3. Case Example

3. Case Example

Patient Gao, male, 67 years old, with 10 years of asthma accompanied by cough. Symptoms worsened half a month ago after exposure to cold, with thin, clear sputum that was difficult to expel.

Physical Examination: Temperature 36.8°C, pulse 88/min, respiration 30/min; blood pressure 18/10 kPa. The patient is alert, with cyanotic lips, barrel-shaped chest, hyperresonant percussion over both lungs, and rapid breath sounds on auscultation. Fine crackles can be heard at the lung bases. Tongue is swollen with white coating, pulse is floating and slippery.

Laboratory Tests: WBC count 11.2×10³/mm³, neutrophils 78%.

Western Medical Diagnosis: ① Acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis; ② Obstructive emphysema.

TCM Syndrome Differentiation: Cold-dryness invading the lungs, phlegm-dampness obstructing internally; treatment should focus on warming and dispersing cold-dryness while moistening the lungs and transforming phlegm.

Prescription: Modified Xingsu San combined with Maxing Shigan Tang: decocted in water, one dose per day, divided into multiple administrations.

Apricot kernel 10g, Perilla leaf 10g, Poria 12g, Platycodon 10g, Schisandra 3g, Asarum 3g, Dried ginger 6g

After taking the above prescription for more than 10 doses, cough and sputum decreased, but asthma persisted, especially with exertion. Examination revealed pale tongue with white coating and slippery pulse. The original formula was adjusted by removing Ephedra and raw gypsum, adding Agarwood 6g, Cinnamon 3g, and Amethyst 15g. After another 20+ doses, all symptoms disappeared.

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II. Discussion

Chronic bronchitis refers to chronic non-specific inflammation of the tracheal and bronchial mucosa and surrounding tissues, characterized by recurrent attacks that gradually progress to obstructive emphysema and cor pulmonale. In recent years, due to increasing antibiotic resistance among pathogens and environmental pollution, the incidence of this disease has risen, and conventional Western medicine treatments have proven less effective. The reason Teacher Pei’s treatment of this condition has achieved satisfactory results is that, based on Western medical diagnosis, he emphasizes TCM syndrome differentiation and proposes the theory that chronic bronchitis in Northwest China originates from wind-cold invasion, involves alternating dampness and dryness, and subsequently transforms into internal heat. In clinical practice, he primarily uses Xingsu San combined with Maxing Shigan Tang, where apricot kernel is slightly warm and perilla leaf is pungent; the former focuses on moistening the lungs and relieving cough, while the latter aims to disperse wind-cold, together serving as the main therapeutic agents. He also incorporates Erchen Tang to warm and transform phlegm-dampness as an adjunct treatment, adds Qianhu to descend qi and Platycodon to lift qi, thereby promoting smooth qi circulation. Additionally, he includes Ephedra to dispel cold, raw gypsum to clear heat, and pear peel to generate body fluids. All these herbs work synergistically to warm and disperse cold-dryness while moistening the lungs and transforming phlegm.

(Chinese General Practice, March 1999)

Summary of Pei Zhengxue’s Experience in Treating Aplastic Anemia

Xue Wenhan, Li Min, Wang Nanyao

Teacher Pei Zhengxue is a renowned expert in integrated traditional and Western medicine, particularly skilled in treating hematological diseases. His experience in treating aplastic anemia is summarized below:

