October 18, 2013: Adnexitis is the root cause of gynecological diseases

Pelvic congestion syndrome, also known as fallopian vein syndrome, is caused by factors such as impaired venous return, pelvic inflammatory disease, sterilization surgery, repeated uterine curettage, hemorrhoids, prolonged standing, constipation, etc. The main symptoms include lower abdominal pain radiating to the lower back, and traditional Chinese medicine treatment is highly effective. Adnexitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and all gynecological inflammatory conditions actually involve varying degrees of pelvic congestion syndrome, which is the fundamental reason why gynecological inflammation is difficult to cure. Acute gynecological inflammation treated with antibiotics can only relieve symptoms but cannot achieve a complete cure because: ① Gynecological organs have the urethra in front and the rectum behind, located in the middle, making them prone to secondary infections. ② Menstrual cycles bring endocrine changes and a state of weakened immune function. ③ Pelvic congestion syndrome persists alongside inflammation for a long time. Among these three reasons, pelvic congestion syndrome is the primary cause of persistent gynecological inflammation. Western antibiotics are effective against gynecological inflammation but powerless against pelvic congestion. Traditional Chinese medicine’s method of promoting blood circulation and removing stasis is the main approach to treating pelvic congestion syndrome, combined with tonifying the body and regulating the Chong and Ren meridians, which can produce effects that Western medicine cannot achieve.

October 18, 2013: Adnexitis is the root cause of gynecological diseases

Adnexitis leads to pelvic inflammatory disease, and the occurrence of pelvic inflammatory disease is closely related to all gynecological conditions, such as infertility, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, preterm birth, placenta previa, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, trophoblastic cancer, and many other diseases. Western medicine lacks methods for promoting blood circulation and removing stasis, tonifying the body, and regulating the Chong and Ren meridians when treating gynecological inflammation, resulting in poor efficacy. Western hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and artificial menstrual cycles are also ineffective against gynecological inflammation. The incidence of cervical cancer is higher in mountainous areas than in plains, and higher in small towns than in big cities, with most cases in big cities occurring among middle- and low-income populations—this is one of the reasons why cancer is closely linked to inflammation. Of course, genetic factors are another cause of cancer.

October 25, 2013: Lewy body dementia

In 1913, British neurologist Lewy first discovered a round, eosinophilic inclusion body in the substantia nigra of the brainstem of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, later named Lewy bodies. In 1961, Okazaki in Japan described a group of clinical and pathological manifestations overlapping between PD and AD, characterized clinically by fluctuating cognitive impairment, visual hallucinations, and Parkinsonian syndrome—a neurodegenerative disease. In 1995, the first International Working Group on Lewy Body Dementia standardized the name of the disease as Lewy Body Dementia (DLB). Parkinson’s disease dementia and Alzheimer’s disease dementia are clinically very similar to Lewy Body Dementia (DLB), making them difficult to distinguish, and the medications used for treatment are mostly the same, such as olanzapine and clozapine. PD, in addition to extrapyramidal symptoms, also has cognitive impairment. Anyone with cognitive impairment can be called demented, while those without cognitive impairment cannot be called demented. AD manifests as memory loss or confusion, with cognitive impairment only appearing in severe cases. DLB, however, is another disease that overlaps with both PD and AD.

November 1, 2013: Overview of erythroderma

Erythroderma arises on the basis of dermatitis, such as widespread skin redness appearing on the background of psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, or allergic dermatitis; medications can also trigger this condition. Five percent of erythroderma cases occur in T-cell lymphoma, a type of lymphoma also known as Sézary syndrome. There is also an eosinophilic granulocytosis syndrome that can lead to erythroderma.

November 4, 2013: Current status of pancreatic cancer diagnosis and treatment

The incidence of pancreatic cancer in China is 3–4 per 100,000 people, slightly higher in men than women, and showing a yearly increasing trend. The development of pancreatic cancer is associated with the following factors: ① Diabetes. ② Viral infections (hepatitis virus, human papillomavirus). ③ Irregular diet. ④ Smoking. ⑤ Genetics.

Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: CT scans show blurred tumor margins, with necrotic foci visible, a capsule present, calcification foci, and inflammatory changes in the distal pancreas. Tumor markers CA-199 and CEA are important diagnostic indicators. Percutaneous biopsy under CT or ultrasound guidance is currently the definitive method for diagnosing pancreatic cancer.

Treatment of pancreatic cancer: ① Single-agent 5-FU has some efficacy. ② Single-agent capecitabine is no less effective than 5-FU and leucovorin calcium. ③ Some suggest that tegafur oral administration has certain efficacy. The progression-free survival (PFS) and symptom-free survival rates for these treatments are 22.8 months and 22.2 months, respectively.

November 4, 2013: Comprehensive treatment principles for cervical cancer

In the 1990s, the U.S. NCCN established the principle of concurrent chemoradiotherapy for cervical cancer, with cisplatin and paclitaxel as the basis for chemotherapy. Large-scale comparative studies across multiple regions show that concurrent chemoradiotherapy results in longer disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) than either radiotherapy alone or chemotherapy alone, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.01).

November 5, 2013: CDC releases 18 drug-resistant bacterial strains

Each year, at least 2 million people in the United States are infected with one or more drug-resistant bacteria, of whom 23,000 die directly from such infections. 250,000 people are hospitalized due to Clostridioides difficile infection, and 14,000 die from it. The annual medical expenses incurred by drug-resistant infections in the United States reach $20 billion. The widespread use of antimicrobial drugs is a major cause of resistance. Common drug-resistant bacteria are classified by severity as follows: ① Most dangerous: Clostridioides difficile, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae. ② Very serious: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E), multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB), drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, drug-resistant Salmonella, typhoid bacillus, Shigella, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and others. ③ Of concern: Erythromycin-resistant bacteria, clindamycin-resistant bacteria, etc. As the devil rises, the demon grows stronger. Since the discovery of penicillin-resistant bacteria in 1900, new resistant strains have been found every year. Antibiotics are the nemesis of pathogenic bacteria, while resistant bacteria are the natural enemies of antibiotics, creating an inherent antagonism between the two. This pattern fully conforms to the laws of natural change.

November 14, 2013: Traditional Chinese medicine treatment for pulseless syndrome

Diseases causing pulseless syndrome include giant cell arteritis, obliterative thromboangiitis, and Raynaud’s disease, essentially due to occlusion and spasm of the major arteries. I commonly use the following formula to treat this condition.

Danggui 10 g, Chishao and Baishao each 10 g, Chuanxiong 6 g, Shengdihuang 12 g, Cangzhu 6 g, Houpu 6 g, Chenpi 6 g, Gancao 6 g, Jixueteng 15 g, Danshen 15 g, Fupian 6 g, Baizhu 10 g, Fuling 12 g, Ganjiang 6 g, Gouqizi 10 g, Zhili Ruxiang 10 g, Zhili Meiyao 10 g, Duohuo 10 g.

This formula focuses on promoting blood circulation, tonifying yang, promoting diuresis, and eliminating dampness, and is quite effective in treating pulseless syndrome. For Raynaud’s disease, which mainly affects the upper limbs, add Si Ni San and Xiao Xu Ming Tang; for obliterative thromboangiitis, which mainly affects the lower limbs, add Si Miao San and Si Miao Yong An Wan; for deep vein inflammation, which occurs beneath the skin, add Wang Bu Liu Xing, Weilingxian, and Chuan Shan Jia.

November 15, 2013: Overview of lung function

Lung function testing is an important indicator for clinically assessing the extent of damage caused by thoracic and pulmonary diseases. This examination is non-invasive, objective, quantitative, and continuous, and can be repeated multiple times.

