TCM focuses on holistic healing and creating a harmonious balance in the body. The yin and yang philosophy is central to achieving balance and is used to identify good and evil health influences, distinguish between body excesses & deficiencies and to regulate the functions of the organs, qi, and blood. TCM can complement western medicine by helping to increase therapy efficacy, improve quality of life and in some cases prolong the lifespan.
Surgery is an area in which TCM treatments can be especially useful. The mere act of surgery causes damage to a person's body by exhausting its healthy energy and increasing blood loss causing an imbalance of yin and yang. TCM herbal preparations and other treatments such as acupuncture or qi gong used before and after the operation can reduce the damage from intra and post-operative complications, improve operation tolerance and promote health restoration. Before surgery, TCM preparations that invigorate qi, enrich the blood, strengthen the spleen and nourish the kidney and liver are generally chosen. Afterwards, preparations that tonify qi, nourish yin, promote blood circulation, resolve blood stasis, regulate the function of the spleen and stomach and improve the function the kidney and liver are used to restore the body's health.
Herbal prescriptions are adjusted when complicating factors such as a build up of phlegm, dampness, stasis, toxins and heat evils are impeding recovery. Aside from surgery, TCM herbal preparations have been shown in research studies to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and reduce their side effects. When deciding what herbal treatments to take, it is always best to consult a qualified TCM physician who can plan follow up visits with you to monitor how successful a particular treatment has been and to ensure the right care is being given. Below are some examples of selected herbs that are used by TCM doctors to treat the different syndromes associated with prostate cancer.
Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi), commonly known as Ganoderma lucidum mushroom, which help suppress some mechanisms involved in the progression of prostate cancer. The stem and cap of the mushroom are used in dried form to support the immune system of cancer patients and to block growth of cancers. It may slow expansion of tumors and stop tumor cells from invading healthy tissues, and also alleviate urinary tract problems that sometimes precede prostate cancer in men.
Herba Patriniae (Baijiangcao)">Herba Patriniae (Baijiangcao) helps the body get rid of prostate inflammation or what the Chinese practitioners call "damp heat" that exists in the body. In Chinese medicine damp heat in the prostate could be caused by bacteria infection, drugs and other conditions such as a habit of eating hot, spicy or greasy foods.
Beautiful Sweetgum Fruit (Lulutong), also known as liquid amber, has the ability to improve Qi and blood circulation. It also helps to reduce the abdominal, back and knee pain caused by damp heat as well as difficult urination because of bladder or prostate inflammation.
Radix Polygoni Multiflori (Heshouwu) contains several derivatives of tetrahydroxystilbene. These antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds may act as an estrogen-like substance, reducing levels of circulating male hormones such as DHT that fuel the growth of prostate cancer.