2012.7.31 Treatment of chronic constipation

The child is 9 years old, female, and was previously diagnosed at a hospital in Beijing with “osteosarcoma (proximal left humerus).” For such a condition, the best treatment option would be early amputation followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but since the family refused amputation and returned home to Gansu, they came to Lanzhou to seek treatment from me.

I prescribed: raw rehmannia, mountain茱萸, ginseng roots, prince ginseng, northern sand ginseng, dang shen, mountain yam, danpi, fu ling, ze xie, mai dong, wu wei zi, gui zhi, bai shao, gan cao, floating wheat, jujube, san leng, e zhu, seaweed, kun bu, mountain慈菇, xia ku cao, white flower snake tongue herb, half branch lotus, han san qi, water leech. All ground into powder, 7g each time, twice daily, dissolved in warm water.

After six months of medication, the tumor completely disappeared, and the symptoms were cured. Upon returning to Beijing for a follow-up examination, the hospital declared the disease cured and asked, “Who treated it?” The family replied, “It was Dr. Pei, a famous doctor in our province!”

2012.7.31 Treatment of chronic constipation

During the peak summer of the Renchen year, a patient had suffered from constipation for 30 years, with no improvement despite numerous treatments.

I prescribed: zhi shi 10g, hou pu 10g, rhubarb 20g (added later), mang xiao 10g (taken orally), fire hemp seeds 15g, yu li ren 15g, bai zhi ren 15g, sheng ma 6g, ze xie 10g, dang gui 10g, chuan niu xi 10g, rou cong rong 20g.

After taking more than 20 doses, the patient’s bowel movements became regular, dizziness and headaches improved, and the 30-year-old tinnitus was also cured. This formula is a combination of Ma Zi Ren Wan and Ji Chuan Jian, with an additional 10g of mang xiao taken orally. After taking more than 20 doses, the patient stopped taking the medication, and bowel movements remained regular, with a proper balance of solid and liquid stools.

Note: In this case of 30-year-long constipation, taking 20 doses quietly eliminated the stubborn problem. Previously, I had treated a patient named Xian for constipation, and the medication was effective, but the patient stopped taking it after only 5 doses, and the constipation returned as before. It turns out that correcting a mistake requires going too far—when treating constipation, continuous medication is necessary to keep bowel movements normal for a long time.

Also, why did the patient’s long-standing tinnitus disappear? The formula included Ma Zi Ren Wan and Ji Chuan Jian, neither of which contains ingredients specifically for treating ear problems or kidney issues. I wonder if regulating the bowels might help cure tinnitus?

2012.8.1 Combination of Ma and Gui for treating long-standing, widespread ailments

Ephedra, apricot kernel, raw gypsum, licorice, gui zhi, chuan xiong, bai zhi, xi xin, qiang huo, du huo, fang feng.

Adding chai hu and huang qin allows treatment of all three yang syndromes; adding bai shao and fu pian treats rheumatic pain; adding bai shu and fu ling treats rheumatic edema; adding bai shao, mu xiang, and cao dou kou treats stomach pain; adding wu shao she, cicada slough, white paeonia, and groundsel treats rheumatic itching; adding slipstone and mu tong treats urinary tract infections.

2012.8.4 Multi-drug resistant bacterial infections

Currently, multi-drug resistant bacterial infections (MDRO) are very common, often presenting with persistent high fever and unresponsiveness to multiple medications. In addition to the well-known methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CR-AB), recently there have also been cases of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing strains (ESBLs), and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE).

2012.8.5 Autoantibodies

With the increasing prevalence of autoimmune diseases, in addition to the well-known systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, nodular erythema, perivascular nodular inflammation, and Behçet’s disease, cases of autoimmune hepatitis are also on the rise, with PBC and PSC patients appearing everywhere. Detection of autoantibodies provides a diagnostic basis for autoimmune hepatitis: ① Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA): the main antibody for autoimmune diseases, covering 95% of cases. ② Anti-smooth muscle antibody (SMA): covering 60%–80% of cases. ③ Anti-mitochondrial antibody (AMA): covering 90% of autoimmune hepatitis cases. ④ Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA): covering 60%–80% of cases.

