The current pattern of using the same methods for different diseases should be taken as the focus of future research.

The current pattern of using the same methods for different diseases should be taken as the focus of future research. 46 Middle Section: Special Lecture A Casual Discussion on the Treatment of Leukemia Pei Zhengxue In the 1960s, I was in charge of the internal medicine department at the Tianshui Regional Hospital in Gansu Province. At that time, the Cultural Revolution was about to begin, and hospital management was in chaos. A patient named Ma Changsheng was transferred from the Affiliated Hospital of Lanzhou Medical College. The diagnosis was acute monocytic leukemia (M5). The patient's face was extremely pale, breathing was severely short, and he appeared to be on the verge of death. A rapid blood test showed hemoglobin at only 2 g/L, with a total white blood cell count of 1,000/mm³, and the bone marrow smear confirmed acute monocytic leukemia. The Hematology Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Lanzhou Medical College had administered chemotherapy and supportive treatment for more than three months, but the condition continued to worsen. The family requested to return to their hometown in Tianshui for treatment, so they came to our hospital. After treatment with traditional Chinese medicine, combined with blood transfusions and Western medical support and anti-infection measures, the patient's condition gradually improved. He was hospitalized three times in total, with a cumulative stay of over 200 days, and took more than 400 doses of traditional Chinese medicine. By March 1968 (two years after treatment), when he revisited the hospital, his hemoglobin had risen to 14 g/L, the total white blood cell count was 4,300/mm³, and the bone marrow smear was normal. The patient was miraculously cured, which greatly excited me. However, I was still somewhat puzzled, so I took the bone marrow smear to Lanzhou Medical College and consulted Professor Zhang Aicheng, a renowned hematologist in Northwest China at the time. We discussed the patient's case together, and after examining the bone marrow smear, we confirmed that the leukemia had indeed been cured. Later, at the National Hematology Conference in 1974, I reported this case of cure, which attracted great attention from the delegates. They specially invited the patient, Ma Changsheng, to attend the conference in Suzhou to listen to their inquiries and undergo relevant examinations. Everyone unanimously agreed that this was indeed the first case in China of complete cure of leukemia primarily through traditional Chinese medicine, and they also agreed to name the main prescription used to cure this patient the "Lanzhou Formula." Recently, through correspondence, I learned that the patient, Ma Changsheng, is still alive and well at the age of 59. His children are healthy, his grandchildren are lively, and his family is happy. Now I will list the composition of the "Lanzhou Formula" below: Shengdi 12g, Shanyu 30g, Shanyao 10g, Guizhi 10g, Baishao 10g, Gancao 10g, Shengjiang 6g, Dazao 4 pieces, Fumai 30g, Renshenxu 15g, Ludangshen 15g, Taizishen 15g, Beishashen 15g, Maidong 15g, Wuweizi 6g. Decoct in water and take one dose per day. In March 2002, I treated Liu Ligang, a 20-year-old sophomore at Lanzhou University, who suffered from acute lymphocytic leukemia (L2). He had been diagnosed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Lanzhou Medical College and had been hospitalized multiple times for blood transfusions and chemotherapy, but his condition kept relapsing. His hemoglobin fluctuated around 6 g/L, his white blood cell count ranged between 1,000 and 2,000/mm³, and the proportion of blast cells in the bone marrow varied between 30% and 90%, with no signs of remission. I added modifications to the aforementioned "Lanzhou Formula" and also prescribed my own developed "Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules" and "Qingkou Capsules" (Note: Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules are an oral preparation made by adding modifications to the original Lanzhou Formula, manufactured by the Preparation Room of the Gansu Provincial Academy of Medical Sciences; Qingkou Capsules are another empirical formula I have developed over decades for treating myeloproliferative disorders, manufactured by Lanzhou Huicuitang Pharmacy. Both medicines require a doctor's prescription). After six months of adjustment, the patient's condition improved day by day. His hemoglobin rose to 16.2 g/L, his white blood cell count reached 4,000–5,000/mm³, and the bone marrow smear showed complete remission, with blast cells stabilizing at "0". This bone marrow picture has remained unchanged for half a year, and by June 2003, the patient had not received any chemotherapy for one year and three months. The cure of this patient was reported in detail in the Jiangxi-based "Nanchang Daily" and the Gansu-based "Gansu Daily". The patient's hometown is Ganzhou in Jiangxi Province. He returned to his hometown for treatment and took the above-mentioned medicines, and after his condition improved, a bone marrow smear at Nanchang Hospital confirmed his recovery. Later, during a follow-up visit in Lanzhou, the diagnosis was exactly the same as in Nanchang. Currently, the patient has resumed his studies and is generally in good health, continuing to take Pei's Blood-Boosting Granules, Qingkou Capsules, and other medications. The cures of these two cases demonstrate that traditional Chinese medicine is indeed effective against leukemia. Over my more than 40 years of practice, I have treated countless patients with acute leukemia and deeply realized that those who persist in receiving treatment with traditional Chinese medicine can all extend their survival to varying degrees. In addition to the above two cases, there are still three patients who have survived for more than three years, and about eight or more who have survived for more than two years. