Lung Cancer is the most life-threatening Cancer in the world due to its high rate of occurrence, it commonly being found at advanced stage, and poor treatment options. Five year survival ranges between 4–17%.

Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal Cancer can occur anywhere along the Esophagus, and usually begins in the cell lining.

Types of Esophageal Cancer
The 2 common types of Esophageal Cancer include

• Adenocarcinoma–form in mucus-secreting cells; usually in lower Esophagus; most common type in US.
• Squamous cell carcinoma–most common in upper and middle Esophagus; most common type worldwide.

Symptoms may include:

• Difficulty Swallowing
• Worsening Heartburn or Indigestion
• Pain or pressure in the chest
• continual irritating Cough or Hoarseness
• Weight Loss

Risk factors
GERD (Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease)
Smoking and alcohol consumption
Obesity
Drinking excessively hot liquids
Lack of fruit and vegetable intake

Lung Cancer

There are 2 main types of Lung Cancer, with 3 divisions of NSCLC:

• Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)
• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC):
  • Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LUSC)
  • Lung Adenocarcinoma (LUAD)
  • Large cell carcinoma (LCC).

Typical early signs of Lung Cancer include coughing, fatigue, shortness of breath, weight loss, hoarseness, chest pains and wheezing. Lung Cancer tends to have poor prognosis because of the lack of symptoms until it becomes more advanced in most cases.
Some studies of TCM have showed up to 32% reduced death rate when TCM is added to treatment.

Differentiation of Lung Cancer in TCM

1. Qi and Yin Deficiency
Weak Cough with little phlegm. Fatigue, sweating, hot flashes, palpitations.
2. Spleen and Lung Qi Deficiency
Cough and asthma with thin white sputum. chest oppression, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal distension, edema, loose stools.
3. Lung Yin Deficiency
Dry cough without phlegm, sweating, thirsty, irritability, hoarse voice.
4. Qi and Blood Stasis
Cough and dyspnea with hard to clear phlegm. Stabbing or distending pain, subcutaneous hemorrhage, depression and anxiety. Dull or cyanotic complexion, lips, tongue and nail beds.
5. Heat and Phlegm Obstructing the Lung
Cough with excessive yellow sticky phlegm. Fever, oppression and pain in chest, hemoptysis, thirst.
6. Qi Deficiency with Toxic Heat
Cough is aggravating, and lesions in lung progressed. Weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, chest pain, cancerous fever, hemoptysis, sweating.

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Primary Herbs used for Esophageal Cancer in China

The following herbs, in decending order, were found in a review to be the most used TCM herbs in the treatment of Esophageal Cancer (see here)

This review also found the following herb pairings to be statistically significant in promoting survival in Esophageal Cancer:
1. Angelica Dang Gui and Paeonia Bai Shao
2. Atractylodes Bai Zhu and PoriaFu Ling
3. Chicken Gizzard skin and Astragalus Huang Qi.

Primary Herbs used for Lung Cancer in China

In another Review of TCM databases, 327 herbs and over 100 formulas were evaluated for the regularity of prescription in advanced Lung Cancer. The following stand formulas were found to be most prescribed:
1. Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang
2. Liu Jun Zi Tang
3. Bai He Gu Jin Tang

It also found the following triplets of herbs to be most commonly rescribed in formula:
1. Trichosanthes root Tian Hua Fen, Glehnia She Shen, Ophiopogonis Mai Men Dong
2. Polygonatum Yu Zhu, Glehnia She Shen, OphiopogonMai Men Dong
3. Scutellaria barbata Ban Zhi Lian, CodonopsisDang Shen, HedyotisBai Hua She She Cao

Another review compared treatment of Lung Cancer by doctors in Guangzhou and Beijing:
1. The 3 most commonly prescribed herbs were Coix Yi Yi Ren, Poria Fu Ling, Pinellia Ban Xia, Phlegm-clearing being a primary focus.
2. Secondly, herbs such as Paeonia Bai Shao, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong, Pseudostellaria Tai Zi Shen were added to tonify Yin.
3. Thirdly, medicines to Clear Heat and Toxin were used: China root (Tu Fu Ling), Hedyotis Bai Hua She She Cao, Scutellaria Ban Zhi Lian.
4. The review found that Beijing doctors payed more attention to nourishing Qi and Yin, while Guangzhou doctors focused more on clearing Heat and Toxin, and resolving Blood stasis.

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10 Most common TCM formulas used for Esophageal Cancer

According to the Taiwan national Health Database, in descending order of prevelence of use:

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Synergistic with Chemo- or Radio-therapy

1. Crocin (from Saffron) significantly improves the chemosensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma cells to cisplatin (see here)
2. Yu Ping Feng San enhances cisplatin effect and hinders resistance (see here)
3. Efficacy and safety of Jianpishengsui for chemotherapy-related fatigue in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: study protocol for a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial
4. Astragalus Huang Qi was found most effective out of a number of Chinese herbs studied to increase 24 month survival rate when combined with platinum-based chemotherapy. (see here)

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Special Formula

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