2012.8.6 Cure of lupus nephritis

During the peak summer of the Renchen year, a 28-year-old woman suffered from lupus nephritis, with occult blood (+++) in urine, protein (++), accompanied by headache, stomach discomfort, and generalized edema, though her blood pressure was not high.

Prescription: wu yao 10g, mu xiang 10g, sha ren 10g, gan cao 6g, xiang fu 6g, yan hu suo 10g, su geng 10g, bin lang 10g, mu gua 20g, chen pi 6g, gui zhi 10g, fu zi 6g, ban xia 6g, wu zhou yu 6g, he shou wu 15g, jie geng 15g, bai hua she she cao 15g, ban zhi lian 15g. Ten doses, one dose daily, decocted in water.

After taking ten doses, the patient’s urine protein turned to (±).

This case of cure demonstrates the remarkable efficacy of combining modified wu yao powder with ji ming powder. Modified wu yao powder is a famous formula recorded in the "Sheng Ji Zong Lu," primarily used to treat women experiencing menstrual abdominal pain, numbness in hands and feet, and stomach discomfort extending to both breasts. Ji ming powder is a famous formula from the "San Yin Ji Yi Bing Zheng Fang Lun," mainly used to treat dampness and stagnation in the legs, resulting in numbness and paralysis of the lower limbs. Both formulas are key prescriptions for treating dampness in traditional Chinese medicine: "wu yao" addresses dampness in the upper body, while "ji ming" addresses dampness in the lower body. When I use "wu yao," the main symptom is chest and abdominal distension. One formula focuses on the upper part, the other on the lower part, and when combined, they treat both the upper and lower parts! This formula proved effective in treating lupus nephritis, setting a classic example of ancient formulas curing modern diseases.

2012.8.7 People with alcohol-induced facial flushing are more likely to develop esophageal cancer

Alcohol-induced facial flushing is caused by alcohol poisoning. Alcohol → acetaldehyde → CO₂ + H₂O. The body’s ethanol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) facilitate this reaction. Individuals lacking sufficient amounts of these two enzymes are prone to alcohol-induced facial flushing. Alcohol is a risk factor for esophageal cancer, so anyone with alcohol-induced facial flushing has a strong sensitivity to alcohol and is therefore more likely to develop esophageal cancer.

2012.8.15 Zhao Xinbo’s formula for treating cerebral developmental disorders

Stone calamus 6g, yuan zhi 6g, raw dragon bone 15g, raw oyster 15g, tortoise shell 15g, hawksbill turtle shell 15g, fu shen 10g, peach kernel 10g, safflower 6g, raw rehmannia 12g, dang gui 10g, mai dong 10g, tian hua fen 10g, yi zhi 15g, gentian 10g, gardenia fruit 10g, black snake 10g, whole scorpion 6g, centipede 2 pieces, lotus seed heart 10g, raw zhe shi 15g, stone decision 15g, magnet 15g. One dose daily, decocted in water.

Note: Recently, there has been a growing trend of late marriage and late childbearing, coupled with the misuse of drugs, leading to an increasing number of congenital cranial and brain disorders, as well as cerebral developmental disorders among infants. Zhao’s formula has been used clinically for the past 10 years, and in several cases, children showed improvement after taking it for 1–2 years, with gradual development of the brain.

2012.8.16 Chronic cough

Chronic cough refers to a condition where there are no abnormalities in blood tests or X-rays, but only a persistent cough lasting more than eight months. Such coughs typically fall into four categories: ① Cough variant asthma (CVA). ② Postnasal drip syndrome. ③ Gastroesophageal reflux cough (GERC). ④ Non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis (NAEB). Among these four types, cough variant asthma accounts for 50% of all chronic coughs, postnasal drip syndrome accounts for 40%, and gastroesophageal reflux cough and non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis each account for 10%.