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, whether chronic or acute, leukemia is considered a deficiency syndrome. The "Plain Questions: On the Evaluation of Febrile Diseases" states, "If righteous qi is preserved within, evil cannot invade," and the "Plain Questions: On the Methods of Acupuncture in Reverse Cases" says, "Wherever evil gathers, the qi must be deficient." These passages indicate that the body's own righteous qi is the primary factor in resisting disease. Traditional Chinese medicine excels at using methods to tonify the righteous qi and consolidate the root to treat all kinds of illnesses, and this approach is particularly suitable for treating acute leukemia. The "Lanzhou Formula" I devised uses four types of ginseng to greatly replenish qi, which can be regarded as the main tonic for strengthening the righteous qi. Dangshen, Maidong, and Wuweizi are components of the "Shengmai San," a famous formula recorded in the "Thousand Gold Prescriptions" that nourishes qi and yin. Shanyu, Shengdi, Danpi, and Shanyao are ingredients of the "Six Flavor Rehmannia Decoction," which aims to tonify the kidneys and enrich the blood. Moreover, large doses of Shanyu meat have been reported to improve bone marrow hematopoiesis, which is clear evidence that "the kidneys govern the bones, the bones store the marrow, and the marrow and blood share the same origin." In summary, strengthening the righteous qi is the fundamental principle for treating acute leukemia—strengthening the righteous qi dispels evil. As the saying goes, "If righteous qi is preserved within, evil cannot invade." The "Qingkou Capsules" I developed contain two main medicinal ingredients: Chan Su and Qingdai. Each capsule contains one pill, taken two to three times a day. Chan Su is the secretion from the sebaceous glands of toads, a vertebrate animal. It has a sweet taste, warm nature, and is toxic. Traditional Chinese medicine believes it has detoxifying, swelling-reducing, opening-orifices, and pain-relieving effects. Modern pharmacological research has confirmed that it also has cardiotonic, bronchodilatory, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anticancer properties. Before the Cultural Revolution, I encountered a skin cancer patient whose back had a cauliflower-like mass that bled upon touch. Over six months, the patient became emaciated, anemic, and debilitated, with the back mass expanding to 20 cm × 20 cm and protruding about 3 mm above the skin. The upper part of the mass was wrinkled and scaly, with pus-like discharge and a foul odor. I ground 2 g of Chan Su and 100 g of Zicao into a very fine powder, divided it into 400 capsules, and prescribed two capsules three times a day. In addition, I ground 20 g of Wubei, 20 g of Zicao, 20 g of Daji, and 10 g of Xuejie into a very fine powder, mixed them with 500 ml of vinegar, boiled them down into a black paste, applied it externally, changed the dressing every two days, and cleaned the area with saline-soaked cotton balls before each change. After two months of continuous treatment, the local lesion gradually shrank, and the patient's spirits improved day by day. After more than a year of medication, the skin cancer patient was completely cured. Based on this experience, I developed a special interest in Chan Su when treating leukemia, and after reviewing domestic and international literature, I found many reports on Chan Su's use in cancer treatment. For example, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Medical College packaged 0.15–0.3 g of Chan Su into capsules, prescribing one capsule before bed each night, which achieved remarkable results in treating acute granulocytic leukemia. Therefore, I chose Chan Su as the primary ingredient in my "Qingkou Capsules." Qingdai is the leaf of plants such as Malan from the Acanthaceae family, Liaolan from the Polygonaceae family, and Songlan from the Brassicaceae family. The leaves of these three plants contain a blue pigment, which is roughly refined into indigo, known as Qingdai. It has a salty taste and cool nature, and is traditionally used in Chinese medicine for clearing heat, detoxifying, cooling blood, and clearing the liver. Professor Zhou Aixiang of the Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine developed the "Qinghuang San" to treat 25 cases of chronic granulocytic leukemia, achieving complete remission in 18 cases (72%) and partial remission in 28%. The Qinghuang San is made by mixing Qingdai and