1. Yangyang’s Mom: My grandmother has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and high uric acid. How should she be treated?

1. Yangyang’s Mom: My grandmother has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and high uric acid. How should she be treated?

Answer: Both traditional Chinese and Western medicine have certain therapeutic effects on hyperthyroidism, but complete cure is difficult. Western medications such as methimazole (Tapazole) and propylthiouracil (PTU) provide immediate relief, but they do not offer a permanent cure. Traditional Chinese medicine, through tonifying qi and blood, clearing heat and draining fire, softening hard masses and dispersing nodules, etc., shows significant long-term efficacy, but still cannot achieve a one-time, permanent solution.

2. Liu Dan: My mother is 52 years old, and doctors have diagnosed her with endometrial cancer. She underwent surgery a few days ago and is now taking medication at home to control the disease. Should she go to the hospital again for further examination and surgery?

Answer: Endometrial cancer requires chemotherapy, and in some cases, concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy are necessary. It is recommended to take some traditional Chinese medicine, which can greatly reduce the risk of cancer recurrence while mitigating the toxic side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

3. Yun: What impact does congenital lumbar spinal fissure have on future health and daily life? What precautions should be taken in everyday life?

Answer: Congenital lumbar spinal fissure, if asymptomatic, can be left untreated. However, strenuous exercise should be avoided, and competitive activities are strictly prohibited. In rare cases where the spinal fissure enlarges and the spinal membrane protrudes, severe consequences such as paralysis and urinary/fecal incontinence may occur.

4. Yuan: Can traditional Chinese medicine be used to treat postpartum wind? Can Sanqi be taken?

Answer: Yes, but relying solely on Sanqi probably won’t solve the major problem. Activating Blood Circulation and Spirit Pill, Large and Small Activating Blood Circulation Pill, etc., are more effective than plain Sanqi.

5. Love Qiqi: My father is 63 years old and has suffered from skin itching for three years. Medication and injections have not worked, and the condition keeps recurring. Blood tests are normal. Is there any way to treat it?

Answer: This is senile pruritus, and traditional Chinese medicine is very effective, but it must be treated according to syndrome differentiation. If you’re worried about the hassle, you might try Fangfeng Tongsheng Wan.

6. SPRINGLLC: I don’t have hepatitis B or C. Western medicine says that if my mitochondrial M2 antibody is positive, it can confirm primary biliary cirrhosis, but mine is negative. Further confirmation requires ultrasound and liver biopsy. Also, hyperthyroidism needs treatment with iodine-131. Right now, I’m taking “ursodeoxycholic acid capsules” prescribed by the doctor, but I don’t want a liver biopsy or iodine-131 treatment. I’m 50 years old and generally healthy. What’s the best approach?

Answer: Mitochondrial antibodies are just one of many indicators. As long as one of ANA, SMA, PNCA, SSA, or SSB is positive, it can serve as evidence for diagnosing autoimmune liver disease—even if all current tests are negative, these antibody levels are constantly changing, and a positive result in a few days would still qualify for diagnosis. You don’t necessarily need a liver biopsy; it’s better to get a clear diagnosis when facing the disease, and if a definitive diagnosis is temporarily difficult, treatment should still be initiated promptly. Treatment should only begin after a clear diagnosis; otherwise, no treatment is given. This is a current shortcoming of Western medicine.

7. Gu Ying: Recently, I’ve had pain in the sole of my foot for several days, and it hasn’t improved. Although the pain is tolerable, it’s still very uncomfortable. I wonder what’s causing it and what should be done?

Answer: From a Western medical perspective, this is a peripheral nerve lesion. From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, it’s a kidney deficiency syndrome. In fact, it’s caused by long-term deficiency of B vitamins, leading to peripheral neuropathy. Taking methylcobalamin and vitamins B₁, B₂, and B₁₂ is effective, and traditional Chinese medicine’s kidney-tonifying approach is also helpful.

8. Mo Yi Yi: Female, 21 years old, with chronic superficial gastritis. For the past six months, she has felt dry mouth and bitter taste at night, with discomfort in the throat and palate. These symptoms have become more severe recently, and upon waking, her throat feels extremely dry, as if sealed shut, making it hard to open. She also produces thick gray-brown sputum. What could be the cause?

Answer: Besides gastric issues, you also have chronic pharyngitis. Traditional Chinese medicine combines these two conditions and calls it “Spleen Earth Overpowering Liver Wood”—wood refers to the liver. Bitter taste and throat discomfort represent liver meridian symptoms, as the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian runs through the throat. Danzhi Xiaoyao San can serve as the main prescription for treating this condition, with additional adjustments for better results.

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April 4, 2014

1. Zhao Renmin: Male, 45 years old, experiences calf cramps at night. What causes the pain, and what are some effective treatments?

Answer: The primary cause of calf cramps is calcium deficiency, so calcium supplementation is necessary. Among commercially available calcium supplements, LeLi Calcium and LangDi Calcium are relatively good choices.

