Ancient Chinese medicine has a very detailed classification of diseases; even a common cold can be divided into various types such as wind-cold cold, wind-heat cold, and gastrointestinal cold. Here, we will discuss “Yin Ju“, which includes various disease types such as liuzhu (流注), hexi (鹤膝), ruyán (乳岩), luòlì (瘰疬), and yǎnglú (瘿瘤).These diseases share a common characteristic that can be understood through the term “Yin Ju”. “Ju” refers to toxic sores caused by the stagnation of qi and blood, resulting in localized skin swelling and hardness without a change in skin color. Yin Ju is a type of sore and toxic sore caused by “cold evil” and “phlegm-blood stasis”.
In modern medicine, “Yin Ju” corresponds to tumors, chronic ulcers, osteomyelitis, sinus fistulas, non-lactational mastitis, thyroid nodules, chronic ulcerative colitis, and many difficult-to-treat skin diseases. It is characterized by prolonged illness that is difficult to heal, initially accompanied by symptoms such as headache, fever, chills, and limb stiffness, or after ulceration, pain and fever may suddenly appear.Qing Dynasty physician Wang Hongxu stated: “Yin toxic diseases always have unchanged skin color. They can be classified as swollen or not swollen, painful or not painful, hard and immovable or soft and pliable.” Is there a specific formula for treating these diseases?Wang Hongxu said: “Xihuang Wan” (犀黄丸), “Xiao Jindan” (小金丹), and “Yanghe Decoction” (阳和汤) are all essential medicines for Yin Ju, and should be used as prescribed without any modifications for guaranteed efficacy. Here, we will take Xihuang Wan and Xiao Jindan as examples.1. Xihuang Wan, also known as Xihuang Pill (西黄丸) (found in “Therapeutic Essentials”).Composition: 0.9g Niu Huang (牛黄), 30g Ru Xiang (乳香, de-oiled), 30g Mo Yao (没药, de-oiled) (finely ground), 4.5g She Xiang (麝香), 30g Huang Mi Fan (黄米饭).Dosage: This formula is available as a prepared medicine. Dosage should follow medical advice.Indications: Ruyán (乳岩, breast cancer), Hengxuan (横痃, inguinal lymphadenopathy from various sexually transmitted diseases), luòlì (瘰疬), phlegm nodules, liuzhu (流注), and small intestine abscess. Currently used for lymphadenitis, cystic hyperplasia of the breast, breast cancer, multiple abscesses, osteomyelitis, etc., with symptoms of red tongue and slippery, rapid pulse.The symptoms treated by this formula are often caused by heat stagnation, phlegm-blood stasis, and toxic heat accumulation. In the formula, Niu Huang clears heat and detoxifies, transforms phlegm and disperses nodules. She Xiang opens the meridians, moves qi stagnation, disperses blood stasis, and resolves abscesses and toxic swellings; it is famously known as an abortifacient in palace dramas. Ru Xiang regulates qi, invigorates blood, and alleviates pain, while Mo Yao also invigorates blood, dispels stasis, reduces swelling, and alleviates pain. Huang Mi Fan nourishes the stomach qi to prevent the cold and cool nature of the other herbs from harming the stomach. It is taken with wine to enhance blood circulation and accelerate the efficacy of the medicine.Multiple herbs work together to clear heat and detoxify, transform phlegm and disperse nodules, invigorate blood and reduce swelling, and dispel stasis and alleviate pain. Clinically, it is mainly used for the treatment and adjunctive therapy of various cancers, improving clinical symptoms and enhancing the quality of life for patients with advanced cancer.