Xiong Huang in a ratio of 9:1, grinding them into a very fine powder, and packaging them into 0.3 g capsules, taking 0.6–1.5 g daily in three doses. Later, someone extracted indigo from Qingdai and proved that it is the main active ingredient in Qingdai for treating leukemia. The "Chinese Journal of Hematology" (March 1980) reported that indigo treated 314 cases of chronic granulocytic leukemia, with a remission rate of 87%, far exceeding the effectiveness of Qingdai and Qinghuang San. Inspired by these findings, I chose Qingdai as the sole ingredient in my "Qingkou Capsules." The purpose of using Qingkou Capsules is to enhance the effect of expelling evil. Although strengthening the righteous qi and consolidating the root implies "strengthening the righteous qi to expel evil," it is ultimately a method of treating the root. Qingkou Capsules, however, aim to address the symptoms quickly, so the two approaches complement each other when used together. Given that Chan Su has strong side effects such as nausea and vomiting, I added a small amount of Caodoukou to the capsules to harmonize the stomach and spleen, regulate qi, and relieve nausea. However, the treatment with these formulas still needs to be combined with Western medical support, anti-inflammatory measures, and blood transfusions. Purely traditional Chinese medicine treatment is simply not up to the task for acute, critically ill patients. I believe that the treatment of leukemia is currently a major challenge for joint efforts between Chinese and Western medicine, and also a systematic project where both traditions can leverage their respective strengths. Only through organic cooperation between Chinese and Western medicine, simultaneous advancement in clinical practice and scientific research, continuous summarization of experience, and constant improvement of efficacy, can we make breakthroughs and innovations, ultimately achieving the ideal therapeutic effect for leukemia. 52 Discussing Health Care for Middle-Aged and Elderly People Pei Zhengxue People are like machines: the longer they are used, the more likely they are to break down. Regular maintenance and repair can extend their lifespan. When people reach middle age, they are like old machines that need constant care and inspection to keep working. Common diseases among middle-aged and elderly people today include diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular accidents, and cancer. A positive mindset, appropriate exercise, a light diet, and a lifestyle that aligns with nature are not only crucial for the health and longevity of ordinary middle-aged and elderly people, but also play an important role in preventing and controlling the aforementioned common diseases. I. A Positive Mindset The "Plain Questions: On the Theory of Primordial Truth" says, "If one maintains tranquility and emptiness, true qi will follow; if one keeps the spirit within, how can illness arise?" In other words, a good mindset can generate abundant righteous qi, keeping the inner spiritual factors healthy, so how could disease possibly occur? Traditional Chinese medicine places particular emphasis on the importance of the body's righteous qi. The "Plain Questions: On the Methods of Acupuncture in Reverse Cases" states, "If righteous qi is preserved within, evil cannot invade." The "Plain Questions: On the Treatise of Febrile Diseases" says, "Wherever evil gathers, the qi must be deficient." The "Plain Questions: On the Great Theory of Yin-Yang Correspondence" says, "Yang qi is like heaven and the sun; if it loses its proper place, life will be shortened and its brilliance diminished." Here, "true qi," "righteous qi," and "yang qi" all refer to the body's own ability to resist disease, which, from a modern medical perspective, is the immune system. A good mindset can strengthen the body's righteous qi, thereby enhancing its immune function. Modern immunology believes that countless bioactive factors are active between various organs, tissues, and cells in the human body. A positive mindset can activate these factors, thus strengthening the body's disease-prevention system and achieving the goal of eliminating or alleviating disease. These bioactive factors also need to coordinate with each other to work in an orderly manner, which is what traditional Chinese medicine calls "yin balanced, yang concealed, spirit governed." The "Plain Questions: On the Great Theory of Yin-Yang Correspondence" says, "Yin and yang are the way of heaven and earth, the framework of all things, the parents of change, the origin of life and death, and the abode of the divine. To treat disease, one must seek its root." Traditional Chinese medicine has many methods for balancing yin and yang, and regulating one's mindset is an important way to achieve this balance. Traditional Chinese medicine regards this as a fundamental principle for preventing and treating disease. II. Appropriate Exercise Appropriate exercise can help reduce weight. Modern medicine believes that obesity is the cradle of metabolic syndrome. Among middle-aged and elderly people, those with a waist circumference over 88 cm have a metabolic syndrome incidence rate of 60%–80%. A body mass index over 24 should also raise concern.

