Three Chinese Patent Medicines That Relieve Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
When cancer patients undergo chemotherapy, the side effects of nausea and vomiting often occur. There are three Chinese patent medicines with fairly good efficacy against this side effect, offered here for readers' reference.
The first is Erchen Wan (Two-Aged Pill). Erchen Wan comes from the Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang (Prescriptions from the Taiping Imperial Grace Pharmacy) compiled by Chen Shiwen of the Song dynasty; it evolved from the Wendan Tang (Warming the Gallbladder Decoction) in Sun Simiao's Qianjin Fang of the Tang dynasty. The formula consists of four herbs: Banxia (Pinellia), Juhong (tangerine red), Fulin (Poria), and Gancao (Licorice).
Erchen Wan is called "two-aged" because its two main herbs, Banxia and Juhong, become less toxic and more effective the longer they are stored.
Erchen Wan is a principal TCM formula for phlegm-dampness. The Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang records that Erchen Wan "maintains afflictions caused by phlegm-rheum, whether vomiting and nausea, or dizziness and palpitations, or discomfort in the epigastrium, or episodes of chills and fever, or spleen-stomach disharmony from eating raw and cold food."
Modern TCM generally holds that Erchen Wan dries dampness and resolves phlegm, moves qi and harmonizes the stomach. It is mainly used for cough with abundant phlegm caused by stagnation of phlegm-dampness, chest and epigastric fullness and oppression, nausea, and vomiting.
This medicine can be bought in most pharmacies; if the patent medicine is unavailable, one can also buy the herbs by the formula from a TCM pharmacy and brew the decoction at home. The Erchen Tang formula is: Fabanxia (processed Pinellia) 10 g, Juhong (tangerine red, or Chenpi/tangerine peel) 10 g, Fulin 6 g, Zhi Gancao (honey-fried licorice) 3 g.
Erchen Wan is the patent medicine I recommend most of all, because it is cheap and effective. I often advise cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to take Erchen Wan to resolve stubborn nausea and vomiting, and it is often effective.
The second patent medicine is Pingwei Wan (Stomach-Calming Pill), which comes from the famous TCM formula Pingwei San (Stomach-Calming Powder), consisting of four herbs: Cangzhu (Atractylodes lancea), Houpo (Magnolia bark), Chenpi (tangerine peel), and Gancao (Licorice).
Pingwei Wan is also available in most pharmacies; if it cannot be bought, one can also buy the herbs and brew the decoction at home. The formula is: Cangzhu 10 g, Houpo 10–15 g, Chenpi 10 g, Zhi Gancao 3–6 g.
Pingwei Wan's main action is to dry dampness and fortify the spleen, broaden the chest and dispel distension. It is used for exuberant dampness in the spleen and stomach, lack of appetite, epigastric and abdominal fullness, nausea and vomiting, acid regurgitation, and belching.
Pingwei Wan is a common patent medicine for functional dyspepsia and esophageal reflux, often used to relieve abdominal distension, nausea, and vomiting caused by various gastritides and esophagitis; it is also quite effective for nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy in cancer patients.
The third patent medicine is the Japanese kampo Ohta's Isan (Taida Weisan). Strictly speaking, Taida Weisan is a combined Chinese-Western patent medicine. Its ingredients are cassia bark, magnesium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, clove, fennel, and tangerine peel. Taida Weisan is a gastrointestinal medicine, mainly for overindulgence in alcohol and food, gastrointestinal stagnation, and heartburn.
Taida Weisan is sold in most Japanese drug-cosmetic stores; many domestic purchasers of Japanese kampo medicines sell it on Taobao. I have recommended Taida Weisan to some better-off patients with high demands on drug quality, and it works well to relieve nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
Patients may choose any of these three according to their needs. Those with only mild vomiting may simply brew Chenpi (tangerine peel) as tea.
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