Insights and Updates

Quercetin, a natural flavonoid compound, has drawn much attention in anti-tumor research in recent years. Some in vitro and animal experiments show that quercetin has broad-spectrum, multi-target anti-tumor effects, inhibiting the proliferation of many tumor cells including esophageal, gastric, liver, pancreatic, colorectal, colon, lung, breast,…

The Zhu-Selected Medical Cases of Shi Jinmo includes a case in which Shi Jinmo treated a 9-year-old boy for acute nephritis. At presentation the child had facial edema from acute kidney inflammation, back pain so severe he could not turn over, oliguria, and dark-red urine.

In the main hall of the National Library reading room hangs a pale blue poster; its title is the line from the Analects, "Reading is like farming; diligent tillage brings an abundant harvest." I like this poster—it is clean and elegant, without a speck of…

Jaundice is a clinical sign characterized by yellow staining of the sclera, skin and mucous membranes, body fluids, and other human tissues, caused by elevated serum bilirubin. In some patients the jaundice is not visible to the naked eye, but serum tests show bilirubin above…

I have previously written two articles specifically on treating hepatic ascites: one is "Rapidly Removing Ascites May Trigger More Serious Hepatorenal Syndrome," and the other is "Qualitative and Quantitative Issues in Treating Ascites." In both articles I stressed that ascites treatment must not be rushed,…

Dangyao is an uncommon Chinese herbal medicine, the dried whole herb of Swertia tosaensis (Gentianaceae). Because it bears purple flowers, it is also called Zihuadi dang. Dangyao was originally a folk herb used by Mongolians, who call it digeda; in Mongolian "digeda" means bitter—a name…

I often talk with people about the causes of disease, and more often than not they end up attributing whatever illness they have to emotional factors, as if the patient would not have got the disease if only their mood had been better. This way…

Hypochondriac pain refers to pain in one or both sides of the rib cage, mostly a clinical symptom caused by hepatobiliary disease. In addition, lesions of the pleura, lungs, chest muscles, trauma, ribs, and intercostal nerves can also cause hypochondriac pain. Cancers that have metastasized…

With advances in medicine, the medical community's understanding of ascites (peritoneal effusion) has become clearer, and the approach to treating it more precise. Clinicians who frequently see ascites patients in practice should master some "qualitative" and "quantitative" knowledge closely related to ascites, so as to…

Kaidao San (Way-Opening Powder) is an empirical TCM formula for treating esophageal obstruction caused by esophageal cancer. Its composition is: Pengsha (Borax, 硼砂) 60 g, Huoxiao (Nitre, 火硝) 30 g, Naosha (Sal Ammoniac, 硇砂) 6 g, Chenxiang (Aquilariae Lignum, 沉香) 9 g, Bingpian (Borneolum, 冰片)…