Which Chinese medicine is most effective in treating liver cancer? A complete list of Chinese herbal medicines for treating liver cancer

Many people like to use traditional Chinese medicine to treat diseases. Today, experts will recommend several Chinese herbal medicines for the treatment of liver cancer.

Liver cancer is a malignant tumor of the liver, which can be divided into two categories: primary and secondary. Primary malignant liver tumors originate from the epithelial or mesenchymal tissue of the liver. The former is called primary liver cancer, which is a highly prevalent and extremely harmful malignant tumor in my country; the latter is called sarcoma, which is relatively rare compared with primary liver cancer. Secondary or metastatic liver cancer refers to malignant tumors originating from multiple organs throughout the body that invade the liver. It is generally common in liver metastases of malignant tumors in organs such as the stomach, bile duct, pancreas, colorectum, ovary, uterus, lung, and breast. Today, experts recommend Chinese herbal medicines for the treatment of liver cancer.

Chinese herbal medicine with certain therapeutic effects on liver cancer

(1) Chinese herbal medicines for clearing heat and detoxifying the liver

Seven-leafed aconite, Scutellaria barbata, Oldenlandia diffusa (Herba Hedyotis diffusa), Sophora flavescens (Sophora flavescens slices, Sophora japonica), Solanum nigrum (Old duck eye grass), Rhinoceros hornwort (Rhinoceros hornwort, Western hornwort), Smilax glabra (King Kong vine, Iron thorn bell), Cirsium japonicum, Grass River Car (Red Fleabane, Boxer), Duchesnea sinensis (Snake fruit grass), Lithospermum officinale (Lithospermum officinale root), Mutouhui (Foot sweat grass), Lophatherum gracile (Wolf head flower).

(2) Chinese herbal medicines for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis in the treatment of liver cancer

Octagonal lotus (Polyphylla, Polygonum multiflorum), leech (leech), water red flower seeds (Polygonum multiflorum, Polygonum multiflorum, wine herb), Lithospermum officinale (Purple ginseng), Earthworm (Scolopendra subspinipes), Vaccaria segetalis (Vaccaria segetalis).

(3) Chinese herbal medicines for treating liver cancer

Prunella vulgaris (Lantern head), oysters, seaweed (Seaweed), pangolin (Pangolin scales).

(4) Chinese herbal medicines for the treatment of liver cancer

Shidachuan (yellow-haired ear grass), Lobelia (half-flowered grass), Kangbangui (river white grass), and Zeqi (cat's eye grass).

(5) Chinese herbal medicines for the treatment of liver cancer

Turtle shell (turtle shell), walnut bark (walnut branch), cotton root (dense root, wild astragalus), astragalus, ginseng.

Four major surgical treatments for liver cancer

1. Surgical resection

Traditionally, surgical removal of liver cancer tumors is the most effective way to treat liver cancer. However, not all liver cancer patients are suitable for surgical treatment. To effectively use surgical methods to treat liver cancer depends on two factors: one is the patient's liver function. The other is the location, number and size of the liver tumors. Because the liver has the ability to regenerate, if a part of the liver is removed, the remaining liver will grow back. For patients with good liver function, 70% of the liver can be removed, and the remaining 30% of the liver function is sufficient to supply the body's needs, and it will soon grow back to its original size. However, patients with poor liver function have poor liver regeneration ability and can withstand a smaller range of liver resection. The location, number and size of liver tumors determine the range of liver resection required for liver surgery. Therefore, these two factors determine whether a patient is suitable for surgical treatment.

2. Hepatic artery embolism

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is abbreviated as TAE. The principle is to use the fact that liver cancer is mainly supplied by the hepatic artery, and only one-quarter of the liver's blood flow is supplied by the hepatic artery, and three-quarters are supplied by the portal vein. Therefore, the hepatic artery is blocked by absorbable embolic material. The liver cancer cells die of hypoxia due to lack of blood supply. The liver will only suffer from liver function damage due to the loss of one-quarter of the blood supply from the hepatic artery, causing partial liver cell necrosis. However, because the embolic material used will be slowly absorbed, the hepatic artery will be restored to a smooth state, and the liver's liver function will gradually recover. Although TAE is mostly a symptomatic treatment for liver cancer, it is very helpful in prolonging the life of patients and improving their quality of life.

3. Alcohol injection method

Percutaneous ethanol intratumor injection (PEIT) is abbreviated as pEIT. It uses the direct toxicity of alcohol to cells. When alcohol is diffused into cells, non-selective protein denaturation and cell dehydration will occur, resulting in coagulative necrosis. Subsequent fibrosis and blockage of small blood vessels will also cause secondary cell death. Therefore, percutaneous ethanol intratumor injection is a local treatment and is useless for distant lesions. According to the current consensus on indications, there is no absolute limit on tumor size, but the larger the tumor, the worse the alcohol penetration. Metastatic tumors are harder than liver cancer regardless of size, and alcohol penetration is relatively worse. Therefore, multiple puncture injections are often required. Therefore, the current experience is still mainly based on tumors less than three centimeters, and the number is preferably less than three or four.

4. Cryotherapy

The principle of cryosurgery is to destroy cancer cells with extremely cold temperatures. It is currently used to treat liver cancer and prostate cancer. During cryosurgery, the doctor cuts open the abdomen and inserts a probe into the tumor tissue in the liver and prostate. The probe, which is filled with liquid nitrogen, is inserted into the tumor site in the liver. The liquid nitrogen is constantly flowing in the probe, causing the probe temperature to reach minus 196 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the tumor tissue it touches is frozen and destroyed. Ultrasound technology is required to locate and assist the operation.