma Lucidum Injectionis the only state-approved injection made entirely from Ganoderma lucidum, breaking through the barriers of traditional wall-breaking technology. Utilizing advanced wall-breaking technology, it selects higher quality and more stable GC1 mycelium to prepare a water injection, allowing for more complete release of effective components, improving utilization, and achieving better efficacy than traditional oral forms of Ganoderma.Ganoderma Lucidum Injection strengthens the body and solidifies the foundation, nourishing and strengthening.Clinical practice has fully demonstrated that TCM treatment of tumors not only possesses scientific thinking and concepts, correct strategies and methods, but also reliable and significant efficacy.
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