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Esophagus Cancer

1. Overview and Causes
2. Symptoms
3. TCM Effectiveness and Evaluation
4. Common Syndromes and Treatments in TCM
  a. Stagnation of Phlegm and Qi
   b. Phlegm Accumulation and Stagnancy
  c. Weakness due to long-time sickness
5. Healing by Other Therapies
  a. Qigong and other
  b. Medicated diet
  c. Life style
6. Psychological Adaptation


1. Overview and Causes

Esophagus cancer is a malignant tumour in the esophagus. It is frequently caused by smoking or chewing tobacco, or the excessive consumption of alcohol. There is also a small increased risk in those suffering from hiatus hernia, chonic heartburn, peptic ulcers or other acid diseases. It is more frequent in men than women and has a high incidence in parts of the Far East, especially in China. In the past few years, according to the statistics by the World Health Organization, over 200,000 people in the world died of esophagus cancer every year. Among the newly-occurred 310,040 cases, China has 167,200 cases, making up half of the world's total cases.

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2. Symptoms

1. Difficulty in swallowing, and some discomfort or burning sensation which may resemble heartburn.
2. Bleeding in the form of dark blood.
5. Weakness and Fatigue.
6. Loss of appetite or weight loss.

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3. TCM Effectiveness and Evaluation

TCM plays a big role in the prevention of Esophagus Cancer. If the disease is diagnosed at the earlier stage and treated with Chinese herbs after surgery, the success rate is great. However, if the disease reaches an advanced stage, TCM therapy can only bebused with conservative treatment to prolong life and increase life quality.

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4. Common Syndromes and Treatments in TCM

This ailment, according to TCM, has different syndromes. The treatment for these syndromes using herbal medicine and acupuncture is shown below.

Syndrome (a)
Stagnation of Phlegm and Qi

This type is mostly seen at the earlier stage. Difficulty in swallowing, stuffiness and fullness, or slight pain in the chest, sometimes food regurgitating from stomach, vomiting phlegm, belching and hiccupping, dry mouth and throat, weight loss, red tongue with thin and greasy or yellow coating, deep and thready pulse, or taut and thready pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Regulating Qi and reducing hiccup, clearing away phlegm.

Prescription/Formula: Inula Flower(Xuan Fu Hua), Hematite(Dai Zhe Shi), Pinellia Tuber(Ban Xia), Arsaema with Bile(Dan Nan Xing), Gardend Balsam Seed(Ji Xing Zi), Turmeric Root Tuber(Yu Jin), Green Tangerine Peel(Qing Chen Pi), Officinal Magnolia Bark(Hou Po), Ginseng(Ren Shen),Liquorice Root(Gan Cao), and Chinese Date(Da Zao).

 

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Invigorating qi and enriching the blood to alleviate pain, and anti-cancer.

Prescription/Formula: Juque (RN14), Tiantu (RN22), Huagai (RN20), Yutang, Shangwan (RN13), Zhongwan (RN12), Zusanli (ST 36).


 

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Syndrome (b)
Phlegm Accumulation and Stagnancy
This type is mostly seen at the middle age. Difficulty in swallowing, even when dringking water, pain in the chest, vomiting sticky phlegm, hard stools, , weight loss, dry skin, red tongue with green-purple, thready pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Clearing away phlegm , promoting blood circulation and dispersing accumulation.

Prescription/Formula: Red Sage Root (Dan Shen), Turmeric Root Tuber(Yu Jin), Tendrilleaf Fritillary Bulb(Chuan Bei Mu), Villous Amomum Fruit(Sha Ren), Coastal Glehnia(Sha Shen), Indian Bread(Fu Ling).

 

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Invigorating qi and enriching the blood to alleviate pain, and anti-cancer.

Prescription/Formula: Juque (RN14), Tiantu (RN22), Huagai (RN20), Yutang, Shangwan (RN13), Zhongwan (RN12), Zusanli (ST 36).

 

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Syndrome (c)
Weakness due to long-time sickness

This is commonly seen in the patient at the advanced stage, The patient looks pale, thin and weak, dry skin, difficult to swallow food or drink water, pain in the chest and back, coarse voice, bleeding in large quantity or continuously, red tongue with uncoated and smooth tongue fur, thready and weak pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Restoring Qi and Invigorating vital qi, clearing the phlegm and removing blood stasis.

Prescription/Formula: Tangshen(Dang Shen), Aastragalus Root ( Huang Qi ), Chinese Angelica Root (Dang Gui), Red Peony Root(Shi Shao), Rehmannia Root(Sheng Di), Snakegourd Root(Tian Hua Fen), Dendrobium(Shi Hu), Peach Seed(Tao Ren), Oyster Shell(Mu Li), Common Curcuigo Rhizome(Xia Ku Cao).

 

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Invigorating qi and enriching the blood to alleviate pain, and anti-cancer.

Prescription/Formula: Juque (RN14), Tiantu (RN22), Huagai (RN20), Yutang, Shangwan (RN13), Zhongwan (RN12), Zusanli (ST 36).

 

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5. Healing by Other Therapies

(a) Qigong and other therapies

 

For effect of Qigong on the Nervous System Function, 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:

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
1. Choose some easy-to-swallow food, such as milk, cake, fresh fruit, vegetable.
2. Take the food with rich zinc content, such as apple, orange, ginger juice, turnip, chicken, and fish.


(c) Life style
1. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
2. Reduce stress through relaxation, Qi-gong or Tai-ji.
3. Give up smoking and alcohol.
4. Join a support group for people with cancer and their families. Emotional support seems to aid in recovery.

6. Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness
One encounters different health problems in the course of one's life. Some problems are acute yet minor and often improve by themselves or yield to simple self-management. Severe and acute conditions often necessitate the help of health professionals who may provide fast relief with specific interventions. However, when the condition is chronic, the management required is quite different.

Please click the following button to learn "Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness".

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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.