A Medical Case: Chen Boqin Treating "Beng Lou" (Metrorrhagia; Uterine Fibroids)
Old TCM physician Chen Boqin once served as vice president and chief TCM physician of the Yulin Prefecture TCM Hospital in Guangxi. He had been engaged in TCM clinical work for more than 60 years and cured many complex and difficult diseases.
In the spring of 1979, Chen Boqin treated a 28-year-old patient with "beng lou" (metrorrhagia and metrostaxis). The patient had persistent vaginal bleeding for more than three months; the blood was dark and dull with clots, accompanied by lower abdominal pain that refused pressure. The patient had visited a Western hospital, which diagnosed "uterine fibroids" and recommended surgical removal. Because she was young and worried about her fertility being affected, she refused surgery and turned to TCM for treatment.
Old Doctor Chen found the patient's pulse deep and rough, tongue dark red with thin yellow coating. Syndrome differentiation determined that this was beng lou caused by static blood congealing internally, obstructing the channels, and blood failing to flow in its proper pathways. He planned treatment with the method of dispelling stasis and stopping bleeding, clearing heat and regulating menstruation, and self-formulated Guanzhong San to treat her.
Initial prescription: Guanzhong Tan (charred Cyrtomii Rhizoma) 9 g; Qiangen Tan (charred Rubiae Radix) 9 g; Jingjiesui Tan (charred Schizonepetae Spica) 9 g; Diyu Tan (charred Sanguisorbae Radix) 9 g; Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 6 g; Chishao (Paeoniae Rubra Radix) 12 g; Shudi Tan (charred Rehmanniae Praeparata) 15 g; Bailian (Ampelopsis Radix) 9 g; Qingtiankui (Tropaeoli Herba) 12 g; Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix) 6 g. One dose daily, decocted in water and taken in two divided doses.
After taking more than 40 doses, the beng lou stopped and menstruation returned to normal. She was further treated for more than a month with a modified Xiaoyao San that strengthened the spleen and nourished blood, and was fully cured. Follow-up until May 1980 showed the uterine fibroids had disappeared on re-examination, beng lou had not recurred, and she had given birth to a boy.
Uterine fibroids are benign tumors formed by proliferation of uterine smooth muscle tissue, a common gynecological disease; some patients develop anemia due to heavy bleeding. This disease affects patients' normal life and brings considerable psychological pressure. But Western medicine often has no good treatment, and can only operate on severe cases; surgery has various complications and brings many future troubles. TCM treatment also does not easily achieve good results, but Old Doctor Chen Boqin treated patients with his self-formulated Guanzhong San, which often worked; his treatment approach is worth learning from.
In this formula, Guanzhong, Qiancao Gen, Jingjiesui, Diyu, and Shudi are all used charred (tan), because charring gives a better hemostatic effect; Guanzhong also clears heat and disperses stasis; Qiancao and Diyu are both blood-cooling hemostatic herbs; Jingjiesui resolves stasis and stops bleeding; Shudi Tan tonifies blood and stops bleeding; Danggui and Chishao invigorate blood and stop bleeding; Bailian disperses nodules and resolves toxin, drains fire and generates flesh; Qingtiankui clears heat and cools blood. Such composition can both dispel stasis and stop bleeding, and disperse nodules and reduce swelling. With long-term adherence, the uterine fibroids will naturally dissipate, and beng lou will stop along with them. After beng lou stops, modified Xiaoyao San is used to nourish blood and regulate menstruation, consolidating the effect; this can cut off the root of the disease and prevent recurrence.
If a patient cannot tolerate long-term decoction, they can also follow the prescribing logic of this formula and make their own pills to take.