Pulmonary carcinoma is also called "primary bronchial cancer". The location of the disease lies in the lung. But it is closely related to the spleen, stomach, kidney, etc. The operative treatment may cause the decline of pulmonary function and serious deficiency of qi and yin. The chemotherapy or radiotherapy may give rise to local stimulation, pain, swelling and necrosis, consequently impairing the healthy qi of the human body.
1. Syndrome differentiation and treatment
(1) Deficiency of both qi and yin
It manifests lassitude, hypodynamia, short breath, chest tightness, dry cough with scanty sputum, dry mouth and tongue, thin and small tongue with little fur, thready and rapid pulse. It is advisable to supplement qi and nourish yin. The prescription used is the modified integration of Baihe Gujin Decoction (Lily Decoction for Strengthening the Lung) with Pulsation-Promoting Powder. In the case of severe pulmonary yin deficiency, add Yuzhu (Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati) and Beishashen (Radix Glehniae); in the case of severe pulmonary qi deficiency, add Huaishanyao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae) and Fuling (Poria). Learn more information, please continue to read Lung Cancer in TCM.
(2) Qi deficiency of the lung and spleen
It manifests lassitude, hypodynamia, lustreless complexion, short breath, disinclination to speak, cough with low voice, clear and thin sputum, anorexia, or nausea and vomiting, pale tongue with white fur or with marginal dental marks, thready and weak pulse. It is advisable to supplement qi of the lung and spleen. The prescription used is the modified Sijunzi Decoction (Decoction of Four Noble Drugs). In the case of severe nausea and vomiting, add Jiangbanxia (prepared Rhizoma Pinelliae), Chuanhuanglian (Rhizoma Polyonati) and Wuzhuyu (Fructus Euodiae).
(3) Qi deficiency of the lung and kidney
It manifests chest tightness, occasional cough, short breath, even asthma on exertion, deep and thready pulse. It is advisable to strengthen the lung and kidney. The prescription used is the modified combination of Liuwei Dihuang Bolus (Bolus of Six Drugs Including Rehmannia) with Sijunzi Decoction (Decoction of Four Noble Drugs). In the case of profuse sweat, it is advisable to add Huangqi (Radix Astragali seu Hedysari), Wuweizi (Fructus Schisandrae), Muli (Concha Ostreae) and Dongchongxiacao (Cordyceps). Learn more information, please continue to read Causes of Lung Cancer in TCM.
(4) Yin impairment of the lung and stomach
It manifests dry cough, scanty sputum with difficult expectoration, hectic fever, night sweat, dry mouth and throat, hoarse voice, scanty urine, dry stool, red tongue with scanty body fluid, a little fur, thready and rapid pulse. It is advisable to nourish the lung and stomach. The prescription used is the modified Shashen Maidong Decoction (Decoction of Glehnia and Ophiopogon). In the case of yin impairment of the lung and kidney, the prescription is used in combination with the modified Baihe Gujin Decoction (Lily Decoction for Strengthening the Lung).
(5) Dryness and heat scorching the lung
It manifests dry cough with paroxysmal onset, scanty sputum or bloody sputum, thoracic pain, short breath, or fever, dry mouth and tongue, red tongue, thready and rapid pulse. It is advisable to clear away heat and moisten the lung. The prescription used is the modified Qingzao Jiufei Decoction (Decoction for Relieving Dryness of the Lung). In the case of constipation, it is advisable to add Shengdihuang (Radix Rehmanniae) and Xuanshen (Radix Scrophulariae ). Learn more information, please continue to read Symptoms of Lung Cancer in TCM.
(6) Internal stagnation of phlegm and heat
It manifests cough with forceful voice, short breath, yellowish, thick and sticky sputum, thoracic pain and tightness, or fever, dry mouth, red tongue with yellowish and greasy fur, slippery and rapid pulse. It is advisable to clear away heat and resolve phlegm. The prescription used is the modified Qingqi Huatan Bolus (Bolus for Clearing away Heat and Resolving Phlegm). In the case of thoracic tightness and pain and expectoration, it is advisable to add Quangualou (Fructus Trichosanthis), Baihuasheshecao (Herba Hedyotis Diffusae), Banzhilian (Herba ScuteUariae Barbatae) and Shengnanxing (unprepared Rhizoma Arisaematis).
(7) Internal accumulation of blood stasis and heat
It manifests cough, chest tightness, expectoration of yellowish sputum, or bloody sputum with deep red colour, thoracic stabbing pain, dry mouth without inclination to drink, deep purple tongue or with ecchymoses, thready and unsmooth pulse. It is advisable to remove blood stasis and clear away heat. The prescription used is Taohong Siwu Decoction in combination with Yuxingcao (Herba Houttuyniae), Baihuasheshecao (Herba Hedyotis Diffusae), Baijiangcao (Herba Patriniae), etc. Learn more information, please continue to read TCM Diagnosis for Lung Cancer.
