| Integrated Cancer Care with
Traditional Chinese Medicine by Wei Liu It is estimated that more than 10 million Americans today are living with, or have recovered from, cancer. Every year, more than 1.4 million people are diagnosed with cancer in the United States. Cancer occurs when abnormal cells begin dividing and growing, uncontrolled by normal body functions. Although cancer accounts for one of every four deaths in the United States, more and more people are cancer survivors. As more cancer patients take advantage of modern diagnostic techniques and treatment modalities, they are also looking for ways to make the treatments easier to undergo. An increasing number of these patients are turning to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and acupuncture for help with the nausea, fatigue and other problems associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Restore balance Modern technology has given us powerful diagnostic tools such as endoscopy, ultrasound, MRI and CT scans, and sophisticated surgical and pharmaceutical therapies for treatment of cancer. The goal of these treatments is to destroy or remove the cancerous cells and tissues, but it is difficult to limit the effects of treatment so that only cancer cells are destroyed or removed. Significant and unpleasant side-effects accompany most of these treatments. Nausea and vomiting are the most common side-effects that patients experience. Other side-effects include fatigue, skin rashes, loss of appetite, post-operative pain, weight gain and reproductive-system problems, such as hot flashes, interrupted menstrual periods, vaginal dryness, impotence, loss of sexual desire and loss of fertility from hormone therapy. In an effort to respond to the powerful therapies, the body suffers from side-effects and becomes very imbalanced. Traditional Chinese medicine modalities, including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Tui Na and Qi Gong, provide a harmonious approach to correcting these imbalances. Successful Integration in China In the 1950s, Chinese physicians and researchers began to explore the possibilities of integrating the most useful aspects of Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. Cancer care turned out to be one of the most successful fields in this new, integrative medicine. In the areas of reducing side-effects, enhancing immunity and generally improving quality of life, the integration of Eastern and Western medicines produced amazing results for cancer patients. During the past five decades, Chinese researchers have established a protocol in which they associate typical responses to cancer treatment with specific Chinese medicine diagnosis patterns. Then the TCM patterns are treated with TCM therapies, such as acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. For example, in Chinese medicine theory, the spleen and stomach are responsible for processing food and converting it into chi (energy) and blood. When a cancer patient on chemotherapy complains of nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and diarrhea, TCM practitioners consider these symptoms to be signs of deficient spleen chi and rebellious stomach chi. Symptoms of fever, cough and anxiety are associated with lung chi damage from pathogenic heat. NIH endorsement In 1997, the federally funded National Institutes of Health gathered a panel of experts in different fields to assess the efficacy of acupuncture. The NIH had set up a National Institute of Alternative Medicine, and it was funding research in acupuncture at several sites around the country. Participants in this Consensus Conference verified a group of conditions for which acupuncture is clearly effective. One of these conditions is nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and anesthesia. The NIH endorsement justifies the popular use of acupuncture for cancer patients. While the NIH findings about the therapeutic effects of acupuncture are encouraging, there have been few studies in this country in regard to Chinese herbal medicine. As Chinese medicine is practiced in China, herbal formulas are absolutely essential in the treatment of most diseases. Herbal medicine is crucial in the integrated East/West approach to cancer care. In a recently-published book, Restored Harmony: An Evidence-based Approach for Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine into Complementary Cancer Care, Dr. Stephen Sagar emphasizes the importance of Chinese herbal formulas in the treatment of cancer side-effects. Dr. Sagar, who has impressive credentials and a lot of experience with alternative medicine in Canada, also believes strongly that herbs should only be administered by experienced Chinese medicine practitioners. He says that the administration of herbs without the advice of a certified TCM practitioner cannot be condoned in view of the complexity of mixing appropriate herbs in the correct proportions, and being aware that inappropriate combinations or doses can result in possibly serious side-effects. Dr. Sagar writes, "In TCM, herbs are used in combinations that enhance their benefits while reducing their side-effects." In effect, a Chinese herbal formula consists of multiple low-dose pharmacological agents being administered synergistically. This is in complete contrast to the Western model that focuses on administering a high dose of a single pharmaceutical agent. The interaction of low doses of pharmacologically active agents with the wide spectrum of cell membrane receptors may enable a more gradual shift in cell function, with minimal adverse side-effects to the patient. Moreover, the low-dose herbs are more likely to bring about an appropriate shift in the natural patterns of interaction between local hormones, neurotransmitters and intracellular signaling chemicals, enabling a natural shift back to the normal health-orientated homeostatic state. The Western medicine technique of administrating single drugs at high dosages will often induce many of the severe side-effects noted above, as well as promoting tolerance and possible addiction to pain-killing drugs. To request information on traditional Chinese medicine, please feel free to call TCM Health Center at the Southdale-Edina Clinic (952) 926-4011, the Grand Ave/St. Paul Clinic (651) 726-2459, the University-Dinkytown Clinic (612) 379-3583, the Uptown-Kenwood Clinic (612) 823-6650, or the AAAOM Faculty Clinic (651) 631-0216. Wei Liu, TCMD, MPH, L.Ac., is a doctor of Chinese medicine, a licensed nutritionist and acupuncturist and a diplomat in Chinese herbology. She is a practitioner, speaker, teacher and writer of Chinese medicine and nutrition. She is the clinical director of TCM Health Center. For further information about Traditional Chinese medicine, contact Dr. Wei Liu at (952) 926-4011. Copyright (c) 2002 Wei Liu |
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