Leukemia- Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment
資料提供/更新：陳偉教授
香港浸會大學中醫藥學院臨床部中醫臨床教授
Introduction
In this article, Professor Chen Wei introduces how traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treats leukemia.
A. Overview (including the use and differences of TCM and Western medicine terminology related to organs and systems)
B. Etiology/Symptoms/Diagnosis
C. Treatment Methods
A. Overview (including the use and differences of TCM and Western medicine terminology related to organs and systems)
Leukemia, also known as blood cancer, generally refers to cancer caused by abnormal proliferation of hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow, and it is more common in children and adolescents. Clinically, it can be divided into acute and chronic leukemia based on the progression rate of the disease and the degree of differentiation of cancer cells. It can also be classified into multiple types and subtypes according to the origin, morphology and biochemical characteristics of cancer cells.
Since cancer cells can spread to various systems and parts of the body through the blood, the clinical manifestations are complex and variable, which may include fever, bleeding in various parts of the body, anemia, progressive fatigue, susceptibility to bacterial or viral infections, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and bone and joint pain, etc.
B. Etiology/Symptoms/Diagnosis
The cause of leukemia is unknown, but it is generally believed to be caused by a variety of factors, including excessive radiation, viral infection, chemical drugs and toxins, and congenital heredity. Anticancer drug therapy (chemotherapy) is the main treatment for leukemia, and some patients with lymphadenopathy also receive radiotherapy (radiation therapy) as an adjuvant. Relapse is easy with chemotherapy alone; if bone marrow stem cell transplantation can be performed, the condition can be greatly alleviated and the cure rate can be improved. In addition, targeted therapy and immunotherapy can enhance the therapeutic effect.
TCM perspective
In TCM theory, the occurrence of leukemia is mostly due to insufficient congenital endowment, improper diet or overwork, or internal injury caused by seven emotions (joy, anger, worry, thought, sadness, fear, shock), which lead to deficiency of zang-fu organs and depletion of essence and qi. In addition, the invasion of warm-heat toxin pathogens results in disordered functions of zang-fu organs, imbalance of qi, blood, yin and yang, and stagnation of heat-toxin, blood stasis and phlegm turbidity, which eventually damage the blood system. Leukemia is closely related to the liver, spleen and kidney. Its clinical manifestations are mostly a combination of deficiency and excess syndromes, and the pathogenesis evolution is complex and diverse.
C. Treatment Methods
According to the pathogenic characteristics of leukemia, TCM adopts the therapeutic principles of clearing heat and detoxifying, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and nourishing yin and supplementing qi. On the basis of syndrome differentiation and treatment, TCM herbs with certain anti-leukemia effects are selected to improve the therapeutic effect.
Clinical practice has proved that the proper combination of TCM treatment during leukemia chemotherapy can not only reduce the toxic and side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs, enhance their therapeutic effect, improve the body's disease resistance, and ensure the smooth progress of chemotherapy, but also achieve good results in improving the remission rate of leukemia, preventing recurrence, prolonging the survival period, and improving the patient's physical condition.
Leukemia is not an incurable disease. Acute leukemia is a serious and critical disease, but it can be effectively controlled and may even be cured with appropriate and timely treatment; chronic leukemia requires persistent treatment. Conserving essence and qi, avoiding exposure to carcinogens, and strengthening necessary protective measures are of great significance for the prevention of this disease.
Diet Therapy
The following are two dietary prescriptions:
1. Polished Rice, Pork Liver, Lotus Seed and Red Date Congee: Add 50g polished rice, 20g lotus seeds (soaked in water until softened), 30g cooked pork liver (cut into diced pieces), and 10 red dates (pitted) into an appropriate amount of water, boil and simmer into congee. Take it separately in the morning and evening. It has the effect of preventing and treating anemia.
2. Red Date, Longan and Coix Seed Congee: Add 10 red dates (pitted), 20g longan aril, and 40g raw coix seeds into an appropriate amount of water, boil and simmer into congee. Take it in the morning and evening. It can enhance physical fitness and improve the body's anti-cancer immune function. It has a good auxiliary therapeutic effect on tumor patients with anemia, physical weakness, or those with low hemoglobin, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia caused by radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
(February 2022)