Ten Proven Formulas for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Proven Formula 1: Lan Gen Bai Jiang Tang (Isatis and Patrinia Decoction; source: Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 1989, issue 6, p. 377)
Baihuasheshecao (Hedyotidis Herba) 60 g, Xiakucao (Prunellae Spica) 15 g, Shengmuli (Ostre Concha) 30 g, Biejia (Amydae Carapax) 12 g, Banlangen (Isatidis Radix) 21 g, fresh Banzhilian (Scutellariae barbatae Herba) 125 g. One dose daily, decocted in water.
Actions: clear heat and resolve toxin, dissipate nodules and disperse swelling. Indication: chronic myeloid leukemia.
Proven Formula 2: Xianmao Guiban Tang (Curculigo and Tortoise Shell Decoction; source: 80 Cases of TCM Cancer Treatment)
Dangshen (Codonopsis Radix) 15 g, Zhibiejia (processed turtle shell) 9 g, Xianmao (Curculiginis Rhizoma) 12 g, Shengmuli 15 g, Guiban (Testudinis Plastrum) 9 g, Danshen 15 g, Ezhu 12 g, Honghua (Carthami Flos) 9 g, Chishao (Paeoniae Rubra Radix) 9 g, Banzhilian 30 g, Baihuasheshecao 30 g, Shancigu (Crepidiastri Pseudobulbus) 9 g. One dose daily, decocted in water.
Actions: boost qi and nourish yin, activate blood and resolve stasis. Indication: chronic myeloid leukemia.
Proven Formula 3: San Xian Tang (Three Fresh Herbs Decoction; source: Famous Chinese Doctors' Formulas Handed Down: Tumors)
Fresh Shengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix) 60 g, fresh Xiaoji (Cirsii Herba) 25 g, fresh Pugongying (Taraxaci Herba) 25 g. One dose daily, decocted in water.
Actions: nourish yin and clear heat, cool blood and disperse swelling. Indication: chronic myeloid leukemia.
Proven Formula 4: Huayu Xiaozheng Tang (Stasis-Resolving and Mass-Dispersing Decoction; source: Proven Formulas from Famous Physicians)
Tao Ren 10 g, Honghua 10 g, Danggui 15 g, Chishao 10 g, Chuanxiong 12 g, Danshen 20 g, Jixueteng (Spatholobi Caulis) 20 g, Sanleng 12 g, Ezhu 12 g, Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis) 12 g (wrapped in decoction), Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma) 12 g, Yujin (Curcumae Radix) 10 g, Biejia 20 g. One dose daily, decocted twice in water, divided into two doses.
Actions: activate blood and resolve stasis, disperse masses and nodules.
Indication: various myeloproliferative diseases such as chronic myeloid leukemia, polycythemia vera and thrombocythemia. Also various blood-stasis patterns, but not suitable for blood-stasis patterns that are not true myeloproliferative disorders.
Proven Formula 5: Sheng Sheng Dan (Life-Generating Elixir; source: Proven Formulas from Famous Physicians)
Qingdai 4 parts, Tianhuafen (Trichosanthis Radix) 3 parts, Niuhuang (Bovis Calculus) 1 part (artificial bezoar may be used), Luhui (Aloes Resina) 1 part.
Grind all into fine powder, form water-pasted pills; take twice daily, 1.5 g each time.
Actions: clear marrow heat, resolve toxin, open the orifices, drain liver fire. Indication: chronic myeloid leukemia.
Proven Formula 6: Erjia Huangqi Jianzhong Tang (Two-Shell Astragalus Interior-Securing Decoction; source: Secrets of a Thousand Masters' Marvelous Formulas)
Huangqi (Astragali Radix) 24 g, Dangguiwei (Angelicae tail) 6 g, Dangshen 15 g, Sumu (Sappan Lignum) 6 g, raw Guiban, raw Biejia and Shijueming (Haliotidis Concha), each 15 g (the above three decocted first together); Digupi (Lycii Cortex) 9 g, Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex) 6 g, Gandihuang (Rehmanniae Radix) 12 g, Ejiao (Asini Corii Colla, dissolved separately) 12 g. One dose daily, decocted in water, morning and evening. Indication: chronic myeloid leukemia.
Actions: boost qi and nourish blood, unblock collaterals and disperse stasis.
Proven Formula 7: Qinghua Tang (Heat-Clearing and Phlegm-Transforming Decoction; source: Secrets of a Thousand Masters' Marvelous Formulas)
Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Huangqin and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), each 9 g; Huanglian, Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), Chuanbeimu (Fritillariae cirrhosae Bulbus) and Juhong (Citri Exocarpium rubrum), each 6 g; Houpo 8 g.
Actions: clear heat and drain fire, transform phlegm and disperse nodules. Indication: acute blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia.
