Cancer from a Chinese medicine perspective

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) cancerous growths may be caused by the following factors:

Emotions
Extreme emotions can cause stagnation of the energies of the body; these energy stagnations can become material and form growths.

Blood stagnation
Usually occurs over a long period of time to the point where it forms into a physical growth.

Heat toxins
A build up of heat and toxins in the body due to stagnant energies and poor circulation of energy and blood flow.

Long-term deficiency of organs
If organs lack energy they will not perform their functions effectively and this may lead to disease.

As you already know, current treatment methods in Western Medicine tend to be operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. There are three main ways in which Chinese medicine can help:

Individuals who have already been diagnosed with cancer and have commenced treatment

During treatment for cancer most people will experience symptoms such as blood count problems, loss of hair, decrease in energy, indigestion, menstruation problems, insomnia, etc.

Often the symptoms can be so severe that chemotherapy, etc, are stopped until the person is strong enough to re-During treatment for cancer most people will experience symptoms such as blood count problems, loss of hair, decrease in energy, indigestion, menstruation problems, insomnia, etc.

Often the symptoms can be so severe that chemotherapy, etc, are stopped until the person is strong enough to re-commence. Chinese medicine can help support the body during these treatments and can help to reduce the side effects of treatments. By using acupuncture and/or herbs to support internal organs and Yin/Yang we aim to help the individual become as healthy as possible.

Individuals who have already finished treatment

The aim of Chinese medicine is to re-establish balance and a return to health as quickly as possible for the individual. The aim is to increase the immune system to help the body to continue to clear the cancer cells and support the organ to function normally again.

Prevention

In Western and Chinese medicine, prevention is recognised as the best way to beat illness. Again both systems agree that reduction in stress and regular exercise (suitable for the body type i.e. you should feel good the day after) are important in prevention. Chinese medicine can also improve the flow of energies through the body to help prevent illness. Other tips are: don't eat burnt food, reduce or stop smoking, eat fresh vegetables and pearl barley (good for Spleen and Stomach). Please ask one of our practitioners if you wish to see an example of the barley.

In TCM the location of the cancerous growths will identify the organs that require treatment. TCM tries to remove the cause of the cancer first, because even when the cancer is removed it may come back. Using TCM diagnosis, practitioners can identify the Chinese pattern for treatment and help support the body through other harsh treatments. A practitioner will help the body's energies to flow normally again by the use of herbs, acupuncture and/or scrubbing to support the healing process. Chinese medicine has been seen to lessen the detrimental effects of chemotherapy and radiology on the patient's system. It also improves the patient's ability to recover after these therapies.