1. Restrictive ventilatory dysfunction: Seen in thoracic and pulmonary diseases, as well as severe upper abdominal diseases, massive ascites, and pregnancy. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and total lung capacity (TLC) decrease.

2. Obstructive ventilatory dysfunction Obstructions originating from within or outside the lungs block the upper airway and bronchi. Indicators of upper airway obstruction include the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and the FEV1/FVC% ratio. The most common indicator of small airway obstruction is the maximal mid-expiratory flow rate (MMEF).

3. Mixed ventilatory dysfunction Combines features of both restrictive and obstructive types.

November 16, 2013: Hand-foot-and-mouth disease

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a childhood infectious disease, most commonly seen in children under four years old. It is caused by viral infection, with Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71 being the most common viruses.

November 18, 2013: Effective formula for sinusitis

Thirty years ago, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine sent a formula claiming miraculous effects in treating sinusitis, as follows.

Longdan 10 g, Bohe 6 g, Chaihu 10 g, Huangqin 10 g, Jingjie 10 g, Gualou 10 g, Jiegeng 20 g, Zhike 10 g, Mahuang 10 g, Guizhi 10 g, Xingren 10 g, Gancao 6 g, Shengshi 30 g, Chuanxiong 6 g, Baizhi 3 g, Xixin 3 g, Qianghuo and Duohuo each 10 g, Fangfeng 12 g, Cang’erzi 10 g, Xinyi 10 g. Take one dose daily, decocted in water.

Mnemonic: “Jinggua Jiejie Zhike Longdan Four, Mahuang Guizhi Cang’erzi.”

This formula works well for acute sinusitis, while for chronic sinusitis I prefer using Mahuang Guizhi Tang.

November 19, 2013: A quote from “The Art of War”

“The Art of War,” Chapter on Strategy, states: “In warfare, preserving the whole country is the highest strategy; destroying the country comes next. Preserving the entire army is the highest strategy; destroying the army comes next. Preserving the entire regiment is the highest strategy; destroying the regiment comes next. Preserving the entire battalion is the highest strategy; destroying the battalion comes next. Preserving the entire company is the highest strategy; destroying the company comes next. Therefore, winning every battle is not the ultimate excellence; the ultimate excellence lies in subduing the enemy without fighting.”

The essence of this discussion on warfare is that forcing the enemy to surrender through war is a last resort, while subduing the enemy without fighting is the best strategy. Preserving the whole country and the whole army are both top strategies. This reminds me of the current medical community: thanks to advanced surgical techniques and sophisticated diagnostic equipment, it seems that there is no tube that cannot be accessed and no cavity that cannot be occupied. As long as the disease is localized, there is no operation that cannot be performed! Surgeons boast about the omnipotence of surgery, and patients unquestioningly believe it. However, they fail to realize that postoperative sequelae and chronic complications that drag on for months or even years can severely impact patients’ quality of life. This is the flaw in the beauty of modern Western medicine—the blemish on its jade.

Since the 16th century, with the development of Western industry, microscopes and various endoscopes have been successively invented, bacteria have been discovered, and their pathogenicity has been elucidated. Western medicine, emerging from the womb of ancient Roman medicine, has presented itself in a brand-new light, hitching a ride on the fast track of modern science and technology, rapidly advancing along the paths of the microscopic, the localized, and the pathogenic nature of disease, going further and further. Today, it has become completely disconnected from the whole, forgetting the body’s reactive suppression of pathogenicity, and overlooking the powerful regulatory and restraining effects of the macro over the micro, and of the whole over the local. Moreover, during the course of disease, any stimulation of any part of the body can positively contribute to disease progression, and surgery is no exception. Localized cancers that have not metastasized, appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, benign uterine tumors, and other surgeries yield good results because they eliminate the entire disease in one go. For surgeries that cannot eliminate everything, it is better to err on the side of caution—doing them provides positive stimulation and can accelerate disease progression.

