Traditional Chinese Medical Treatment for Primary Liver Cancer
Liver cancer, clinically, corresponds to traditional Chinese medicine conditions such as "jaundice," "distention," and "acute mass." The "Comprehensive Record of Holy Remedies" describes jaundice as: "Restlessness in the chest, a lump in the abdomen, pain like worms biting, vomiting and shortness of breath—this is blood jaundice." The "Plain Questions" describes distention with: "A patient experiences fullness in the chest and abdomen, eats in the morning but cannot eat in the evening—what disease is this?" Answer: "It is called distention." The "Spiritual Pivot" states: "How does distention manifest...? The abdomen swells and the whole body enlarges. The appearance resembles skin distention, with a grayish-yellow complexion, prominent abdominal veins—these are the signs." Tang Dynasty Wang Tao’s "Secrets of External Treatment" describes "acute mass" as: "A hard mass in the abdomen like stone, stabbing pain, crying day and night—without treatment, death occurs within 100 days." The four main symptoms of liver cancer are abdominal mass, liver pain, fatigue, and weight loss; once malignant progression occurs, treatment becomes extremely difficult.
Applicable Formulas [Prescription 1]
Manifestations include a palpable abdominal mass with stabbing pain, fatigue, pale yellow complexion, poor appetite, abdominal distension, palpable hard liver below the ribs with distinct nodules, red-purple tongue with little or patchy coating, wiry, fine, rapid pulse. Codonopsis pilosula 30 grams, Atractylodes macrocephala 12 grams, Astragalus membranaceus 30 grams, Bupleurum chinense 9 grams, Poria cocos 21 grams, Manchurian arborvitae seed 12 grams, Persicae semen 9 grams, Salvia miltiorrhiza 30 grams, Safflower 9 grams, Dictamnus dasycarpus 9 grams, Oyster shell 30 grams, Periplaneta americana (earth flower) 9 grams. Usage: One to two doses daily, decocted in water, taken in 2–4 portions throughout the day.
[Prescription 2]
This formula may be used concurrently with radiotherapy with good results. Hedyotis diffusa 150 grams, Imperata cylindrica 120 grams, appropriate amount of sugar. Usage: Decoct in water, one dose daily.
[Prescription 3]
Qi-Preserving Anti-Cancer Pill: Ginseng 9 grams, amber 6 grams, Corydalis yanhusuo 6 grams, horse pearl 6 grams, Angelica sinensis 6 grams, musk 6 grams, sandalwood 9 grams, agarwood 6 grams, Aconite 3 grams, realgar 6 grams, Poria cocos 9 grams, cinnamon oil 1.5 grams, monkey bead 1.5 grams, turmeric 12 grams, triclinic rhizome 12 grams, Atractylodes lancea 9 grams, Manchurian arborvitae seed 9 grams, Ligusticum chuanxiong 6 grams, frankincense 9 grams, myrrh 9 grams, magnetite 12 grams, green salt 6 grams. All ground into powder, made into small pills with honey. Usage: 6 grams per dose, taken three times daily in the morning, afternoon, and evening. The sole drawback of this formula is its high cost, beyond reach for ordinary households.
[Prescription 4]
Angelica sinensis 15 grams, Astragalus membranaceus (raw) 24 grams, honeysuckle 9 grams, half-branch lotus 30 grams, Hedyotis diffusa 60 grams, true horsehead 12 grams, rhubarb 9 grams, Scutellaria baicalensis 9 grams, gardenia (roasted) 15 grams, raw Herba Siegesbeckiae 90 grams. Usage: One dose daily, decocted in water for oral administration.
[Prescription 5]