Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese Herbal Medicine is another branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In fact, approximately 80% of all traditional Chinese medical patients are treated with herbs, while only the remaining 20% are treated with acupuncture or other manual therapies. Chinese Herbal Medicine has ancient roots in China. An archaeological dig in 1973 near Changsha, China revealed silk scrolls dating back to 168BC containing 170 different medicinal prescriptions to treat over 52 diseases. An ancient text dated 220AD, Jin Gui Yao Lue (Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet) contains the formulation of a Chinese herbal prescription called Rehmannia 8 that is still commonly used in the West today.
Cost/Administration
Herbal medicines are typically quite inexpensive when compared to pharmaceutical drugs, although if tonic formulas are employed for a long period of time the price can add up. For a 50 pound dog, a typical tonic herbal formula will cost approximately $20/month. However, this is a small price to pay for the relief of symptoms and the strengthening of the body! Chinese herbal formulas come in a variety of forms including raw herbs, powdered herbs, liquids, capsules, and teapills. Teapills, small pea sized pills with a tough outer coating, are most often used for small animals, along with capsules and liquids, due to their ease of administration. Powders can also be mixed into foods, but cats are usually too suspicious to fall for that! Fortunately, most formulas come in a variety of forms so many options exist to accommodate both owner and pet.
Precautions
Although herbal medicines are not without any side effects, in general the side effects are mild and quickly resolve when the herb is withdrawn. It is recommended to owners that the herbal formula be started slowly to monitor for any type of reaction. Typically a reaction just means the wrong herbal formula was chosen or the animal has an intolerance to a specific ingredient in the formula. Occasionally, a reaction will be seen after the animal has been on the formula for many months. This typically indicates that the formula is no longer needed and that the body is able to keep itself in balance without the herbs. Herbal formulas not sold under the Good Manufacturing Practices on label (GMP) should not be used, as these commonly are contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides, or pharmaceutical drugs. Occasionally, they will even contain endangered species. Most herbal formulas sold to herbal practitioners follow the GMP. However, products found in local Chinatown pharmacies are of questionable purity.
An example of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Dog Cancers are Stasis Breaker (a tumor buster) and Wei Qi Booster (immune booster) that I use.
Stasis Breaker Tumor Buster
Ingredients:
Bai Hua She She Cao - OldenlandiaIngredients:
Ban Zhi Lian - Scutellaria
E Zhu-Zedoaria
Mu Li(Shu)-Ostrea
San Leng-Sparganium
Zhe Bei Mu - Fritillaria
Classical Antecedent:
Nei Xiao Wan from Wei Sheng Bao Jian (Precious Mirror of Health) written by Luo Tian Yi in Yuan dynasty (1279-1368).
What is in Nei Xiao Wan
What is the Nei Xiao Wan formula composition?
A proprietary blend of
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Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii Radix Et Rhizoma Rhei Radix Platycodi Grandiflori Spica Prunellae Vulgaris Radix Scrophulariae Ningpoensis Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis Radix Ampelopsis Japonicae Radix Angelicae Sinensis Fructus Aurantii Sargassum Fructus Forsythiae Suspensae Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae Herba Menthae Haplocalycis Natrii Sulfas Radix Trichosanthis Kirilowii Halite Concha Meretricis Seu Cyclinae |
(Bei Mu) (Shu Da Huang) (Jie Geng) (Xia Ku Cao) (Xuan Shen) (Gan Cao) (Bai Lian) (Dang Gui) (Zhi Qiao) (Hai Zao) (Lian Qiao) (Di Huang) (Bo He) (Mang Xiao) (Tian Hua Fen) (Qing Yan) (Hai Ha Fen) |
Wei Qi Booster Immune Booster
Ingredients:
Oldenlandia - Bai Hua She She Cao
Scutellaria - Ban Zhi Lian
Citrus - Chen Pi
Angelica - Dang Gui
Codonopsis - Dang Shen
Astragalus - Huang Qi
Lindera - Wu Yao
Scrophularia - Xuan Shen.
Classical Antecedent:
Si Jun Zi Tang from Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Imperial Grace Formulary of the Tai Ping Era) written by Chen Shi Wen et al in 1080.
What is the Si Jun Zi Tang formula composition?
A proprietary blend* of
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Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae Sclerotium Poriae Cocos Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata |
(Dang Shen) (Bai Zhu) (Fu Ling) (Zhi Gan Cao) |
Laboratory studies are expanding the clinical knowledge that is already documented in traditional texts. The herbs that are traditionally used for anti-cancer treatment and that are anti-angiogenic through multiple interdependent processes (including effects on gene expression, signal processing, and enzyme activities) include:
Artemisia annua (Chinese wormwood) (Artemisinin)
Viscum album (European mistletoe)
Curcuma longa (curcumin)
Scutellaria baicalensis (Chinese skullcap)
Resveratrol and proanthocyanidin (grape seed extract)
Magnolia officinalis (Chinese magnolia tree)
Camellia sinensis (green tea)
Ginkgo biloba
Quercetin
Poria cocos
Zingiber officinalis (ginger)
Panax (Red) ginseng
Rabdosia rubescens hora (Rabdosia)
Chinese destagnation herbs.