2. Rehabilitation methods
(1) Regulating emotions and recreation therapy
Please refer to the relevant part in the section of "Carcinoma of digestive tract".
(2) Acumox and massage
Acumox:
In the case of cough, short breath and expectoration as the main manifestations, select Feishu (BL 13), Xinshu (BL 15), Kongzui (LU 6), Taiyuan (LU 9) and Lieque (LU 7); in the case of profuse sputum, add Fenglong (ST 40) ; in the case of concurrent failure to inspire due to renal asthenia, add Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6) and Shenshu (BL 23); in the case of concurrent yin consumption, add Zusanli (ST 36), Taixi (KI 3) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6). In the case of poor appetite, vomiting and nausea as the main manifestations, select Zusanli (ST 36), Neiting (ST 44) and Zhongwan (CV 12). In the case of severe expectoration, add Neiguan (PC 6). In the case of the patients with late cancer, select Feishu (BL 13), Gaohuang (BL 43), Chize (LU 5), Pishu (BL 20), Bailao (EX) and Taiyuan (LU 9). In the case of short breath, add Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4) and apply moxibustion after acupuncture; in the case of yellowish and thick sputum or concurrent fever, add Quchi (LI 11) and Hegu (LI 4). Learn more information, please continue to read Fenglong (ST 40). Click here to read Pemphigus Vulgaris in TCM.
Ear acupuncture:
In the case of marked cough and thoracic pain, select Fei (MA- IC 1), Jiaogan (MA-AH 7) and Xiong (MA-AH 11) as the main acupoints; in the case of severe short breath, select Fei (MA- IC 1), Pingchuan and Migen as the major acupoints.
Massage:
In the case of cough, short breath and thoracic pain as the main manifestations, select Feishu (BL 13), Shenzhu (BL 23), Zhongfu (LU 1) and Quchi (LI 11) as the main acupoints. The manipulations may include the manipulations of relieving chest oppression, relaxing the shoulder, tightening the chest, kneading Feishu (BL 13) and Gaohuang (BL 43), parting-pushing the back, pushing the scapular area with the palm, digitally pressing the back and spine, kneading Chize (LU 5) and pushing Yuji (LU 10). Click here to read TCM Diagnosis for Pemphigus Vulgaris.
3. Dietary therapy
In the case of deficiency of qi and yin, use Stewed Pork Lung with Chuanbei (Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae) and snow Pear; in the case of pulmonary and splenic qi deficiency, use Renshen Dazao Gruel (Gruel of Radix Ginseng and Fructus Ziziphi Jujubae); in the case of pulmonary and renal qi deficiency, steam or stew ten to fifteen grams of Dongchongxiacao (Cordyceps), a proper amount of duck meat and lean pork respectively. Eat the meat and drink the soup. Besides, it is advisable to use Piba Hetao Paste (Paste of Folium Eriobotryae and Semen Juglandis). In the case of pulmonary and gastric yin consumption, use Five-Juice Drink; in the case of pulmonary and renal yin consumption, use Xing’ou Baili Drink, or Stewed Edible Bird's Nest with Baiji (Rhizoma Bletillae) that is particularly applicable to hemoptysis. Learn more information, please continue to read Chinese medicine Treatment for Lung Cancer.
3. Daily diet
In the case of deficiency of qi and yin, it is advisable to eat the foods for moistening the lung and supplementing qi such as water chestnut, apricot seed, pear, lily, Chinese yam, wolfberry and jellyfish; in the case of pulmonary and splenic qi deficiency, it is advisable to eat the foods for strengthening the lung and spleen such as sweet apricot seed, Chinese cabbage, lotus seed and Chinese yam; in the case of pulmonary and gastric yin consumption, it is advisable to eat foods for nurishing yin and promoting body fluid production like spinach, water chestnut, edible bird's nest, snow pear, loquat root, white edible fungus and sugarcane juice; in the case of pulmonary and renal yin deficiency, it is advisable to eat the foods for nourishing the lung and kidney such as turtle meat, mussel and jellyfish.
It is not advisable to eat fried, extremely salty and greasy foods, or pungent and hot-natured, pungent and irritative foods like uncooked green onion and hot pepper. This can prevent dampness from generating phlegm. The patients with this disease should abstain from drinking and smoking. Learn more information, please continue to read TCM Treatment Evaluation for Lung Cancer.
4. External therapy with drugs
It is advisable to apply Ruyi Jinhuang Powder externally in the case of local pain, swelling and hardness and necrosis due to intravenous injection; it is suitable to apply Tumor-Eliminating and Pain-Relieving Plaster on the painful part once every three days.