2.3.4 Softening Hard Masses and Dissolving Knots

2.3.4 Softening Hard Masses and Dissolving Knots

Tumors were historically referred to as "stone-like masses" or "rock-like formations," meaning solid, tangible objects. Using softening and dissolving medications to treat liver cancer aims to soften, shrink, and disperse these solid masses. Commonly used softening and dissolving drugs for liver cancer include tortoise shell, turtle plastron, oyster shell, kelp, trichosanthes kirilowii, trillium tschonoskii, white mustard seed, and nandina domestica. Studies have shown that softening and dissolving drugs can directly kill cancer cells and adjust the body's immune status. Du Zhichun et al. [6] found that the anti-cancer and anti-metastasis decoction (raw turtle plastron, curcuma wenyujin, panax notoginseng, angelica sinensis, hedyotis diffusa, etc.) can significantly enhance MMP-9 expression and CTL cell activity, effectively preventing lymph node metastasis in liver cancer.

2.4 Research on the Anticancer Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine