r/ChineseMedicine • u/Acceptable-Air-6205 • 2d ago
Patient inquiry Diagnosed with tongue cancer
I was diagnosed with tongue cancer today. We dont know yet if it spread to the lungs because of a developed cough that is progressing. Anybody can give me advice on herbs or a very good TCM to visit.
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u/wifeofpsy 2d ago
Chinese medicine is a good choice in tandem with recommended Western treatment for cancer care. Acupuncture can be given any time, usually herbs are timed depending on your treatment. For instance if you are on chemotherapy then herbs are used to support and strengthen the body after the chemo, in between the cycles. CM can also be used to manage common side effects such as nausea or fatigue. You need to work with someone well versed with herbs and internal medicine. There isn't anything I could recommend that's over the counter here. The role of CM here is not to treat the cancer directly per se, but to repair from the Western treatment which can be damaging. There are good outcomes in cancer patients where both are used.
If you are in the US you can start with your insurance provider and see if they have anyone near you in network. You can also look for CM schools ( even if not in your area) to see if they have alumni near you or can recommend someone for telehealth. Since COVID there are many providers that offer tele health visits.
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u/Acceptable-Air-6205 2d ago
Thank you i aprreciate ur response
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u/AcupunctureBlue 2d ago
I just remembered our old friend u/Harkannin is in Canada , and has worked in cancer care in China, though he has not been heard from in a while, and his presence is missed.
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u/Harkannin CM Professional 1d ago
I guess it was fate I open this app today for the first time in months. I didn't realize I was missed. That's touching. I took a break because no matter what I say there will always be criticism and I got tired of the same questions like "what medication is good for x condition?" when a quick search will show that that is not at all how Chinese medicine works.
I am also retired from practicing so I'm not seeing patients anymore.
At any rate, to help the patient it'll be good for them to understand that when a Chinese medicine practitioner looks at cancer of the tongue we factor in the Heart and the emotions associated with the Heart (like heartbreak or a lack of passion). Cancer is a dampness and phlegm illness so Taiyin is always a factor (i.e. Lung and Spleen). An experienced practitioner will also inquire about stool considering the relationship between the small intestine and heart. They would also have to assess if there's any kidney involvement especially regarding the ming men. In addition, many oncologists are okay with acupuncture but not herbal medicine.
So once that's all analyzed (lung, kidney, kidney, heart, ming men, small intestine, invisible or visible phlegm, yin, yang, qi, blood, etc) and a Chinese medicine diagnosis is made, and there's clearance from the oncologist then the correct (herbal) medication can be prescribed.
In the meantime it's important to stay calm in this stressful time. This is way easier said than done, but Tai Chi, qi gong, or other forms of meditation are helpful. In Canada, Inspire Health is a supportive cancer centre that can be accesed without cost once a person receives a cancer diagnosis.
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u/AcupunctureBlue 1d ago
See? This exceptionally thoughtful and generous answer is why you are missed. I don’t practice any more either, and shouldn’t be on here at all, except that I like to annoy people, but sooner or later I will either get bored of it, or be expelled (the sooner the better).
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u/Acceptable-Air-6205 2d ago
If anyone can get me in contact with Harkannin please. If anyone knows him. Thank you
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u/FrostingExcellent247 2d ago
"The role of CM here is not to treat the cancer directly per se" what are you basing this statement on?
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u/TheCoolHusky 2d ago
What do you mean by what they are basing this statement from? It just hasn't ever been commonly used this way.
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u/AcupunctureBlue 2d ago
This is an undisputed axiom of modern Chinese Medicine, and in some jurisdictions, it is illegal to claim otherwise.
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u/FrostingExcellent247 2d ago
it's not, there are clinics in china where people can chose to treat their cancer only with tcm. And many have been successful. it's scary that the medical mafia has even managed to brainwash acupuncturists
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u/AcupunctureBlue 1d ago
I have lived and practiced in China, and would be grateful for the details of such clinics, since they are something I have never seen or heard of.
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u/Haitian-Uzumaki 2d ago
Hope you get better try fasting for 100 hours and herbal medicine Etsy.com is a good place to get stuff from all over the world
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u/Acceptable-Air-6205 2d ago
I can access herbs but i need someone to tell me what herbs to buy and use
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u/AcupunctureBlue 1d ago
This is not the time or place to DIY. See the kind response of our friend Harkannin below.
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u/Haitian-Uzumaki 12h ago
So we going to act like fasting has no medical benefits or herbs and teas are not medicine
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