Treating Dog Cancer with Chinese Herbs

Studies have shown that about 90% of cancer patients have sub clinical thyroid deficiency. DHEA and melatonin are also low in most cancer patients and many others with chronic diseases.
Proper nutrition is essential in successful cancer therapy. Cancer is a wasting disease. Forty percent of cancer patients actually die from malnutrition. You cannot fight a life-threatening disease while malnourished.


TCM (TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE)


According to the Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University (CSU), cancer is the No. 1 cause of death in geriatric dogs and cats. Nearly half the deaths of companion dogs and cats are from cancer. Roughly half of all dogs and cats will develop cancer if they live to be 10 or older. A recent CSU oncology study involving 254 clients showed that 76 percent of clients used complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies, with nutritional supplements the most commonly used. More than half the clients indicated strong interest in CAM; 40 percent expressed average interest, and 3 percent reported no interest. Keum Hwa Choi, Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine, reported that patients receiving both conventional and Traditional Oriental Medicine therapies had better survival rates, longer duration of remission and quality of life than those patients who did not utilize both systems of medicine.

While the ultimate goal in treating neoplasia is complete and permanent remission, that is sadly unattainable with Western medicine, alternative modalities, or various combinations thereof.

Using chinese medicinal herbs data I have found shows you can achieve:

Goal 1: Stabilization—Achieved in 90% cases
Goal 2: Shrinkage of mass—Achieved in 30% cases
Goal 3: Disappearance of mass—Achieved in 5-10% of cases

Minimally, improved quality of life is achieved with TCM treatment.

Chronologically, TCM has a 3-6-1-3 goal when dealing with oncology patients. The first goal is for the patient to live 3 months post-diagnosis. If the patient succeeds, then the expectation is for 6 months, then 1 year and finally 3 years.



Treatment Strategies for Treating Neoplasia with TCM

Strengthen the Body's Resistance and Tonify Zheng Qi (IMMUNITY)
a. Tonify Qi and strengthen Spleen

Herbal Formulas: Si Jun Zi Wan. Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan, Liu Jun Zi Wan, Wei Qi Booster

b. Nourish Blood and Yin
Herbal Formulas: Si Wu Tang, Shi Quan Da Bu, Ba Zhen Tang, Dang Gui Bu Xue Wan

c. Nourish Yin and Body Fluids:
Herbal Formulas: Sha Shen Mai Dong, Sheng Mai Yin

d. Tonify Kidney Yang
Herbal Formulas: You Gui Wan, Shen Qi Wan


The physiological effects of tonic herbs include enhanced immune system; inhibition of tumor growth, metastasis and mutation; protection of bone marrow and the hematopoietic system; decreased side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy; improved quality of life. Proposed mechanisms of these herbs includes stimulation of NK cell activity, synthesis of cytokines to restrict tumor cell growth, and regulation of neoplastic cell growth cycle.
Move Qi and Blood

Stagnation of Qi and Blood is the basic pathologic change seen in the development of cancer. Physiological effects of herbs that move Qi and Blood include destruction of tumor cells, immune system regulation, enhanced effects of primary therapy (radiation, chemotherapy), neuroendocrine regulation, prevention of post-radiation fibrosis and other side effects, and the alleviation of pain.

Herbal Formulas: Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang, Stasis Breaker or Max's Formula (Jing Tang), Chihko and Curcuma (ITM). Should use in conjunction with herbals that nourish Qi and Blood since we need to ensure that there is adequate Qi and Blood to move (e.g., Wei Qi Booster).

Clear internal toxins

Infection and chronic inflammation are predisposing factors in the development of cancer. Herbs that eliminate toxic heat may have direct anti-tumor effects via regulation of the body's immune system, cAMP levels and DNA/RNA synthesis by tumor cells, and growth inhibition of tumor cells. In addition to being antitoxic and stimulating immune function, some of these herbs have antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties. 



Herbal Formula: Viola Clear Fire (Golden Flower), Zhong Gan Ling (Golden Flower)

Soften hard masses, dissolve aggregations

Herbs in this category soften and shrink masses; they are typically used in combination with tonic herbals to prevent the reformation of Qi/Blood/ Phelgm entanglement. There herbs may also alleviate pain from the tumor mass and help to control metastasis.

Herbal Formulas: Stasis Transforming Formula (Golden Flower), Stasis Breaker (Jing Tang), Max's Formula (for weaker animals; Jing Tang), Chihko and Curcuma (ITM).

Herbal Formulas: Max Formula (Jing Tang), Phlegm Transforming Formula (Golden Flower)

Bring the body back to balance

The fundamental basis of TCM is balance and harmony. When the body is out of balance, there is disharmony and disease is manifested. Treatment therefore seeks to help the body to come back into balance, eliminating excesses and supplementing deficiencies.
Manage clinical signs and symptoms
a. Anorexia, nausea, vomiting

Herbal Formulas: Eight Gentlemen, Happy Earth (Jing Tang)

b. Diarrhea
Herbal Formula: Shen Ling Bai Zhu San

c. Constipation
Herbal Formula: Ma Zi Ren Wan

d. Inflammation, oral ulcers
Herbal Formula: Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin

e. Anemia, pancytopenia
Herbal Formulas: Marrow Plus (Health Concerns), Gui Pi Tang, Si Wu Tang, Chemo Blood Support Formula (Golden Flower)

f. Hemorrhage
Herbal Formula: Yunnan Baiyao, topically to bleeding lesions or orally. May be used preventatively or in acute hemorrhage due to hemangiosarcoma.

