Application of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of lung cancer

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that lung cancer is a disease caused by blocked meridians and accumulation of phlegm nodules. The principle of treatment should be to promote blood circulation, balance yin and yang, and eliminate phlegm nodules. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes syndrome differentiation and treatment as well as clinical evaluation and addition and subtraction.

During radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Chinese medicines such as Astragalus and Ligustrum lucidum can be used as auxiliary treatments to replenish qi and blood, in order to support blood balance and reduce side effects. The intermission period should be a good time for Chinese medicine treatment, which can be the main treatment and the intensity can be increased. During the recovery period, intermittent Chinese medicine treatment can be arranged.

For patients who cannot undergo surgery or undergo radiotherapy or chemotherapy, Chinese medicine may be the main treatment method. There are many prescriptions. Liu Jiaxiang reported that 304 cases of advanced lung cancer were treated with the method of nourishing yin and promoting body fluid, invigorating qi and warming yang. According to the syndrome differentiation, southern and northern Adenophora, asparagus, Yuanshen, lily, raw earth, turtle shell and other drugs were given to nourish yin, ginseng, astragalus, Codonopsis, Pseudostellaria, Atractylodes, Poria and other drugs to invigorate qi, psoralea, epimedium, Cistanche, Cuscuta, Cynomorium songaricum, Ficus psoraleae and other drugs to warm yang, and softening and dispersing nodules, clearing heat and detoxifying drugs were added as appropriate. The median survival time of the treatment group was 417 days, and that of the chemotherapy control group was 265 days: the 5-year survival rate of the Chinese medicine treatment group was 24.22%, while no one in the chemotherapy control group survived for 5 years, indicating the superiority of Chinese medicine in treating lung cancer. There are many Chinese medicine prescriptions for treating lung cancer. The following commonly used prescriptions are proposed for reference.

1. Lung cancer pills: 1g antelope horn, 0.6g musk, 3g bezoar, 6-9g Panax notoginseng powder (infusion), 15g rhubarb, 15g scutellaria, 6g leech, 3-6 centipedes, 10g American ginseng, 10g Fritillaria cirrhosa. Grind them into fine powder respectively, make them into pills with honey, weighing 3g, take 2 times a day, 1-2 pills each time.

2. Added ingredients of Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction: 15g of Trichosanthes kirilowii, 9g of Fritillaria thunbergii, 9g of Stemona japonica, 9g of Luffa loofah, 9g of Allium macrostemon, 3g of Apricot kernel, 9g of Sargassum, 9g of Tingli seed, 9g of jujube, 30g of fresh reed root, 30g of honeysuckle, 10g of Cordyceps sinensis. Decoction in water.

3. Astragalus and Gardenia Decoction: 30g of Astragalus, 24g of Gardenia, 30g of Rehmannia, 30g of Scrophularia, 24g of Ophiopogon, 12g of Peucedanum, 6g of Honeysuckle, 6g of Typha, 12g of White Peony, 6g of Citrus aurantium, 24g of Trichosanthes, 15g of Gypsum, 15g of Luffa, 30g of fresh Phragmites australis, 9g of Leonurus, 9g of Jujube, 12g of Fritillaria cirrhosa. Decoction in water. If there is blood in sputum, add 9g of Bletilla striata, 12g of Herba Agrimoniae, and 24g of fresh Phragmites australis. Decoction in water.

4. Trichosanthes and Fritillaria Decoction: Trichosanthes 9g, Fritillaria 10g, Luffa 9g, Citrus aurantium 9g, processed almond 6g, Sargassum 9g, Lepidium tiliaceum 9g, jujube 20g, fresh Phragmites australis 30g, Honeysuckle 24g, Scrophularia 9g, Polygala 9g. Decoction in water and take orally. Add Panax notoginseng powder 3g (for flushing) in case of hemoptysis and add Ophiopogon japonicus 12g for dry mouth.

5. Angelica and Astragalus Decoction: Angelica 15g, raw Astragalus 15g, Codonopsis pilosula 12g, White Peony Root 12g, Ophiopogon japonicus 12g, Schisandra chinensis 10g, Deer Antler Powder 9g (infusion), Morus alba bark 10g, Fritillaria thunbergii 9g, Smilax glabra 12g, Trillium gracile 9g, decocted in water and taken orally. When cough is severe, add Morus alba bark 10g, Fritillaria 10g, add fresh bamboo juice 10g, Citrus aurantium 10g for excessive sputum, add Panax notoginseng powder 3g (infusion) for vomiting blood, add frankincense 3g, myrrh 3g, and Corydalis 15g for chest pain.