Proven Formula 7 (again): Maozhuo Kushen Formula (source: Zhang Zhinan's formula, Capital Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences)
Maozhuacao (Thalictri Herba) 15 g, Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix) 15 g, Huangqin 15 g, Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) 15 g, Xionghuang (Realgar) 15 g, Danggui 15 g, Hezirou (Chebulae Fructus) 15 g, Qingdai powder 15 g, Tubiechong (Eupolyphaga) 7.5 g, Shuizhi (Hirudo) 7.5 g.
Actions: clear heat and resolve toxin.
Method: grind the herbs into powder and make sugar-coated tablets each containing 0.25 g of main herb; treatment dose 5-7.5 g daily, maintenance dose 2.5-5 g daily, divided into 3-4 oral doses. First use Myleran (busulfan) to lower white blood cells to 10,000-20,000, then switch to this formula; or after white cells normalize, observe until they stay above 20,000 and then use this formula, alternating long-term.
Zhang Zhinan used this formula alternating with Myleran to treat 30 cases of chronic myeloid leukemia, compared with 28 cases treated with Myleran alone. Median survival was 61 months in the formula group versus 40 months in the control group, a significant difference.
Proven Formula 8: Long Kui Yiyiren Tang (Solanum and Coix Decoction; source: Deng Chengshan's formula, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences)
Longkui (Solanum nigrum Herba) 30 g, Sheng Yiyiren (Coicis Semen) 30 g, Huangyaozi (Dioscoreae bulbiferae Rhizoma) 15 g, Wumei (Mume Fructus) 12 g, Baihuasheshecao 30 g, Sheng Gancao 5 g.
Actions: clear heat and resolve toxin.
Method: decoct in water and take, using it to wash down Qinghuang tablets (made from Qingdai and Xionghuang in a 7:3 ratio) or Dashen Wan, or Danggui Longhui Wan or Niuhuang Jiedu tablets. For qi and blood dual deficiency, add Danggui Buxue Tang; for yin deficiency with internal heat, add Qinghao Biejia Tang; for spleen-stomach disharmony, add Xiangsha Zhushi Tang; for body and bone pain, add Danshen, Yuanhu (Corydalis Rhizoma) and Xiangfu; for lung heat with phlegm cough, add Jinyinhua, Huangqin and Baibu (Stemonae Radix); for hematochezia, add Shengdiyu (Sanguisorbae Radix) and Oujie (Nelumbinis Nodus rhizomatis); for hematuria, add Baimaogen (Imperatae Rhizoma) and Xiaoji; for nausea and vomiting, add Zhuru and Chenpi and Banxia.
Deng Chengshan used this formula to treat 14 cases of blast crisis in chronic myeloid leukemia: 3 complete remissions, 5 partial remissions (effective rate 57.16%), 6 no remission; 3 survived over one year.
Proven Formula 9: Qingdai Biejia Tang (Indigo and Turtle Shell Decoction; source: Liu Xiuwen, Anyang Regional Hospital, Henan)
Biejia 62 g, Guiban 31 g, Qingdai 62 g, Jinyinhua 15 g, Shengmuli 31 g, Taizishen (Pseudostellariae Radix) 31 g, Shengdihuang 32 g, Jineijin (Gigeriae galli Endothelium Corneum) 13 g, Shanyao 31 g, Digupi 31 g, Danggui 15 g, Chishao 12 g, Honghua 9 g, Paoshanjia (processed Pangolin scales, 15 g; pangolin is now banned and water-safflower seed is suggested as a substitute), Mudanpi 12 g, Gancao 3 g, Muxiang 9 g.
Actions: break accumulation and disperse stasis, cool blood and resolve toxin.
Method: grind the herbs into powder and mix with refined honey to make 9 g pills; take 4-6 pills daily. For qi and yin dual deficiency, add Huangqi, Dangshen, Shengdihuang, Shudihuang (processed Rehmannia), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus), Buguzhi (Psoraleae Fructus), Maidong, Ejiao, Shengmuli and Lujiaojiao (Cervi Cornus Colla).
Liu Xiuwen used this formula combined with Myleran (6 mg daily in three divided oral doses) to treat 36 cases of chronic myeloid leukemia: after treatment, 3 survived over 10 years, 8 for 6-9 years, 14 for 5-6 years, 9 for 3-5 years, and 2 under 3 years.
Proven Formula 10: Xionghuang Capsules (source: Shaanxi Medical Journal, 2002, issue 31, pp. 152-153)
Realgar made into oral capsules; take 3.0-3.75 g of realgar daily in divided oral doses, to treat chronic myeloid leukemia.
It should be noted that some of the above ten formulas contain highly toxic herbs, such as realgar; they must be used under the guidance of a professional physician, and if adverse reactions appear, the attending physician should be contacted promptly.