17. Shang Shan Ruo Shui – Hou De Zai Wu: Uterine Fibroids

17. Shang Shan Ruo Shui – Hou De Zai Wu: Uterine Fibroids

Q: My mother is 47 years old. When she was younger, she had menstruation every half month, but this year an examination revealed uterine fibroids. The doctor said to monitor closely and no surgery is needed for now. What’s going on?

A: For women aged 47 with uterine fibroids, if menstrual flow isn’t excessive and menstrual cramps aren’t too severe, there’s no need to worry. If menstruation stops altogether, that’s even better. After menopause, as the uterus shrinks, uterine fibroids are unlikely to worsen. If the skin disappears, how can the fur remain?

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Appendix: Introductory Note

Pain in the upper abdomen isn’t just stomach pain; gallbladder, pancreas, and liver diseases can also cause upper abdominal pain. Even stomach pain can stem from gastric ulcers, atrophic gastritis, duodenal bulb inflammation, gastric mucosal prolapse, or duodenal diverticula. Therefore, upper abdominal pain requires very precise syndrome differentiation—it can’t be explained in a single sentence, and a gastroscopy alone isn’t enough.

Appendix?

18. Zhang Xiaofang: My whole hand is itchy, but now only the palm is itchy. Could this be “hand qi”? How should it be treated?

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Answer: You're talking about hand tinea, which in Traditional Chinese Medicine is called "goose palm wind." Here's a single empirical prescription: equal parts of Sichuan pepper, Chuan Lian bark, and Ku Lian bark are ground into powder, sifted, mixed with three times the amount of alcohol, soaked for three days, and then applied externally.

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19. Ai Wen 618: I recently underwent a gastroscopy and was diagnosed with moderate chronic atrophic gastritis of the gastric antrum with acute activity, intestinal metaplasia (++), and Helicobacter pylori (+). What traditional Chinese patent medicines should I take?

Answer: Gastritis of the gastric antrum combined with intestinal metaplasia and Hp positivity requires prompt treatment. Otherwise, atypical hyperplasia may develop, which over time can become a precancerous lesion. At that point, it will no longer be a matter of a single formula or medicine; you should seek systematic syndrome differentiation and treatment from a TCM practitioner.

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20. Tao Zi: My ears have been ringing constantly lately, and my palms tend to sweat a lot. Why is this happening?

Answer: Tinnitus refers to the ringing in the ears. If it's bilateral, it's considered a kidney deficiency syndrome in TCM. The excessive sweating of the palms indicates kidney yin deficiency combined with yang deficiency. Treating the condition from the perspective of the kidneys is the fundamental approach to curing tinnitus, and any adjustments to the formula must be made through syndrome differentiation and treatment.

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21. Syy: A small polyp has grown at the edge of the pupil, and there are several obvious red blood vessels nearby. What could be the cause?

Answer: This is pterygium, known in TCM as "flesh creeping on the eye." Western medicine typically treats it surgically, but for milder cases, oral traditional Chinese medicine can be effective.

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22. Syy: Deep transverse depressions have appeared on the fingernails. Could this be due to a deficiency of certain trace elements?

Answer: Changes in the nails are often related to calcium deficiency, and vitamin D plays the most crucial role in calcium metabolism.

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23. Victor: My wife is seven weeks pregnant, and this morning she suddenly experienced some bleeding. An ultrasound did not show a gestational sac. What could be going on?

Answer: The absence of a gestational sac suggests poor embryonic development, so continued efforts to maintain the pregnancy are necessary. If these efforts fail, it indicates that the embryo has stopped developing. There are many reasons for embryonic arrest, including the quality of the sperm and egg, as well as the presence of antisperm antibodies.

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24. Wang Yang: My mother doesn't have the "three highs," but her heart rate is relatively slow at 60 beats per minute. Last year, she suddenly suffered cardiac arrest lasting just over half a minute. Hospital tests showed no abnormalities. This symptom has occurred twice before, with intervals of one to two years between episodes. Could you please offer some advice and analysis?