Natural health products target molecular pathways other than angiogenesis, including epidermal growth factor receptor, the HER2/neu gene, the cyclo-oxygenase-2 enzyme, the nuclear factor kappa-B transcription factor, the protein kinases, the Bcl-2 protein, and coagulation pathways.
A number of Chinese botanicals display anti-cancer activity and
may be beneficial for a broad array of cancer patients, no matter what their TCM pattern indicates.37 38 Herbs such as astragalus and angelica activate the immune system and display antitumor activity. 39 Others, like Oldenlandia
diffusa, encourage apoptosis. 40 A meta-analysis evaluated the evidence from randomized trials concerning the combination of astragalus-containing Chinese herbal products with platinum-based chemotherapy. The literature analysis revealed improved survival, tumor response, and diminished toxicity as a result of the combination.41
My dog Lucy has been on these for many months for her nasal cancer and went into remission after 4 months on them (plus diet changes, other supplements and Low Dose Naltrexone) and still is today. The entire program I created for her uses diet, supplements, a minor prescription, and the above herbs. Kitchen sink, yes, but it is working.
Have your vet order that stuff (ONLY A VET CAN ORDER....) from (I am not affiliated with this herb company but it's the only herb compounds that I can find people having success with. So I am using it in addition to all the other herbs. And Lucy is still great) http://www.tcvmherbal.com/
Go ahead and Google Stasis Breaker.
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2 Xu W, Towers AD, Li P, et al. Traditional Chinese medicine in cancer care: perspectives and experiences of patients and professionals in China. European Journal of Cancer Care. 2006;15:397-403.
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7 World Health Organization (online 202) WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2002-2005. Obtained at http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2002/WHO_EDM_TRM_2002.1.pdf on 03-15-07.
8 White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy, 2002. Obtained at
http://www.whccamp.hhs.gov/finalreport_pdf.html on 03-15-07.
9 Cragg GM, Boyd MR, Cardellina JH, et al. Ethnobotany and drug discovery: the experience of the US National Cancer Institute. 1994 Ethnobotany and the search for new drugs. Wiley, Chichester (Ciba Foundation Symposium 185), pp. 178-196.
10 Kaphle K, Wu L-S, Yang N-YJ, et al. Herbal medicine research in Taiwan. eCAM. 2006;3(1):149-155.
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Chinese Veterinary Medicine. 2006;1(1):49-52.
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©2007 Narda G. Robinson, DO, DVM, MS. All rights reserved.
14 American Cancer Society. Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Methods. 2000. P. 196.
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26 Takeichi M and Sato T. Studies on the psychosomatic functioning of ill-health according to Eastern and
Western Medicine 1. Visual observation of the sublingual vein for early detection of vital energy stagnation and blood stasis. American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 1999;27(1):43-51.
27 Wang JF, Cai CZ, Kong CY, et al. A computer method for validating Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal prescriptions. American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2005;33(2):281-297.
28 Wang JF, Cai CZ, Kong CY, et al. A computer method for validating Traditional Chinese Medicine
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29 Xie H. How to select Chinese herbal medicine for cancer patients. American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. 2006;1(1):49-52.
30 Wang S, Zheng Z, Weng Y, et al. Angiogenesis and anti-angiogenesis activity of Chinese medicinal
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31 Zhang T, Ma S-L, Xie G-R, et al. Clinical research on nourishing Yin and unblocking meridians recipe combined with opioid analgesics in cancer pain management. Chin J Integr Med. 2006;12(3):180-184.
32 Deng W-P, Chao M-W, Lai W-F, et al. Correction of malignant behavior of tumor cells by traditional Chinese herb medicine through a restoration of p53. Cancer Letters. 2006;233:315-327.
33 Wong WCW, Lee A, Wong SYS, et al. Strengths, weaknesses, and development of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the health system of Hong Kong: through the eyes of future Western doctors. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2006;12(2):185-189.
34 Coyle M and Smith C. A survey comparing TCM diagnosis, health status and medical diagnosis in women undergoing assisted reproduction. Acupuncture in Medicine. 2005;23(2):62-69.
35 Zhang GG, Lee W, Bausell B, et al. Variability in the Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM) diagnoses and herbal prescriptions provided by three TCM practitioners for 40 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
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36 Zhang GG, Bausell B, Lao L, et al. The variability of TCM pattern diagnosis and herbal prescription on rheumatoid arthritis patients. Alternative Therapies. 2004;10(1):58-63.
37 Wynn SG and Fougere BJ. Veterinary Herbal Medicine. St. Louis: Mosby, Inc. 2007. P. 308.
38 Xie H. How to select Chinese herbal medicine for cancer patients. American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. 2006;1(1):49-52.
39 Wong R, Sagar CM, and Sagar SM. Integration of Chinese medicine into supportive cancer care: a modern role for an ancient tradition. Cancer Treatment Reviews. 2001;27:235-246.
40 Yadav, SK and Lee SC. Evidence for Oldenlandia diffusa-evoked cancer cell apoptosis through superoxide burst and capsase activation. Journal of Chinese Integrative Meidcine. 2006;4(5):485-489.
41 McCulloch M, See C, Shu X-J, et al. Astragalus-based Chinese herbs and platinum-based chemotherapy
for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: meta-analysis of randomized trials. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2006;24(3):419-430.
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