3. Integrated Treatment of Liver Cancer

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the pathogenesis of liver cancer involves stagnation of liver qi and the dominance of liver wood over earth; therefore, the fundamental treatment strategy is to soothe the liver and strengthen the spleen. The “Jin Kui Yao Lue” proposes the preventive and therapeutic principle of “when seeing liver disease, knowing that it will spread to the spleen, one should first strengthen the spleen,” laying the foundation for our use of the “Ju Fang” Xiaoyao San. We have modified this formula according to individual cases, and clinically, two liver cancer patients have recently achieved “cure.” The formula includes large doses of danshen and huangqi to enhance support for righteous qi and consolidation of the root, while also incorporating baihuashe shecao and banzhilian to clear heat and detoxify, reducing swelling and eliminating toxins. Commonly used formulas in our clinic include the self-designed Liver Cancer No. 1 formula (chaihu, zhishi, chibai shao, guiban, moli, biejia, qingchenpi, danggui, danshen, huangqi, baihuashe shecao, banzhilian) and Liver Cancer No. 2 formula (huangqi, danshen, biejia, danggui, baishao, yiren, xianhe cao).

(“Collected Academic Papers of Gansu Provincial Academy of Medical Sciences,” 1998)

Professor Pei Zhengxue’s Experience in Treating Arrhythmias

Xue Wenhan and Li Min

Arrhythmias are clinically classified into tachyarrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias, which can occur independently or accompany various heart diseases such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, myocarditis, and cardiac autonomic dysfunction, exacerbating pre-existing conditions. Professor Pei Zhengxue has extensive experience and remarkable efficacy in treating arrhythmias with Traditional Chinese Medicine, summarized below.

I. Tachyarrhythmias

Tachyarrhythmias include various premature beats, sinus tachycardia, supraventricular and ventricular tachycardia, atrial and ventricular flutter and fibrillation, often presenting clinically as palpitations, discomfort in the precordial region, fatigue, and a fine, rapid pulse or occasional irregularities. Professor Pei believes that, from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine differentiation, these conditions are mainly caused by deficiency of both qi and yin, blood stasis obstructing the channels, prolonged stasis turning into heat, and heat disturbing the mind—among which deficiency of both qi and yin is the root cause, while blood stasis obstructing the channels, prolonged stasis turning into heat, and heat disturbing the mind are the manifestations. Treatment focuses on nourishing yin and benefiting qi, with the prescription being Zhigancao Tang with added ingredients: zhigancao 20g, guizhi 10g, ganjiang 6g, ejiao 10g (imported), da zao 4 pieces, dangshen 10g, maidong 20g, shengdi 20g, maziren 10g, danshen 20g, kushen 20g, wuweizi 10g, all decocted and taken in divided doses. Clinical adjustments include: for those with restlessness, insomnia, oral ulcers, and frequent palpitations and vivid dreams, add huanglian 6g and zhusha 3g (mixed separately); for those with insomnia, fatigue, lack of energy, reluctance to speak, and poor appetite, add huangzhi 30g, yuanzhi 6g, and fried zaoren 15g; for those who experience palpitations, excessive sweating, and general body aches after catching a cold, add baishao 20g; for those with chest tightness, a deep, thin, and string-like pulse, and a dark purple tongue with stasis spots, use the above formula combined with Guanxin II formula (danshen, chibai shao, chuan’e, honghua, jiangxiang), or use Professor Pei’s empirical formula, Guichuan Heji: guizhi 10g, chuanqiong 6g, gepeng 10g, danshen 20g, dangshen 10g, maidong 10g, wuweizi 6g, zishiying 15g, shenglongmu each 15g, lingcishi 15g, zhenzhu mu 15g, gancao 6g; for those with irritability, anxiety, and insomnia, add shenglongmu each 15g, zhi ru mei each 3g, fried zaoren 15g, baizi ren 15g, yuanrou 10g, shanyurou 10g; for cases caused by hysteria, use Chaihu plus Longgu Muli Tang with added ingredients.

