Three Formulas I Have Used That Worked for Leg Pain in Children With Neuroblastoma

Children with neuroblastoma often develop leg pain as the disease progresses. I have used many formulas to address their leg pain; after screening, three have proved effective in practice. All three are historically proven formulas for leg pain, not my own inventions.

The first is Chaige Jieji Tang (Bupleurum-Pueraria Muscle-Resolving Decoction). Composition: Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) 12 g, Gegen (Puerariae Radix) 9 g, Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) 3 g, Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) 9 g, Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix) 6 g, Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) 6 g, Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix) 6 g, Jiegeng (Platycodi Radix) 6 g, Shigao (Gypsum fibrosum) 12 g. I generally use this dose for children over five; under five, it may be halved as appropriate.

Chaige Jieji Tang comes from Shanghan Liushu (Six Books on Cold Damage). It originally treats contraction of wind-cold that has stagnated and transformed into heat, presenting as lessening chills with rising fever, no sweating, headache, eye pain and dry nose, vexation and inability to sleep, dry throat and deafness, pain around the orbit, a thin yellow tongue coating, and a floating, slightly large pulse. Today it is commonly used for colds, influenza, gingivitis, and conjunctivitis.

I have used this formula many times; it not only has some effect on leg pain in neuroblastoma children but also treats the cancer fever they cause. If the child has cancer fever, decoct each packet twice, take the two decoctions separately, one every two hours. Two packets may be taken in a day, with another at night. During use the diet should be light, otherwise the cancer fever will not resolve.

The second is Shaoyao Gancao Tang (Peony-Glycyrrhiza Decoction). I do not decoct it to drink; I instruct the parents to steep it in boiling water as a tea. Composition: Baishao (Paeoniae Radix alba) 3 g, Sheng Gancao (raw Glycyrrhiza) 3 g; add a cup of boiling water and drink as tea, at will. This medicinal tea is not bitter, and most children accept it. When finished, steep a second cup with the same amount of Baishao and Gancao. There is no limit to the number of cups per day; continue until the child is free of pain.

Shaoyao Gancao Tang in ancient times was also called Qi Zhu Tang (Cane-Dropping Decoction); it treats precisely leg pain. Leg pain or restless legs syndrome in neuroblastoma children can both be relieved with it, though severe cases may not respond. It may also be taken as a medicinal tea during chemotherapy, and protects the liver. But Shaoyao Gancao Tang does not reduce cancer fever.

The third is Danggui Nian Tong Wan (Angelica Pain-Dispelling Pill), which is sold as a Chinese patent medicine. Its ingredients: Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Gegen (Puerariae Radix), Dangshen (Codonopsis Radix), Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma, stir-fried), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, stir-fried), Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Zhuling (Polypori Umbellati Sclerotium), Yinchen (Artemisiae Scopariae Herba), and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma). The composition is complex; its main action is to drain dampness and stop pain. It is suitable for impediment illness due to damp-heat obstruction, presenting with red, swollen, hot, painful joints, or red, swollen, hot pain of the feet and lower legs; it can also be used for sores and abscesses.

I have used Danggui Nian Tong Wan for leg pain in neuroblastoma children with some effect, and pills are convenient to take. But it is not available at ordinary pharmacies; families may need to buy it from an online pharmacy.

I do not stock any of these medicines; families wishing to use them should buy them at a pharmacy near them.