Compound Fangjingteng Granules: Supplementing Qi and Blood, Fortifying the Spleen and Nourishing the Heart, Raising White Cells and Stopping Bleeding
Compound Fangjingteng Heji is a modern Chinese patent medicine formula included in the 2005 edition of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, Part I. It is composed of Fangjingteng (Euonymus fortunei), Huangqi (Astragalus), and Hongshen (red Ginseng); several manufacturers produce the patent medicine, which patients can buy and take directly.
Compound Fangjingteng Heji is a commonly used adjunct for cancer patients during radiotherapy and chemotherapy. It effectively raises patients' white blood cells and has a certain therapeutic effect on radiotherapy-induced leukopenia. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, this formula has the actions of boosting qi and nourishing blood, and fortifying the spleen and nourishing the heart. It is indicated for qi-blood insufficiency with dual deficiency of the heart and spleen, presenting as shortness of breath and chest oppression, low voice and reluctance to speak, mental fatigue and lack of strength, spontaneous sweating, palpitations and forgetfulness, insomnia and dream-disturbed sleep, sallow complexion, poor appetite, epigastric and abdominal distension, loose and soft stools, a pale enlarged tongue with teeth marks, and a thin weak pulse; it is also used for neurasthenia and leukopenia.
It is not suitable for children under one year old, nor for patients with colds and fever. Robust individuals taking this formula may develop ginseng-abuse syndrome, with symptoms such as restlessness and constipation, so it should be used cautiously by those who are robust.
The Fangjingteng in this formula is an uncommon Chinese medicine: it is the leafy stem and branch of Euonymus fortunei, a plant of the staff-vine family (Celastraceae). It first appeared in Bencao Shiyi (Supplementary Records of Famous Physicians), where it was named “Pangteng.” In many regions of China there remains a folk tradition of using Fangjingteng to treat lower back and leg pain.
Fangjingteng has the actions of moving qi and invigorating blood, stopping bleeding and dissipating stasis, and draining dampness and stopping diarrhea. It is indicated for soreness and pain of the lower back and knees, wind-damp bi pain, hemoptysis, hematemesis, metrorrhagia, irregular menstruation, uterine prolapse, edema, chronic diarrhea, traumatic injuries and fractures, and bleeding from wounds. Modern pharmacological research shows that Fangjingteng has an anticoagulant effect, improves myocardial hypoxia to a certain degree, and also enhances immunity in experimental animals. Unlike ordinary anticoagulants, Fangjingteng can stop bleeding while anticoagulating, and can improve the bleeding symptoms of patients with thrombocytopenia.
Hongshen is the processed product of Ginseng; it is sweet in taste and warm in nature, greatly supplements qi and blood, and can increase white blood cells, hemoglobin, and red blood cells in the blood. Red Ginseng alone can treat debility after massive hemorrhage. But TCM often says, “The tangible blood cannot be engendered quickly, while the intangible qi must urgently be secured”; so although Ginseng greatly supplements qi and blood, it is difficult to rapidly improve the symptoms of blood-loss patients, and should be assisted by qi-supplementing Huangqi. Modern pharmacological research shows that Huangqi can rapidly raise hemoglobin—the component of blood that carries oxygen—so Huangqi does indeed improve patients' “qi deficiency” symptoms.
Taken together, the combination of these three herbs can bring some improvement to the series of anemic symptoms in cancer patients after chemoradiotherapy caused by low platelets, white blood cells, red blood cells, and hemoglobin. However, patients with cancer fever should choose this formula under a doctor's guidance; it is generally not recommended for febrile patients.