4. Leukemia

With advances in immunological research, this disease is increasingly recognized as being closely linked to immune responses. Numerous experiments have shown that the immune function of leukemia patients is generally weaker than that of healthy individuals, which is a key factor in the development of the disease. From a TCM perspective, discussions similar to those on leukemia are often found in syndromes such as xulao, laozhai, xuezheng, and wenbing. "Ling Shu·Hailun" states: "If the marrow sea is deficient, the brain will spin, ears will ring, legs will feel sore and dizzy, eyes will lose sight, and one will feel sluggish and want to lie down." "Jin Gui Yao Lue·Xulao Chapter" says: "For men with pale complexions, the main issues are spiraling and blood loss, sudden shortness of breath and palpitations, and floating pulses, indicating internal heat." "Ming Yi Zazhu" notes: "Around the age of twenty, if men injure their jing and blood, they will inevitably develop symptoms of yin deficiency and fire excess. Night sweats, fever after meals, sticky phlegm and cough, fatigue and weakness, poor appetite, and in severe cases, phlegm mixed with blood, hemoptysis, vomiting blood, or nosebleeds, along with deep and rapid pulses and muscle wasting—this is called laozhai, the most difficult to treat." From these descriptions similar to leukemia, it is clear that this disease is primarily characterized by "deficiency." Qin Bowei believes: "Overall, leukemia is a deficiency syndrome. Although it may sometimes be infected by external pathogens, it should not be treated as a typical excess or exogenous syndrome." Yan Dexin also believes: "This disease belongs to deficiency; although there may sometimes be symptoms of phlegm-heat, warm heat, or blood stasis, the changes are extremely rapid. In fact, the disease arises from deficiency, making it a case of 'fundamental deficiency with superficial excess.'" This view aligns with the Western medical understanding that low immune function leads to disease. According to the theories of "the kidneys govern bones" and "the kidneys produce bone marrow," this disease is closely related to kidney deficiency; according to the theory that "the middle burner transforms qi into juice, which is called blood," this disease is also related to the spleen. In recent years, many regions have adopted spleen-strengthening and kidney-tonifying therapies to treat this disease, with increasing success rates. Gu et al. used a combination of Buzhong Yiqi Tang for spleen-strengthening and Jianbu Hujian Wan for kidney-tonifying to treat a case of subacute granulocytic leukemia, achieving positive results. Wujin County People’s Hospital used a kidney-tonifying and blood-nourishing formula combined with Rougui to guide fire back to its source to treat a case of acute granulocytic leukemia, achieving basic improvements in blood counts and bone marrow morphology. The author himself treated an acute monocytic leukemia case in 1967, employing spleen-strengthening and kidney-tonifying methods, with heavy use of ginseng-based qi-nourishing herbs and shanyu for yin-nourishing. After taking over 400 doses of medication, the patient achieved complete remission and has remained healthy for 12 years. The Pediatric Department of Chaoyang People’s Hospital in Liaoning Province, through combined traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment of 18 acute leukemia cases, concluded that this disease is generally a deficiency syndrome, and the main treatment direction should be "strengthening vital energy" while also "eliminating pathogenic factors." Strengthening vital energy through traditional Chinese medicine ensures the continued application of chemotherapy and enhances the body's resistance. The Hematology Group of the West Garden Hospital at the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine treated two cases of red and white blood cancers, always prioritizing strengthening vital energy and achieving positive results. In the course of treatment, great attention was paid to the importance of spleen-strengthening and kidney-tonifying, with the belief that this method has three benefits: ① alleviating the condition, ② prolonging the course of the disease, and ③ reducing side effects of chemotherapy. From the above information, it can be seen that spleen-strengthening and kidney-tonifying is indeed an effective treatment for this disease. Leukemia has been proven to be caused by a tumor virus. This virus enters the body, and its RNA, through reverse transcriptase, replicates DNA and inserts itself into host cells, causing them to undergo cancerous mutations. A normal human body possesses an immune surveillance system primarily composed of T cells, which can reduce or prevent such mutations. This is an abnormal immune response dominated by specific cellular immunity. Kidney-tonifying therapy aims to improve this abnormal immune response, while spleen-strengthening therapy seeks to promote specific immunity by regulating non-specific immunity.