Answer: Do you mean the "three highs" refer to high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol? Even without the "three highs," a slow heart rate and low blood pressure can still lead to myocardial ischemia and produce symptoms similar to those of coronary heart disease.

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25. Xu Tian: My father has a sore throat and yellow urine. What could be causing this?

Answer: It seems your father has chronic pharyngitis. Yellow urine alone isn't necessarily a problem—sometimes it happens when you don't drink enough water, which is perfectly normal.

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26. He Hua Song Xiang: My son is eighteen months old. After recovering from a recent cold, he often makes a gurgling sound in his throat at night, and sometimes vomits after meals if he cries or coughs. We've seen many doctors, but there's been no improvement. What do you think might be causing these symptoms, Mr. Pei?

Answer: Both of these symptoms you mentioned are signs of pharyngitis (tonsillitis). The first step should be to treat the tonsillitis properly.

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27. Huang Canbiao: Female, 37 years old, diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome. She has undergone Western medical treatment twice, but both pregnancies ended in embryonic arrest. Which is better for treating polycystic ovary syndrome—TCM syndrome differentiation or Western estrogen therapy?

Answer: Polycystic ovary syndrome generally makes it difficult to conceive, and even if pregnancy does occur, miscarriage is common. TCM excels in treating polycystic ovary syndrome, requiring continuous medication, followed by pregnancy maintenance therapy once conception occurs.

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28. jhjhjhhj: What causes chest pain, and why did dizziness occur after taking painkillers?

Answer: Are you referring to spontaneous chest pain or tenderness upon palpation? The latter is a common symptom of acute leukemia, while the former is often seen in costochondritis. Some patients with thymoma may also experience chest pain, but such cases are rare.

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29. Zhu Fu: My mother's hands have turned dark black for unknown reasons since the day before yesterday, almost as if there were bruises. Soaking them in hot water mixed with alcohol provided slight relief. What could be causing this, and is it serious?

Answer: It could be acral cyanosis, a condition commonly seen in young women. When the fingers of both hands are exposed to cold or experience localized vasospasm, this condition can occur. Severe cases are called Raynaud's disease, which is an autoimmune disorder. Treatment usually involves hormone therapy, such as prednisone.

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30. Ya Yi: What causes heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding during menopause, and what traditional Chinese medicines can be used to regulate it?

Answer: Heavy menstrual bleeding during menopause is called functional uterine bleeding. First, check for uterine fibroids. If none are found, it's likely a TCM syndrome of qi failing to control the blood, where Zhang Xichun's Lizhong Tang and Guchong Tang, administered according to syndrome differentiation, have shown significant efficacy.

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31. Ting: My child is two and a half years old and catches a cold and cough almost every month. What medicines can be given to strengthen their constitution?

Answer: A detailed examination of the pharynx is needed. Most children have chronic pharyngitis or tonsillitis, both of which can trigger upper respiratory infections. Treatment should first address these underlying factors to be effective.

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32. May: Male, 24 years old. Hospital tests revealed a lung infection, and after a year-long treatment, he was later diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. Overuse of anti-inflammatory drugs has led to liver damage. How should he be treated?

Answer: Liver damage makes long-term use of anti-tuberculosis drugs difficult. First, confirm whether it's actually tuberculosis. Recently, I've noticed that health institutions below the county level still have confusion in diagnosing tuberculosis, with insufficient radiographic expertise, often misdiagnosing ordinary chronic bronchitis or chronic infections as tuberculosis. The use of anti-tuberculosis drugs has caused liver damage in many patients. If convenient, bring your imaging films to my clinic for further confirmation, and I'll help you choose an appropriate treatment plan.

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33. Li Fangyuan's comment: Female, with circular red patches all over her body. What could be causing this, Mr. Pei?

Answer: What you described is tinea corporis, caused by fungi. It's neither psoriasis nor eczema. I recommend taking Sporanox 100mg twice daily for five days.

