Leukemia is a cancerous disease in which there is an uncontrolled proliferation (growth) of leucocytes (white blood cells) in the bone marrow. The cells fail to mature to adult cells and thus cannot function as a part of the defence system against infcetions. The cause of leukemia is unknown although it has been attributed to viruses, exposure to toxic chemicals or ionizing radiations.

There are two types of leukemia; acute and chronic. Acute leukemia may begin very suddenly, progressing through the stages very suddenly. The symptoms may include fatigue, pale skin, weight loss, fever, bleeding and extreme weakness. Chronic leukemia, on the other hand, may develop much slowly, although patients may have the same symptoms.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, acute leukemia is under the category “epidemic febrile disease” or “consumptive fever” etc. Chronic leukemia is under the category “consumptive disease” or “abdominal mass” etc. All of these categories tend to be interlinked. The cause of this disease is complicated, however, in most cases it is caused by insufficient Qi and the invasion of things which affect the bone marrow. This leads to a combination of blood stasis and phlegm stagnation.

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Although this disease is complicated and severe, Traditional Chinese Medicine has many ways to help patients. The disease is due to low body resistance and invading pathogens (disease causing organisms). Many Chinese herbs have increased patient body resistance and immunity. This, in turn, improves the patient’s condition, and ultimately prolongs his life. Although prognosis for acute leukemia is not good, Chinese herbs can alleviate symptoms and prevent further development of the disease.

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Syndrome (a)
Abundant Noxious-heat

Someone suffering from abundant noxious-heat (toxic heat) may show signs of fever and thirst. Their tongues would have a crimson shade with a dry, yellow coating, and a rapid pulse. Their gums, nose or skin may bleed slightly.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Since there is an abundance, or excess of heat, the herbal approach would be to clear away the heat and the toxins in order to cool the blood and stop the bleeding.

Prescription/Formula: Decoction of Rhinoceros Horn and Rehmannia (modified xi jiao di huang tang) Rhinoceros horn (xi jiao) 1g, (powder form and infused in water), uncooked rehmannia (sheng di) 30g, white peony (Bai shao ) 15g, moutan bark (dan pi) 15g, puccoon (zi cao) 30g, scrophularia (xuan shen) 18g, etc.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Since there is an abundance, or excess of heat, the acupuncture approach would be to clear away the heat and the toxins in order to cool the blood and stop the bleeding.

Prescription: LI.4 (he gu), LI.11 (qu chi), DU. 14 (da zhui), SJ. 2(ye men), SI.3, (hou xi), HT 7, (shen men), HT. 6, (yin xi) etc.

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Syndrome (b)
Abdominal Masses due to Blood Stasis

A mass is a group of cells clumped together, as in a tumor. If one has abdominal masses due to blood stasis, then the masses below the hypochondrium (below the diaphragm) would feel hard. There may be a distending pain in the affected region as well. Another symptom is a dark red tongue with thin coating, and an uneven pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: By stimulating blood circulation, herbal medicine should stop any blood stasis and soften or resolve any hard masses in the body.

Prescription/Formula: Decoction for Dissipating Blood Stasis under the Diaphragm (ge xia zhu yu tang) Flying squirrel’s (wu ling zhi) 9g, tangkuei (dang gui) 12g, ligusticum (chuan xiong) 12g, peach kernel (tao ren) 12g, mutan bark (dan pi) 15g, red peony (chi shao) 15g, lindera (wu yao)12g, carthamus (hong hua) 9g, (yuan hu) 12g, cyperus (xiang fu) 12g, bitter orange (zhi qiao) 12g, licorice (gan cao) 6g, etc.

Simple Prescription: Fresh peach leaves (xian tao ye) 5000g. Decoct the herb for about 90 minutes. Filter decoction and turn it into paste. Apply appropriate amounts of paste onto piece of cloth, and apply to spleen region. Replace cloth every five days to treat splenomegaly.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: By stimulating blood circulation, these methods of treatment stop any blood stasis and soften or resolve any hard masses in the body.

Prescription: LV.2 (xing jian), BL. 60 (kun lun), LV. 3 (tai chong), SP.8 (di ji), SP.6 (san yin jiao), etc.

  

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Syndrome (c)
Accumulation of Subcutaneous Nodule

A subcutaneous nodule is a small lump that forms under the skin. A person with this may have hard and slightly tender masses (lymph nodes) in the neck, the chin, or the axillary fossa (arm pit) and groin. Signs of this are a light red tongue with a white, sticky coating, and a wiry pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: By getting rid of phlegm to cure blood stasis, the swelling should be subdued and the hard masses softened.

Prescription/Formula: Modified Bolus for resolving Scrofula in the Interior (modified nei xiao lei li wan) Sargassum (hai zao) 30g, kelp (kun bu 30g), prunella (xia ku cao) 30g, oyster shell (mu li) 30g, scrophularia (xuan shen) 15g, licorice (gan cao) 9g, etc.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: By getting rid of phlegm to cure blood stasis, the swelling should be subdued and the hard masses softened.

