Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Differentiation and Classification of Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer is classified as "dysphagia" in traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment focuses on the overall and dialectical concepts. Many treatment experiences have proved that traditional Chinese medicine has a good effect in the treatment of esophageal cancer.

1. Qi stagnation type

Main symptoms: Early esophageal cancer does not present with obvious dysphagia. The patient only feels a blockage in the esophagus, a foreign body sensation or burning pain, chest discomfort, and a tight feeling in the back when swallowing. The feeling of swallowing is intermittent and heavy. X-ray examination mainly shows lesions of early esophageal cancer. The patient has a pale tongue, a thin white tongue coating, and a stringy pulse.

Treatment method: Soothe the liver and regulate qi, warm yang and invigorate qi, strengthen the body and inhibit tumors.

2. Choking type

Main symptoms: simple symptoms, mild choking or dysphagia. X-ray examinations mostly show early and middle-stage medullary and fungus-type esophageal cancer. Dark green tongue, yellow-white fur, and stringy and thin pulse.

Treatment method: Anti-cancer and dispersing nodules, regulating Qi and relieving adverse effects, warming Yang and strengthening the body.

3. Yin withering and Yang declining type

Main symptoms: This type is already in the late stage of the disease. The main symptoms of the patient are dysphagia, esophageal obstruction, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, shortness of breath, fatigue, fever, dry lips, dry stool like feces, dark red tongue, little or no coating, and some have yellow, black, dry and cracked coating, and a weak pulse or a deep, thin and weak pulse.

Treatment method: prolong life, nourish yin and yang, invigorate qi and nourish blood.

Tips: Principles of TCM in treating esophageal cancer

1. Combine strengthening the body’s resistance with attacking the evil.

2. Combine symptomatic treatment with root cause treatment.

3. Combine compound prescriptions with folk prescriptions.

4. Combine the local with the whole.