2012.8.17 Common disease names in English abbreviations

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Disease Name English Abbreviation

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Hypertension HP

Arteriosclerosis AS

Coronary Heart Disease CDA

Chronic Pancreatitis CP

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD

Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome MODS

Acute Liver Failure ALF

Ankylosing Spondylitis AS

Rheumatoid Arthritis RA

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus SLE

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease GERC

Acute Myeloid Leukemia AML

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ALL

Hepatocellular Carcinoma HCC

Ulcerative Colitis UC

Functional Dyspepsia HD

Postnasal Drip Syndrome PNDS

Cough Variant Asthma CVA

Non-Asthmatic Eosinophilic Bronchitis NAEB

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis PBC

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis PSC

Inflammatory Bowel Disease IBD

Osteoarthritis OA

Sjögren's Syndrome SS

Multiple Sclerosis MS

Lupus Nephritis LN

Guillain-Barré Syndrome GBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS

Acute Coronary Syndrome ACS

Transient Ischemic Attack TIA

Peripheral Artery Disease PAD

Chronic Renal Failure CRF

Acute Non-Lymphocytic Leukemia ANLL

Hemolytic Anemia HA

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus T2DM

Unstable Angina Pectoris UAP

Acute Myocardial Infarction AMI

Wegener's Granulomatosis WG

Pulmonary Embolism PE

Allergic Subsepsis WFC

Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis RPGN

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor GIST

Chronic Atrophic Gastritis CAG

Gastric Ulcer GU

Duodenal Ulcer DU

Chronic Active Hepatitis CHA

Chronic Persistent Hepatitis CPH

Coronary Angiography CAG

August 18, 2012: Prescription for Chronic Pharyngitis

Oyster shell 15g, raw cinnabar 15g, coptis 6g, honeysuckle 15g, rehmannia root 12g, scrophularia 10g, ophiopogon 10g, Chinese rat snake 10g, cicada slough 6g, silkworm pupa 6g. One dose daily, decocted in water and taken orally.

Mnemonic: Oyster shell stands in for gold; add fluid and three insects.

August 20, 2012: Tripterygium wilfordii

Tripterygium wilfordii is the dried rhizome of a plant in the Celastraceae family, highly toxic; it should be peeled before use. Boiling this herb in water for two hours can remove its toxicity; the usual dosage is 6–20g per day. Some also suggest that leaving the peel on yields better results, with a dosage of 6–10g per day, still requiring two hours of boiling. This medicine can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic diseases, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Raynaud’s disease. Anyone with an autoimmune disorder can be treated with this drug.

August 22, 2012: A Brief Discussion on Chronic Renal Insufficiency

Patients with chronic renal insufficiency and end-stage renal disease are mentally fragile and thus prone to depression. In patients with renal failure, elevated levels of CRP and ESR indicate chronic inflammation. This chronic inflammation is associated with imbalances in various cytokines, which in turn affect the secretion of neurotransmitters such as serotonin. Korean scholars have conducted systematic research on this issue, proving that autonomic nervous system dysfunction is the root cause of depression.

August 23, 2012: Fertility Issues in Breast Cancer Patients

Among young breast cancer patients who undergo radical surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, 33.6%–74.3% experience amenorrhea, while only 3%–4% regain fertility. Traditionally, it was believed that patients positive for estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR), in addition to radiation and chemotherapy, should also receive hormonal therapy (tamoxifen, toremifene, letrozole, anastrozole) to lower estrogen and progesterone levels, ideally achieving amenorrhea. However, recent follow-up studies on breast cancer patients under 45 have found that these patients tend to live longer than their non-fertile counterparts. This conclusion challenges traditional views and is currently under discussion.

August 24, 2012: Non-Coronary Atherosclerotic Myocardial Infarction

Clinically, 10%–20% of myocardial infarction patients show no abnormalities on coronary angiography, suggesting that some cases may be caused by other factors leading to coronary ischemia. Besides atherosclerosis, other causes of myocardial ischemia and infarction include coronary spasm, coronary inflammation, coronary malformations and embolisms, and insufficient blood supply due to low blood pressure.

