I. The Pathogenesis: External Evil Invades, Toxin Resides, Organs Are Deficient

I. The Pathogenesis: External Evil Invades, Toxin Resides, Organs Are Deficient

Leukemia is a malignant proliferative disease of the hematopoietic system. It is characterized by the malignant proliferation of leukemia cells in the bone marrow, which then infiltrate other tissues and organs throughout the body, giving rise to a series of clinical symptoms, primarily fever, anemia, bleeding, and enlargement of the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. Although this condition does not have a specific name in traditional Chinese medicine, its clinical manifestations have been discussed in medical texts throughout history. Acute leukemia shares similarities with acute labor syndrome, while chronic leukemia resembles deficiency-related labor syndrome. Professor Pei believes that the causes of leukemia are multifaceted, mainly related to exposure to external evils, the accumulation of heat-toxins within the body, and deficiencies in the internal organs. Deficiency in innate resources or postnatal imbalances can make individuals more susceptible to external evils; these evils invade the body, attack the defensive qi, cause heat to accumulate internally, lead to the invasion of blood and yin, and result in the buildup of heat-toxins deep within the bone marrow, ultimately triggering the onset of the disease. In the early stages of the disease, patients often present with symptoms of external invasion or arise from deficiency-related conditions; their clinical manifestations vary widely, as described in “Sheng Ji Zong Lu”: “Those with acute labor… arise from insufficient qi, emotional distress causing qi stagnation, both the vital energy and defensive qi being deficient, heat rising in the heart and lungs, metal and fire clashing, the hidden qi being transmitted and overpowered, or from exposure to external evils—leading to irritability, heat, red cheeks, relaxed hearts, headaches, night sweats, coughing, dry throat, joint pain, and even skin erosion and bleeding. These are the typical symptoms.”

---