Patients with aplastic anemia, in addition to spleen deficiency symptoms such as pallor, dizziness, poor appetite, and fatigue caused by qi and blood deficiency, also exhibit kidney deficiency manifestations like tinnitus, mental exhaustion, impotence, and nocturnal emission. In treatment, Teacher Pei emphasizes strengthening the spleen and tonifying the kidneys, alternating between the two and adapting flexibly according to individual conditions. For children and young adults, whose vital energy is relatively intact, strengthening the spleen is prioritized, with kidney tonification as a supplementary measure; for elderly patients, whose vital energy is mostly depleted, kidney tonification takes precedence, with spleen strengthening as a supplement. Furthermore, new cases emphasize strengthening the spleen, while long-standing cases prioritize tonifying the kidneys; abnormalities in blood circulation are mainly addressed by strengthening the spleen, whereas abnormalities in bone marrow morphology are primarily treated by tonifying the kidneys. When tonifying qi, one must not forget to nourish blood, and when nourishing blood, one must not forget to tonify qi; when tonifying the kidneys, attention should be paid to the interdependence of yin and yang—warming yang does not mean neglecting yin, and nourishing yin does not mean neglecting yang. Patients with aplastic anemia suffer from long-term qi and blood deficiency, which inevitably leads to blood stasis. If blood stasis is not cleared, new blood cannot be generated, further aggravating blood deficiency and causing bleeding. Clinically, in addition to qi and blood deficiency symptoms, patients may also present with a thready pulse, ecchymoses on the tongue, or gingival and nasal bleeding—manifestations of blood stasis. Therefore, when treating patients with aplastic anemia who have had the disease for a long time and show signs of blood stasis in clinical practice, Teacher Pei always combines blood-activating therapy with kidney-tonifying and spleen-strengthening measures, resulting in remarkable therapeutic effects.

Spleen-strengthening is primarily achieved through Guipi Tang, which heavily utilizes longan meat at 15–25g; kidney-tonifying is mainly accomplished through Jinhui Shenqi Tang, which emphasizes cornelian cherry at 15–30g. For patients with flushed cheeks and five-center heat, Erzhi Wan can be added; for those with cold limbs and weak lower back and knees, Yougui Wan is recommended instead.

Aplastic anemia is essentially a deficiency condition, but “extreme deficiency” can sometimes manifest as “excess symptoms.” Some patients present with fever, nasal bleeding, gingival bleeding, and skin ecchymoses—symptoms of excess. For fever, if the pathogenic factor resides in the qi level, Ren Shen Bai Hu Tang can be modified accordingly; if it enters the nutrient level, Qing Ying Tang can be used. For nasal bleeding, gingival bleeding, and subcutaneous ecchymoses, treatment follows the principle of “draining heart means draining fire, and draining fire means stopping bleeding”—so Huang Lian, Huang Qin, and Rheum are added as appropriate. However, once the fever subsides and the bleeding stops, the focus must shift to tonifying the spleen and kidneys. For patients with concurrent blood stasis and kidney deficiency, Teacher Pei often prescribes his self-formulated “Dangchuan Compound,” with the following composition:

| Angelica Sinensis | 10g | Ligusticum | 6g | Rehmannia | 12g | Agrimonia | 15g | | Polygonum Multiflorum | 15g | Rhubarb | 15g | Millettia | 15g | Salvia | 15g | | Safflower | 6g | Black Soybean | 30g | Cornelian Cherry | 20g | Longan Meat | 15g | | Ligustrum | 15g | Goji Berry | 15g | Psoralea | 15g | Cistanche | 10g | | Strychnos | 1 grain | | | | | | |

In this formula, Angelica Sinensis, Ligusticum, Millettia, Salvia, and Safflower activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis; Rehmannia, Polygonum Multiflorum, Cornelian Cherry, Ligustrum, Goji Berry, and Psoralea nourish yin and tonify the kidneys; Agrimonia and Rhubarb stop bleeding and replenish deficiency; Longan Meat provides dual benefits for the spleen and kidneys. Teacher Pei believes that a single grain of Strychnos can dispel wind and unblock meridians, improving the immune status of patients with aplastic anemia. By adding one grain of Strychnos (after oil extraction to remove toxicity), the therapeutic effect is doubled.

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Pei Zhengxue’s Traditional Chinese Medicine—Discussion on TCM Theory and Clinical Cases

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Western Medical Diagnosis: Bone marrow examination confirmed aplastic anemia.

TCM Syndrome Differentiation: Kidney yin deficiency and blood stasis obstruction. Treatment should focus on nourishing yin and tonifying the kidneys while activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis.

Prescription: After taking the above prescription for more than 20 doses, symptoms of dizziness and vertigo eased, but nasal bleeding and dry throat persisted. Examination showed red blood cell count at 3.5×10⁶/mm³, hemoglobin at 8.5 g/dl, platelet count at 60×10³/mm³, and white blood cell count at 3.0×10³/mm³. All symptoms disappeared.

