III. Clinical Application of Sheng Bao Dan

Sheng Bao Dan is effective for both male erectile dysfunction and premature aging in women, while also possessing strong blood-producing and marrow-strengthening properties. It is a beneficial remedy for various forms of anemia and fatigue, and has been used for decades, carefully preserved in our family’s archives. Now, after many years of experience, we are sharing this formula publicly, hoping to benefit others and bring healing to the people. Leeches and deer antler are finely ground into powder, then processed into capsules weighing 0.25 grams each, with 2–3 capsules taken three times daily, mixed with warm water. This formula combines blood circulation and blood-activating properties with kidney-tonifying and yang-enhancing effects, offering significant therapeutic benefits for male erectile dysfunction and female premature aging. It has also proven effective for patients with aplastic anemia, leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and other conditions. Deer antler is the undeveloped horn of deer, such as sika deer or red deer, known for its powerful effects in strengthening yang, producing blood, strengthening tendons and bones, and warming the uterine cavity. Modern experimental research has shown that deer antler extracts contain both androgens and estrogens, making it effective for treating both male erectile dysfunction and female premature aging. At the same time, deer antler can significantly improve the cardiovascular system and the bone marrow's hematopoietic system; it can also invigorate the spirit, reduce fatigue, and activate superoxide dismutase to help eliminate free radicals in the body. For these reasons, deer antler is one of the most promising anti-aging remedies. Leeches are dried bodies of earthworms from the Hirudinea family, widely used for breaking up blood stasis and eliminating blood clots—traditionally employed for conditions like blood clots, bruises, hemorrhoids, women’s blood stagnation, and menstrual disorders. Recent experimental studies have demonstrated that leeches are particularly effective in treating hypertension, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, and hyperlipidemia, all conditions characterized by blood stasis. Some domestic researchers have combined 100g of deer antler, 100g of leeches, and 100g of licorice, ground into powder, taken three times daily, 6g per dose, mixed with warm water, to treat male infertility and cases where sperm motility was less than 50%. After years of experience, we have found that using leeches alone in fine powder form, encapsulated in capsules, has yielded remarkable results in treating male erectile dysfunction.

In December 1997, Sun, a driver, suffered from erectile dysfunction and had tried numerous medications without success. He took 2 leech capsules each time, twice daily, and after 3 days his erections returned to normal. Wanting to test whether this remedy would provide long-term efficacy, he stopped taking it. Three days later, his erections failed to return, but he continued taking the medicine for over 3 months. When he stopped again, his erections remained firm as usual, and he never experienced erectile dysfunction again—his sexual life had not declined for over 10 years. In the treatment of male erectile dysfunction and female premature aging, Sheng Bao Dan can be used simultaneously; typically, a course lasts 3 months. The herbal decoctions differ between men and women, depending on the principles of syndrome differentiation, choosing the traditional Chinese medicine formulas listed for male erectile dysfunction and female premature aging, while adapting the treatment according to individual circumstances.

Based on our experience, in addition to taking Sheng Bao Dan and traditional Chinese herbal decoctions, maintaining a positive mindset and engaging in appropriate physical exercise are also key components of treatment. We have seen many patients recover from these conditions thanks to improved marital relationships, career advancements, and environmental improvements.

Three Cases of Lung Infections Misdiagnosed as Lung Cancer

Mr. Dong Yonghe, former Director of the Tianshui County Public Security Bureau, a 70-year-old man and a close friend of mine, contracted a cold in the spring of 1995. He experienced chills, fever, cough with phlegm, and blood in his sputum, along with chest tightness and shortness of breath. A chest X-ray at Tianshui County People’s Hospital revealed a patchy shadow measuring 4cm × 5cm in the right lung hilum area. He was diagnosed with right lung cancer, and despite antibiotic and chemotherapy treatments, the condition did not improve. Later, he came to Lanzhou seeking treatment from me. Upon reviewing the X-ray, I noticed that the shadow’s shape, lobulation, and spicules were not very typical. I advised him to be hospitalized and receive high-dose antibiotics while continuing observation. Additionally, I prescribed Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang combined with Xie Bai San, Cao Miao Da Zao Xie Fei Tang, and Wu Wei Xiaodu Yin with Fish Herb, among other treatments. Two weeks later, his temperature dropped, the hemoptysis subsided, his mental state improved significantly, and his appetite increased. After one month, his cough and sputum production had markedly reduced, his appetite greatly improved, and his weight gained. An X-ray confirmed that the lung shadow had completely disappeared, and he was declared cured.

Mr. Wang Hong’en, Director of the Jingtai Irrigation District, a 60-year-old man, discovered a 4cm × 4cm shadow on his right lung during a routine health checkup in 1996. He had originally planned to travel to the United States for a study trip within a month, but the discovery of this shadow left him utterly bewildered. Local hospitals initially diagnosed him with lung cancer, and he underwent bronchoscopy, but because the lesion was located far from the lung hilum, tissue biopsies could not be obtained. He came to Lanzhou seeking treatment from me. After carefully reviewing his condition, I learned that he had suffered from multiple colds and coughs over the past six months, receiving intravenous medication at his workplace. Examining the X-ray, I noted that although the right lung shadow was relatively large, it did not show obvious lobulation, and its surrounding margins were relatively neat—overall, the shadow appeared dense. Diagnosis: Inflammatory pseudotumor? He was treated with antibiotics first, followed by Chinese medicine—Suo Xing San combined with Peasants’ Bean, Safflower, San Ling, Euryale, Sanqi, and Leeches. After two weeks of treatment, the X-ray showed complete resolution, and the patient recovered and was discharged. He subsequently traveled to the U.S. for a study trip as scheduled.

