Figure 6 Effects of Pei's Shengxue Granules on Serum IL-12 Levels in Tumor-Bearing Mice

Figure 6 Effects of Pei's Shengxue Granules on Serum IL-12 Levels in Tumor-Bearing Mice

(n=8, x̄±s)

(Compared with the model group, ▽p<0.05, △p<0.01)

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Discussion

"The Plain Questions · On the Methods of Acupuncture in Lost Chapters" states: "When righteous qi resides within, evil cannot invade." "The Plain Questions · On the Evaluation of Febrile Diseases" says: "Wherever evil gathers, qi must be deficient." [2] In the "Treatise on the Origins and Symptoms of All Diseases" by Chao Yuanfang of the Sui Dynasty, it is written: "Accumulation arises from disharmony between yin and yang, weakness of the zang-fu organs, invasion by wind-pathogens, and interaction with the qi of the zang-fu organs." Zhang Yuanli of the Jin Dynasty, in his "Essential Principles of Vitality," said: "Strong people do not accumulate, but weak people do; when the spleen and stomach are weak and both qi and blood are depleted, exposure to seasonal factors can all lead to accumulation." Li Zhongzi of the Ming Dynasty, in his "Essential Readings on Medical Principles," also stated: "The formation of accumulation occurs because righteous qi is insufficient, allowing evil qi to take hold." These statements indicate that deficiency of the body's righteous qi is a key factor in the development of tumors. Professor Pei believes that disruption of the body's immune function is one of the important factors leading to this disease, and also serves as the underlying condition for other pathogenic factors to cause tumors, thus establishing the therapeutic principle of reinforcing righteous qi and consolidating the root for treating tumors. [22]

Pei's Shengxue Granules is the main formula for implementing this principle of reinforcing righteous qi and consolidating the root. This formula combines warming the kidneys, strengthening the spleen, tonifying qi, and nourishing blood into one. The four ginsengs in the formula are considered the primary herbs for reinforcing righteous qi and consolidating the root; Shengmai San tonifies qi and nourishes yin; Liuwei Dihuang Tang aims to tonify the kidneys and generate marrow; Guizhi Tang harmonizes Ying and Wei to stabilize the imbalance of yin and yang in the zang-fu organs; Ganmai Dazao Tang nourishes the heart and calms the spirit—when the heart and spirit are calm, the blood is stable. The entire formula takes strengthening the spleen and tonifying the kidneys, reinforcing righteous qi and consolidating the root, as its main principle. "The spleen governs central qi, and the kidneys govern primordial qi"—central qi is also called spleen qi, and primordial qi is also called kidney qi; together they are referred to as righteous qi. The spleen is responsible for the transformation and transportation of food and water, and all five zang organs, six fu organs, and limbs depend on it for nourishment, making it the foundation of postnatal life. "The kidneys govern bones, and bones generate marrow"—the brain is the sea of marrow. The kidneys are the source of essence and blood, the location of primordial yin and yang, and the foundation of prenatal life. Postnatal spleen earth relies on prenatal kidney fire for warmth and transformation, while prenatal kidney fire relies on postnatal spleen earth for moistening and generation. The spleen and kidneys complement each other, maintaining normal physiological functions of the body. Strengthening the spleen and tonifying the kidneys work together to promote the abundance of righteous qi. The body's righteous qi is equivalent to the body's immune function; reinforcing righteous qi and consolidating the root is precisely about enhancing the body's immune function, and strengthening the spleen and tonifying the kidneys is the most important principle for reinforcing righteous qi. [2] Recent experimental studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine that tonifies the kidneys and strengthens the spleen can improve the body's hematopoietic system, immune system, autonomic nervous system, and endocrine system, thereby fundamentally improving the body's overall reactivity. Among them, tonifying the kidneys focuses on improving the body's specific immune system, hematopoietic system, and endocrine system, while strengthening the spleen focuses on improving the body's non-specific immune system and autonomic nervous system. [2] Modern research shows that medicines that reinforce righteous qi and consolidate the root have the following effects in treating tumors: ① They can promote the body's immune function, increasing lymphocyte proliferation and reticular endothelial system activity; ② They can protect and improve bone marrow hematopoiesis, increasing blood cell components; ③ They can enhance the regulatory function of endocrine fluids, promoting pituitary-adrenal cortical function; ④ They can adjust the ratio of cyclic adenosine monophosphate to cyclic guanosine monophosphate in cancer patients, which helps inhibit cancer cell growth; ⑤ They have a dual-regulating effect; ⑥ They can improve the body's metabolism; ⑦ They can reduce the toxic side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, enhancing their effectiveness; ⑧ Some medicines that reinforce righteous qi have direct anti-cancer effects, controlling cancer cell infiltration and metastasis. [5][22]