[Case 1] Patient Xu, male, 62 years old, cadre, suffering from palpitations accompanied by precordial discomfort for 8 years, visited on October 26, 1996. Pulse 100 beats per minute, blood pressure 16/10kPa, cardiac examination revealed clear heart sounds and a heart rate of 102 beats per minute, with irregular rhythm and 6–10 premature beats heard every minute; no pathological murmurs were detected in the precordial area, and the ECG showed: ① myocardial ischemia, ② frequent multifocal premature beats. Combined with the fine, rapid pulse and occasional irregularities, along with a red tongue and thin yellow coating with stasis spots, Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis was deficiency of both qi and yin, with blood stasis obstructing the channels. Treatment focused on benefiting qi and nourishing yin, while resolving stasis. Prescription: zhigancao 20g, guizhi 10g, shengjiang 6g, ejiao 10g (imported), da zao 4 pieces, dangshen 10g, shengdi 20g, maidong 20g, maziren 10g, danshen 20g, kushen 20g, gualou 10g, hunbai 10g, banxia 6g, honghua 6g, chuanqiong 10g, all decocted and taken for over 20 doses. After that, the precordial pain disappeared, though mild palpitations persisted, sometimes accompanied by fatigue and stomach discomfort; tongue examination showed red color and thin yellow coating, pulse remained fine and rapid. The original formula was then adjusted by removing chuanqiong and honghua, adding sharen, tanxiang, baizhu 10g, and fuling 12g, and continued for another 20+ doses until all symptoms vanished. Heart rate dropped to 86 beats per minute, with only 1–2 premature beats heard per minute, and the ECG showed occasional atrial premature beats.

[Case 2] Zhao, female, 50 years old, farmer, suffering from paroxysmal palpitations for 2 years accompanied by right upper abdominal pain and insomnia, visited on January 4, 1997. Pulse 104 beats per minute, blood pressure 12/8kPa, heart sounds clear. Heart rate 119 beats per minute, regular rhythm, with a grade II blowing murmur audible in the precordial area; abdomen flat and soft, with tenderness in the right upper quadrant. ECG showed sinus tachycardia. Western medical diagnosis: ① sinus tachycardia, ② chronic cholecystitis, ③ hysteria. Combined with a red tongue and thin coating, along with a string-like pulse, Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis was liver qi stagnation turning into heat, disturbing the mind. Treatment focused on soothing the liver and calming the spirit, with the prescription being Chaihu plus Longgu Muli Tang combined with Ganmai Dazao with added ingredients: chaihu 10g, huangling 10g, dangshen 10g, banxia 6g, shengjiang 6g, gancao 6g, da zao 4 pieces, shengdahuang 3g, shenglongmu each 15g, fumai 30g, huanglian 3g, xiangfu 6g, yuanzhi 6g. After taking this formula for over 10 doses, palpitations and insomnia improved, but right upper abdominal pain persisted, so the original formula was adjusted by removing yuanzhi and fried zaoren, adding zhishi 10g, muxiang 10g, and jinqiancao 20g, and continued for another 20+ doses until all symptoms disappeared.

II. Bradyarrhythmias

Bradyarrhythmias include sinus bradycardia, sick sinus syndrome, atrioventricular junctional rhythm, and various conduction blocks. Clinically, they often manifest as shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, and chest tightness, with a slow pulse and occasional irregularities. Professor Pei believes that these conditions are mainly caused by deficiency of yang qi and obstruction by phlegm-dampness, with treatment focusing on warming yang qi, benefiting qi, and transforming phlegm. The representative prescription is Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang. If accompanied by precordial pain and a dark purple tongue with stasis spots, this formula is used in combination with Guanxin II formula; if accompanied by insomnia, fatigue, lack of energy, and a deep, thin pulse, it is used in combination with Guipi Tang; if accompanied by fullness and distension in the chest and abdomen, with a thick white coating on the tongue, it is used in combination with Linggui Shugan Tang; if accompanied by fear of cold, cold limbs, abdominal distension, and edema with reduced urination, it is used in combination with Zhenwu Tang; if accompanied by shortness of breath, excessive sweating, and dry mouth, it is used in combination with Shengmai San. In addition, the roots of tea trees grown in the Longnan region (also known as tea tree roots) have good therapeutic effects on various bradyarrhythmias and can be used as appropriate.