1. Regular physical exercise Regular physical exercise is an important way to maintain health, especially for middle-aged and elderly people, as it is even more crucial for extending their lifespan. The famous Three Kingdoms-era physician Hua Tuo said, "Running water does not spoil, and hinges do not rot." Regular exercise can keep the body's metabolism functioning normally, prevent excess nutrients from accumulating, and reduce obesity. Running, jumping, walking, singing, shouting—these are all forms of exercise and beneficial to the body. The key is to engage in regular activity and persevere. The longer you stick with it, the greater the benefits to your body. These activities can be scheduled in the morning as "morning exercises," in the evening as "evening exercises," or at noon as "lunchtime exercises." Appropriate labor is also good for the body—helping with household chores, planting vegetables and fruits around the house, rural friends visiting cities, and city friends visiting the countryside—all count as exercise. For retired comrades, staying rigidly at home is a major taboo for longevity. In some developed countries, the upper-middle-class population basically sticks to one sport—tennis, golf, table tennis... Their bodies are generally in good shape, and their lifespans are all over 80 years.
2. Tai Chi The famous Three Kingdoms-era physician Hua Tuo invented the Five Animal Frolics, which were later improved by the Tang Dynasty physician Xu Xuanping and renamed "Taiji Divine Skill." During the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Sanfeng further developed it into the Tai Chi we know today. The famous anti-Japanese military strategist Qi Jiguang included Tai Chi as a basic training course for the Qi Family Army, enabling the army to win every battle and causing the Japanese invaders to flee in panic. Later, during the Qing Dynasty, Mr. Chen Wangting from Chenjiagou, Wen County, Henan Province, reformed the Tai Chi practiced by the Qi Family Army, creating the modern Tai Chi. This style combines movement and stillness, promotes the flow of qi and blood, and aims to invigorate the body's righteous qi, thereby strengthening the body, eliminating disease, and prolonging life. It has become a popular fitness method both domestically and internationally.
3. Qigong It involves self-regulation of breathing, mind, and body to achieve balance between yin and yang and preserve righteous qi. Regulating the mind means consciously controlling mental activities, which is the central element of qigong. The basic requirement is to "keep the heart pure and desires few," eliminate distracting thoughts, and achieve a state of "inner calm." Regulating breathing means consciously controlling one's breath, focusing attention on the "qi sea point" about one and a half inches below the navel, practicing diaphragmatic breathing. When inhaling, the diaphragm descends, abdominal pressure increases, and the lower abdomen bulges outward, as if qi is being drawn from the lungs into the dantian; when exhaling, the lower abdomen contracts, as if qi is being expelled from the dantian through the lungs. This method of circulating qi to the dantian is precisely breathing regulation. Through breathing regulation, the effect of regulating the mind is enhanced, thus achieving the goal of regulating the body.