2. Xiaosha: My mother is 48 years old and has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia M2. She has already completed her first round of chemotherapy. How many rounds of chemotherapy will she need before she can start taking the traditional Chinese medicine you prescribed, and how long should she continue taking it to achieve a cure?

Answer: Traditional Chinese medicine is quite effective for M2, and it can be used concurrently with chemotherapy. Not only does it reduce the side effects of chemotherapy, but it also provides early relief. After achieving complete remission, she should continue taking traditional Chinese medicine; some patients can even avoid further chemotherapy.

3. Lula: 30 years old, wakes up every morning with excessive saliva and phlegm. What could be the cause? I’ve had bronchial asthma since childhood, and now I also suffer from neurasthenia, allergic rhinitis, chronic pharyngitis, and chronic superficial gastritis. Occasionally, I can even hear wheezing sounds in my airways. What should I do?

Answer: You have allergies—specifically, an allergic constitution. Rhinitis, pharyngitis, and asthma are all manifestations of allergies. Essentially, it’s due to an excess of parasympathetic neurotransmitters, namely histamine and serotonin, compared to normal levels. Antihistamines and anti-serotonin medications are effective.

4. 6tzhzhx: Does Jisheng Juhe Wan have any effect on epididymitis?

Answer: Yes, it does have some effect, but it cannot completely cure the condition. Comprehensive treatment is still needed, including anti-inflammatory measures, syndrome differentiation based on traditional Chinese medicine, and physiotherapy.

5. Mo Yi Yi: 21-year-old female, diagnosed with urethritis in January. Red blood cells and white blood cells were significantly elevated, but after taking both Chinese and Western medicine, the condition improved. However, two days ago, symptoms of frequent urination and urgency reappeared, especially last night when she went to the bathroom more than ten times. Today, she feels feverish and distended in the lower abdomen, accompanied by general fatigue, dizziness, chest tightness, and nausea. A re-examination confirmed urethritis. Why does this disease keep recurring and getting worse? What factors are involved?

Answer: Urethritis is essentially a urinary tract infection. In women of childbearing age, urethritis is prone to recurrence. First, normal sexual intercourse between spouses can lead to recurrent infections. Second, improper menstrual hygiene is also a major cause of recurrence.

6. Forever Ten Fingers Clasped: What is the best treatment for advanced esophageal cancer? Are Baihua She She Cao, Ban Zhi Lian, and Tie Shu Yi Ye effective against cancer?

Answer: The preferred treatment for esophageal cancer is surgery combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Traditional Chinese medicine is effective for esophageal cancer, especially for cancers in the upper part of the esophagus, where surgery and radiotherapy are less effective. Some patients can only rely on oral traditional Chinese medicine. I have personally encountered many such patients, and most of them can extend their survival time (OS), with a small number even achieving a cure.

7. Baihe: 23-year-old female, in recent months, every morning upon waking, she is unsure whether it’s saliva or phlegm, sometimes mixed with blood, and feels discomfort in her throat, as if there’s phlegm present. She previously had chronic pharyngitis and fears it might be tuberculosis. What could be the cause?

Answer: Occasional blood streaks in morning sputum can occur in chronic pharyngitis, gingivitis, and tuberculosis. You should go to a specialized hospital for a systematic examination to determine exactly which type of bleeding it is. Only after a clear diagnosis can treatment be administered without delaying the condition.

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April 14, 2014

1. Yue Chun: Father is 65 years old, often coughs, produces white foamy sputum, has a runny nose, smokes, and has a white tongue coating. What medications can be used to treat these symptoms?

Answer: People who smoke frequently, in addition to having bronchitis, often also suffer from varying degrees of emphysema and cor pulmonale. Treatment is a systemic project that should not be taken lightly. You should consult a specialist to accurately diagnose and quantify the condition before implementing targeted treatment.

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2. Jing Wen Tong: My grandmother was diagnosed with ductal breast cancer in January 2013. Her surgical wound has not yet healed, and there is significant nocturnal oozing of blood. Recently, she has taken over twenty doses of traditional Chinese medicine, but now she is coughing quite severely. Today, she was diagnosed with pneumonia at Baiyin People’s Hospital. Could you please offer some advice on what we should do now?

Answer: Cancer patients, especially after surgery, often have a compromised immune system. Both the surgical incision and the lungs and adjacent soft tissues are prone to infection. In such cases, Western antibiotics play a leading role. It is recommended that she be hospitalized for treatment.

3. Qian Ting Zhu Cui: A four-month-old infant’s complete blood count shows hemoglobin at 95 g/L (reference range: 110–160 g/L), mean corpuscular volume at 76.8 fL (reference range: 80–100 fL), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin content at 26.6 (reference range: 27–34 pg). Other results are normal. Do these low values indicate anemia?

Answer: Yes, it indicates anemia, specifically iron-deficiency anemia. It is recommended to choose high-quality formula or milk powder.

Compilation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Health Q&A