2 Understanding of Liver Cancer in Traditional Chinese Medicine

2 Understanding of Liver Cancer in Traditional Chinese Medicine

2.1 Recognition of the Disease Name

Although ancient Chinese medical texts do not explicitly mention the term “liver cancer,” traditional Chinese medicine has long had a deep understanding of this condition. Numerous historical documents indicate that modern liver cancer roughly corresponds to categories such as liver accumulation, liver obstruction, fat qi,痞qi, 瘕, accumulation, distension, flank pain, and jaundice. As early as “Spiritual Pivot: Patterns of Pathological Changes in Organs and Evil Qi” it is written: “The liver meridian… when slightly tense, indicates fat qi, manifesting as a feeling of fullness under the ribs, like a cup placed upside down.” “Spiritual Pivot: Water Distension” describes: “What is distension? It is abdominal distension where the entire body appears enlarged, similar to skin distension, with a pale yellow complexion and prominent abdominal veins—this is the clinical presentation.” “Discussions on Causes and Symptoms of Various Diseases: Symptoms of Accumulation” states: “When diagnosing liver accumulation, the pulse is taut and fine, with pain under both flanks, and evil qi moves downward toward the heart.” “Formulas Compiled by the Imperial Pharmacy” points out: “Accumulation in the abdomen… if it grows large like a water bowl, accompanied by jaundice… with shortness of breath and frequent abdominal distension, and a firm lump under the heart—this is the hallmark of single-abdominal distension.” “Compendium of Sacred Healing” analyzes: “If qi accumulates in the abdomen and persists for a long time without resolving, and cannot be moved even when pressed firmly, it becomes a 瘕.” “Medical Legal Principles” asserts: “Any 瘕 or mass is the root of distension disease; over time, the abdomen expands like a basket or jar, leading to generalized abdominal distension.” These descriptions of disease location, nature, and severity are largely consistent with the clinical manifestations and physical signs of modern liver cancer.

2.2 Exploration of Etiology and Pathogenesis

Although different schools of thought offer varying explanations for the etiology and pathogenesis of liver cancer, they generally agree that the underlying issue lies in deficiency and excess. “Spiritual Pivot: Origins of All Diseases” states: “Wind, rain, cold, and heat cannot harm a person unless there is a deficiency; otherwise, evil qi cannot act alone.” Ming Dynasty scholar Li Zhongzi’s “Essential Readings on Medical Principles: Chapter on Accumulation” says: “Accumulation forms when righteous qi is insufficient, allowing evil qi to take hold.” This highlights that insufficient righteous qi is the fundamental basis for the onset and development of liver cancer—exactly in line with the principle that “if righteous qi is present within, evil qi cannot invade; if evil qi invades…” Research on Pei Zhengxue’s series of prescriptions

“the qi must be deficient.” “Spiritual Pivot: Origins of All Diseases” further explains: “If one is internally harmed by excessive worry or anger, qi will rise abnormally; when qi rises abnormally, the six channels become blocked, blood clots form and accumulate without dispersing, fluids stagnate and seep, adhering tightly and never leaving—thus accumulation forms.” “Discussions on Causes and Symptoms of Various Diseases: Symptoms of Accumulation” elaborates: “All accumulations and masses arise from irregular diet and weakened internal organs; over time, they take shape.” Zhang Zihe adds: “Accumulation may also result from sudden outbursts of anger, joy, sorrow, or fear.” Clearly, external pathogenic factors, emotional imbalance, and dietary indiscretion are all important conditions for the occurrence and development of liver cancer. In summary, the onset of liver cancer is primarily due to insufficient righteous qi in the body, followed by exposure to external pathogenic factors, leading to conflict between righteous qi and evil qi, causing dysfunction of organs such as the liver and spleen, stagnation of qi and blood, and ultimately, accumulation arising from deficiency, which leads to the formation of liver cancer. Over time, qi stagnation turns into fire, damp-heat arises internally, leading to internal accumulation of toxic fire that burns the liver meridians, further promoting the progression of liver cancer. In the later stages, cancer toxins deplete qi and blood, further weakening qi and blood, resulting in “accumulation leading to deficiency.” Therefore, this disease is essentially a mixed pattern of deficiency and excess, requiring syndrome differentiation and treatment based on the specific condition of each patient.

2.3 Summary of Treatment Methods and Prescriptions

Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history of thousands of years and rich clinical experience in treating liver cancer. As early as “Plain Questions: On the Great Principles of True Truth” there are records of treating lumps, accumulations, and masses, such as “Cut away the hard ones,” “Disperse the knots,” and “Attack the lingering ones.” “Complete Works of Jing Yue: Chapter on Accumulation” further states that treating accumulation involves only four methods: “attack, eliminate, disperse, and reinforce—these are the only four.” Here is a breakdown of modern physicians’ approaches to treating liver cancer: