We have previously discussed the substances necessary for maintaining physical health, which include not only what needs to be supplemented but also what should not be lost, and at the same time, nothing extra should be added.
For example, the growth of nodules inside the body is an extra addition that affects health and is something the body does not need.
But in reality, patients with nodules or tumors inside their bodies can be seen almost every day in hospital outpatient clinics.
This nodule or tumor is referred to as "zheng jia ji ju" in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Why are there so many people, how should we face and solve this problem, today with the help of a classic Chinese patent medicineFive Sea Goiter PillLet's explore this issue together.
01. The pathogenesis of qi stagnation leading to phlegm and tumor formation
Nodules and tumors both fall under the category of abdominal masses and accumulations in traditional Chinese medicine.
The pathogenesis and evolution of its occurrence mainly follow the process below
The origin of tumors is the stagnation of qi movement. When the flow of qi in the body becomes obstructed, qi stagnation occurs. Qi is the commander of blood; if qi does not flow smoothly, blood circulation is impeded, leading to blood stasis. Additionally, the obstruction of qi movement also disrupts the ascending and descending functions of the spleen and stomach. When the spleen fails to transport and transform properly, its ability to metabolize fluids diminishes, resulting in the internal generation of dampness. This dampness accumulates and forms phlegm, which can transform into heat.
Qi and blood circulate in the meridians, and where phlegm accumulates is also where blood stasis occurs.
In an environment where qi is not smooth, blood does not flow, and water does not circulate, phlegm coagulation and blood stasis come together, and under the influence of stagnant heat, they combine to form masses, resulting in nodules or tumors.
This is the traditional Chinese medicine pathogenesis of nodule and tumor formation.
These lumps often grow in areas where qi circulation is abundant and yin blood is rich, such as glandular tissues or the liver (the house of blood) in Western medicine.
Common ones include the thyroid, breasts, liver, and the uterus in women, all of which belong to the liver meridian in traditional Chinese medicine theory.
The liver is the blood reservoir and the central hub of qi circulation in the human body, making it more prone to the formation of phlegm and blood stasis compared to other meridians. Consequently, these areas are more susceptible to the development of masses in clinical practice. Additionally, regions where dampness and phlegm tend to accumulate are also common sites for nodules and tumors, such as the lungs (which explains why many people nowadays develop lung nodules).
This stagnation of qi movement leads to the internal generation of dampness, which in turn affects the circulation of qi, forming a vicious cycle of qi stagnation, phlegm coagulation, blood stasis, and the mutual binding of phlegm and blood, which is precisely the pathological basis for tumor formation.
02. Treatment
For the treatment of nodules and masses, based on the pathogenesis of their formation, it is necessary to "break qi, resolve phlegm, disperse masses, and unblock collaterals" to resolve them. The Chinese patent medicine Wuhai Yingliu Wan precisely targets the pathogenesis of "qi stagnation and phlegm coagulation." Through the therapeutic methods of "breaking qi, resolving phlegm, softening hardness, and dispersing masses," it provides a thorough "deep cleaning" for the body.
Five Sea Goiter Pill
Wuhai Yingliu Wan, originating from "Surgery Orthodoxy", can be inferred from the two characters "Yingliu" in its name that it is a prescription specifically designed for nodular tumors.
The "Five Seas" refer to the five types of marine medicinal materials that form the main components of the prescription.
Now let's unveil its effects one by one.
Composition:Kelp, Seaweed, Kelp, Cuttlebone, Clam Shell, Prunella Vulgaris, Angelica Dahurica, Ligusticum Chuanxiong, Aucklandia, Calcined Conch
Fang Jie
1. Liver Qi Stagnation is the Root Cause – Break Qi, Resolve Phlegm
Thyroid tumor, thyroid nodules, breast hyperplasia, breast nodules, and lymph node enlargement or lipomas distributed along the liver meridian all point to the same root cause—liver qi stagnation. Therefore, in the treatment of nodules or tumors, soothing the liver is the key focus.
The liver's function of regulating and dispersing is the main manifestation of the circulation of qi.
Chuanxiong and Baizhi:It is a commonly used medicinal pair in clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine. Chuanxiong has a pungent taste and warm nature, primarily entering the liver and gallbladder meridians. It has the effects of promoting blood circulation, moving qi, dispelling wind, and relieving pain. Baizhi has a pungent taste and warm nature, primarily entering the lung and stomach meridians, with the effects of dispelling wind and relieving pain. The combination of these two herbs can promote blood circulation, move qi, dispel wind, and relieve pain. Clinically, it is often used for blockage syndromes caused by qi and blood stagnation, such as vascular headaches.
But used here, it is mainly to promote the flow of qi and blood, to mobilize qi and blood, and to break the chain of qi stagnation and blood stasis leading to phlegm-blood intermingling and the formation of nodules.
Prunella vulgaris:Bitter and pungent in taste, cold in nature, enters the liver and gallbladder meridians, primarily used to clear liver heat and disperse nodules. Historically, it has been commonly used by physicians for the treatment of masses such as scrofula, goiter, breast abscess, and breast cancer, with confirmed effectiveness.
Costus Root:Taste pungent and bitter, nature warm, acts on the Liver Meridian. Its pungent and aromatic properties promote circulation, regulate the middle, and can both ascend and descend. Used for syndromes of middle-jiao qi stagnation, it regulates spleen and stomach qi stagnation, enabling them to ascend the clear and descend the turbid, complementing each other. It is an excellent product for promoting qi and regulating the middle.
Additionally, it has the effect of eliminating masses and resolving concretions. The "Treatise on Medicinal Substances" states: "Muxiang eliminates abdominal masses and concretions, as well as distension and swelling. It is used to promote qi circulation and resolve concretions."
2. Phlegm and Blood Stasis Intertwined – Soften Hardness, Resolve Phlegm, Disperse Nodules
Five Sea Medicinal Materials:Kelp, seaweed, cuttlebone, clam shell, and kelp are all marine medicinal materials, and they all have a salty taste. Salty taste can soften hardness. In daily life, if you want to remove weeds from the ground, you must first loosen the soil, and then it will be easier to pull them out.
Similarly, in traditional Chinese medicine theory, nodules or tumors within the body exhibit a texture that is harder than normal tissue. To eliminate them, they must first be softened, then gradually dissolved by enhancing blood circulation and promoting qi flow. This process integrates them into the normal qi and blood circulation system, ultimately expelling them from the body, achieving the therapeutic goal of breaking down the whole into parts.
Additionally, these medicines share a common effect—resolving phlegm.
Phlegm is the root cause of nodules and tumors. When it combines with blood stasis, it enters a state of adhesion and gradually degenerates, forming a new entity of phlegm and blood stasis. This is why Western medicine pathology finds that tumor cells differ from normal cells.
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, tumor cells are the product of old phlegm and stagnant blood retained in the body. Therefore, in the treatment of nodules, resolving phlegm is the key focus—first, to prevent the generation of new phlegm, and second, to dissolve old phlegm and eliminate accumulations. The combination of these herbs achieves the effects of softening hardness, breaking up phlegm, and resolving stasis.
Conch:It is also a marine medicinal material, known for clearing heat and improving vision, resolving phlegm and softening hardness, and assisting in dispersing phlegm and resolving masses. Its primary function is clearing heat, which can eliminate heat caused by the combination of phlegm and stasis, altering the environment that fosters the growth of new formations resulting from their combination, thereby achieving an indirect tumor-reducing effect.
03. Conclusion
Nodules and tumors are pathological products created by one's own body, with qi being the root of nodules and phlegm being the source of tumors.
In daily life, we should pay attention to regulating our emotions and maintain an optimistic and positive mindset.
Maintain a regular daily routine with normal sleep patterns and a balanced diet. Avoid excessive consumption of fish and meat, as fish can generate internal heat and meat can produce phlegm. Over time, this may inadvertently create conditions for the formation of nodules and tumors.
When you are suffering from nodules or tumors, you might as well try Wuhai Yingliu Wan.
