Pleural Effusion ⁽²⁰⁾

Pleural and ascitic effusion is a common complication when cancer reaches the middle-to-late stages, and it is relatively difficult to treat. Refractory pleural or ascitic fluid in particular rarely responds to conventional diuretics, and Western medicine mostly relies on draining the fluid to relieve symptoms.

Zhang Jiapeng (1925–1992) was a researcher at the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (now the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences). He studied under famous TCM physicians Ran Xuefeng, Yue Meizhong, and Zhao Xiwu. With over forty years of clinical practice, he excelled at…

Lin Zheng Yi An Yi Fang (Clinical Case Records and Medical Formulas) contains two Nephritis Decoction formulas, Nephritis Decoction No. 1 and Nephritis Decoction No. 2. The composition of Nephritis Decoction No. 1 is as follows: Dongguazi (Winter Melon Seed) 30 g, Dongguapi (Winter Melon…

Guzheng Shenxiao San (Magical Tympanites Powder) comes from Zhang Zhaozhen's Chuimo Youde Ji (Personal Reflections) of the Qing dynasty. The formula consists of fried malt (Chao Maiya), areca nut (Binglang), and Euphorbia kansui (Gansui), each 1 qian (3 g). Powder the above medicines finely; each…

Muli Zexie San is from Shanghan Lun. It consists of equal parts Muli (Ostreae Concha, calcined), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Shuqi (Dichroae Folium, washed in warm water to remove fishy odor), Tinglizi (Descurainiae/Lepidii Semen, calcined), Shanglugen (Phytolaccae Radix, calcined), Haizao (Sargassum, washed to remove salt) and…

Professor Guo Ziguang once treated a patient with encapsulated pleural effusion. The patient first visited Professor Guo on July 20, 1994, two months after surgery at the Chengdu Tuberculosis Hospital for a pulmonary tuberculoma; post-operatively, encapsulated effusion was found in the right lower pleural cavity.

In "Shengji Zonglu" (Imperial Benevolent Records) there is a formula called Kuanqi Wan. Its composition is: Fangji (Stephania tetrandra) and Tian Tingli (descurainia seed, stir-fried with paper separating), each five qian (now 15 g); Hei Qianniuzi (black pharbitis seed, stir-fried until fragrant), one liang (now…

Pleural effusion (fluid in the pleural cavity) is a finding that is often reported on imaging examinations in patients with tumors or other related diseases. Pleural effusion is divided into two types: inflammatory pleural effusion and malignant pleural effusion. The former is mostly caused by…

Shipu San comes from Yan's Jisheng Fang (Formulas to Aid the Living, Yan's Family). It mainly treats "yang-deficiency edema, with more severe swelling below the middle of the body, chest and abdominal fullness, or a large abdomen with heavy body, fatigue and poor appetite, cold…

Shuzhuo Yinzi comes from Jisheng Fang (Prescriptions for Succoring the Sick). It is composed of Fulingpi (Poria peel), Zexie (Alisma), Mutong (Akebia), Chixiaodou (red Phaseolus bean), Dafupi (Areca peel), Qianghuo (Notopterygium), Jiaomu (Prickly ash seed), Qinjiao (Gentiana macrophylla), Binglang (areca nut), Shanglu (Phytolacca) and Shengjiang…