🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Esophageal pain
Primary clinical features of esophageal cancer include varying degrees of dysphagia worsening over time, sensation of obstruction after eating, pain, vomiting, hematemesis, melena, weight loss. Hoarseness and dull substernal pain may also occur, while late-stage disease presents with cachexia and ascites. Commonly used effective folk remedies are listed below.
[Formula One]
Dried yellow croaker swim bladder 100 g. Clean and dry the croaker’s swim bladder, fry until crisp in fragrant oil, crush into powder, cool and store in bottle. Take 5 g each time, three times daily, swallowed with warm water.
This formula expels wind, activates blood, detoxifies, and fights cancer, commonly used for esophageal and gastric cancers.
[Formula Two]
Beehive 20 g, whole scorpion 20 g, mountain monkshood 25 g, white silkworm pupa 25 g, toad venom 15 g, wine 450 ml. Crush the herbs, soak in clean vessel for 7 days, then strain. Take 10–15 ml empty stomach, three times daily.
This formula treats esophageal tumors.
White flower snake tongue grass 30 g, dandelion 80 g, half branch lotus 12 g, mountain bean root 15 g, mountain monkshood 10 g, bitter apricot kernel 10 g, beehive 10 g, sanqi 9 g, cantharidin (head and legs removed) 1 g, toad venom 0.5 g. Decocted and taken orally, one dose per day.
This formula clears heat and detoxifies, activates blood, removes stasis, disperses masses, suitable for esophageal cancer with blood stasis and toxin accumulation.
[Formula Four]
Pinellia (prepared) 15 g, bamboo shavings (prepared) 15 g, spina gynura 15 g, hematite 30 g, sandalwood 15 g, cloves 15 g, agarwood 15 g, cardamom 15 g, evodia 15 g, magnolia bark 15 g, southern and northern sand sedge 15 g, asparagus 15 g, ophiopogon 15 g, stonecrop 15 g, blister beetle 15 g, dung beetle 15 g, danggui 15 g, crane grass 15 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula from Shanghai Shuguang Hospital regulates qi, transforms phlegm, nourishes yin, and disperses nodules, suitable for esophageal cancer.
[Formula Five]
Rehmannia 20 g, stonecrop 30 g, astragalus 15 g, green tangerine peel 9 g, eight-leaf vine 30 g, gallbladder pinellia 12 g, zhu xian 12 g, flower stone 15 g, crane grass 30 g, ox knee charcoal 12 g, stone swallow 30 g, white flower snake tongue grass 30 g, half branch lotus 30 g, stone see-through 30 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula by Dr. Lin Junhua nourishes yin, transforms phlegm, removes stasis, suitable for esophageal cancer with yin deficiency and phlegm-blood stagnation.
[Formula Six]
Silkworm pupa 15 g, scrophularia 30 g, prunella 30 g, jujube 150 g, ophiopogon 30 g, curcuma 10 g, honeysuckle 15 g, gecko 5 pieces, licorice 10 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula strengthens constitution and detoxifies, effective for esophageal tumors.
[Formula Seven]
Eclipta prostrata 100 g, thousand poison tiger 100 g, white thorn 100 g, white flower snake tongue grass 100 g, half branch lotus 100 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula clears heat and detoxifies, suitable for esophageal cancer.
[Formula Eight]
Astragalus 30 g, codonopsis 15 g, white atractylodes 9 g, yam 30 g, white peony root 15 g, cooked rehmannia 20 g, danggui 11 g, red peony root 12 g, blister beetle 6 g, white flower snake tongue grass 40 g, fried three treasures 9 g each, raw licorice 6 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula tonifies qi and blood, strengthens constitution, removes stasis and detoxifies, suitable for esophageal cancer with qi-blood deficiency and internal toxin-stasis.
[Formula Nine]
Stone breaker 15 g, tricorne 15 g, horse-tail grass 15 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula by Wang Jin promotes blood circulation, detoxifies, and disperses nodules, suitable for esophageal cancer.
