Duan Fengwu's Experience in Treating Non-Healing Cancer Ulcers
This article is excerpted from a paper by Zhao Tianyong, a disciple of Duan Fengwu; copyright belongs to the original author.
Duan Fengwu was the nephew (and adopted son, since Duan Futing had no sons) of Duan Futing, the towering figure of Chinese TCM external medicine. In today's China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Duan Futing was the true founder of TCM external medicine. The Northern School system for treating cancer was developed by Duan Futing's disciples Yu Guiqing, Duan Fengwu and others.
Localized, cauliflower-like ulceration on a tumor patient's body surface is generally what Western medicine calls phlebitis or necrosis from acute soft-tissue inflammation. Duan Fengwu held that such diseases are usually caused by external toxin and treated with combined internal and external therapy. Internal treatment mainly clears heat and detoxifies, nourishes yin and generates fluids. If the spleen and stomach function well, Wuwei Xiaodu Yin (Five-Ingredient Toxin-Disinhibiting Drink) is often modified; if they are damaged, spleen-strengthening and stomach-harmonizing herbs are augmented with heat-clearing, detoxifying ingredients. External treatment varies by case: Huang Er Jian (Two-Yellow Decoction), Guiban San (Tortoise-Shell Powder), or Shengji Yuhong Gao (Muscle-Generating Jade-Red Plaster).
For example, a patient surnamed Guo had a soft-tissue sarcoma on the left neck. During outpatient chemotherapy at a hospital, the drug leaked out of the vein, and his left forearm became red, swollen and painful. Master Duan was consulted; by then the local area had turned purple. He applied a strong decoction of Huang Er Jian (Huangbai, Cortex Phellodendri 30 g; Huanglian, Rhizoma Coptidis 15 g) as a wet dressing, and the lesion healed in a week.
For chemotherapy-induced phlebitis, Master Duan often added Honghua (Flos Carthami, safflower) 10 g to Huang Er Jian to invigorate blood and help the inflammation absorb. One woman, after radical surgery for right breast cancer with left axillary lymph-node metastasis, received radiotherapy at a hospital in spring 1981; the local area ulcerated and oozed, burning intolerably, though her appetite was fair. Judging that her spleen and stomach were still strong, Master Duan prescribed: Yejuhua (Flos Chrysanthemi Indici) 12 g; Lianqiao (Fructus Forsythiae) 12 g; Jinyinhua (Flos Lonicerae) 10 g; Pugongying (Herba Taraxaci) 15 g; Zihu Diding (Herba Violae) 10 g; Zibei Tiankui (Radix Semiaquilegiae) 10 g; Shengdi (raw Rehmannia) 10 g; Shihu (Caulis Dendrobii) 12 g; Sheng Gancao 6 g; Chenpi 6 g. One decoction daily for five doses. Externally, Zhigui Ban (prepared tortoise shell) 60 g was ground to powder and sprinkled on the wound; the ulcer healed in a week. Tortoise shell, a "血肉有情" substance, both nourishes yin and clears heat and astringes and generates muscle; it is excellent for weeping radiation dermatitis. If weeping is profuse, first wet-dress with Huang Er Jian, then apply Guiban San once weeping lessens.
Shengji Yuhong Gao is mainly used for wounds that will not heal. Master Duan treated a woman who had right breast radical surgery in 1982 and left breast surgery in 1985; because of weak constitution and qi-blood deficiency, the wounds would not close, with pale granulation. Internal and external treatment were combined. Internally, an qi-tonifying, blood-nourishing formula: Sheng Huangqi 30 g; Dangshen 15 g; Sheng Di and Shu Di (raw and prepared Rehmannia) each 10 g; Danggui (Angelica sinensis) 10 g; Baishao (Paeonia lactiflora) 10 g; Nüzhenzi (Ligustrum) 15 g; Gouqizi (Lycium) 15 g; Jixueteng (Spatholobus) 15 g; Jiegeng (Platycodon) 6 g; Pugongying 15 g; Chenpi 6 g; Sheng Gancao 6 g—fourteen doses. Externally, Babao Zhenzhu San plus Jinhuang Gao were applied. Two weeks later the granulation was fresher and the wound slightly smaller. Internally, Pugongying was removed and Sharen (Amomum) 6 g added; externally, Shengji Yuhong Gao was used. Ten days later the wound healed.