Pituitary adenomas, a group of tumors originating from cells in the anterior and posterior pituitary lobes and the epithelial remnants of the craniopharyngeal duct, are common benign tumors with a general population incidence of 1 per 100,000 [1]. Pituitary adenomas account for approximately 10% to 20% of primary intracranial tumors [2], second only to gliomas and meningiomas. It often causes endocrine disorders and neurological dysfunction in the body, such as headache, vision loss, visual field defects, diplopia, menopause, overflow of breast, and infertility. Modern medical treatment for pituitary tumors mainly includes surgery, radiation therapy and drug therapy, but various postoperative complications are troubling [3], radiation therapy can cause hypopituitarism, radiation brain necrosis, damage to cranial nerves and even induce secondary malignant tumors, and drug therapy is slow to work and requires lifelong medication, which is expensive and increases the economic burden of patients [4], so more and more people turn to TCM treatment. Studies have shown that TCM has achieved good efficacy in the treatment of pituitary tumors, both in the treatment of the primary disease and in the treatment of postoperative functional recovery, and this paper is reviewed as follows. Pituitary tumor belongs to the category of “brain tumor” in Chinese medicine. There is no clear record of brain tumor in ancient Chinese medical texts, but according to its clinical manifestations and morbidity characteristics, it can be classified as “headache”, “head wind”, “blue blindness” [5], “true headache”, and “visual tumor” in Chinese medicine, “true headache”, “dimness of vision”, “wind-drawn hemianopia”, “ptosis”, “lid wasting “[6], “Y-accumulation” [7], “epilepsy”, “stroke”, “vertigo “, “deficiency labor” [8], “amenorrhea”, “breast weeping” [9] and other categories. According to Dong Xinghe [10], the pathogenesis of this disease is liver and kidney yin deficiency and internal movement of liver wind. According to Zhang Qiujuan [11], this disease is mostly due to congenital deficiency of endowment, deficiency of liver and kidney, loss of nourishment of the brain marrow, acquired spleen and stomach disorders, deficiency of qi and blood, internal growth of phlegm and phlegm stagnation, intertwined causes and effects, and mixed deficiency and reality. Wang Pei [12] pointed out that the main pathogenesis of brain tumor is kidney deficiency, and if the kidney is deficient, the medulla will lose nourishment; the liver and kidney are of the same origin, so kidney deficiency is also liver deficiency, and the liver wind moves internally; in addition, phlegm and turbidity disturb the clear orifices and block the brain ligaments, resulting in the accumulation of phlegm and stasis in the brain. According to Zhou Zhongying [13], the pathogenesis of brain tumor is based on deficiency of liver and kidney. According to Zhou Daihan [14], phlegm is responsible for the development of cancer. The phlegm enters the brain through the meridians, and the wind carries the phlegm to the brain and takes advantage of the deficiency to block the clear orifices, which eventually leads to brain tumor. Zhang Daizhao [15] pointed out that phlegm and dampness condense into lumps and accumulate in the brain. According to Yan Qianlin [16], this disease belongs to the evidence of original deficiency and symptomatic reality, and the original deficiency is mostly due to deficiency of qi and yin, while the symptomatic reality is mostly due to the intersection of phlegm, stagnation and heat. In summary, brain tumor is located in the brain and is a lesion of the medulla oblongata. The formation of brain tumor includes both internal and external causes. The external causes are mainly the external infection of the six evil spirits, the dysfunction of the internal organs, the stagnation of qiqi, the transformation of phlegm into stasis, and the development of Y accumulation over time. The pathogenesis is mainly due to the interaction of phlegm and dampness, qi stagnation, blood stasis, wind, fire and toxin, which is a deficiency of the origin and a deficiency of the symptoms. At present, there is no unified classification standard for pituitary tumors. Zhang Shubiao [7] considered that pituitary tumor complicated by headache and dizziness is the type of phlegm and stasis, so it is appropriate to activate blood circulation and dispel blood stasis, disperse nodules and eliminate