Tumors according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Tumors can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like tumors here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here tumors is often associated with nausea, feeling of heaviness and numbness in the limbs in the pattern “Phlegm”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of tumors we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat tumors.
Phlegm, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause tumors
In Chinese Medicine tumors is a symptom for the pattern "Phlegm". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia) is the king ingredient for Er Chen Tang, a formula used for Phlegm
Phlegm
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Thick coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
The concept of Phlegm is much wider and important in Chinese Medicine than in the West. Broadly speaking, Phlegm is a substance produced when the body fails to handle Body Fluids properly.
In addition to tumors, other symptoms associated with Phlegm include nausea, feeling of heaviness and numbness in the limbs.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Phlegm is associated with health issues such as Low Breast Milk Supply, Menopausal Syndrome or Morning Sickness.
Phlegm is often treated with Er Chen Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Crow-Dipper Rhizomes - Ban Xia - as a key herb). Er Chen Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that dry dampness and transform phlegm", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Dries Damp and dispels Phlegm".
Five herbal formulas that might help with tumors
Er Chen Tang
Source date: 1148 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Dries Damp and dispels Phlegm. Regulates Qi and harmonizes the Middle Burner (Stomach and Spleen).
Why might Er Chen Tang help with tumors?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm' of which tumors is a symptom.
Liu Jun Zi Tang
Source date: 1107
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach. Clears Phlegm and mucus. Promotes appetite.
Why might Liu Jun Zi Tang help with tumors?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm' of which tumors is a symptom.
Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang
Source date: 1732 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Dries and dissolves Phlegm. Strengthens the Spleen. Smoothes the Liver and calms Liver Wind (antispasmodic).
Why might Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang help with tumors?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm' of which tumors is a symptom.
Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang
Source date: Qing Dynasty
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat and relieves acute conditions of the Gallbladder. Relieves acute Damp-Heat syndromes. Resolves Phlegm. Harmonizes the Stomach.
Why might Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang help with tumors?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm' of which tumors is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat tumors
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with tumors?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat tumors as a symptom, like Wu Ling San or Er Chen Tang for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi) help with tumors?
Because Tangerine Peel is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat tumors as a symptom, like Er Chen Tang or Liu Jun Zi Tang for instance.
Tangerine Peel is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen and regulates the Middle Burner Qi. Dries Dampness and disperses Phlegm from the Lungs and Middle Burner. Reduces the potential for Stagnation caused by tonifying herbs.
Why might Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang) help with tumors?
Because Fresh Ginger is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat tumors as a symptom, like Er Chen Tang or Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang for instance.
Fresh Ginger is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Warms and circulates Qi in the Middle Burner. Calms a restless fetus and treats morning sickness. Treats seafood poisoning.
Why might Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with tumors?
Because Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat tumors as a symptom, like Liu Jun Zi Tang or Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang for instance.
Atractylodes Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Fortifies the Spleen Yang and dispels Damp through urination. Tonifies Qi and stops sweating. Calms restless fetus when due to Deficiency of Spleen Qi.
Why might Jujube Date (Da Zao) help with tumors?
Because Jujube Date is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat tumors as a symptom, like Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang or Wen Dan Tang for instance.
Jujube Dates is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach Qi. Tonifies the Blood. Calms the Shen (spirit). Moderates the actions of other herbs in formula.
Other symptoms often associated with tumors
Amenorrhea Uterine fibroids Ovarian cysts Uterine cysts Swollen adbomen due to malnutrition Snake bites Insect bites Swellings Cysts Fibroids