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34. Huang Canbiao: Female, 37 years old. She has had two pregnancies, but the embryos never developed. Doctors say there's uterine adhesion. Which is better for treating this condition—TCM or Western medicine—and what tests are needed?

Answer: There are many reasons for embryonic arrest. Uterine adhesion is only a secondary factor; the primary cause is the quality of the sperm and egg, as well as the overall health and reproductive organ inflammation of both partners. It's also important to rule out organic lesions and the presence of antisperm antibodies. A comprehensive examination is necessary.

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35. Lin Zi: After eating a little chili, my face became red and swollen, my eyelids swelled, and my skin itched. Could this be related to diet?

Answer: You have an allergic constitution, which is partly genetic. Common allergens include seafood, mushrooms, meat, eggs, dairy products, and spicy foods. You should avoid these allergenic foods.

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36. Han Fuxiang: High-grade adenocarcinoma (lung cancer) has metastasized to the cervical lymph nodes after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Is chemotherapy still appropriate?

Answer: High-grade adenocarcinoma is not sensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy; in fact, these treatments can promote cancer metastasis. High-grade cancers grow slowly and have a longer survival period. For example, one farmer patient with high-grade lung adenocarcinoma did not undergo surgery or radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but instead took some traditional Chinese medicines and lived for over 20 years, still in good health.

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37. Wang Fenghao: I'm 25 years old and often experience hair loss and poor sleep. What could be causing this, and do I need medication?

Answer: Hair is the surplus of blood, indicating blood deficiency. Poor sleep also points to blood deficiency, suggesting you have signs of heart-blood deficiency. Blood cannot be produced quickly, but qi must be replenished urgently. The treatment method is to tonify qi and nourish blood, with Guipi Tang as the representative formula. I recommend taking Guipi Wan.

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38. Yuan Xian: My daughter is 14 years old and has acne all over her face, including her forehead. How can I eliminate or reduce it?

Answer: This is acne. Don't worry if a 14-year-old has acne—it's just a period when the endocrine system is adjusting. After a while, once the endocrine balance stabilizes, the acne will disappear on its own.

39. Xiao Ming's question: I snore severely. What should I do?

Answer: Severe snoring is called sleep apnea. Most Grade III hospitals at or above the provincial level have established sleep apnea departments, indicating that the incidence of this condition is increasing. It's associated with obesity, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, as well as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. A comprehensive examination is necessary; we can't make a blanket judgment.

40. Jia Yizhen Shi Zhen Yi Jia: I recently tested positive for alanine aminotransferase at 58, with all other results normal. What medicine should I take?

Answer: Elevated ALT indicates liver dysfunction, but since your increase is mild and there are no systemic liver disease symptoms, you can temporarily observe without medication.

41. Da-la-di-da: I've been dreaming every night since I was a teenager, and sometimes the dreams are so vivid that I can't sleep. Do you have any good solutions?

Answer: There are many types of insomnia, and diseases affecting various systems of the body can all cause it. A thorough examination is necessary to provide appropriate treatment.

42. Chao: I developed cervical erosion during breastfeeding. How should I treat it?

Answer: Cervical erosion is a common and frequently occurring condition, most often caused by gynecological infections. Cervical erosion that occurs during pregnancy, the perinatal period, or menstruation is more common because the body's immune function fluctuates along with hormonal and autonomic nervous system changes during these periods, increasing the risk of cervical infection. Treatment should be done with traditional Chinese medicine, which has extensive experience in this area. The specific treatment plan should be determined based on syndrome differentiation, rather than relying on a single remedy.

43. Liu Ruixiao: I have pharyngitis, and there are often small yellow bumps in my throat. Sometimes I take anti-inflammatory drugs, but they don't really help. Recently, I developed a severe fever, with small bumps on both sides and a large lump in the middle. After taking levofloxacin and amoxicillin, my throat pain has subsided, but the bumps haven't gone away yet. What should I do?