August 26, 2012: A Case of Myocardial Infarction Caused by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

The Department of Cardiology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital reported a case of a 16-year-old adolescent who suffered an acute myocardial infarction but could not be saved despite resuscitation efforts. The report stated that comprehensive examinations revealed no hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or arteriosclerosis, but the patient had an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and positive autoantibodies, along with a history of joint disease, fever, and kidney disease, leading to a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus. Therefore, the hospital believes that the patient’s myocardial infarction may have been caused by coronary arteritis resulting from SLE.

August 29, 2012: Traditional Chinese Medicine Effective in Treating Multiple Sclerosis

Patient, female, 56 years old. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis one year ago. Symptoms included dizziness, numbness in the limbs, and discomfort in the epigastric region.

Prescription: Angelica sinensis, red peony root, chuanxiong, rehmannia root, peach kernel, poria, ledebouriella, tangerine peel, polygala, dragon’s blood, lycium fruit, cnidium, safflower, honeysuckle, turtle shell, soft-shelled turtle shell, oyster shell, donkey-hide gelatin, schisandra, bletilla, black soybean, dodder, mulberry branch, herba siegesbeckiae, weilingxian, Chinese rat snake, chicken blood vine. Ten doses, decocted in water and taken orally, two doses every three days.

After 15 days of treatment, all symptoms disappeared, and the patient’s mental state improved markedly compared with before.

August 30, 2012: Clinical Experience in Treating Spasmodic Torticollis

During the summer of the Year of the Dragon, a 56-year-old female patient suddenly developed spasmodic torticollis, with her head tilted to the right and neck muscles in spasm, involuntarily. However, during sleep, her neck relaxed and the above symptoms disappeared. The condition persisted for five days, with no improvement despite using numerous medications.

Prescription: Peach kernel, safflower, angelica, red peony root, chuanxiong, rehmannia root, qin jiao, xuduan, niuxi, Chinese rat snake, whole scorpion, centipede, cypress leaf, papaya, stretching grass, kudzu root, cinnamon twig, flower powder, chuanwu, caowu, xixin, strychnos seed. Ten doses, decocted in water and taken orally, two doses every three days.

After 15 days of treatment, the patient’s condition improved significantly.

August 31, 2012: Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment After Brain Glioma Surgery

A patient experienced headache, dizziness, hemiplegia, and difficulty in movement after brain glioma surgery.

Prescription: Turtle shell, soft-shelled turtle shell, oyster shell, ligustrum fruit, black lotus, safflower, hedyotis, white peony root, niuxi, psoralea, salvia, cinnabar, sanleng, ezhushi, seaweed, kelp, sweet flag, prunella, rehmannia root, cornelian cherry, yam, cortex moutan, poria, alisma, cinnamon twig, fuzhi. Ten doses, decocted in water and taken orally, two doses every three days.

After 15 days of treatment, the patient’s mental state improved, and the condition eased.

September 10, 2012: Latest Research Advances on Myocardial Infarction Released by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)

1. Preferred biomarkers for detecting myocardial infarction Cardiac troponin (cTn): positive (by conventional method); 0–0.15 μg/L (by immunoassay).

2. Classification of myocardial infarction ① Spontaneous or sudden plaque rupture leading to coronary obstruction. ② Coronary spasm causing insufficient oxygen supply to the myocardium. ③ Gradual onset, corresponding to unstable angina pectoris. ④ Recurrence after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). ⑤ Recurrence after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

3. Guidelines for managing acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction ① Complete a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) within 10 minutes. ② Initiate continuous ECG monitoring for suspected ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). ③ Provide appropriate management for atypical ECG findings. ④ Centers capable of performing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) must offer 24-hour service. ⑤ If no PCI team is available, administer thrombolytic therapy. ⑥ If thrombolysis fails, proceed with PCI.