[Formula Ten]
Eight-angled golden plate 15 g, eight-leaf vine 30 g, stone see-through 15 g, blister beetle 15 g, half branch lotus 15 g, salvia 15 g, green wood incense 15 g, fresh hawthorn 15 g. No dosage specified. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula by Ma Jifu clears heat and detoxifies, transforms stasis, and disperses nodules.
[Formula Eleven]
Five geckos, 500 ml white wine. Place wine in tin pot, add geckos, ready to consume after two days. Take 10 ml each time (slowly suck), before breakfast, lunch, and dinner, half an hour prior.This formula removes stasis, reduces swelling, suitable for complete obstruction due to esophageal pain.
[Formula Twelve]
Centipede 15 g, centipede 2 pieces, mountain monkshood 20 g, half branch lotus 20 g, codonopsis 20 g, pinellia 10 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally, seven doses constitute one course.
This formula tonifies qi, activates blood, detoxifies, and resolves phlegm, suitable for difficulty swallowing in esophageal cancer.
[Formula Thirteen]
Citrus aurantium 30 g, dry lacquer (roasted) 6 g, five-lingzhi 18 g, cyperus 15 g, alum 18 g, crane grass 18 g, nitre 18 g, processed strychnine 12 g. Grind into fine powder, mix with water to form pills; take 1.5–6 g each time, three times monthly, swallowed with warm water.
This formula breaks up hard masses, suitable for esophageal cancer.
[Formula Fourteen]
Codonopsis 12 g, ophiopogon 15 g, yam 15 g, raw hematite 31 g, anemarrhena 10 g, American ginseng 10 g, angelica 10 g, processed pinellia 10 g, lycium berry 10 g, winter melon seed 10 g, earthworm 10 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula tonifies qi, transforms phlegm, activates blood, suitable for esophageal cancer.
[Formula Fifteen]
Half branch lotus 30 g, white flower snake tongue grass 30 g, liguori 30 g, golden Buddha grass 10 g, hematite 30 g (decoct first), bupleurum 10 g, costus 10 g, cyperus 10 g, scorched citrus aurantium 10 g, adenosma 10 g, ophiopogon 10 g, scrophularia 10 g, processed pinellia 10 g, salvia 10 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula tonifies qi, activates blood, detoxifies, and resolves stasis, suitable for esophageal cancer patients.
[Formula Sixteen]
Processed pinellia 60–120 g, ginseng 15–20 g, clematis 40 g, hematite 40 g, kelp 10 g, seaweed 10 g, winter melon peel 10 g, salvia 10 g, angelica 10 g, coix seed 10 g, tricorne 15 g, curcuma 15 g, silkworm pupa 12 g, cyperus 12 g, pinellia 12 g. Decoct three times, combine liquid, add honey 100–200 ml, Yunnan Baiyao 4 g (dissolved in two portions). Drink frequently, finish within 1–2 days. After taking, if loose stools occur, reduce honey, angelica, and winter melon peel dosage, increase atractylodes.
This formula tonifies qi, activates blood, transforms phlegm, and disperses nodules, suitable for esophageal cancer patients.
[Formula Seventeen]
Isatis root 30 g, cat's eye herb 30 g, artificial buffalo horn 6 g, realgar 3 g, clematis 60 g, processed pinellia 30 g. Prepare the above herbs into a dry extract powder; take 5 fen each time, four times daily.
This formula clears heat and detoxifies, resolves phlegm, suitable for esophageal cancer.
[Formula Eighteen]
Realgar 2.7 g, kelp 15 g, seaweed 15 g, cardamom 9 g, plum 3 pieces, white flower snake tongue grass 120 g, half branch lotus 60 g. One dose per day, decocted twice and divided for consumption.
This formula detoxifies, softens hardness, and disperses nodules, suitable for esophageal cancer.
[Formula Nineteen]
Borax 60 g, nitre 30 g, realgar 6 g, cinnabar 15 g, agarwood 9 g, borneol 9 g.
