Chinese herbal medicine for preventing liver cancer

In the treatment of liver cancer, traditional Chinese medicine has also been playing a role. Many Chinese medicines have begun to be used in the treatment of liver cancer. Chinese medicines for the treatment of liver cancer are mainly divided into three categories: blood circulation and blood stasis, dampness removal and phlegm removal, and tonic medicines. Blood circulation and blood stasis medicines: such as Curcuma zedoaria, have a strong destructive effect on tumor cells, and are also effective in clinical use for tumors such as liver cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, etc.

Curcuma zedoaria has a strong blood-activating effect. It is a product that can break up blood, promote qi and eliminate accumulation. It is most suitable for severe blood stasis and accumulation of masses. It also has a strong analgesic effect and can eliminate stagnation. For cancer patients with indigestion, loss of appetite and abdominal bloating, it can be used with products such as Codonopsis pilosula and Poria cocos to nourish qi and strengthen the spleen.

Damp-removing and phlegm-resolving drugs: such as Poria cocos, whose polysaccharide has anti-tumor effect and can improve the body's immune function; Poria cocos and Solanum nigrum have the effect of diuresis, stranguria and detoxification, and are commonly used in the treatment of urinary tract tumors such as bladder cancer and prostate cancer. Pinellia ternata, its diluted alcohol or water extract has a significant inhibitory effect on experimental tumors. It can be used with ginger and cloves for those who have vomiting and coldness after chemotherapy, with coptis chinensis, bamboo shavings, and tangerine peel for those with stomach heat, with ginseng and white honey for those with stomach deficiency, and with ophiopogon japonicus and dendrobium for those with stomach yin deficiency, etc., with very good efficacy; another example is Dioscorea bulbifera, which has the function of resolving phlegm, softening hard masses, resolving toxins and dispersing nodules, and is clinically effective in treating thyroid cancer, esophageal cancer, bronchial cancer, etc.; Cucurbitacin can clear away heat, resolve phlegm, moisturize dryness, relieve chest tightness and dissipate nodules, and can also relieve constipation. It is especially suitable for patients with tumors and lung infections, with lung heat, coughing up yellow and thick sputum, chest tightness and constipation. For tumor patients with chest tightness and discomfort, Platycodon and Citrus aurantium can be added to the prescription. Platycodon rises and floats upward, while Citrus aurantium descends Qi and relieves chest tightness. The two, one rises and the other descends, raise and lower the Qi mechanism, "when Qi is smooth, phlegm disappears, when phlegm disappears, Qi benefits naturally", strengthening the power of resolving phlegm, regulating Qi and relieving chest tightness. Many ancient prescriptions (such as Wu Ji San and Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang) can be seen using these two medicines in combination when treating chest tightness, and the effect of relieving chest tightness is significant.

Tonic drugs: such as ginseng, astragalus, white atractylodes and other qi-tonifying drugs, which are widely used in clinical practice for various cancers. Most of them can improve the human immune function and prolong the survival period of cancer patients. Especially ginseng, its ginsenosides, ginseng polysaccharides and ginseng volatile oils all have anti-tumor effects, and are also synergists of anti-tumor drugs, and have the effects of prolonging life and anti-mutation. Codonopsis and astragalus replenish the deficiency of qi and blood, activate bone marrow cells and play the role of strengthening the body; white atractylodes replenishes qi, strengthens the spleen and eliminates dampness, and stops diarrhea, while angelica and white peony replenish blood and increase peripheral blood nutrition and inhibit toxicity, so that the blood picture is not lower than normal, and reduce the toxic and side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy and hair loss; another example is cordyceps, which is a yang-tonifying drug that replenishes both yin and yang, replenishes the lungs and kidneys, stops bleeding and resolves phlegm. Pharmacological studies have shown that this product has multiple effects such as anti-cancer, anti-aging, anti-tuberculosis, and lowering blood lipids. It is clinically used for a variety of malignant tumors and is effective in improving symptoms. Another example is the tonic medicine Cornus officinalis, which can kill ascites cancer cells in vitro. The famous prescription Liuwei Dihuang Wan, which is made of Cornus officinalis and Rehmannia root, can prolong the survival of cancer patients. Most cancer patients are physically weak and have weak spleen and stomach functions. Most tonic medicines are warm, dry and greasy. Therefore, after taking them, they are prone to abdominal distension, loss of appetite, constipation, dry mouth and irritability. Therefore, when taking tonic medicines, some Qi-regulating and spleen-strengthening medicines should be appropriately added, such as dried tangerine peel and Amomum villosum.

Although Chinese patent medicine is effective in treating liver cancer, Western medicine is still the mainstream treatment method. It is difficult to achieve good treatment effects by relying solely on Chinese medicine. In addition, patients should pay special attention to controlling their diet during the treatment of liver cancer, ensuring nutritional intake, and receiving treatment in a better state.