{"id":75,"date":"2015-02-26T12:39:27","date_gmt":"2015-02-26T12:39:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/development.henrymcgrath.com\/?p=75"},"modified":"2016-03-08T15:19:04","modified_gmt":"2016-03-08T15:19:04","slug":"the-integrated-treatment-of-cancer-in-chinese-hospitals-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.henrymcgrath.com\/2015\/02\/26\/the-integrated-treatment-of-cancer-in-chinese-hospitals-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The integrated treatment of cancer in Chinese Hospitals (published in International Journal of Healing and Caring)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The following is the text of an article by Henry McGrath published in International Journal of Healing and Caring (IJHC) April 2007<\/em><\/p>\n

Abstract<\/strong><\/p>\n

The author is a practitioner of Chinese Herbal medicine and acupuncture in the UK, specialising in the management of cancer.\u00a0 He spent two weeks in China, and observed the herbal treatment of around 70 patients with cancer.\u00a0 Some of these patients received \u2018conventional\u2019 or \u2018western\u2019 treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, while some received only Chinese herbs. Chinese medicine offered great relief for a wide range of symptoms, including pain, nausea, lack of appetite, liver and kidney dysfunction, immune deficiency, emotional problems and insomnia.\u00a0 Several doctors also claimed that herbal medicine helped prolong the life expectancy of some patients, although the author saw no evidence for this that would be accepted by western research standards.\u00a0 The author believes that Chinese integrated approach has much to offer those in the West with cancer.<\/p>\n

Key words: cancer, Chinese Medicine, herbal remedies, integrative care<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

As part of the College of Naturopathic Medicine (UK) study trip to China in September 2006,\u00a0 I spent two weeks in Chinese herbal medicine oncology wards in China. The first week was in Nanjing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Oncology Outpatient Department, and the second week in the Oncology Inpatient Ward of Dong Feng Hospital, Beijing.\u00a0 Overall I observed the herbal treatment of around seventy patients with cancer.<\/p>\n

As in the West, patients have the opportunity to receive \u2018conventional\u2019 (western) treatment of their cancer.\u00a0 This includes the full range of scans and blood tests, as well as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.\u00a0 Patients also have the opportunity to be referred for Chinese herbal medicine in addition to their western treatment, and many choose this option.<\/p>\n

The first thing that struck me about the Herbal Medicine Oncology Clinic in Nanjing was that the small room was constantly full of people.\u00a0 As well as the Doctor and patient, several other patients waiting their turn would be standing around openly listening to the consultation.\u00a0 Patients listened unselfconsciously to each other\u2019s stories, sometimes even joining in on each other\u2019s consultations.\u00a0 This arrangement struck me as a marked contrast to the hushed, strictly private oncology consultations seen in the West.\u00a0 Whereas the western approach can leave patients feeling very isolated, the Chinese way seemed to offer mutual support to patients.\u00a0 There did not seem to be a need for a \u2018mutual support group.\u2019<\/p>\n

The vast majority of the patients I saw had received surgery for their cancer.\u00a0 A slightly lesser number had at least started to receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy.\u00a0 However, some of these patients had been unable or unwilling to complete the course of treatment because of its side effects.\u00a0 For most of these people, the herbal medicine was perceived as an alternative to a treatment they were unable to take. For many others, the herbal medicine was perceived as supporting the conventional treatment, in some cases allowing them to complete it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The complaints treated by herbal medicine<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the following discussion it must always be born in mind that Chinese herbal medicine treats the whole person.\u00a0 It pays special attention to nourishing the qi, the \u2018vital force\u2019, in order to boost the patient\u2019s innate ability to fight disease, both physically and mentally.\u00a0 The tongue and pulse are always studied carefully to give an accurate diagnosis, on which the treatment will be based.\u00a0 Herbal formulae are be carefully constructed to match the \u2018energetic pattern\u2019 of the patient, and will usually contain about fifteen to twenty herbs.\u00a0 The dose will normally be about 200g per day of dried herbs, which must be boiled by the patient.\u00a0 Bearing in mind the above caveat about herbs treating the whole person, for the sake of convenience we shall discuss the treatments by groups of primary symptoms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nausea, digestive disturbance and fatigue<\/strong><\/p>\n