4. Calligraphy Practice Calligraphy requires standing upright, suspending the wrist, focusing the mind, eyes, and hands. This basic requirement gives calligraphy a strong fitness effect. It integrates qigong and tai chi into one, making it the best choice for extending the lives of middle-aged and elderly people. In addition, practicing calligraphy can also alleviate loneliness and cultivate one's sentiments. When wielding the brush and splashing ink, adding self-composed short essays or poems makes the work come alive, and the emotions expressed can truly move the soul. The "Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon" says, "If one maintains tranquility and emptiness, true qi will follow; if one keeps the spirit within, how can illness arise?" If elderly people concentrate on calligraphy, they objectively reach the state of "tranquility and emptiness"—how could illness possibly arise? The long lifespans of calligraphers throughout history are well-known facts. Not to mention the past, three modern masters—Shu Tong, Qi Gong, and Zhao Puchu—have all lived over 90 years, which is certainly no coincidence. 55 III. Diet Primates such as monkeys and apes are non-meat-eaters, and our ancestors were probably also non-meat-eaters. As productivity developed and living conditions gradually improved, humans gradually developed a habit of eating meat. Today, food is abundant and life is good, which is certainly a good thing, but overeating and drinking are ultimately not suitable for the needs of human organs. The "Jin Gui Yao Lue" records, "Those who live in luxury have weak bones and thick skin; rich foods and greasy meals easily lead to serious illnesses." This shows that ancient people already understood the dangers of overeating, which is consistent with modern medical views. Diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and cerebrovascular accidents are all consequences of excessive nutrition and lipid accumulation in the body. Only a light diet (vegetarian diet) is neither harmful to the stomach nor conducive to preventing the above-mentioned diseases. Since urban dwellers generally enjoy better living conditions than rural residents, elderly people in their eighties and nineties often appear energetic and have strong limbs, whereas such people are now rarely seen in cities. In my outpatient clinic, I often encounter patients from all over, and the better the living conditions, the higher the incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Why did our ancestors live longer than modern people? Sun Simiao lived over a hundred years and remained energetic, and legend has it that Cheng Yaogin lived over two hundred years and still possessed extraordinary martial arts skills. Are there such people today? In ancient times, many hermits lived alone in deep mountains and dense forests, eating wild vegetables, wild fruits, and simple noodles, and still managed to live a long life. In fact, the daily diet of middle-aged and elderly people should consist of 300 g of staple food, 60 g of protein, and 50 g of fat (vegetable oil), plus some green vegetables and fruits, which is sufficient. This diet provides more than 2,000 kcal of energy, keeping middle-aged and elderly people energetic while avoiding excessive nutrition, lipid accumulation, and free radical increase, thereby helping to prevent middle-aged and elderly diseases. Fat should emphasize vegetable oil, which is unsaturated fat, whereas animal oil is saturated fat. The latter is more conducive to lipid deposition and less beneficial to human health. Although fried foods are cooked in vegetable oil (unsaturated fat), repeated frying turns the original unsaturated fat into trans fat. Trans fat is much more harmful to human health, easily depositing on vessel walls and even more so than saturated fat. Deep-sea fish oil, soy lecithin, olive oil, and other similar products are all unsaturated fats and make ideal health supplements. IV. Living in Harmony with Nature Humans live in a certain environment, and traditional Chinese medicine has the theory of "harmony between man and nature." Only by living in harmony with the natural environment can people grow up healthily. Having a regular routine and engaging in appropriate activities can ensure that the body's internal biological clock functions normally. Overeating and irregular routines can disrupt the body's natural physiological rhythms and cause disease. Clothing should be chosen based on seasonal climate changes, aiming for warmth, coolness, and comfort. Nowadays, some young people prioritize fashion over temperature, valuing form over comfort. Fancy clothes, tight-fitting garments, tight pants, ultra-tight jeans, and super-high heels are neither warm nor comfortable, hindering the smooth flow of qi and blood, lacking awareness of warmth and cold protection, and detrimental to human health. Food should prioritize natural, green foods, which are the most nutritious. Modern people add various additives and flavorings to food, and feed manufacturers add growth promoters and fattening agents to animal feed. Many chemical foods are labeled as "well-known brands," occupying the main market for consumer goods, while purely natural, green foods are often marginalized in backward, remote areas. The continuous emergence of food crises such as "Sudan Red," "Lean Meat Powder," "High-Calcium Milk," and "Melamine" shows that chemically processed food, chemically grown meat, fast food, chemically colored rice, and artificially extended shelf life have become the biggest obstacles to human health and longevity. The harm caused by smoking and drinking to human health has been confirmed by modern medicine. Smokers have significantly higher rates of cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, and cancers compared to non-smokers. Smoking not only harms oneself but also affects others. Family members of smokers are called "passive smokers," and the incidence of the above-mentioned diseases is still many times higher than that of the general population. The harm of alcohol to human health is also obvious. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "alcohol looks like water, but its nature is fire—it's a combination of dampness and heat." Long-term drinkers often have dark faces and dry, yellow tongues, which, from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, are already pathological. Modern medical research confirms that long-term drinkers also have higher rates of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers than the general population. 57 A Casual Discussion on Hypertension Pei Zhengxue speaks, recorded by Zhang Guiqiong The incidence of hypertension is increasing year by year. According to incomplete statistics, China currently has a large number of hypertensive patients.