phlegm, and use Blood Mansions and Stasis Soup plus or minus; it is considered that prolactinoma patients with actinic nerve palsy and overflow of milk is the type of deficiency of both qi and blood, so it is appropriate to benefit qi and nourish yin, strengthen the spleen and activate blood; it is considered that pituitary cyst postoperative edema is the type of yang deficiency and water flooding, so it is appropriate to warm yang and promote water, and the formula is Zen Wu Tang plus or minus. Pan Wenkui [17] divided pituitary tumors into three types of evidence: the type with congestion of kidney essence, which is treated with the combination of diarrhea of kidney soup and Da Cheng Qi Tang from Qian Jin Fang, which is a remedy to stop the disease in the middle, and supplemented with agents to support the righteousness; the type with deficiency of liver and kidney yin, which is mainly treated with Yue Rong Sheng Jing Tang, using Cuscuta sinensis, Cistanches, Huang Jing, Sheng Di, Cinnamon or Qiju Di Huang Tang with addition and subtraction; the type with deficiency of spleen and kidney yang, which is treated with warming yang, benefiting qi and tonifying the spleen and kidney, with the combination of Jin Kui Kidney Qi and Yue Rong Sheng Jing Tang. Zhang Heng [18] et al. classified lactogenic pituitary adenoma into phlegm-damp internal obstruction type, spleen-kidney yang deficiency type, qi-blood deficiency type, and liver-kidney yin deficiency type, with tiannanxing, ginger galangal, trigonella, curcuma longa, seaweed, kombu, raw oyster, corrugated seeds, shishi mianduan, and chuanxiong as the basic formula, with dangceng, baijiao, and yam added for qi deficiency, xianmao, xianling spleen, and cistanches added for yang deficiency, and shengdi, saxifrage, and maitong added for yin deficiency. For low menstrual flow, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Safflower, Peach kernel, etc., and for breast overflow, Cyperus rotundus, Fried wheat sprouts, etc. Feng Guangrong [19] divided amenorrhea and lactation syndrome into liver-depression and qi stagnation type, liver-kidney deficiency type, phlegm-dampness congestion type, and qi-blood weakness type, among which patients with phlegm-dampness congestion type can find micro-pituitary tumors on cranial CT examination. The formula is based on the addition and subtraction of the formula for phlegm-removal soup: hemihsia, biliary nansing, hedgehog, poria, Chenpi, calamus, white mustard seed, tiger scepter, raw rhubarb, lotus leaf, motherwort, peach kernel, safflower, wangburen, and soapberry. Shen Minhe [20] treated a case of brain tumor caused by pituitary tumor with dizziness and dizziness caused by phlegm and dampness, and the treatment was based on the source of phlegm, so the treatment was based on the middle jiao, strengthening the spleen and dispelling dampness, resolving phlegm and quenching wind. Prescription: 9g each of asparagus and peach kernel, 30g each of atractylodes, rhizome and white fresh peel, 12g each of bamboo and sesame, 15g each of Chen Pi, Poria, Eucommia, mistletoe, and yu li ren, and 6g of sand kernel (later). Xu Xin [21] divided pituitary microadenoma into: liver qi stagnation evidence, the treatment is appropriate to dredge the liver to relieve depression, soften the liver and ease the urgency, commonly used Chai Hu, malt, Xia Gu Cao, Yu Jin, green calyx plum, peony, licorice, etc.; liver The treatment should be to clear the liver and relieve fire, subdue the rebellion, commonly used gardenia, peony skin, hedgehog, hooked vine, scutellaria, dragon bone, oyster, etc., with psychological guidance; kidney essence deficiency, the treatment should be to nourish the kidney and benefit the essence, cultivate the lower yuan, glory through the brain complex, commonly used mulberry, sanguinaria, chasteberry, codonopsis, dulcimer, dogwood, bone marrow and other flat tonic but not nourishing products; qi and blood deficiency and stagnation, the treatment should be to nourish the qi and blood, accompanied by In case of deficiency of both qi and blood and stagnation, the treatment is to tonify qi and nourish blood, accompanied by activating blood circulation and resolving blood stasis to prevent stagnation due to deficiency. Xu Juxiu [22] et al. used the method of eliminating stasis and resolving phlegm, together with fostering and tonifying the kidney herbs to treat pituitary tumors causing dizziness and head swelling, diminished visual acuity and narrowed visual field, and achieved certain recent results. Meng Jie [23] treated 93 cases of brain tumors, including 31 cases of pituitary tumors, mainly by extinguishing wind and clearing heat, resolving phlegm and dispersing nodules, eliminating blood stasis, and tonifying the liver and kidney. The main drugs used were: whole scorpion, centipede, danshen, Chuanxiong, stiff silkworm, dilong, hemihsia, hooked vine, atractylodes, borneol, asparagus, ephedra, tiannanxing, tianquanzi, xiaququan, maidenhair, wolfberry, etc. For visual impairment, Li Ren, Celosia argentea, Mimong Hua, Shijiazhuang, Dendrobium luminosum, etc. were selected and added; for headache, Ligustrum lucidum, Cranberry, Angelica dahurica, Chrysanthemum, etc. were added. The results confirmed that the efficiency of TCM treatment for pituitary adenoma was 100%. Wang Wen [24] et al. treated one case of pituitary adenoma, according to the patient’s symptoms and signs, the early pathogenesis was loss of spleen health, phlegm and turbidity in obstruction, and the formula used Han Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang to strengthen the spleen and resolve phlegm, lower the rebellion and stop vomiting; in the later stage, the patient’s qi deficiency was obvious, so the formula used Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San plus flavor to remove wind and disperse congestion to relieve pain, and supplemented with qi to fight evil. Brain tumor is divided into: phlegm-dampness internal obstruction type, the treatment should be to dispel phlegm and remove dampness, facilitate the brain and open the orifice, the formula uses self-designed phlegm-clearing brain soup (Tu Fu Ling, Sheng Shi Fa, Hooked Vine, Wild Chrysanthemum, Perilla, Poria, Corrugated Seed, etc.); qi stagnation and blood stasis type, the treatment is to activate blood stasis, regulate qi and open the ligaments, the formula uses self-designed blood-clearing brain soup (Tu Fu Ling, Sheng Shi Fa, Huai Niu Kne, Dan Shen, Jiao Shan Zha, Yu Jin, Tao Ren, Hong Hua, etc.); heat and toxin accumulation type, the treatment should be The formula is self-designed to cool the blood and clear the brain (Fu Ling, Bai Mao Root, Sheng Shi Fu, Han Shui Shi, Sheng Di, Jin Yin Hua, Pan Lan Gen, etc.); the liver and wind type, to calm the liver and quench the wind, clear the brain, the formula is self-designed to calm the liver and clear the brain (Fu Ling, Sheng Shi Fu, Shi Decis, Huai Niu Knee, Tian Ma, Hooked Vine, etc.); the liver and kidney yin deficiency type, it is appropriate to nourish the liver and kidney, soft and eliminate the tumor, the formula is Qie Ju Di Huang Tang plus or minus. In the literature on the treatment of pituitary tumors, some physicians have summarized a fixed formula based on their own experience and added or subtracted with the evidence or made it into a ready-to-use medicine, with satisfactory clinical efficacy. Chen Silan [8] et al. used Jin Kui Kidney Qi Wan combined with Tao Ren Si Wu Tang with addition and subtraction to treat a case of postoperative pituitary tumor, which was identified as a deficiency of spleen and kidney yang and internal obstruction of phlegm and stasis, with definite efficacy. Shen Yannan [26] treated pituitary microadenoma based on the proposed Qing Shang Zhen Pain-relieving Tang, and flexibly used the combination of De-Liver and Stomach Soup, Prosperity San, Chen Xia Liu Jun Wan and Wu Bei San to treat the pituitary microadenoma with additional reduction according to the symptoms. With the treatment of phlegm and elimination of blood stasis as the main method, we developed a Chinese herbal compound preparation for pituitary tumors, the “Pendant Ning Formula”, which is composed of Jiang Hanxia, Nanxing, Sanliao, Curcuma, Fu Ling, and Chuanxiong, with the addition and subtraction of symptoms on the basis of disease identification and psychological relief. Li Ying [28] believed that pituitary tumors were mostly due to qi stagnation and blood stasis, emotional and mental disorders, liver qi stagnation, and phlegm and dampness internal growth, and treated two patients with pituitary tumors with self-prepared chipping and stasis-removing soup (Dan Shen, Zhe Bei Mu, Yu Jin, Han Zhi Lian, Bai Hua Serpentine, Yuan Shen, Tian Dong, Mai Dong, Wu Wei Zi, Fructus, Shuang Hua Vine, Angelica, Hang Shao, Chuan Xiong, Gan Cao, and Long Qi), and the pituitary tumors shrank significantly with remarkable effects. Luo Songping [29] treated