Angelica Sinensis 10g, Ligusticum 6g, Rehmannia 12g, Agrimonia 15g, Polygonum Multiflorum 15g, Rhubarb 15g, Millettia 15g, Salvia 15g, Safflower 6g, Black Soybean 30g, Cornelian Cherry 20g, Longan Meat 15g, Ligustrum 15g, Goji Berry 15g, Psoralea 15g, Cistanche 10g

Teacher Pei treats aplastic anemia by adhering to tradition while remaining flexible, inheriting the ancient methods of tonifying qi and blood and regulating the spleen and stomach, while simultaneously integrating modern medical approaches. For patients with severe leukopenia associated with aplastic anemia, symptoms often include dizziness, vertigo, and pallor. On the basis of strengthening the spleen and kidneys, nourishing qi and blood, and adding blood-activating and blood-stasis-clearing measures, the treatment effectively improves microcirculation in the bone marrow.

(“Traditional Chinese Medicine Correspondence,” April 2000)

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Teacher Pei Zhengxue’s Experience in Treating Primary Liver Cancer

Xue Wenhan

Teacher Pei Zhengxue primarily uses traditional Chinese medicine to treat primary liver cancer, significantly improving quality of life and prolonging survival, especially for patients with well-differentiated tumors, nodular lesions, and good overall immune status. The results are particularly promising. The following is a summary:

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Typically, 2–3 courses of treatment are administered. Chemotherapy doses should not be too high, and treatment courses should not be too long—stop when the disease is under control. Moreover, supportive traditional Chinese medicines must be used concurrently. At this stage, Teacher Pei often chooses the Lanzhou Formula I.

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Part Two: Experience Transmission

Pei Zhengxue’s Traditional Chinese Medicine—Discussion on TCM Theory and Clinical Cases

Published by Heji Book Publishing House

The prescription is decocted in water, one dose per day, divided into multiple administrations. After 20 days of treatment, the patient’s diet and spirits improved, and upon discharge, CT scans showed the liver tumor reduced to 2.0×1.5 cm, with liver function tests returning to normal. Subsequently, the patient continued receiving traditional Chinese medicine for maintenance, and remains healthy to this day.

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① The Lanzhou Formula was developed by Teacher Pei Zhengxue specifically for treating blood disorders and malignant tumors. Due to its remarkable efficacy, it was named the Lanzhou Formula at the 1974 National Blood Disorders Conference in Suzhou, China. Its composition is based on Liuwei Dihuang Tang, with the addition of Codonopsis pilosula, Prince Ginseng, Ginseng beard, and Northern Sand Ginseng.

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Clinical Observation of Pei’s Strong Liver Drink Combined with Western Medicine in Treating Cirrhotic Ascites

Li Min, Xue Wenhan, Chen Ling, Zhang Taifeng, Wan Qiang

Strong Liver Drink is a specialized formula developed by Teacher Pei Zhengxue based on 40 years of clinical experience for treating cirrhotic ascites. The herbal composition includes: Angelica Sinensis 10g, White Peony Root 15g, Atractylodes 10g, Poria 12g, Bupleurum 10g, Moutan Bark 6g, Gardenia Fruit 10g, Rehmannia 12g, Salvia 30g, Astragalus 30g, Polygonatum 20g, Turtle Shell 15g, and Earth Turtle Worm 6g. Since 1986, under Teacher Pei’s direct guidance, the author has treated 154 hospitalized patients with cirrhotic ascites using Strong Liver Drink as the main prescription, combined with Western medicine, achieving satisfactory therapeutic outcomes. The findings are reported as follows:

Pei Zhengxue’s Traditional Chinese Medicine—Discussion on TCM Theory and Clinical Cases

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(2) Standard Western medical treatment involves intravenous infusion of 500 ml of hepatoprotective energy solution once daily, along with diuretics, albumin, and branched-chain amino acids as needed. A 20-day treatment constitutes one course.