Chinese Medical Ethics in Some Diseases

Chronic Leukemia and Traditional Herbal Medicine

In traditional Herbal Medicine, this disease is divided into three categories:

1. A deficiency in both 'qi' and blood - yellow complexion, weak and quiet, palpitation, self-sweating, cold in the four limbs, poor appetite, loose bowel, light colored lips and tongue, swelling of the tongue, tongue coating thin and white, pulse deep and weak or thready and rapid. The treatment principles consist in replenishing 'qi' and tonifying blood, and strengthening the spleens while driving away poison. The commonly used herbs are: Codonopsis pilousula (franch.) Nannf., Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch, etc.

2. Concentration of stagnated blood - swelling of the spleens as well as the liver, painful fullness in the chest, poor appetite, purple or dotted tongue body, pulse hesitant, wiry and slippery. The treatment principles include activating blood and dissolving stagnation plus expelling the poison. The commonly used herbs are cores of Prunus persica (L.) Bastch, Cathamus tinctorius L., etc.

3. Liver fire and phlegm heat - swelling of the spleens as well as the liver and the lymph nodes, high fever can not be alleviated by sweat, bleeding not so serious, head ache, joint pains, stitching pains in the chest bones, bitter in the mouth, dry throat, dried bowels, yellow urine, red tongue body, thick and greasy yellow tongue coating, wiry and slippery pulse. Purifying the liver and purging the fire, plus eliminating the phlegm and removing the sludge are the treatment principles. Commonly used herbs are: Donguai, aloe vera L.