Wen | Wen SirEdit | WindbreakMalignant tumors are the second leading cause of death in China. From 1990 to 2019, the number of cancer cases and deaths increased by 168

Wen | Wen Sir

Edit | Windbreak

Malignant tumors are the second leading cause of death in China. From 1990 to 2019, the number of cancer cases and deaths increased by 168.78% and 86.89% respectively, posing a serious threat to the health of Chinese residents.

With the development of molecular biology, genetics, and immunology, great breakthroughs have been made in surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeting, and biological therapy. However, the survival time of patients is still limited and there are many side effects.

High recurrence and metastasis rates, drug resistance, and economic burden.In recent years, with the deepening of the concept of Precision medicine, malignant tumors have gradually transited from the era of comprehensive treatment of Evidence-based medicine to the era of personalized management of Precision medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine provides an important opportunity for the development and application of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in the treatment of tumors through its unique treatment based on syndrome differentiation.

Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history of understanding malignant tumors,The relevant records on the treatment of malignant tumors from the perspective of "phlegm dampness" are scattered in ancient medical books, and with the deepening of research on traditional Chinese medicine for treating tumors.

Numerous studies have confirmed that the method of drying dampness and resolving phlegm has certain effectiveness in the treatment of malignant tumors,It can make up for the shortcomings of Western medicine treatment, especially in the combination with Western medicine treatment, showing outstanding advantages.

This article reviews a series of related studies on the treatment of malignant tumors using the method of drying dampness and resolving phlegm, in order to provide reference for clinical treatment and experimental research of malignant tumors.

Theoretical Study on the Treatment of Malignant Tumors with Dampness and Phlegm Resolving Therapy

In the "Lingshu", it is pointed out that "the body fluid is astringent and seeping, but it does not leave, but accumulates." Zhu Danxi said in the "Danxi Heart Method" that "there are lumps on the body, middle, and bottom of mortals, and most of them are phlegm.

Phlegm and dampness both belong to pathological products caused by abnormal distribution of body fluids. Phlegm evil can travel and affect various organs and meridians; Damp and sticky, easy to contract with other pathological products.

Phlegm dampness can lead to impaired circulation of qi and blood, obstruction of meridians, coagulation of phlegm dampness, stagnation of veins, obstruction of qi movement, accumulation of pathological products, and further damage to the functions of organs such as spleen and kidney, leading to deficiency of organs.

From this, it can be seen that the evil of phlegm and dampness can run through the pathogenesis and progression of malignant tumors. Phlegm and dampness condensation not only participates in the formation of malignant tumors, but also exacerbates the pathological changes of phlegm and dampness accumulation, promoting tumor growth, metastasis, and recurrence.

Later generations of Chinese medicine scholars also realized that phlegm dampness is an important cause and pathogenesis of malignant tumors in their in-depth understanding of malignant tumors. For example, Professor Zheng Yuling believed that phlegm retention is an important pathogenic factor of tumors.

Professor Zhou Zhongying, a master of traditional Chinese medicine, proposed the theory of cancer toxin, believing that cancer toxin is intertwined with diseases such as phlegm and dampness,The combined pathogenesis of malignant tumors. Not only that, "phlegm dampness" is also related to Tumor microenvironment.

The Tumor microenvironment is a complex environment composed of tumor cells and a variety of non tumor cells, which is suitable for tumor growth. It is closely related to tumor occurrence, migration, drug resistance, and immune escape. Targeting the immune microenvironment has become a key strategy for tumor treatment.

"Phlegm dampness" flows along the meridians, triple energizer, striae, qi and blood, stops gathering in the internal organs and channels, and local qi blood body fluid metabolism disorder provides a suitable environment for the growth, invasion and metastasis of malignant tumors, which is similar to the concept of Tumor microenvironment.

Lan Shu and others proposed that the essence of tumor inflammatory microenvironment is body fluid metabolism disorder, and the progressive development of abnormal body fluid metabolism is the Malignant transformation of "inflammation cancer".Tang Xinglinzi et al. attributed the formation of external secretion induced acidic microenvironment in Tumor microenvironment to phlegm dampness.

Based on previous understanding of Tumor microenvironment, the essence of Tumor microenvironment is body fluid metabolic disorder,The accumulation of acidic metabolites or other interstitial abnormalities produced by tumor metabolism is also a manifestation of fluid transport disorders in the body.

Phlegm dampness is the main pathological product caused by abnormal body fluid metabolism, providing an important environmental basis for tumor cells and promoting tumor occurrence, development, invasion, and metastasis. Therefore, in the traditional Chinese medicine anti-tumor treatment, the starting point should be to remove phlegm and damp Internal environment.