Answer: Chronic pharyngitis often leads to follicular hyperplasia, which can easily trigger colds and fevers. Anti-inflammatory drugs alone can only relieve inflammation, not cure it completely. I recommend trying Yangyin Qingfei Wan, Huanglian Jiedu Wan, and Baihe Gujin Wan.

44. Piaoyang Guohai: I have penile pain and pearl-like papules. What traditional Chinese medicine would be best for treatment?

Answer: This could be genital herpes, which falls under the category of sexually transmitted diseases. It requires careful treatment, and couples should sleep in separate beds to prevent transmission.

45. Guiji: Female, 27 years old. I'm a carrier of thalassemia, but I've never had any symptoms. I only discovered it during a routine physical exam last year. Now I'm planning to have a baby. Will this affect me? What should I pay attention to?

Answer: Thalassemia is a hereditary hemolytic anemia caused by defects in the genetic code, leading to a lack of certain globins in red blood cells and making them prone to rupture. Currently, there's no particularly effective treatment. Stem cell transplantation and splenectomy have uncertain effects and are hard to cure. However, the severity of the condition varies greatly from person to person. Some patients with mild cases can still have children and carry on the family line.

46. Zhou Zhenzhen: I've been married for two years and still haven't conceived. I previously had a pregnancy that ended in miscarriage, and now I still can't get pregnant. What tests should I undergo?

Answer: First, check for pelvic inflammation and blockage of both fallopian tubes. Second, conduct a complete sex hormone panel to assess hormone levels. Third, perform a routine semen analysis for the male partner. Fourth, test both partners for antisperm antibodies.

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February 23, 2014

1. SpongeBob's Happiness: My mother is 53 years old and often feels palpitations and discomfort. An ECG showed sinus rhythm with a slight left axis deviation. She also has hypertension and hyperlipidemia. What's wrong with her?

Answer: Your mother's condition is quite clear: hypertension and arteriosclerosis have already affected the blood supply to the coronary arteries. In fact, she's already in the early stages of coronary heart disease and should receive active treatment to contain the disease in its infancy.

2. Retreat to the Mountains and Fields: My sister has had rheumatoid arthritis for several years and now has difficulty moving. Could you please advise on better treatment options?

Answer: The ultimate outcome of rheumatoid arthritis is joint deformity and mobility impairment. Rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and total white blood cell count can all indicate whether the disease is active. If it is active, aggressive treatment can alleviate joint deformation and pain, achieving ideal therapeutic results.

3. Baixiaosheng: My mother is 58 years old and suffers from senile floaters, with the left eye being more severe. How should this condition be treated?

Answer: Floaters are usually caused by debris floating in the vitreous humor, most of which are free-floating vascular remnants. Generally, they don't affect vision and don't require treatment. However, if some patients also have retinal lesions, that's a different issue altogether.

4. Qiu Yi: My friend's wife is nearly five months pregnant, but their family finances are currently tight. Is it safe to terminate the pregnancy, and what safe methods are available? Will it affect future pregnancies?

Answer: Abortion is considered safe within the first three months, while induction is permissible after three months. With today's medical standards, it should be very safe and won't affect future pregnancies.

5. Who Am I: I'm a female university teacher troubled by hair loss, which has persisted for 20 years since I was 16. My once-lush hair now reveals almost my scalp on top of my head. My hair is oily and dry, with most of the loss concentrated on the crown and the hairline gradually receding. I wonder if it can be cured?

Answer: Your hair loss is seborrheic alopecia, which is difficult to cure but still treatable. Traditional Chinese medicine offers many formulas, but treatment must be based on syndrome differentiation and long-term adherence.

6. Wang Sen: Can bone spurs in the knee joint lead to disability? And if there are bone spurs in the neck, i.e., the cervical spine, can surgery be performed?