V. Conclusion

This article discusses the relationship between strengthening vital energy and immunity, analyzing existing data and concluding: ① Strengthening vital energy can enhance the body's immune efficiency and improve immune responses. ② The concepts of zhongqi and weiqi in TCM bear similarities to non-specific immunity in modern immunology, while kidney qi is analogous to specific immunity. ③ Specific and non-specific immunity mutually reinforce each other to achieve the body's overall immune function; similarly, zhongqi and kidney qi also mutually reinforce each other to form the body's vital energy. ④ Existing domestic literature reports that astragalus can improve specific immunity indicators. Whether this effect is due to direct action on the specific immunity mechanism or indirect promotion through non-specific immunity remains to be further studied.

Notes: ① Shen Ziyin, "Shanghai Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine," 1962, No. 11, p. 19. ② Liu Yaguang, "Tianjin Medical Journal," 1978, No. 2, p. 80. ③ Oncology Group of the Chinese Medicine Research Institute, "Selected Works on Cancer Prevention and Treatment," 1977, No. 6, p. 6. ④ Isotope Laboratory of the Beijing Tuberculosis Research Institute, "New Medical Journal," 1974, No. 8, p. 15. ⑤ Oncology Group of the Chinese Medicine Research Institute, "Selected Works on Cancer Prevention and Treatment," 1977, No. 6, p. 7. Jiang Tingliang, "Journal of Caiyang New Medical University," 1977, No. 8, p. 78. Basic Laboratory of Guang'anmen Hospital at the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, "Selected Works on Cancer Prevention and Treatment," 1977, No. 6, p. 17. Wu Jianguang, "Min Dong Medical Journal," 1976, No. 3, p. 41. Wu Jianguang, "Min Dong Medical Journal," 1976, No. 3, p. 44. Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, "New Pharmaceutical Journal," 1974, No. 12. Henan Provincial Health Bureau, Office of Chronic Bronchitis, "Discussion on Combined Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Treatment of Chronic Bronchitis," internal materials from 1975. Liu Zhengcai, "Zhejiang Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine," 1977, No. 4, p. 14. Normal Human Anatomy Teaching and Research Group of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, "New Medical Journal," 1977, No. 9, p. 36. "Special Issue on New Medical Research on Cancer," 1975, p. 16. Lu Shouyan, "Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine," 1962, No. 3, p. 1. Respiratory Group of the Internal Medicine Department of West Garden Hospital, "Reference Materials on Traditional Chinese Medicine Research," 1977, No. 1, p. 2. Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Prevention and Treatment of Senile Chronic Bronchitis Group, "Shaanxi New Medical Journal," 1972, No. 1, p. 6. Bronchitis Group of the Chinese Medicine Research Institute, "Reference Materials on Traditional Chinese Medicine Research," 1973, No. 6, p. 9. First Medical College of Shanghai, Organ Imaging Research Group, "New Medical Journal," 1976, No. 4, p. 24. "Complete Works of Jingyue (Volume 1)," Shanghai: Shanghai Science and Technology Press, 1959, p. 397. "Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine," 1965, No. 10, p. 48. Li Chunyue, "Shanghai Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine," 1965, No. 12, p. 17. Fourth PLA 285th Hospital, Internal Medicine Department, "Tianjin Medical Journal," 1975, No. 4, p. 192. Fifth PLA Army Hospital, Internal Medicine Department, "New Medical Journal," 1974, No. 8, p. 36. Affiliated Hospital of Longhua at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, "Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine," 1974, No. 11, p. 14. Fourth Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, "New Medical Journal," 1974, No. 11, p. 22. Fourth Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, "New Medical Journal," 1977, No. 10, p. 25. Affiliated Hospital of Longhua at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, "New Medical Journal," 1977, No. 10, p. 19. Qin Bowei et al., "Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine," 1960, No. 8, p. 5. Yan Dexin et al., "Shanghai Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine," 1963, No. 7, p. 13. Gu Zaishi et al., "Shanghai Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine," 1965, No. 9, p. 21. Wujin County People’s Hospital, "Jiangsu Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine," 1962, No. 12, p. 25. Pei Zhengxue, "Report on the Cure of an Acute Monocytic Leukemia Case," unpublished material. Pediatric Department of Chaoyang People’s Hospital in Liaoning Province, "Experience in Combined Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Treatment of Acute Leukemia," internal materials. Hematology Group of the Internal Medicine Department of West Garden Hospital at the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, "Reference Materials on Traditional Chinese Medicine Research," 1973, No. 9, p. 11. First Medical College of Shanghai, Huashan Hospital, "Cancer Prevention and Treatment Newsletter," 1975, No. 3, p. 16. (Compilation of Materials on Combined Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in Gansu, 1978, No. 3)

Theory and Practice of Activating Blood Circulation and Resolving Stasis

Pei Zhengxue

Activating blood circulation and resolving stasis is an extremely important component of the traditional Chinese medical treatment system. The clinical application of this therapeutic method is not only effective for common ailments but also often yields remarkable results in treating difficult and complex conditions that remain unresolved by modern medicine. Consequently, research and discussion on this topic have attracted widespread attention within the modern medical community. This article begins with the traditional Chinese medical understanding of "activating blood circulation and resolving stasis," then combines it with findings from modern experimental research to provide a concise overview of the subject. Any shortcomings are welcome to be criticized and corrected by colleagues.