pituitary microadenoma causing menstrual disorders and believed that the key to the pathogenesis was liver depression, so the treatment should be to de-stress the liver, soften the liver and regulate menstruation, and the main formula was based on prolotherapy with the use of wheat sprouts and the addition of a small amount of phlegm-opening and sedative drugs, such as calamus, sericea, Yuan Zhi and hooked vine. Chen Maowu [30] used a formula for brain tumor, which consisted of cow’s tail, deer antler grass, Yindi fern, safflower, and stiffness, and added pepper for pituitary tumor and wolfberry and chrysanthemum for visual impairment. Shanshan Shang [31] believed that the pathogenesis of this disease is mainly liver depression and spleen deficiency, so the treatment highlights the draining of the liver and strengthening the spleen, with a specific formula composed of Chai Hu, Ge Gen, Angelica sinensis, Bai Shao, fried Atractylodes, Tu Fu Ling, raw fried wheat sprouts, peony peel, mountain gardenia, peppermint, ginger, and roasted licorice. Li Zengzhan [32] applied the addition and subtraction of Plus Flavor Ju Ming Tang (Wild Chrysanthemum, Grass Cassia, Forsythia, Raw Oyster, Raw Astragalus, Poria, White Fleece Root, Mucuna Pruriens, Corrugated Fruit, White Peony, Sandalwood Root, Beehive, and Whole Scorpion) to treat 46 patients with brain tumors, and the result was an effective rate of 78%. Hou Zheng Shi [33] made his own detoxification and anti-tumor pills (musk 0, 1g, a little rice wine, 30g each of Panax ginseng, alum, bitter ginseng and goose plume charcoal, refined honey pills), 30g per day, and 30g of yellow flowers, with the addition of Zhen Wu Tang. 4. Acupuncture Acupuncture treatment includes traditional acupuncture, head acupuncture, moxibustion, ear acupuncture, etc. And acupuncture has its unique advantages in treating diseases of the optic nerve system, and is more effective in improving visual acuity and blurred vision. Hu Jun [34] reported a case of postoperative blindness after pituitary tumor treated with acupuncture taught by Li Ping: twisting diarrhea with Fengfu, without retaining needles; supplemented by Yin Tang, Shang Xing, Shuigou diarrhea; Fengchi, Cataract, Finish Bone twisting and tonic; local acupuncture points: Jingming, Zanzhu, Chengobu, flat tonic and flat diarrhea; Neiguan, Sanyinjiao, Taixi, Foot Sanli, Guangming flat tonic and flat diarrhea; Sun, Hegu, Zhongzhu, Taichong, Touwei, Foot Linobu diarrhea. Light perception was restored after 40 d of acupuncture; vision was restored after six months of acupuncture, which was seen manually. Liu Yifan et al [35] used acupuncture combined with foot therapy to treat blurred vision and dizziness in a case of pituitary tumor, and selected Shenting, Zanzhu, Zhonggu, Waiguan, Hangzhong, Sun, and Taichong as the main acupuncture points, together with Baihui, Fengchi, and other optional points for acupuncture, with flat tonification and flat diarrhea; foot therapy was selected from the basic reflex zones (kidney, bladder, ureter) and other reflex zones, twice a week for 6 courses of treatment. 1 year later, the restoration of the four inons placed posthumous vice The patient had migraine headache and foul odor at the time of nose, and acupuncture was applied to Shenting, Baihui, Feet Three Miles, and Sanyinjiao as the main points, and Zhonggui, Hegu, Guangyuan, Zi Gong, and Blood Sea as the supporting points, once every other day, alternating with acupuncture. Chinese herbal medicine was given in the form of Liu Wei Di Huang Tang with Chai Hu 10g, Bai Shao 15g, Citrus Aurantium 10g, Xiang Xiang Shen 10g, and Man Jing Zi 10g, 1 dose every other day with water decoction. After 3 times of acupuncture and 3 doses of medicine, the mental state improved significantly and confidence increased; after 7 times of acupuncture and 7 doses of medicine, the headache disappeared and the nasal odor was reduced. Continue acupuncture 9 times, and with the internal consumption of Chinese medicine, the effect of consolidation, no recurrence. 