|
In classical Chinese medicine literature, cancer related conditions such as growths, tumors and abdominal masses were called Accumulation (Ji 積) and Gathering (Ju 聚). An Accumulation is a growth that could be felt and has a fixed location. It is similar to the idea of a solid tumor in Western medicine. While a Gathering is not fixed in location but is typically a warning sign that unless a change is made to your health and lifestyle, the Gathering is on its way to becoming an Accumulation i.e. solid tumor.
In gynecology, Accumulations and Gatherings were called Concretion (Zheng 癥) and Conglomeration (Jia 瘕) conditions, respectively. They resemble disorders such as myoma (fibroid), ovarian cysts and endometrial cancers found in a woman’s reproductive organs.
|
Classical Japanese text-One Hundred Abdomen Illustrations, depicting Blood Stasis in the Liver System along with accompanying jaundice.
|
|
The understanding for the cause of cancer in Chinese medicine is the same as in Western medicine, that is more than 90% of cancers are caused by environmental factors (anything that is not attributed to genetics). These environmental factors include:
- Toxins (alcohol, tobacco, asbestos etc)
These environmental factors result in one or combination of the following Oriental medical disease process that result in cancers.
1. Fire-Toxin
When toxic chemicals or infectious agents overwhelm the body’s ability to detoxify itself, they turn into Fire-Toxins. Symptoms include inflamed lumps, localized pain, fever, irritability, dry mouth and throat, constipation etc. The treatment approach is to use herbs or acupuncture points that improve the body’s function in cooling and detoxification. Common types of cancer are Throat, Esophogeal, Lung, Stomach, Colon and Bladder.
2. Blood Stasis
When the body’s circulatory systems breaks down due to stress, lack of exercise and old age, pockets of Blood accumulate in body cavities and organs. This is similar to the idea of angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels created by the cancer to supply itself with the body’s nutrients). The treatment approach will be to break up the blood stasis using herbs and acupuncture points that have proven effective in dissipating accumulated masses. Common types of cancers are Liver, Brain, Uterine cancer.
3. Phlegm-Damp Accumulation
High sugar/fat diet, stress, lack of exercise can disrupt the body’s fluid metabolism. When fluids are not distributed efficiently, pockets of fluids build up in the body resulting in Dampness and Phlegm Accumulation. This is similar to the idea of cysts and lumps in Western medicine. The treatment approach will use herbs and acupuncture points that drain Dampness and transform Phlegm to reduce the size of the accumulation. Common types of cancers are Breast, Ovarian Cysts, Pancreas, Lymphoma.
|
