Chinese Medicine Treatment for Liver Cancer

  Chinese medicine treatment of liver cancer can be broadly classified into early, middle and late stages.  The principles of treatment can be pointed out in the chapter of “The Essential Readings of the Medical Doctor”: “In the beginning, when the disease starts, the positive qi is still strong and the evil qi is still shallow, it is subject to attack; in the middle, when the disease has been suffering for a long time, the evil qi is deeper and the positive qi is weaker, it is subject to both attack and supplement; in the end, when the disease is prolonged, the evil qi is invasive and the positive qi is disabled, it is subject to supplement.” According to the above principles, in the treatment, at first, it is advisable to move Qi, invigorate Blood, eliminate Y and disperse knots, then both attack and tonic should be applied, after that, the main method is to dredge the liver and strengthen the spleen, and support the righteousness to eliminate evil. The typology of liver cancer is as follows: 1. Liver depression and spleen deficiency type mainly manifests as epigastric mass, abdominal distension and abdominal pain; poor appetite, worse after eating; tiredness and weakness, emaciation, loose stools; dark red or fatty light tongue with tooth marks on the side, thin white moss and thin pulse. The treatment is to dredge the liver and strengthen the spleen, eliminate accumulation and disperse the knots. The formula is Chai Hu Dredging Liver San combined with Ginseng Ling Bai Zhu San plus and minus. The formula is as follows: Chai Hu 12 grams, Bai Shao 12 grams, Yun Ling 12 grams, Dang Shen 24 grams, Atractylodes Macrocephalae 15 grams, Sheng Coix Seed 30 grams, Yu Jin 12 grams, August Zha 15 grams, Mu Xiang 6 grams, Nei Jin 6 grams, Licorice 6 grams, Seven-leaved Flower 15 grams.  2, qi knotted blood stasis type mainly manifested as epigastric lump is obvious, pressed hard, pain is fixed, even the pain leads to the waist and back, more intense at night, the tongue is purple and dark, the side tip has petechiae spots petechiae, moss is thin yellow, pulse is smooth or thin and astringent. The treatment is to regulate Qi, relieve pain, eliminate blood stasis and eliminate Y. The formula is Di Di Xie Xie Yu Tang with addition and subtraction. The formula is as follows: Angelica sinensis 12g, Chuanxiong rhizome 6g, Tao Ren 12g, Dampi 12g, Red peony 15g, Citrus aurantium 12g, Chai Hu 12g, Roasted turtle nail 15g, Xu Changqing 15g, Yuan Hu 12g, Tian Qi tablets 12g, and Shi Mianduan 15g.  3. Damp-heat type of liver and gallbladder mainly manifests as distension and fullness of the stomach and abdomen, fever and sweating, tiredness and weakness, dry mouth and bitterness, nausea and dullness, or yellow body and eyes, yellow urine, red tongue, yellow greasy coating and slippery pulse. Treatment is to clear heat and dampness, detoxify and eliminate stagnation. The formula is Yin Chen Artemisia Tang with reduction. Shenyin Chen 20 grams, Gardenia 12 grams, Rhubarb 12 grams, Coix Seed 30 grams, Tiger Balm 15 grams, Cyperus rotundus 20 grams, White Fescue 20 grams, Pig’s ling 15 grams, White Flower and Snake Tongue 30 grams, August Zha 15 grams, Seven-leaved Flower 15 grams, Danshen 12 grams.  4, liver and kidney yin deficiency type mainly manifested as physical emaciation, fatigue, dull pain in the ribs or abdominal distension such as drums, exposure of tendons, poor appetite, etc.; dry mouth and little fluid, tender red tongue, little or no moss, thin or fine pulse. The treatment is to benefit Qi and nourish Yin, nourish the liver and tonify the kidney. The formula is based on Consistent Decoction with Addition and Reduction.   Since liver cancer is a systemic disease with complex symptoms and many changes, treatment should be holistic and combined with Chinese and Western medicine to eliminate chronic diseases by all means.