Mr. Li Renxiong, a 64-year-old man and the husband of my old classmate Huang Yueqian, a classmate from Xi’an Medical University 40 years ago, was admitted to Lanzhou Army General Hospital in March 1996 due to a cough and sticky phlegm. A chest X-ray at the hospital revealed a relatively dense shadow measuring 4cm × 6cm in the upper lobe of his right lung. A CT scan also showed the same shadow, leading to a diagnosis of right lung cancer. He had been hospitalized for over two months, and doctors repeatedly recommended surgery, but due to objections from his family, he turned to me for treatment. His face was pale and yellow, he was thin, and his cough became increasingly severe, accompanied by chest tightness and shortness of breath. Ten years earlier, he had developed diabetes and had been managing it with insulin for many years. After being admitted to our hospital, he received integrated Chinese and Western medicine treatment, starting with high doses of antibiotics, combined with Chinese herbs: Su Ye 10g, Apricot Kernel 10g, Pinellia 6g, Citrus Peel 6g, Poria 12g, Citrus Fruit 10g, Platycodon 20g, Scutellaria 15g, Prunella 15g, Bupleurum 15g, Ephedra 10g, Raw Gypsum 30g, Honeysuckle 20g, Forsythia 20g, Fresh Ginger 6g, Four Dates 4 pieces, decocted in water and taken once daily. After two months of treatment, his symptoms had completely resolved, the X-ray showed no shadows remaining, and the CT scan revealed only coarse lung markings—no further abnormalities were detected. The patient recovered and was discharged.

Note: In all three cases, the presence of dense shadows in the lungs made it difficult to diagnose lung cancer with antibiotics alone. One case presented with high fever, chills, chest tightness, and hemoptysis; at the onset of the illness, it resembled large叶 pneumonia, but due to the prolonged course of the disease, antibiotic treatment was ineffective, so it could be ruled out. He had previously received irregular small doses of chemotherapy at the county hospital, but after coming to Lanzhou, he adopted anti-inflammatory and Chinese herbal treatments, gradually seeing improvement. Clinically, he was diagnosed with inflammatory pseudotumor. Two cases were asymptomatic, feeling perfectly normal, and only discovered a lung mass during a routine health checkup. Through anti-inflammatory treatments, Chinese herbal medicines to clear the lungs, eliminate phlegm, and promote blood circulation and detoxification, they recovered. The final diagnosis for this case could also be classified as “inflammatory pseudotumor.” Three cases had a long history of diabetes, and the lung lesions were located in the upper right lung; tuberculosis should be considered, but the patient never exhibited any tuberculosis symptoms, and since the tuberculin test was negative, tuberculosis was ruled out. Ultimately, he recovered after two months of treatment with antibiotics and Chinese herbal medicine—Suo Xing San combined with modifications, and was diagnosed with inflammatory pseudotumor.

All three patients who were misdiagnosed with lung cancer were ultimately diagnosed with inflammatory pseudotumor. This shows that inflammatory pseudotumor is not uncommon; all three patients were elderly, with relatively weak immune systems, and recurrent lung and bronchial infections could lead to localized masses formed by fibrous tissue proliferation combined with inflammatory exudation. These masses are often dense, and their appearance and imaging can easily be confused with tumors (cancer). Such masses cause great suffering for patients, create panic among families, and give doctors the illusion that “cancer has been cured” through treatment. In clinical practice, I’ve observed that this condition often develops in older adults, with a history of recurrent colds and lung infections—antibiotic treatment alone may be slow or ineffective. Herbal medicine combined with antibiotics is the most ideal treatment approach for this condition.

When prescribing Chinese medicine, Suo Xing San is usually the first choice; if there are still symptoms of cold or heat, Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang is used; if not, herbs like Sanqi and Leeches are used to promote blood circulation and eliminate blood stasis. Wu Wei Xiaodu Yin is always a necessary addition.

Review of Viral Hepatitis

Viral hepatitis is one of the oldest and most widespread infectious diseases in the world, particularly prevalent in developing countries such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America, severely impacting people’s lives and health. Although research on the pathogens causing this disease has been ongoing for nearly a century, significant progress has only been made in the last 30 years, largely thanks to the development and mutual integration of modern molecular biology, molecular immunology, and cell biology. To date, viral hepatitis is classified into five categories—A, B, C, D, E, and G—based on the biological characteristics of the viruses, their clinical features, and their patterns of transmission. These categories are also referred to as A, B, C, D, E, and G. In 1997, a new viral hepatitis virus, ITV, was reported, associated with transfusion-transmitted infection, though it is still under further discussion.