Answer: Bone spurs are essentially a manifestation of bone hyperplasia, often seen in degenerative osteoarthritis. Massage, acupuncture, physiotherapy, and other therapies can be somewhat effective, and traditional Chinese medicine also has good results. The goal of TCM treatment is to improve local adaptability rather than completely removing the bone spurs. The knee joint is the most common site for bone spurs, so the same principle applies here. In severe cases, surgery (joint replacement) may be considered.

7. Baby Little Cow: My menstrual flow is very light and dark in color, with slightly more flow during the first two days and only a tiny bit during the last two days. A gynecological exam showed everything was normal, but I've also been breaking out in acne lately. What can I eat to regulate this?

Answer: First, you need to know your age. If you're in puberty, it's called pubertal syndrome; if you're in menopause, it's called perimenopausal syndrome. Low estrogen and relatively high testosterone can lead to acne. Combined Western and traditional Chinese medicine treatment works well, so you can visit a specialist.

8. Overflowing Happiness: Can traditional Chinese medicine treat vitreous opacity without surgery?

Answer: Traditional Chinese medicine has many prescriptions for this condition, such as Danzhi Xiaoyao San, Guizhi Fuling Wan, Qiju Dihuang Tang, and Mingmu Dihuang Wan, which can be adjusted up or down for effectiveness.

9. Peng: My cousin has had psoriasis for many years and has tried numerous treatments without success. What good remedies does TCM offer? Can it be cured completely?

Answer: TCM has many advantages in treating psoriasis, and some patients can achieve complete recovery.

10. Max: A 37-year-old woman with multiple uterine fibroids is considering laparoscopic surgery, but her gynecologist says: first, there's no guarantee the fibroids will be completely removed; second, recurrence is possible; third, the largest fibroid is nearly 8 cm—if left untreated, it may undergo degeneration. Can traditional Chinese medicine control the fibroids? And can postoperative TCM be used to prevent their progression?

Answer: For multiple uterine fibroids without special symptoms, TCM treatment is recommended. Through methods like promoting blood circulation, softening hard masses, and regulating the Chong and Ren channels, TCM can help smaller fibroids dissolve and larger ones shrink. If there's heavy bleeding or severe dysmenorrhea, surgery should be considered, possibly including a total hysterectomy.

11. Feeling My Way Across the River: I have sinus bradycardia, left ventricular hypertrophy, and abnormal repolarization, along with an abnormal ECG. How should I treat this?

Answer: We need to rule out sick sinus syndrome. A regular ECG usually can't diagnose this condition, so dynamic monitoring is required. If it's simply sinus bradycardia, TCM is highly effective and can basically cure it. Western medicine excels at treating rapid heart rates, but its effectiveness in treating slow heart rates is inferior to TCM.

12. Doing Things My Way: I've noticed my sclera is very cloudy and yellow. Could this be a sign of illness? What should I do?

Answer: You should check liver function and complete blood count to rule out blood disorders (including hemolytic anemia) and hepatobiliary diseases.

13. The Sea: How should postpartum headache caused by exposure to wind be treated?

Answer: This is a type of migraine, or neuralgic headache. TCM classifies headaches as follows: frontal pain belongs to Yangming, occipital pain to Taiyang, vertex pain to Jueyin, and lateral pain to Shaoyang. TCM is very effective, and its flexible treatment based on syndrome differentiation demonstrates great advantages over Western painkillers.

14. Doing Things My Way: My husband is in his thirties and often smokes and drinks, resulting in a lot of phlegm in his throat every morning that he can't cough up, accompanied by dry heaving. Could this be chronic pharyngitis, and what are some good treatment methods?

Answer: People who smoke and drink have twice the incidence of chronic pharyngitis compared to the general population. Based on your description, it's possible that you have chronic pharyngitis, though other mild upper respiratory infections can't be ruled out either. TCM has excellent treatments for chronic pharyngitis, such as Yangyin Qingfei Tang, Baihe Gujin Tang, Sangju Yin, Yinqiao San, and Huanglian Jiedu Tang, all of which work well when administered according to syndrome differentiation.