5. Combination of Chinese and Western medicine Dong Xinghe [10], on the basis of conventional treatment of pituitary tumor in Western medicine, decocted Chinese medicine Qiju Dihuang Tang with hooked vine, whole scorpion and centipede from the first day of radiation therapy, resulting in complete remission in 26 cases out of 38 patients, accounting for 68,42%; partial remission in 8 cases, accounting for 21,05%; and ineffective in 4 cases (one case of lost visit was calculated as ineffective). Ling Cong [37] et al. treated pituitary prolactin microadenoma with bromocriptine together with Chinese herbal medicine, which was based on tonifying the kidneys and strengthening the spleen and regulating the flushing and the reigns, and took internal experimental prescriptions: Cuscuta, Sambucus, Cornus, Huai Shan Yao, Atractylodes, Yun Ling, Bai Shao, Mai Mai Mai, Aromatic Herb, and Roasted Licorice, and the results confirmed that the cure rate of the combined Chinese and Western medicine treatment group was 72%, which was much higher than that of the bromocriptine group alone, which was 48%, and was more effective in improving menstruation and promoting pregnancy than the bromocriptine group alone. The results confirmed that the cure rate in the combined Chinese and Western medicine group was 72%, much higher than that in the bromocriptine group alone (48%), and better than the bromocriptine group alone in improving menstruation and promoting pregnancy. Zhu Yuqing [38] treated a patient with hypopituitarism after radiotherapy for pituitary tumor. Due to the patient’s allergy to hormonal drugs, he was given intravenous glycyrrhizic acid monoamine solution 80 mg twice daily and oral licorice decoction. Yu Rencun [39] treated pituitary tumor with postoperative radiotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine, suggesting that phlegm and blood stasis coalesce and form tumor masses, obstructing the veins and channels, inducing liver wind, injuring yin and damaging yang, so the treatment pays special attention to replenishing qi and yin, supporting the root, complementing with resolving phlegm and softening hardness, activating blood and opening the channels. The formula uses prunus ginseng, yellow essence, southern ginseng, dendrobium, lady’s mantle, wolfberry, mimulus flower, mountain cichlid mushroom, fu ling, curcuma, and danshen. Peng Fazhong [40] used bromelain with Chinese herbal medicine to treat pituitary tumor complicated by uropathy by benefiting the qi and strengthening the spleen and nourishing the kidney and nourishing the yin, using Radix Codonopsis pilosulae, Rhizoma Yam, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Poria, Grain bud, Semen malt, Jujube, Chen wheat, Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum, Radix et Rhizoma gingivalis, Chen Pi, Roasted licorice, and Radix ginger and Semen. Zhai Fan [41] used traditional Chinese medicine to treat two cases of recurrent pituitary tumors after surgery plus radiotherapy, which were identified as deficiency of both qi and yin, and phlegm and stasis blocking the ligaments. The treatment was based on tonifying qi and yin, supplemented with resolving phlegm and softening hardness, invigorating blood and opening the ligaments, which not only made the patient’s headache and other conscious symptoms disappear, but also enhanced physical fitness and significantly reduced the size of the tumor. At present, western medical treatment of pituitary tumor mainly includes surgery, radiotherapy and medication, but surgery is difficult to completely remove part of the tumor, or is prone to residual and recurrence, while the toxic side effects of conventional radiotherapy and medication have been a problem that plagues the medical profession. Chinese medicine and acupuncture have unique advantages in the treatment of this disease. Early application of Chinese medicine can expand the scope of surgical adaptation and reduce surgical complications, thus creating positive and favorable conditions for surgery; and postoperatively, Chinese medicine and acupuncture can also be applied to regulate the whole body, treating to benefit qi, invigorate blood, detoxify and disperse nodules, such as tonic yang and return five soup, peach red four and five soup [42], etc., to remove residual tumor cells and control the growth rate of tumor cells to a certain extent The treatment can reduce the toxic side effects of radiotherapy and drug therapy, improve patients’ quality of life, and prolong their lives. For those who cannot be operated for various reasons, conservative treatment with TCM can control the development of the disease, relieve local symptoms, improve the quality of life and improve the prognosis to a certain extent. It is believed that in the near future, research on the combined treatment of pituitary tumors with Chinese and Western medicine will gain new breakthroughs.