[Case 3] Xue, male, 61 years old, suffering from precordial pain for 1 month accompanied by shortness of breath and fatigue, visited on October 7, 1997. Pulse 52 beats per minute, blood pressure 12/8kPa. Heart sounds clear, heart rate 52 beats per minute, regular rhythm, no pathological murmurs heard in any valve, tongue pale with thin white coating, pulse string-like and slow. ECG showed: ① myocardial ischemia, ② sinus bradycardia, ③ complete right bundle branch block. Western medical diagnosis: ① coronary heart disease, ② sinus bradycardia, ③ complete right bundle branch block. Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis was deficiency of heart yang and blood stasis obstructing the channels, with treatment focusing on warming and unblocking heart yang, and promoting blood circulation to resolve stasis. Prescription: Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang combined with Guanxin II formula with added ingredients: mahuang 6g, fuzi 6g, xixin 3g, chibai shao 10g, chuanqiong 6g, honghua 6g, jiangxiang 10g, danshen 10g, shui zhi 6g (mixed separately), dangshen 10g, maidong 10g, wuweizi 3g, kushen 15g, hansanqi 3g (mixed separately), tea tree roots 30g, tanxiang 6g, sharen 6g. After taking the above prescription for over 20 doses, the precordial pain completely disappeared, but mild shortness of breath persisted; heart rate was 58 beats per minute, blood pressure 13/8kPa, so the original formula was adjusted by removing shui zhi and hansanqi, adding huangying 30g, guizhi 10g, baizhu 12g, and fuling 15g. After another 30+ doses, all symptoms disappeared, and a follow-up ECG two months later showed normal results.

[Case 4] Ma, female, 50 years old, suffering from shortness of breath accompanied by dizziness, chest tightness, and sore throat for 5 months, visited on December 4, 1994. Pulse 54 beats per minute, blood pressure 12/8kPa. The patient had a red and swollen throat, heart sounds clear, heart rate 56 beats per minute, with a diastolic grade II rumbling murmur audible in the precordial area, tongue pale with thin white coating, pulse slippery and slow, and the ECG showed sinus bradycardia. Western medical diagnosis: ① rheumatic heart disease (mitral stenosis), ② sinus bradycardia. Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis was deficiency of heart yang and obstruction by phlegm-dampness, with treatment focusing on warming yang and transforming phlegm. Prescription: Linggui Shugan Tang combined with Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang with added ingredients: fuling 15g, guizhi 12g, baizhu 10g, gancao 6g, mahuang 6g, fuzi 6g, xixin 3g, banxia 6g, erhua 15g, lianqiao 15g, gongying 15g, baitang 15g, all decocted and taken for over 20 doses. After that, the sore throat disappeared, dizziness and fatigue eased, but chest tightness persisted; tongue examination showed pale coating and thin white coating, pulse sticky, so the original formula was adjusted by removing erhua, lianqiao, gongying, and baitang, adding gualou 10g and xiebai 10g, and continued for another 30+ doses until all symptoms improved. Pulse was 68 beats per minute, blood pressure 15/10kPa, and the ECG was normal.

III. Discussion

Modern medicine has effective drugs for treating tachyarrhythmias, but lacks specific remedies for bradyarrhythmias. Professor Pei employs Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis and treatment, focusing on addressing the root cause of the disease and achieving good results. For example, Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang originally appeared in the “Shanghan Lun” as a representative formula for treating fever, chills, headache, and a deep, thin pulse indicative of yang deficiency and exterior cold; Professor Pei uses it to treat bradyarrhythmias because of its ability to invigorate heart yang. Modern medicine confirms that mahuang primarily contains ephedrine, which can stimulate the cardiac conduction system and has a longer-lasting, gentler effect than adrenaline-based drugs, with fewer side effects. While invigorating heart yang, Professor Pei also incorporates numerous blood-circulating and stasis-resolving herbs such as sanqi, shui zhi, and Guanxin II formula, ensuring smooth blood flow and greater penetration of yang qi, thereby restoring normal heart rhythm.

(“Modern Traditional Chinese Medicine,” April 1998)

Professor Pei Zhengxue’s Experience in Diagnosing and Treating Headaches Caused by Internal Injury

Xue Wenhan and Li Min

I studied under Chief Physician Pei Zhengxue for three years and now summarize his experience in treating headaches caused by internal injury as follows:

I. Syndrome Differentiation