The Experienced Formula Zhuyu Peiqi Tang (Stasis-Expelling and Qi-Supporting Decoction) for Esophageal Cancer
"Zhuyu Peiqi Tang" is an experienced formula of contemporary TCM practitioners, recorded in the book Selected Proven Prescriptions of Chinese Herbal Medicine. I found its prescription-thinking to be quite good, so I am writing this article to introduce this formula.
The composition of "Zhuyu Peiqi Tang" is: Taoren (Persicae Semen) 9 g, Honghua (Carthami Flos, ground) 3 g, Daizheshi (Haematitum) 24 g, Fabanxia (processed Pinelliae Rhizoma) 9 g, Tiandong (Asparagi Radix) 9 g, Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 18 g, Tianhuafen (Trichosanthis Radix) 9 g, Maren (Cannabis Semen) 9 g, Xingren (Armeniacae Semen) 9 g, Lugen (Phragmitis Rhizoma) 9 g, Huaishanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) 12 g, Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex) 9 g, Dangshen (Codonopsis Radix) 15 g, Sanqi (Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma, ground) 1.5 g. Of the above herbs, except for Sanqi and Honghua, which are ground into powder and taken with the decoction, the rest must be decocted in water. Take one dose daily, decocted in water, once in the morning and once in the evening.
This formula is a modification based on "Shenzhu Peiqi Tang" of Zhang Xichun, a famous physician of the Republican era. Zhang Xichun's formula contains Dangshen, Tiandong, Daizheshi, Banxia, Roucongrong, Zhimu, Danggui, and persimmon frost, etc. This formula omits Zhimu and persimmon frost, replaces Roucongrong with Huomaren (Cannabis Semen), and adds Taoren, Honghua, Xingren, Tianhuafen, Lugen, Huaishanyao, Mudanpi, and Sanqi—equivalent to combining it with Taoren Siwu Tang. Thus its blood-activating and stasis-resolving strength is greater than that of Zhang Xichun's "Shenzhu Peiqi Tang."
This formula can, to a certain extent, relieve symptoms in esophageal cancer patients such as dysphagia and constipation (sheep-dung-like stools), but its effect in controlling the progression of esophageal cancer is limited. If a patient uses this formula as an adjunct to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, it has a certain action of supporting the healthy root and enhancing the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy. For patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy, one should also consider adding Sheng Huangqi (raw Astragali Radix), Xianhecao (Agrimoniae Herba), and Diyu (Sanguisorbae Radix), etc., to reduce the side effect of myelosuppression.