2. Xiao Jindan, originally called “Xiao Jindan” (小金丹), first recorded in the Qing Dynasty by Wang Hongxu in “Complete Collection of Surgical Diagnosis and Treatment”.The complete formula consists of 30g She Xiang (麝香), 150g Mu Bie Zi (木鳖子, de-shelled and de-oiled), 150g Zhi Cao Wu (制草乌), 150g Feng Xiang Zhi (枫香脂), 75g Ru Xiang (乳香, processed), 75g Mo Yao (没药, processed), 150g Wu Ling Zhi (五灵脂, vinegar-fried), 75g Dang Gui (当归, wine-fried), 150g Di Long (地龙), and 12g Xiang Mo (香墨).Preparation of these herbs is quite complicated, and there are prepared medicines available in pharmacies. Dosage should follow medical advice.This formula has effects of dispersing nodules, reducing swelling, transforming stasis, and alleviating pain. It targets symptoms caused by phlegm and qi stagnation, such as luòlì (瘰疬), yǎnglú (甲状腺肿瘤, thyroid tumors), ruyán (乳岩, breast cancer), and rǔpǐ (乳癖, breast hyperplasia), with symptoms of one or more lumps in the skin or beneath the skin that can be moved upon palpation, or swelling of bones and joints, with unchanged skin color and hard, painful swelling.Phlegm and qi stagnation are primarily caused by liver qi stagnation, which generates phlegm, subsequently affecting the spleen’s transport function, leading to spleen deficiency. A deficient spleen cannot transform phlegm dampness, resulting in phlegm accumulation and the formation of lumps over time. Treatment requires both soothing the liver and relieving stagnation, invigorating blood and transforming stasis, and strengthening the spleen to resolve dampness and transform phlegm.The formula contains liver tonifying herbs such as Mu Bie Zi, Zhi Cao Wu, Mo Yao, Wu Ling Zhi, Dang Gui, Di Long, and Xiang Mo.Spleen tonifying herbs include Mu Bie Zi, Zhi Cao Wu, Feng Xiang Zhi, Mo Yao, Dang Gui, and Di Long.Blood invigorating and stasis-dispelling herbs include artificial She Xiang, Feng Xiang Zhi, Mo Yao, and Wu Ling Zhi.Swelling-reducing herbs include artificial She Xiang, Mu Bie Zi, Mo Yao, and Xiang Mo.Dampness-dispelling herbs include Zhi Cao Wu and Di Long.Phlegm-resolving herbs include Zhi Cao Wu and Xiang Mo.Pain-relieving herbs include artificial She Xiang, Zhi Cao Wu, Feng Xiang Zhi, and Mo Yao.There are even heart tonifying herbs: Dang Gui, Xiang Mo, Mo Yao, and Zhi Cao Wu.All herbs work together to tonify the heart, liver, and spleen, invigorate blood, disperse stasis, reduce swelling, dispel dampness, resolve phlegm, and alleviate pain, collectively achieving the effects of dispersing nodules and reducing swelling, transforming stasis, and alleviating pain.
According to Menghe Medical School’s Ma Peizhi:“This pill effectively dispels phlegm, transforms dampness, and clears stasis, making it highly favored by both ancient and modern physicians. It is now widely used in the treatment of breast, thyroid, and prostate diseases.” Professor He Xiulan from a hospital affiliated with Beijing University of Chinese Medicine believes: “Currently, the clinical application of Xiao Jindan is very broad, especially suitable for breast cancer. In my practice for breast cancer, Xiao Jindan is often the first choice among prepared medicines.”The original formula also mentions that Xiao Jindan can treat early-stage ruyán. Through online verification, it was found that some people have effectively used Xiao Jindan to treat early-stage breast cancer, while others have not seen significant effects. The following image is a screenshot of comments from the Chinese Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s public account:
Reflecting on Wang Hongxu’s words: “Use the formula as prescribed for guaranteed efficacy. Any modifications will result in no effect.” He also mentioned, “The formula contains Wu Ling Zhi, which should not be taken on the same day as ginseng, Korean ginseng, or dangshen.” Could it be that patients have altered the dosage during use or even taken ginseng, dangshen, etc. at the same time? It remains unknown. Additionally, the condition of ruyán is related to emotional state, so the patient’s mood may also affect the efficacy!When comparing Xihuang Wan and Xiao Jindan, it is clear that: Both have detoxifying effects, with Xiao Jindan leaning towards dispelling cold toxins and Xihuang Wan towards dispelling heat toxins. Regarding certain medication contraindications, Professor He Xiulan believes: “Theoretically, both Xihuang Wan and Xiao Jindan should be used for excess conditions, and not for deficiency conditions. However, for tumor patients, one need not be overly strict about the manifestations of cold and heat, and the range of medication can be broader.”Friendly reminder:Everyone’s physical condition is different; the formulas provided in this article should be adjusted according to individual conditions. It is recommended to seek guidance from a professional physician. (Images sourced from the internet; please contact for removal if there are any copyright issues.)