15. Jingci: For eczema, can Fangfeng Tongsheng Wan be used?

Answer: For eczema, especially chronic eczema, Fangfeng Tongsheng San is the preferred formula. If combined with syndrome differentiation and adjustments, it can be an ideal treatment for this condition.

16. Xiangyi: Recently, I've always felt dry mouth and tongue after waking up. What could be the cause?

Answer: To analyze this issue, we must consider other changes throughout the body. If we look at it solely from a Western medical perspective, it's likely a disturbance of the autonomic nervous system, with sympathetic overactivity. From a TCM perspective, it's yin deficiency with excess fire, where the fire damages the yin.

17. Zhenxin: My neck has been hurting lately, and sometimes it feels very heavy when I lift my head. Turning my neck from side to side sometimes makes a cracking sound. Could this be cervical spondylosis, and what treatment methods are available?

Answer: You may have a stiff neck, which is a temporary muscle strain in the neck. Cervical spondylosis, on the other hand, involves progressive changes such as cervical vertebral hyperplasia, disc bulging, and protrusion, sometimes accompanied by muscle strain—different from a stiff neck. A stiff neck can usually be cured quickly through massage and manipulation.

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18. Wei Feng Ying Ying: Uncle is 62 years old. At the end of November last year, he was admitted to the hospital due to abdominal distension, abdominal pain, fatigue, and poor appetite. The examination revealed: first, primary liver cancer with ascites; second, chronic cholecystitis. The patient refused surgery. After 10 days of hospitalization, he went home for recuperation. After taking medicines prescribed by a local traditional Chinese medicine doctor, the abdominal swelling decreased, but the pain in the liver area remained severe, especially in the afternoon. How should this disease be treated?

Answer: For primary liver cancer, if the lesion is within 5 cm, it is considered small liver cancer, and surgical treatment has very good efficacy. If the tumor is huge, it is classified as massive liver cancer. Interventional therapy and surgery are both not ideal. Traditional Chinese medicine can be effective in reducing pain and prolonging survival.

19. Ye Zi: What medicine works best for esophagitis?

Answer: Most cases of esophagitis are caused by bile reflux. Bile reflux esophagitis is often accompanied by bile reflux gastritis, and more than half of the patients also have cholecystitis and biliary tract diseases. Commercially available patent medicines such as Chaihu Shugan Wan, Yueju Wan, Jupi Zhuru Wan, Xiangsha Yangwei Wan, Danzhi Xiaoyao San, Xuanfu Daizhe Wan, Dingxiang Shidi Wan all have varying degrees of efficacy. You can try them.

20. Han Bing: My father underwent gallbladder removal surgery before the New Year. The postoperative pathology report showed: residual epithelial CKP (positive+), histiocytic CD68 (positive+), and KI-67 positive cells at 40%. What does this result indicate? What is the best treatment now?

Answer: The so-called histiocytic cells reflect your immune status. Whether the residual cells are inflammatory remnants or residual cancerous or precancerous lesions is not clear. You need to provide more information about the preoperative diagnosis; otherwise, it is impossible to determine.

21. Wei Feng Ying Ying: A relative feels weak and limp. Hospital examination revealed hypothyroidism. After one week of intravenous infusion, there has been no significant improvement. How effective is traditional Chinese medicine in treating this condition?

Answer: The main symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, edema, and hair loss. Levothyroxine is the standard medication. Traditional Chinese medicine has many effective formulas for treating hypothyroidism, but only through syndrome differentiation and individualized treatment can the right medicine be prescribed.

22. Ta Xue Wu Hen: My mother is 69 years old and has suffered from lichen planus for more than seven years. The condition fluctuates, with itching and bleeding ulcers, mainly on her feet and lower legs. She has been treated with Western medicine all along. Are there any good traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions that can cure this disease?