Clinical application of the method of drying dampness and resolving phlegm in tumor treatment

The "Internal Classic" states that "all dampness, swelling, and fullness belong to the spleen", "those that are firm and can be removed", and "those that are firm and scattered" are the theoretical basis for the treatment of phlegm and dampness using the method of dampness and phlegm dissipation in traditional Chinese medicine. The treatment of tumors in traditional Chinese medicine is to restore the "peaceful" state of the body.

The application of the method of eliminating dampness and resolving phlegm can remove the evil of phlegm and damp, and restore the "peaceful" state of the local microenvironment and the overall Internal environment.

Director Sun Hongxin often uses traditional Chinese medicine Pinellia ternata to treat malignant tumors such as lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and liver cancer in clinical tumor treatment,For the carcinogenic swelling caused by the accumulation of phlegm and dampness, dryness and dampness can dissipate phlegm to a certain extent and have good clinical effects.

Modern pharmacological research has also shown that traditional Chinese medicine for drying dampness and resolving phlegm can exert anti-tumor effects. In clinical practice, the method of drying dampness and resolving phlegm is used to treat various types of cancer, mainly lung cancer, as well as to treat the complications of cancer and adverse reactions caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

The lung is a device for storing phlegm, and water cannot spread or disperse properly. Phlegm dampness is prone to stop accumulating in the lungs. The onset of lung cancer starts with deficiency of vital energy, and "phlegm dampness" is an important pathogenic factor that runs through the entire pathological process of lung cancer.

The Complete Book of Jingyue states: "Drinking too much only stops in the intestines and stomach, while phlegm reaches everywhere,Various clinical symptoms of lung cancer arise from phlegm, and phlegm dampness is often mixed with treatment.

If phlegm and dampness gather in the lungs, causing cough and chest tightness, phlegm and blood stasis combine to cause chest pain and hemoptysis, phlegm and dampness flow subcutaneously, causing lymph node metastasis, and phlegm and dampness mask the upper orifices, causing lung cancer brain metastasis.

Chinese medicine master Zhou Daihan believes that the treatment of lung cancer cannot be separated from the treatment of phlegm. In the process of treating lung cancer, special attention is paid to eliminating the evil of phlegm and dampness. The use of dry dampness and phlegm resolving formulas such as Xingxia Jianpi Yin and Xingxia Ditan Yin has a significant effect on treating lung cancer.

On the basis of Western medicine treatment, lung cancer patients can achieve better treatment results by combining dry dampness and phlegm resolving traditional Chinese medicine.

Zhou Weidong et al. conducted a control study on 60 cases of lung cancer patients with phlegm dampness accumulation. The observation group received Ershu Erchen Tang on the basis of the control group treated with chemotherapy alone. The treatment found that the clinical symptoms of the observation group were significantly improved.

Chemotherapy reduces adverse reactions such as nausea, vomiting, belching, and diarrhea. Li Jing and others have achieved good results in treating non-small cell lung cancer through chemotherapy combined with Erchen Tang.

In view of the accompanying symptoms of lung cancer, Li Cuigang and others combined chemotherapy with Huatan Jianpi Decoction in the treatment of malignant Pleural effusion of lung cancer can better alleviate symptoms and reduce the incidence of chest pain than chemotherapy alone.

The spleen and stomach are located in the middle energizer, and the qi in the middle energizer is weak. Water and fluid cannot be applied normally, and stagnation occurs as phlegm dampness. The spleen and stomach are prone to being trapped by phlegm and dampness, which creates conditions for the generation and progression of gastric cancer due to entanglement.

From a clinical perspective, differentiation and classification of gastric cancer patients are mainly based on spleen deficiency and phlegm dampness in traditional Chinese medicine. Phlegm dampness provides a growth environment for gastric cancer cells and promotes their invasion and metastasis.

Zhang Dongwei and others treated gastric cancer patients of spleen deficiency and phlegm dampness type with Tejio, Sijunzi Tang Wan and Erchen Decoction,After treatment, the median survival period of the patients was significantly prolonged, and the combination of Tegio and traditional Chinese medicine for dampness and dampness reduction was effective in treating lung cancer patients with spleen deficiency and phlegm dampness.

Qu Shiyu also used Sijunzi Decoction and Erchen Decoction as the main prescription to treat patients with gastric adenocarcinoma with lung metastasis of spleen deficiency and phlegm dampness type. He also achieved satisfactory results in reducing patients' symptoms and delaying disease development.

In Traditional Chinese medicine, esophageal cancer is classified as "choking diaphragm", and its pathogenesis is mostly due to "phlegm" caused by improper diet and emotional disorder. Phlegm dampness is an important reason for choking diaphragm.

Liu Bingnan conducted clinical observation on 68 patients with stage III and IV spleen deficiency and phlegm dampness type esophageal cancer, and divided them into a treatment group of TP regimen combined with Jiangduyun Spleen Formula and a control group of TP regimen alone.

Through comparison, it can be concluded that the combination of chemotherapy and Jiangduyun Spleen Formula is effective in treating patients with spleen deficiency and phlegm dampness type esophageal cancer, with significant improvement in clinical symptoms and improved quality of life.

