Duan Fengwu's Dietary-Therapy Formula for Abdominal Masses: Eggs Soaked in Sanleng, Ezhu, Danshen, and Zaoci

Duan Fengwu had a dietary-therapy formula specifically for treating abdominal jiju (pelvic or abdominal tumors). Its composition is: burreed tuber (Sanleng) 90 g, zedoary (Ezhu) 90 g, Salvia (Danshen) 120 g, Chinese-honey-locust spine (Zaojiaoci) 120 g, and rice vinegar 80 ml. Add an appropriate amount of water to these five ingredients and boil down to a concentrated decoction; soak 7 eggs in the decoction (the liquid should just cover the eggs) and let them steep for 7 days continuously (until the shells soften). When serving, gently lift the eggs out with a large spoon and steam them until cooked. Eat one egg each time, once daily; severe cases may take it twice a day.

Duan Fengwu's empirical formula is indicated for abdominal jiju—that is, tumors in the pelvic or abdominal region. Sanleng and Ezhu are both commonly used TCM herbs for treating various benign and malignant tumors; Danshen activates blood and resolves stasis; Zaojiaoci reduces swelling, expels toxicity, and drains pus, and is a common herb in TCM external medicine. Together, these herbs form a formula whose main action is to invigorate blood and reduce swelling. After the herbs are decocted and the eggs soaked until the shells soften, the medicinal liquid has already penetrated into the eggs.

Soaking eggs in the medicinal decoction and then steaming and eating them is a method of taking medicine that suits patients who cannot tolerate Chinese herbs; it is also easier to persist with long term, and does far less harm to the spleen and stomach than taking the decoction directly.