I. Overview

"The Plain Questions · Discussion on Bi" states: "When a disease persists for a long time and penetrates deeply, the flow of ying and wei becomes obstructed, the meridians become unsmooth, and thus blockage occurs." It also says: "...Bi refers to stagnation in the vessels, where blood coagulates and cannot flow." Furthermore, "The Plain Questions" mentions treatment methods such as "blood stasis should be drained" and "blockages should be dispersed." Medical bamboo slips unearthed from the Han tomb in Wuwei also reveal prescriptions for activating blood circulation and resolving stasis. These represent the earliest recorded instances of traditional Chinese medicine addressing blood stasis. Later, in the 3rd century, the renowned internal medicine physician Zhang Zhongjing introduced the concepts of "accumulated blood," "blood stasis," and "dry blood" in his works "Treatise on Cold Damage" and "Essential Prescriptions for Urgent Cases." Generally speaking, "accumulated blood" refers to blood heat accumulating in the bladder, as described in "Treatise on Cold Damage": "When heat accumulates in the bladder, the person becomes狂, blood flows out on its own, and those who experience this symptom are cured. If the external symptoms have not yet subsided, do not attack; once the external symptoms have subsided, then attack, preferably with Taoren Chengqi Tang." As for blood stasis, it refers to blood pooling in the organs, meridians, muscles, and skin, as stated in "Essential Prescriptions for Urgent Cases": "Patients with abdominal distension, drooping lips, bluish tongue, dry mouth, desire to rinse but not swallow, no fever or chills, and a weak, slow pulse; if the abdomen is not distended but the patient claims it is, then there is blood stasis." Dry blood, as described in "Essential Prescriptions for Urgent Cases," refers to the condition of "darkened eyes, rough and cracked skin, and dry blood inside." All these conditions were treated by Zhongjing using the principles of activating blood circulation and resolving stasis, employing formulas such as Xia Yu Xue Tang, Bie Jia Jian Wan, Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan, and Tao He Cheng Qi Tang. Due to their precise efficacy and rigorous formulation, these remain representative prescriptions for activating blood circulation and resolving stasis even today. These discussions laid a solid foundation for the formation of TCM's therapeutic principles regarding activating blood circulation and resolving stasis. Subsequently, numerous scholars throughout history, including Chao Yuanfang, Sun Simiao, Wang Kentang, Wang Tao, and Li Shizhen, all contributed to the development of these therapeutic principles. Li Shizhen dedicated a special chapter on "blood stasis" in his "Compendium of Materia Medica," listing 150 types of "blood-breaking and blood-dispersing drugs," thereby making the application of such medications more comprehensive. During the Qing dynasty, as the theory of blood stasis evolved, the application of activating blood circulation and resolving stasis became even more widespread. Wang Qingren's "Corrections in Medical Literature" summarized over 50 types of blood stasis and formulated 33 prescriptions for activating blood circulation and resolving stasis, thus unifying the theory, methods, formulas, and medicines for this purpose. Wang's newly formulated prescriptions, owing to their generally reliable efficacy, sparked renewed interest in researching activating blood circulation and resolving stasis. Later, Tang Zonghai from Peng County in Sichuan wrote "On Blood Disorders," a book that, although focused on "blood disorders," offered insightful discussions on blood stasis and activating blood circulation and resolving stasis—for example, "Therefore, in all cases of blood disorders, removing stasis is paramount," and "If old blood is not removed, new blood cannot be generated." These insights have considerable guiding significance in clinical practice. In recent years, with the vigorous development of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, experimental research on activating blood circulation and resolving stasis has been widely carried out across the country. Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi'an, and other cities have successively established specialized research institutions for this field, while Guangzhou and Shanghai have also hosted specialized training courses on activating blood circulation and resolving stasis. The General Logistics Department of the People's Liberation Army organized two three-month-long specialized training courses on activating blood circulation and resolving stasis in Guangzhou in 1978–1979, cultivating a group of core personnel for research in this area. Currently, research on activating blood circulation and resolving stasis is advancing to new depths and widths, representing an important aspect of contemporary integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine research.

II. Clinical Research on Activating Blood Circulation and Resolving Stasis