Prescription: LI. 4 (he gu), ST. 36 (zu san li), local points, stc. (reducing method)

  

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Syndrome (d)
Deficiency of Both Qi and Blood

Someone with a deficiency of yin-blood shows signs of low grade fever, gum or nose bleeding, dizziness, blurred vision, a dry mouth and night sweats. Their tongue is usually red with a peeling coating, and they may have a thready, rapid pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: A deficiency in the qi and blood, would be cured by boosting the qi and nourishing the blood.

Prescription/Formula: Modified Eight-gem Decoction (modified ba zhen tang) Ginseng (ren shen) 12g, astraglus (huang qi) 30g, white atractylodes (bai zhu) 12g, poria (fu ling) 12g, prepared rehmannia (shu di huang) 15g, etc.

Simple Prescription: Astraglus (huang qi) 30g, tangkuei (dang gui) 30g, and 1 chicken. Boil altogether for 2 hours or until well done. Drink the resulting broth (1-2 cups a day) to nourish blood and qi.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: A deficiency in the qi and blood, would be cured by boosting the qi and nourishing the blood.

Prescription: CV. 4 (guan yuan), BL. 20 (pi shu), ST. 36 (zu san li), CV. 6 (qi hai), BL. 17, (ge shu), etc.

  

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Syndrome (e)
Deficiency of Yin-blood

A person with a deficiency in qi and blood shows signs of a sallow complexion, shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, increased sweating, soreness and weakness of loin and knees, and bleeding gums. They would have a red tongue with a thin white coating and a weak pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: A deficiency in the yin and blood, would be cured by boosting the yin and nourishing the blood.

Prescription/Formula: Modified decoction of Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill (modified liu wei di huang wan) Prepared rehmannia (shu di huang) 30g, cornus (shan zhu yi) 12g, ginseng (ren shen) 9g, eucommia (du zhong) 15g, moutan bark (mu dan pi) 9g, lycium (gu qi zi) 15g, etc.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: A deficiency in the yin and blood, would be cured by boosting the yin and nourishing the blood.

Prescription: SP. 6 (san yin jiao), SP. 10 (xue hai), BL. 20 (pi shu), LV. 8 (qu quan), etc.

  

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Syndrome (f)
Deficiency of yang-qi

A person with a deficiency of yang-qi has a pale complexion, with an intolerance of cold, cold limbs, listlessness, dizziness and soreness. They would have a pale and swollen tongue with a white coating and a deep and thready pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: A deficiency of yang-qi, would be cured by warming and replenishing yang-qi.

Prescription/Formula: Modified Bolus for Reinforcing the Kidney Yang (modified you gui wan) Prepared Aconite (zhi fu zi) 9g, codonopsis (dang shen) 15g, white atractylodes (bai zhe) 12g, cuscuta (tu si zi) 15g, cooked rehmannia (shu di huang) 15g, tangkuei (dang gui) 12gm dried ginger (gan jiang 6g, Chinese Yam (shan yao) 15g, eucommia (du zhong) 12g, cornus (shan zhu yu) 12gg, lycium (gou qi zi) 15g, cinnamon bark (rou gui) 3g, etc.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: A deficiency of yang-qi, would be cured by warming and replenishing yang-qi.

Prescription/Formula: Moxibustion at Du.4 (ming men), BL. 23 (shen shu), CV 4, guan yuan), KI 3 (tai xi), ST. 36 (zu san li)

  

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5. Healing by Other Therapies

(a) Qigong and other therapies

For effect of Qigong on respiratory system, click here.

Generally speaking, Qigong is good for healing effect of this specific ailment, however individual results may vary. It improves the flow of the qi and the circulation of the blood, so you'll experience more energy, but, you won't see/ feel any immediate effects, as with many exercises and therapies, it takes a few weeks or even months of practice before you'll see any significant improvements.

The following types of Qigong may help:

• Static Qigong:
  Relaxation Qigong
  Inner-Nourishing Qigong
  Relaxing Quiescent Qigong
  Standing Qigong
  
• Dynamic Qigong:
  Baduanjing of Internal Exercise

For the information of different types of Qigong ,just click a link above.
This information is for education purpose only. We strongly advise you seek a licensed Qigong master to learn the correct ways to conduct these exercises before attempting them.

(b) Medicated diet
Depending on your situation, choose below:
1. For those patients who bleed too much: put Sanchi Powder(Sanqifen) 3-5g into water, add some rice water to cook them into gruel. Eat the gruel when it is done.
2. For those suffering from high fever: Honeysuckle Flower (Shuanghua) 30g, Baical Skullcap Root(Huangqin) 15g, Weeping Forsythia Capsule(Lianqiao) 15g, boil for 20 minutes then drink the liquid.
3.For those with swollen liver and spleen: Turtle Shell(Biejia) 15g, Osyter Shell(Muli) 30g, boil for one hour, add some salt to it and drink the soup.

(c) Life style
1. Avoid any contact of radiation.
2. Remain a cheerful mood.
3. Combine Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine treatment.
4. Keep fit so as to reduce the chance of infection and and anemia.
5. Do some appropriate exercises.

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Acknowledgments:
Healthphone.com greatly acknowledges the support and dedication of our
Healing Centre Panel, without whom this section would not be possible.

We also greatly acknowedge Ms. Najaf Munir, MBBS, for her editorial support. Ms. Munir simplified the highly technical medical documents into easy-to-read documents, for the enjoyment and education of our numerous visitors.