Grind into fine powder, prepare as a powder; take 1 g each time, dissolve slowly and swallow, every 30 minutes to 1 hour, continue until mucus is expelled, then reduce to every 3 hours when able to eat, continue for two days then stop.
This formula detoxifies, transforms phlegm, and disperses nodules, suitable for esophageal tumor.
[Formula Twenty]
Pericarpium citri reticulatae 12 g, processed pinellia 12 g, sandalwood 12 g, salvia 30 g, magnolia bark 12 g, tricorne 13 g, belamcanda 30 g, citrus aurantium 12 g, evodia 5 g, coptis 12 g, rhubarb 7 g, white芷 7 g, cardamom 6 g, licorice 5 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula from Dr. Wang Wenhan of Tianjin Traditional Chinese Medicine, functions to regulate qi, transform phlegm, activate blood, and disperse nodules, suitable for esophageal cancer.
[Formula Twenty-One]
Octopus root 10 g, eight-leaf vine 30 g, blister beetle 15 g, half branch lotus 15 g, salvia 12 g, green wood incense 10 g, fresh hawthorn 12 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula from Anqing People's Hospital, Anhui Province, for treating esophageal cancer, functions to regulate qi, activate blood, and transform phlegm.
[Formula Twenty-Two]
Pinellia 12 g, codonopsis 12 g, cloves 3 g, hematite 24 g, perilla stem 15 g, spina gynura 15 g, bamboo shavings 15 g, solomon's seal 30 g, white thorn 15 g, strawberry 15 g, half branch lotus 15 g, dragon claw 15 g. One dose per day, decocted and divided into two servings.
This formula from Wuhan Commercial Staff Hospital for treating esophageal pain, functions to descend qi, transform phlegm, detoxify, and disperse nodules.
[Formula Twenty-Three]
Codonopsis 12 g, astragalus 15 g, white atractylodes 15 g, poria 15 g, pericarpium citri reticulatae 9 g, pinellia 9 g, cardamom 10 g, licorice 6 g, ginger 3 slices, jujube 5 pieces. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula from "Comprehensive Guide to Integrated Chinese-Western Oncology" functions to warm and supplement spleen-kidney, tonify qi, and restore yang, suitable for esophageal cancer with qi deficiency and yang deficiency pattern.
[Formula Twenty-Four]
Danggui 15 g, hangzhou peony root 15 g, bupleurum 10 g, scorched white atractylodes 10 g, poria 15 g, cyperus 12 g, belamcanda rhizome 10 g, prunella 30 g, white mustard seed 10 g, silkworm pupa 10 g, whole scorpion 3 g, spina gynura 10 g, hematite 30 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula originates from "Comprehensive Treatise on Diagnosis and Treatment in Traditional Chinese Surgery," which soothes liver qi and softens hardness, disperses nodules, suitable for esophageal pain.
[Formula Twenty-Five]
Borax 80 g, realgar 20 g, sanqi 20 g, borneol 30 g, processed strychnine 6 g, crane grass 30 g. Grind into fine powder; take four times daily, 10 g each time, one course lasts 10 days, then reduce to twice daily, 10 g each time, to consolidate efficacy.
This formula from Henan Lin County Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Tumor Research, functions to activate blood, open the diaphragm, detoxify, and disperse nodules, effective for esophageal tumor.
[Formula Twenty-Six]
Danggui 20 g, safflower 10 g, peach kernel 10 g, pangolin scale 10 g, wine-processed rhubarb 10 g, codonopsis 30 g, asparagus 15 g, raw hematite 30 g, chuanxiong 15 g, pinellia 15 g, ophiopogon 30 g, anemarrhena 15 g, persimmon frost 10 g, half branch lotus 30 g, dried toad skin 10 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, which activates blood circulation, removes stasis, tonifies and detoxifies, effective for esophageal cancer.