Phlegm dampness constitution is prone to breast cancer. Endogenous phlegm dampness is an important pathogenesis of breast cancer, and also causes metastasis and recurrence of breast cancer.

Professor Wan Donggui observed that most of the patients with triple negative breast cancer have the characteristics of phlegm dampness constitution or phlegm dampness syndrome,Therefore, when treating, it is necessary to dry dampness and reduce phlegm, and often choose Six Gentlemen's Decoction and Two Chen Decoction.

Professor Zhao Jingfang believes that the pathogenesis of postoperative patients with breast cancer is positive deficiency and evil excess. The positive deficiency is due to the imbalance of qi, and the evil excess is due to the transformation of phlegm and dampness. After breast cancer surgery, the micro adjustment and balance No. 3 prescription is the main prescription, which has good results.

The main pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer is the loss of the spleen and stomach, the obstruction of qi, and the retention of phlegm and dampness. At the same time, research shows that people with phlegm dampness constitution are more likely to suffer from pancreatic cancer than ordinary people. Zhang Lijian et al. conducted a controlled study on 62 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Patients in the Chinese and Western medicine treatment group were treated on the basis of the Western medicine treatment group combined with Jieyu Yunpi Tang.After treatment, the coagulation index D-dimer and partial thromboplastin time in the Chinese and western medicine treatment group were significantly lower than those in the western medicine treatment group.

The difference is statistically significant. Jieyu Yunpi Decoction can reduce the incidence of thrombus in patients with pancreatic cancer in the middle and late stages, significantly improve the pain situation, and alleviate the TCM syndrome and physical condition.

Phlegm dampness forms and accumulates in the intestines for a long time, so it is essential to treat colorectal cancer with dampness and phlegm. Professor Wu Yu often uses Liu Junzi Tang and Er Chen Tang in clinical practice to treat colorectal cancer.

Teacher Chai Kequn chose Liujunzi Decoction with addition or subtraction to treat liver cancer with Qi deficiency and phlegm dampness, which has a good effect.

Thyroid cancer is often caused by liver stagnation and qi stagnation, and the accumulation of phlegm and dampness. The use of Chaimai Tang in the treatment of postoperative liver stagnation and phlegm and dampness patients with thyroid cancer, such as Shan Jingyi, has significantly improved traditional Chinese medicine symptoms and significant clinical efficacy.

Tumor and adverse reactions after treatment

At present, as an important method for treating tumors, radiotherapy and chemotherapy not only achieve therapeutic effects but also lead to increased pain and decreased quality of life for patients. Gastrointestinal reactions are common adverse reactions in tumors, causing great pain to patients.

When using traditional Chinese medicine to treat chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting, using dry dampness and phlegm resolving formulas such as Xiaobanxia Tang and Xuanfu Daizhe Tang has good therapeutic effects.

Clinical observation of 100 gynecological tumor chemotherapy patients found that Xiaobanxia Tang can significantly reduce the occurrence and severity of delayed nausea and vomiting after tumor chemotherapy.

Cancer pain is also one of the tumor complications. The application of Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang and Erchen Decoction can treat cancer pain of liver cancer, large intestine cancer and lung cancer.

The method of eliminating dampness and phlegm is one of the basic methods for treating tumors. Through relevant clinical and experimental studies, it has been proven to have unique therapeutic effects in regulating the body's immune function, improving clinical symptoms, improving patient quality of life, and delaying drug resistance.

It is of great significance for the treatment of tumors. The method of drying dampness and resolving phlegm is widely used in clinical practice,However, its effect is relatively mild, and it is more synergistic and toxic with western Medical law such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which is a supplement to modern medical treatment of tumors.

Secondly, the etiology and pathogenesis of malignant tumors are complex and diverse, and the syndromes displayed at different stages of disease evolution vary. There are not only phlegm and dampness, but also solid and evil syndromes such as miscellaneous blood stasis and evil toxins, as well as deficiency syndromes such as yin and yang qi and blood deficiency.

Therefore, in the context of precise syndrome differentiation, the method of eliminating dampness and phlegm often needs to be combined with other treatment methods such as promoting blood circulation and resolving stasis, tonifying qi and supporting the right, clearing heat and detoxifying, to better play a therapeutic role.

In addition, clinical research on the treatment of malignant tumors using the method of drying dampness and resolving phlegm mostly belongs to case studies and experience summaries,Evidence-based medicine is of low grade, and its clinical application needs more combination of patients' specific conditions and doctors' experience.

Finally, considering that "phlegm dampness" is the key cause and pathogenesis of malignant tumors, the method of eliminating dampness and resolving phlegm can be used to prevent the occurrence of malignant tumors in high-risk groups with malignant phlegm dampness constitution, fully reflecting the traditional Chinese medicine's "treating diseases before they occur" ideology.

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