The enjoyment and sharing of food is central to Chinese life, and to the Chinese person\u2019s sense of well being.\u00a0 Chinese people are also keenly aware of the key role of the digestive system in maintaining good health. In Chinese medical theory, the digestive system transforms food into \u2018qi\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0 If surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy interfere with the digestive function, they will therefore undermine the production of the qi.\u00a0 This can lead to fatigue, and may impair the patient\u2019s ability to fight their cancer.\u00a0 Many patients therefore seek help from herbal medicine when their digestion is upset by biomedical treatment.<\/p>\n

It was very moving to see that most patients who had taken herbs for their digestion reported great improvements.\u00a0 The reaction of one man, well into his seventies, seemed to speak for many: when asked whether the herbs had helped his digestion, his wrinkled but bright face lit up, and he gave a contented pat on their abdomen.\u00a0 It seemed that his appetite for food reflected his appetite for life, regained through herbal medicine.<\/p>\n

There are many dozens of Chinese herbs that soothe the digestion, and promote the production of qi.\u00a0 The herbs are selected according to the exact nature of the diagnosis.\u00a0 Those most commonly used in the treatment of cancer include astragalus (huang qi),\u00a0 hawthorn (shan zha), seeds of Jobs Tears (yi yi ren), and medicated leaven (shen qu).\u00a0 This latter herb contains many enzymes which help the digestion, and it also helps protect the stomach against harsh chemicals such as those used in chemotherapy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Insomnia and emotional problems<\/strong><\/p>\n

Obviously, being given a diagnosis of \u2018cancer\u2019 can create a huge emotional strain, manifested as anger, grief, worry, and a huge range of other emotions.\u00a0 In Chinese medicine, each emotion affects a specific organ: for example, anger affects the liver, grief affects the lungs, and worry affects the digestion. These strong emotions can disturb sleep, making the patient even more tired, and draining the strength they need to fight their cancer. Chinese medicine therefore places great emphasis on addressing the emotional concerns of patients, which helps maintain healthy organ function.<\/p>\n

Chinese medicine has a whole category of herbs that calm the mind, and there are herbs for each specific emotional problem.\u00a0 For example, Chinese lily (bai he) helps grief; biota seeds (bai zi ren) sooth the heart and help sleep; wild date seeds (suan zao ren) calm anger, soothe the liver and help sleep.\u00a0 This latter herb contains a chemical called jujuboside, which is a natural sedative and hypnotic.\u00a0 Interestingly, there is evidence that it also functions as a cardiotonic, treating heart irregularities.<\/p>\n

Radiotherapy, according to Chinese medicine, tends to overheat the body and dry it up.\u00a0 In Chinese medical terminology, it is said to deplete the yin.\u00a0 Certain herbs are used to nourish the yin, in order to counter the side effects of radiotherapy,including: Chinese asparagus (tian men dong), ophiopogon grass (mai men dong), and adenophora (sha shen).\u00a0 The latter herb is particularly good at soothing the mucous membranes of the lungs where they have been damaged by heat and dryness from radiotherapy.\u00a0 It is an antitussive (it helps coughing), and helps to bring body temperature back to normal.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Immune deficiency<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are effective because they kill those cells that multiply more rapidly \u2013 including white blood cells that fight infections. It is therefore important to try and maintain the white blood cell count during treatment.\u00a0 Certain herbs can help with this, and several studies show that for example astragalus (huang qi) enhances the production of white blood cells (Chen and Chen p. 852).<\/p>\n

One study looked at the use of moxibustion in maintaining white blood cell count in patients with leukopenia (reduction in immune cells).\u00a0 Moxibustion involves burning the herb artemesia at acupuncture points.\u00a0 A group of 91 patients were divided into two groups, one of which was given moxibustion and the other which was not. Of the group receiving moxibustion, 47% had a \u2018pronounced\u2019 increase in white blood cell count, whereas in the other group only 5% saw a \u2018pronounced\u2019 rise in their white blood cell count (Li Peiwen, p. 97).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Liver and kidney impairment<\/strong><\/p>\n