Answer: Lichen planus is a difficult-to-treat disease. It usually first appears on the oral mucosa. In the past, it was thought to be a fungal infection of the oral mucosa, so before the 1960s it was called lichen planus. Later, it was confirmed that it is not a fungal infection, and the name was changed to lichen planus. The exact cause remains unclear. Some scholars believe it is an autoimmune disease. In my treatment, I use Xie Huang San, Dao Chi San, Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, Zhen Wu Tang, adjusted according to syndrome differentiation, which has proven effective.

23. Zeng Jing De Gu Shi: What traditional Chinese medicines should be taken for hepatitis B? What are the symptoms?

Answer: For hepatitis B, traditional Chinese medicine is highly effective, but it must be used based on syndrome differentiation. For patients with "big three positives," nucleoside analogs (lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil, entecavir, etc.) should also be used in combination.

24. Xin Sui Wu Dong: I am 37 years old and have had uterine fibroids for 10 years, with a diameter of about 4 cm. I do not want surgery. My menstrual flow is heavy. Can conservative treatment with traditional Chinese medicine be adopted?

Answer: Uterine fibroids with a diameter of 4 cm are not too large and can still be treated with traditional Chinese medicine, which can shrink the fibroids, reduce menstrual flow, and alleviate dysmenorrhea.

25. Bu Zhi Bu Jue: Skin itching, especially at night, occurs in just one small area. How should it be treated?

Answer: Localized skin itching may be variant dermatitis or dry eczema. Try using fluticasone ointment or black bean tar ointment first.

26. Yan Chen: Lung cancer with brain metastasis has undergone chemotherapy, but the effect is not good. Can drinking traditional Chinese medicine extend life?

Answer: Brain metastasis from lung cancer is still a tricky problem. Intravenous drip of mannitol and dexamethasone can reduce intracranial pressure and relieve symptoms such as headache and dizziness. Gamma knife and X-knife have no long-term efficacy and may even stimulate the formation of new metastatic lesions. Traditional Chinese medicine has good symptomatic treatment and can prolong life.

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February 24, 2014

1. Qiu Qiu: Female, 30 years old. After giving birth, she has lower back pain and cannot sit for long. She wonders if it's related to the weather—she feels one foot hot and the other cold at night, with different temperatures. How should the lower back pain be treated?

Answer: This is generally referred to as "postpartum wind." Various movements during the perinatal period cause strain and overuse of muscles, as well as autonomic nervous system dysfunction, which are the main causes of this condition. Traditional Chinese medicine that dispels wind and dampness, promotes blood circulation, and removes blood stasis is highly effective when applied according to syndrome differentiation.

2. Wang Yue: When I breathe, I feel pain in my left chest, and I have to hold my breath each time to relieve it. What could be the reason?

Answer: Feeling chest pain while breathing suggests that there may have been an upper respiratory tract infection previously, and the infectious factors affecting the pleura have not yet been eliminated. Another possibility is that the chest wall has suffered trauma or chronic strain. Detailed diagnosis requires visual inspection and other examination methods.

3. Yi Wang Qing Shen: For stage I seminoma, is chemotherapy better or radiotherapy better?

Answer: Apart from surgery, concurrent chemoradiotherapy or sequential chemoradiotherapy should be considered. This disease is highly malignant and metastasizes quickly, so treatment should begin as early as possible.

4. Yu: I am in my twenties and have experienced some numbness in my left arm recently. It feels like my left hand is weaker than my right hand. What could be the cause?

Answer: For people in their twenties, this situation is mostly caused by peripheral nerve disorders, including brachial plexus, radial nerve, and ulnar nerve. If the person is middle-aged or older, cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral infarction and cerebral arteriosclerosis should be considered.

5. Lü Meng: I am 26 years old and have suffered from bilateral sacroiliac dense bone inflammation for two years after childbirth. CT results show iliac bone hyperplasia and hardening. Pain worsens after exposure to cold or fatigue. How should I treat this condition, and can it be cured?

Answers to Netizens' Questions (February 2014)