If no improvement is seen after 1 month of herbal administration, reevaluate and switch herbal formulas.


Food Therapy for Cancer Patients

The nutritional status of cancer patients is often suboptimal due to the effects of cancer itself and nutrient loss via vomiting, diarrhea, effusion/exudate production, GI obstruction and blood/body fluid loss. Additionally, tumors preferentially utilize glucose for metabolic energy and trap nitrogen from glutamine and other amino acids for protein synthesis. Anorexia and insulin resistance may also result from tumor secretions and the secondary production of cytokines.

There is a synergism of treatments when utilizing TCM. Food therapy is critical to the treatment of cancer as most of our commercially available pet foods promote root causes of cancer in TCM.

As cancer cells seem to utilize simple carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, protein and fat in descending order, the knee jerk reaction is to feed a no to low carbohydrate diet.  Some believe that increased glycemic load (glycemic index multiplied by grams of carbohydrate per serving size) results in the increased of certain forms of cancer. Although we are all hesitant to recommend any radical diet change without thoughtful and educated consideration, clinical results in this area can speak volumes.  In general, when feeding a cancer patient, a ratio of 50-60:15-30:25-35 (protein: mostly low glycemic index carbohydrates: lightly cooked vegetables) is followed. Supplementation with fish oil, digestive enzymes, probiotics and vitamin-minerals is also recommended. The patient's nutritional status should be followed closely as ration adjustments or supplementation with more oil/substitution with olive oil, flax seed oil or borage oil may be required due to weight loss or intolerance of fish oil.



Here are some other Chinese herbal patent formulas as more examples



Eight Gentleman

Used to treat chronic gastro intestinal disorders, vomiting and poor appetite.





Lilium

Used to treat upper and lower respiratory infections.





Di Tan Tang

Clears out phlegm and open the orifices while tonifying Qi. This TCM Herbal formula is best suited for conditions of internal obstruction due to severe phlegm where the smoothe circulation of fluids has stopped creating more phlegm.





Cervical Formula

Cervical disc, injuries and stiffness.





Yin Qiao San

For influenza, respiratory infections, early in the course of disease when symptoms are first felt, good for animals going to kennel for boarding.





Yunnan Bai Yao

For carcinoma, stops bleeding.





Ba Zheng San

Used to treat cystitis, stone and or crystals in urine, acute urinary tract infection, and bloody urine.





Nei Xiao Wan

Stasis Breaker – For lumps, nodules and internal abnormal masses, for blood stagnation / stasis.





BuQi Zi Yin Tang

Hindquarter weakness formula for cervical disc, injuries and stiffness.





Great Windkeeper

Used for treating skin allergies usually found in the spring and fall when the winds are active.





Long Dan Xie Gan Wan

For ear infection, otitis, dermatitis and epilepsy.





Wei Qi Booster (Immune Booster)

Immune system boost, general weakness, fatigue, apathy, poor appetite, weight loss in old animals, chronic viral infections, post-chemo or radiation, anemia, hyperthyroidism, chronic arthritis or renal failure in aged dogs.


Ingredient Actions
Bai Hua She
She Cao
Inhibit cell mutation and tumor growth
Ban Zhi Lian Inhibit cell mutation, inhibit tumor
growth
Chen Pi Move Qi and transform phlegm
Dang Gui Tonifies Blood
Dang Shen Tonify Qi and boost Wei Qi
Huang Qi Tonifies Qi in whole body and Wei Qi
Wu Yao Move Qi and clear stagnation
Xuan Shen Cool Blood and nourish Yin
Contraindication:
Do not use in conditions with Excess Heat
(Acute inflammation or infection, high fever)


Stasis Breaker (A tumor buster)
General Dosage:
Horse: 15 g BID as top dressing on feed
Dog/Cat: 0.5 g per 10 to 20 lb body weight BID
“In TCVM, the main
pattern of tumor and
cancer masses is
Blood stasis.”
Contraindication: Do not use in pregnant or weak animals.
Use as needed up to 3 months. May be used
with Wei Qi Booster.
In TCVM, tumor tissues and nodules are classified as
Blood stasis and stagnation. The key treatment strategy
is to remove Blood stasis. Both Stasis Breaker and Max
Formula are designed for the treatment of neoplasia,
tumors and nodules. The difference is that Stasis Breaker
has a strong action while Max Formula has a milder
effect. Thus, Stasis Breaker is used for excess enlargement
in strong animals.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR
CANCER PATIENTS
Ingredient Actions
Bai Hua She
She Cao
Inhibit cell mutation and tumor growth
Ban Zhi Lian Clear Heat-toxin, inhibit cell mutation,
inhibit tumor growth
E Zhu Purge the interior, break Blood stasis
and clear mass
Mu Li(Shu) Soften hardness and clear mass
San Leng Purge the interior, break stasis and
clear mass
Zhe Bei Mu Soften harness and clear nodules