In treating cancer it is important to maintain the function of these organs.\u00a0 They both help to cleanse the body of toxins, and so are crucial in maintaining health.<\/p>\n

When the liver has to break down the toxins from chemotherapy, it produces more enzymes to try and do this, which puts it under stress.\u00a0 The blood levels of these liver enzymes are taken as measures of liver stress. At least sixteen Chinese herbs have been shown to help keep the level of liver enzymes down, including schizandra (wu wei zi), angelica (dang gui), gentian (long dan cao) and liquorice (gan cao) (Li Peiwen, p. 109).<\/p>\n

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can also lead to kidney impairment. This can cause a wide range of problems, such as edema (excess water in the tissues, causing swelling), and a build up of toxins in the body.\u00a0 This can lead to high blood pressure and other complications.<\/p>\n

One study divided a group of 86 patients undergoing chemotherapy into two equal groups, only one of which received Chinese herbs.\u00a0 Only the group receiving the herbs demonstrated a maintained renal function (measured as no significant change in levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine) (Li Peiwen, p. 123).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Using herbs to attack cancer cells directly<\/strong><\/p>\n

In addition to using herbs which manage the side effects of conventional treatments, herbs are used which are thought to attack the cancer directly.\u00a0 Ever more studies are being conducted on the anti cancer effects of Chinese herbs, which are too numerous to mention here.\u00a0 Herbs attracting worldwide attention include Oldenlandia (bai hua shi shi cao), circuma (e zhu, which is given intravenously to cancer patients in China), and seeds of Jobs Tears (yi yi ren).\u00a0 This last herb is a variety of maize, consumed as a staple food in South East China. Studies show that cancer rates are very low in the areas where this plant is consumed.\u00a0 Compounds in the plant have been found to inhibit the growth of tumour cells, and to increase the expression of genes FAS and Apo 1, which help inhibit the growth of tumour cells (Zhejiang University Press).\u00a0 The herb has been synthesised into a drug called Kanglaite, which has received FDA approval for a stage II trial in the USA.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

In China, herbs are an integral part of the management of cancer.\u00a0 As well as treating the side effects and improving the quality of life, herbs are used to maintain the patient\u2019s overall sense of well being and energy.\u00a0 Herbs are also used to try and attack the cancer directly, and thereby to strive to increase the life span of the patient.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

References<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chen J K and Chen T T: Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology, Art of Medicine Press, 2004<\/p>\n

Li Peiwen: The Management of Cancer with Chinese Medicine, Donica, 2003<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Report from a recipient of integrated cancer treatment:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jill Langford<\/p>\n

I have had major surgery for cancer of the spine which is secondary breast cancer. I have been seeing Henry for acupuncture and taking Chinese herbal medicine for the past 3 months, since my surgery, during which time I also received radiotherapy. I have been taking herbs to help with the radiotherapy as well as anti cancer herbs.<\/p>\n

I have been remarkably well since the surgery and suffered no side effects at all as a result of the radiotherapy. My doctor at the oncology centre and many other people have remarked at how good a recovery I am making and how well I look.<\/p>\n

I have had blood tests (tumour markers) which show the level of cancer going down well.<\/p>\n

All of this I attribute in large part to the herbs and acupuncture I have been receiving and which I value very highly as the mainstay of my treatment and recovery from this serious disease; and which helps support the body while it undergoes the orthodox treatments and drugs.<\/p>\n

I have also been helped very much psychologically and spiritually by Henry; he has a calm, soothing and healing presence; he really listens; I feel accepted unconditionally by Henry; he is reassuring and gentle. All of this helps too a great deal with the healing process.<\/p>\n

I have been to many practitioners and am a therapist myself. I find the quality of Henry’s skills and his “bedside manner” to be exceptional and rare.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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