November 26, 2013: Pain in cancer patients

Pain in cancer patients is diverse. Cancer itself can cause localized pain. Liver cancer causes pain in the liver region, lung cancer causes chest pain, colon cancer causes lower abdominal pain, ovarian cancer causes lower abdominal pain, pancreatic cancer causes upper abdominal pain, and nasopharyngeal cancer, bladder cancer, and cervical cancer all cause localized pain—these are all due to local infiltration of cancer tissue into the mesothelium and nerves. Metastatic cancer also causes pain. Because cancer’s own infiltration and metastasis can cause pain, clinicians tend to take a rather broad view of pain complaints from both inpatient and outpatient cancer patients. During rounds, they often hear that patients are in unbearable pain but do not delve deeply, simply dismissing it with the phrase “third-level pain relief.” This leads to a worsening quality of life and shorter survival times for cancer patients. Having treated cancer for over 50 years, I deeply understand that cancer pain goes far beyond the aforementioned self-generated pain; the following will elaborate.

1. When one develops cancer, the body’s immune function is on the verge of collapse, increasing the chance of pathogenic bacterial infection. Among abdominal organs, the gallbladder, pancreas, pelvis, and adnexa are the most susceptible to infection. Upper abdominal pain mostly originates from the gallbladder, pancreas, and stomach; lower abdominal pain in women mostly originates from the uterus and adnexa. For the former, the Gallbladder-Pancreas Combination Formula often works well, while for the latter, the Blood Mansion Removing Stasis Soup, Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan, and Jin Ling Zi San are effective.

2. During cancer, systemic muscle pain and joint pain are often seen, frequently overlooked by doctors. Such pain can be exacerbated by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. I often treat it with the Lanzhou Formula combined with Gui Zhi Shaoyao Zhi Mu Tang or Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang, with good results.

3. Due to autonomic nervous system dysfunction during cancer, excessive sweating, bitter taste in the mouth, and yellow coating on the tongue may occur; at the same time, gastrointestinal dysfunction can lead to increased intestinal peristalsis and abdominal pain. In such cases, Xiao Chai Hu Tang combined with Gui Zhi Tang is effective. The “Shanghan Lun” states: “In Shanghan, the Yang pulse is sluggish and the Yin pulse is tense; according to the law, there should be acute abdominal pain, so first administer Xiao Jian Zhong Tang; if it doesn’t work, then use Xiao Chai Hu Tang.”

4. Intestinal obstruction caused by cancer can occur due to postoperative adhesions, metastasis to the mesentery and peritoneal lymph nodes, or autonomic nervous system dysfunction. In such cases, surgery is often inadvisable, and taking traditional Chinese medicine formulas like Chengqi, Wu Ling Yu Yun Tang, or Da Jin Niu Chi Gan Mai Tang is effective.

Western medicine often overlooks these cancer-related syndromes, casually dismissing them with the phrase “third-level pain relief”! Ancient Chinese medicine has preserved countless prescriptions for cancer patients, which can undoubtedly improve their quality of life—remember this! Improving quality of life means extending survival time.

November 28, 2013: Treatment of chronic rhinitis

For decades, I have used the compound Mahuang-Gui Zhi formula (Mahuang, Gui Zhi, Xingren, Shengshi, Gancao, Chuanxiong, Baizhi, Xixin, Qianghuo, Duohuo, Fangfeng, Cang’erzi, Xinyi, Gaoben, Manjingzi) to treat chronic rhinitis, often achieving good results, though some patients still do not respond. Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine sent a formula whose main ingredients are Jingjie, Gualou, Jiegeng, Zhike, Longdan, Bohe, Chaihu, and Huangqin (mnemonic: “Jinggua Jiejie Zhike, Longdan first four”). These eight herbs, when used in combination with my compound Mahuang-Gui Zhi formula, have repeatedly proven effective in clinical practice and can be considered the best choice for treating rhinitis.

November 28, 2013: More on tonifying the body and strengthening the foundation