[Formula Twenty-Seven]
Rehmannia 15 g, red peony root 15 g, moutan bark 15 g, lycium berry 30 g, cornus fruit 10 g, pig and poria 15 g, dogwood bark 15 g, stonecrop 15 g, American ginseng 20 g, white flower snake tongue grass 30 g, half branch lotus 30 g, dried toad skin 10 g, scrophularia 15 g, anemarrhena 15 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine for treating esophageal cancer, which nourishes yin, clears heat, strengthens constitution, and detoxifies, suitable for esophageal cancer with heat-toxin injuring yin pattern.
[Formula Twenty-Eight]
Raw and processed astragalus 30 g each, ginseng (or codonopsis) 10 g, licorice 10 g, wine-processed rhubarb 10 g, angelica 15 g, citrus aurantium 10 g, areca nut 10 g, half branch lotus 30 g, safflower 10 g, realgar 1.5 g, pinellia 15 g, white mustard seed 10 g, dried toad skin 10 g. Decocted and taken orally, one dose per day.
This formula from "Comprehensive Treatise on Surgical Treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine," which strengthens spleen and qi, eliminates phlegm, and detoxifies, suitable for esophageal cancer with spleen deficiency and phlegm-dampness pattern.
[Formula Twenty-Nine]
Danggui 15 g, raw and processed astragalus 30 g, eucommia 10 g, raw yam 40 g, cornus fruit 10 g, pig and poria 30 g, chicken blood vine 30 g, raw and cooked rehmannia 15 g each, wintergreen herb 20 g, stone see-through 15 g, silkworm pupa 10 g, earthworm 15 g, processed softshell turtle shell 30 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, which tonifies qi and blood, strengthens spleen and kidney, suitable for esophageal cancer with qi-blood deficiency.
[Formula Thirty]
Euphorbia 100 g, gecko 50 g, (use live gecko 10 pieces and tin block 50 g in summer), toad skin 50 g, yellow wine 1000 ml. Soak herbs in yellow wine, seal tightly, stir twice daily, soak for 5–7 days, filter and let settle for two days, then take orally. Take 20–50 ml each time, three times daily. When able to eat, add 2 g gecko powder and 1 g toad skin powder per serving.
This formula from "Integrated Treatment of Tumors with Chinese and Western Medicine," which activates blood and detoxifies, suitable for esophageal cancer.
[Formula Thirty-One]
Codonopsis 50 g, northern sand ginseng 50 g, white atractylodes 50 g, cloves 50 g, sandalwood 50 g, cardamom 50 g, malt 50 g, green tangerine peel 50 g, pericarpium citri reticulatae 50 g, agarwood 50 g, magnolia bark 50 g, patchouli 50 g, processed pinellia 50 g, peach kernel 50 g, tuberous bellflower 50 g, salvia 50 g, blister beetle 50 g, safflower 50 g, angelica 50 g, beehive 50 g, sheep horn 50 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula from "Integrated Oncology of Chinese and Western Medicine," which regulates qi, transforms phlegm, activates blood, and removes stasis, effective for esophageal cancer.
[Formula Thirty-Two]
Yellow-haired eargrass 15 g, stone see-through 15 g, half branch lotus 15 g, clematis 15 g, burr dock 15 g, orange leaf 15 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally, three times daily.
This formula from "Differential Diagnosis and Treatment of Tumors," which clears heat and detoxifies, softens hardness, and disperses nodules.
[Formula Thirty-Three]
Winter melon 30 g, zhejiang bulrush 30 g, processed pinellia 30 g, tangerine red 30 g, half branch lotus 20 g, belamcanda 20 g, white atractylodes 20 g, raw coix seed 10 g, beehive 10 g, cardamom 10 g, wine-processed rhubarb 10 g, coptis 6 g, gallbladder pinellia 15 g, spina gynura (wrapped) 15 g. One dose per day, decocted and taken orally.
This formula from Dr. Chuan Shulin for treating esophageal tumor with damp-phlegm coagulation, which dries dampness, transforms phlegm, and opens the chest.
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