Ruhe Sanjie Tablets for Breast Nodules
Ruhe Sanjie Pian is a modern Chinese patent medicine listed in the national medical-insurance formulary. Its ingredients are: Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Huangqi (Astragalus), Yujin (Curcumae Radix), Guangcigu (Cremastrae/Pleione Pseudobulbus), Lulu (Rhapontici seu Echinopsis Radix), Kunbu (Eckloniae/Thallus), Haizao (Sargassum), Yinyanghuo (Epimedii Herba), and Luxiancao (Pyrolae Herba). Ruhe Sanjie Tablets are sugar-coated or film-coated tablets; after removal of the coating the medicine inside is tan, sour, slightly acrid and astringent.
Ruhe Sanjie Tablets soothe the liver and dissipate nodules, and regulate the Chong and Ren vessels. They are indicated for rupi due to disharmony of the Chong and Ren vessels and qi stagnation with phlegm congelation, presenting with one or more breast nodules of varying size and shape, premenstrual breast distending pain or lower back soreness and fatigue, and scanty, pale menses. It is now commonly used to treat mammary hyperplasia and breast fibroadenoma, and may also be used as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer.
In this product, Chaihu and Yujin soothe the liver and resolve depression; Danggui and Huangqi tonify and supplement qi and blood; Guangcigu and Lulu clear heat and resolve toxin, and reduce swelling and dissipate nodules; Kunbu and Haizao soften hard masses and dissipate nodules; Yinyanghuo warms and supplements kidney yang and regulates sex hormones; Luxiancao unblocks the vessels and stops pain. Combined, these herbs both regulate the Chong and Ren and soothe the liver to resolve depression and dissipate nodules, so they can treat breast nodules.
Ruhe Sanjie Tablets have some inhibitory effect on breast cancer, but their anti-cancer action is generally weak; they may serve as adjuvant therapy but should not be the main treatment for breast cancer. When treating breast cancer, they should be combined according to the patient's specific condition with Xihuang Wan, Xiaojin Wan, Fufang Banmao Capsule, Fufang Hongdoushan Capsule, Erzhi Wan, and similar medicines, and integrated Chinese-Western comprehensive therapy should be pursued as far as possible.
Guangcigu in this product has anti-tumor activity but is hepatotoxic; patients with hepatic or renal insufficiency should use this product cautiously. In addition, Kunbu and Haizao are high in iodine, so patients with hyperthyroidism or iodine allergy should also use this product cautiously.