Veteran Doctor Zhao Xinbo's Experience in Treating Liver Cirrhosis

The late veteran TCM physician Professor Zhao Xinbo had his own set of mature experiential formulas for treating liver cirrhosis, excerpted below.

Early-stage cirrhosis patients presenting with a dropping pain in the hypochondrium, a swollen and hard liver, bitter mouth, yellow urine, and a little or no ascites may be treated with a modified Danzhi Xiaoyao San (Moutan and Gardenia Free and Easy Wanderer Powder).

The formula is as follows: Radix Angelicae Sinensis (danggui) 10 g, Radix Paeoniae Alba (baishao) 6 g, Radix Bupleuri (chaihu) 6 g, Poria (fuling) 12 g, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (baizhu) 10 g, honey-fried Radix Glycyrrhizae (zhi gancao) 6 g, Cortex Moutan (mudanpi) 6 g, Semen Persicae (taoren) 6 g, Radix Curcumae (yujin) 10 g, prepared Carapax Trionycis (biejia) 12 g, Rhizoma Cyperi (xiangfu) 10 g, Fructus Gardeniae (zhizi) 3 g. If there is hypochondriac pain, add Rhizoma Sparganii (sanleng), Rhizoma Curcumae (ezhu), Rhizoma Corydalis (yanhusuo) and Rhizoma Curcumae Longae (jianghuang); if there is jaundice, add Herba Artemisiae Scopariae (yinchen), Caulis Mutong (mutong) and dried Ginger (ganjiang).

Cirrhosis that has progressed to obvious ascites with hardening of the liver, a dull complexion and pale lips may instead be treated with a modified Jisheng Shenqi Wan (Kidney-Qi Pill from Beneficial Prescriptions for Popular Health).

The formula is as follows: Poria (fuling) 12 g, prepared Radix Rehmanniae (shu dihuang) 15 g, Rhizoma Dioscoreae (huai shan yao) 10 g, Fructus Corni (shanzhuyu) 10 g, Flos Carthami (honghua) 6 g, Semen Plantaginis (cheqianzi) 10 g, Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae (niuxi) 10 g, prepared Aconitum (fuzi) 10 g, Cinnamon bark (rougui) 3 g, Rhizoma Corydalis (yanhusuo) 6 g, dried Ginger (ganjiang) 3 g.

In treating ascites, Dr. Zhao also commonly used the onion-compress method, which has some effect. This method uses 500 g of large dried scallions (cut lengthwise), stir-fried together with 120 g of white liquor (do not char), placed in a gauze bag, and applied hot to the navel, rotated left-up and right-down for 30 minutes. If the onions in the bag cool, stir-fry them again; do this twice a day.

For those with marked hepatosplenomegaly, Xiayuxue Wan (Stasis-Downbearing Pill) may be used (this pill is also effective against small benign tumors). The Xiayuxue Wan formula is: Rhizoma Sparganii (jing sanleng) 15 g, Rhizoma Curcumae (ezhu) 15 g, Saffron (zang honghua) 12 g, Squama Manis (chuanshanjia) 30 g (note: Squama Manis is now banned and may be replaced by Fructus Polygoni Orientalis (shuihonghuazi)), Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae (chenpi) 12 g, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei (dahuang) 15 g, Radix Aucklandiae (muxiang) 10 g. Grind all the above into a fine powder and make pills with refined honey, each pill weighing 6 g. On an empty stomach morning and evening take 1–2 pills with plain water, to the point of loose bowel movement. After taking Xiayuxue Wan for a period, regulate for a while with Shiquan Dabu Wan (Ten-Complete Great-Tonifying Pill), then repeat the cycle.

Note: Liver cirrhosis is a refractory disease, mostly caused by lingering hepatitis plus poor lifestyle habits such as staying up late or excessive drinking; it is not easy to treat with either Chinese or Western medicine. Patients with hepatitis (especially chronic viral hepatitis) should prioritize prevention: keep regular daily hours, avoid staying up late and overfatigue, and have regular checkups for hepatitis viral load and liver function; if anything is abnormal, antiviral treatment should be given. Commonly used Western adjuvant treatments for hepatitis include glutathione tablets, coenzyme Q10 and Zhengchangsheng (Bacillus licheniformis); Chinese patent medicines include Xiaoyao Wan, Jiawei Xiaoyao Wan, Shugan Hewei Wan and Yinzhihuang granules. Patients may choose among these under a doctor's guidance. As long as they are regulated properly, most patients will not progress to cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Once it has progressed to cirrhosis, treatment should begin early and must not be delayed.