Today, traditional Chinese medicine is widely used in the clinical treatment of tumors. Alleviating the toxic and side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, prolonging the survival period of patients, and improving the quality of life are the unique achievements of traditional Chinese medicine in treating tumors.

 

However, many people still have doubts about the treatment of tumors with traditional Chinese medicine.

 

On the evening of April 14, Shuanghong Shen, an associate professor of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and an expert of traditional Chinese medicine at Guoyi Tang, popularized the concept of traditional Chinese medicine to treat tumors and how to use traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and treat tumors scientifically in the live broadcast room of "Sharing Viewpoints of Famous Doctors" of the 4th "Co-construction & Sharing for the Health of All" Action.

 

Principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treating Tumors

 

Focus on strengthening healthy qi and reduce the use of drugs that harm healthy qi

 

"Western medicine treats tumors like weeding; traditional Chinese medicine treats tumors like changing the soil."

 

Both traditional Chinese and Western medicine have their own strengths. The characteristic of traditional Chinese medicine is "treatment upon syndrome differentiation", which advocates reducing the use of drugs that harm healthy qi; it focuses on "strengthening healthy qi", that is, improving the body's resistance, allowing healthy qi to reach a certain level so that healthy and pathogenic qi in the body can reach a balanced state and enable the patient to live with cancer.

 

"Once a patient is diagnosed with cancer, traditional Chinese medicine can follow up the treatment simultaneously."

 

When talking about the timing of TCM intervention in tumor treatment, Professor Shen emphasized that TCM treatment can be carried out simultaneously before and after surgery, before and after chemoradiotherapy, and before and after targeted therapy. In this whole process, traditional Chinese medicine can play a role in strengthening healthy qi and regulating the dynamic balance of the in vivo environment.

 

 

"Before the surgery, you can use Fuzheng Anti-Tumor Prescription to shrink the tumor and reduce the blood supply of the tumor so that the effect of the surgical excision is better; after the surgery, the effect of traditional Chinese medicine in strengthening the healthy qi can promote rehabilitation; in the long run, traditional Chinese medicine can reduce tumor recurrence and metastasis".

 

What is the theory of nourishing yin for febrile diseases in traditional Chinese medicine?

 

First of all, what is febrile disease?

 

Both heat diseases and infectious diseases can be called febrile diseases. The treatment of febrile diseases focuses on protecting body fluid, that is, "nourishing yin".

 

 

According to traditional Chinese medicine, "body fluid represents vitality", which shows the importance of nourishing yin. However, during the course of the disease, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, tumor patients suffer from a serious deficiency of healthy qi, especially damage to yin. Therefore, the theory of tumor treatment about nourishing yin for febrile diseases came into being.

 

During the live broadcast, Professor Shen shared three basic prescriptions that are commonly used in tumor treatment, including Hedyotis diffusa, Astragalus membranaceus, and Ganoderma lucidum, all of which are effective in inducing tumor apoptosis, inhibiting tumor cell growth, and enhancing immunity. Professor Shen said, "Fuzheng Anti-tumor Prescription has been made into a Chinese patent medicine, which is more convenient to take."

 

 

 

What role does Ganoderma lucidum play in cancer treatment?

 

"Today, Ganoderma lucidum is widely used in the treatment of tumors". Professor Shen introduced that Shennong Materia Medica records that Ganoderma lucidum is mild in nature, and is often used for disquieted heart spirit, insomnia, palpitations, deficiency taxation, shortness of breath, and poor appetite.

 

We all know that Ganoderma lucidum has certain positive effects in treating tumors. How does Ganoderma lucidum assist in the treatment of tumors?

 

 

If there is a sufficient blood supply for tumor cells, tumor cells will be irrigated with nutrition all the time, "Ganoderma lucidum can inhibit tumor angiogenesis, inhibit tumor drug resistance, promote tumor cell self-apoptosis, replenish healthy qi, and enhance cellular and humoral immunity. It can be said that it is comprehensive to use Ganoderma lucidum for multi-target adjuvant therapy of tumors."

 

When talking about how to choose Ganoderma lucidum products, Professor Shen introduced that the Ganoderma lucidum extract contains the complete Ganoderma lucidum essence, and the sporoderm-broken Ganoderma lucidum spore powder is good for the human body to absorb, but the specific selection of Ganoderma lucidum products still needs to follow the TCM principle of treatment upon syndrome differentiation. At the same time, Professor Shen emphasized that Ganoderma lucidum products need to be taken in large doses for a long time to be effective.

 

"In clinical practice, at least 30g of Ganoderma lucidum is needed for medical purposes. Patients generally have to eat Ganoderma lucidum for several months or more than half a year to see a certain effect. So far, no obvious toxic and side effects of Ganoderma lucidum have been found. Ganoderma lucidum can strengthen healthy qi and reduce toxic and side effects. In short, Ganoderma lucidum can be used as a diet or a medicine.”

 

Live Q&A

 

1. Can colorectal cancer patients eat Ganoderma lucidum spore powder?

The sporoderm-broken spore powder has a good medicinal effect. Patients with colorectal cancer have damaged digestive tracts, which have weak capabilities of nutrient absorption, transportation and transformation. The sporoderm-broken Ganoderma lucidum spore powder is convenient for the patient's gastrointestinal absorption, but its administration also requires treatment upon syndrome differentiation.

 

2. Can patients who are recovering from gastric cancer eat Reishi products?

Reishi products are widely used in the field of tumor treatment. Taking Reishi products during the recovery period can play a very good auxiliary recovery effect.

3. Can frail patients take traditional Chinese medicine during radiotherapy and chemotherapy?

This is a very good time to intervene; when the patient is weak, it is necessary to strengthen healthy qi; many patients continue to complete radiotherapy and chemotherapy after taking traditional Chinese medicine for a period of time; the cooperation of traditional Chinese and Western medicine can play a very good role in killing tumors.