Uterine+Cancer

==**Definition:** == Malignancy of the endometrial tissue.
 * IBIS:**

==**Etiology:** == This is the most common gynecological cancer in women and the third most common female cancer overall (after breast and colorectal). It is seen primarily in post-menopausal women between 50-60 years old. Predisposing factors include obesity; DM; high blood pressure; infertility; history of irregular periods; late onset of menopause (over 52 years old); nulliparity; and use of estrogen therapy (unopposed estrogens) in a women who still has her uterus.

==**Somatic therapies:** == • aerobic exercise: a physically active lifestyle has been associated with lower incidence of reproductive cancers in women


==**Nutrition:** == eating principles: alkaline fasts under supervision of physician (see Fasting in materia medica)

therapeutic foods » Stagnant Liver Qi or Stagnancy in the Liver channel type: foods that invigorate the Qi, Liver foods, sour foods, Dispersing foods, foods that open channels citrus peel liver-cleansing foods: beets, carrots, artichokes, lemons, parsnips, dandelion greens, watercress, burdock root Vitamin B-complex foods brewer's yeast

fresh juices: carrot (Walker, 129.) carrot and spinach (Walker, 129.) carrot, beet, and cucumber (Walker, 129.) lemon juice in warm water (Shefi)

recommendations for all cancers: seaweeds, mushrooms (Chinese black, Shiitake) figs, beets, beet tops, papaya, mung beans, licorice, sea cucumbers, carrot, garlic, walnut, lychee fruit, mulberries, asparagus, pumpkin, burdock, dandelion greens, white fungus, taro roots, pearl barley, grains, fresh fruits and vegetables (Ni, 108-109.)

specific remedies: soup of black or ling zhi mushrooms and white fungus, three times daily (Ni, 108-109.) boil together mung beans, pearl barley, adzuki beans, and figs (Ni, 108-109.) dandelion, burdock and chrysanthemum flower tea (Ni, 108-109.)

avoid: meat, chicken, coffee, cinnamon, anise, pepper, dairy products, spicy foods, high fat foods, smoking, constipation, stress, alcohol, hot sauces, spicy foods, fried foods, fatty foods, rich foods, salty foods

==**Botanicals** == • Hydrastis canadensis: uterine tumor (Sherman) • Thuja occidentalis: tincture internally and essential oil externally, especially indicated for women with a past medical history of gonorrhea, or greenish-white vaginal discharge with foul odor, left sided pelvic pain and dyspareunia (Nissim, p. 43) • Trifolium pratense: historically used by Thomsonians for cancer (Mitchell) • Viscum album (toxic): (Nissim, p. 170)

nutritive herbs: Support the immune system and the woman's defenses to better withstand chemotherapy, surgery and radiation if these are chosen. Avoid alcohol, drugs, smoking, stress, etc. • Avena sativa • Medicago sativa • Trifolium pratense • Urtica dioica

==**Chinese Formulae** == • Ping Xiao Dan: Primary preventive and anticancer formula (Jia Kun, p. 4, 13, 80) • Chun Jia Wan: administered with Ping Xiao Dan if early stage with only vaginal bleeding between periods or after coitus (Jia Kun, p. 80) • San Jia Yu Feng Tang: administered with Ping Xiao Dan if leukorrhagia or leukorrhea with blood, and massive hemorrhage after menopause (Jia Kun, p. 80) • Xian Rui Tang: administered with Ping Xiao Dan if menopausal patient complains of increased menstruation and irregular vaginal bleeding several times between periods (Jia Kun, p. 80) • San Zhi Wan: administered with Ping Xiao Dan if progression of disease with bleeding after coitus and defecation, increased putrid leukorrhagia and severe pain; administered with Xian Rui Tang for pain (Jia Kun, p. 80) • Shen Qi San Jia Tang: administered with Ping Xiao Dan if severe weakness with exhaustion and severe anemia due to massive hemorrhage (Jia Kun, p. 80) • Sha Xiaong Wan (for internal administration) and Qing Peng San (for external application): for all advanced uterine cancers (Jia Kun, p. 80) • Chih-ko and Curcuma C. (patent) plus Lindera 15 (patent): Uterine tumors (Dharmananda, 1990, p. 41; p. 49) • Blue Citrus (patent): groin swelling, uterine tumors (Dharmananda, 1990, p. 38) • Cinnamon and Rehmannia (patent) (Dharmananda, 1992, p. 81) • Zeng Ye Tang plus chrysanthemum flower (ju hua), trichosanthes root (tian hua fen), glehnia (sha shen), dioscorea (shan yao) and moutan bark (mu dan pi): Large Intestine Dryness: oral side-effects of radiation therapy: dryness that is worse at night, irritability, dry tongue, rapid thin pulse (Bensky and Barolet, p. 166) • Dang Gui Ji Xue Teng Tang: Qi Xu (Deficiency) with Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency): leukopenia or thrombocytopenia during radiation therapy or chemotherapy (Bensky and Barolet, p. 251) • Hoelen Five Herbs F. (Wu Ling San): side-effects from radiation. (Hsu, 1980, p. 516; Yeung, p. 244; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 173; Bensky and Barolet, p. 174) • Ji Xue Teng Qin Gao Pian (patent): increases white blood count. (Zhu, p. 103) • Ci Wu Jia Pian (patent): Kidney Qi Xu (Deficiency) with Kidney Jing (Essence); enhances immune system, helps protect body from radiation; inhibits metastasis. (Zhu, p. 284) • He Che Da Zao Wan (patent): Kidney Yin Xu (Deficiency) (Zhu, p. 286) • Ling Zhi Feng Wang Jiang (patent): Qi Xu (Deficiency) with Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) (Zhu, p. 262) • Ginseng and Tang Kuei Ten C.: with anemia. (Hsu, 1980, p. 262; Yeung, p. 209; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 107) • Lindera and Cyperus F.: Liver Qi Stagnation with Liver Yin Xu (Deficiency) (Hsu, 1980, p. 369; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 227) • Moutan and Persica C.: Xue Yu (Blood Stasis): initial stage of uterine cancer (Hsu, 1980, p. 629; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 295) • Fu Ke Zhong Zi Wan (patent): Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) with Qi Stagnation (Zhu, p. 253) • Solanum and Dandelion C. (Dharmananda, 1986, p. 480)

==**Acupuncture** == after assessing the person and palpating, consider these patterns: Xu (Deficiency) Cold of Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) and Ren Mai (Conception Vessel); Xu (Deficiency) of the Yang Qiao Mai (Yang Motility Vessel) and/or Shi (Excess) of the Yin Qiao Mai (Yin Motility Vessel); invasion of Evil Qi and Xue (Blood); Xue Yu (Blood Stasis); intense rage injures Liver causing reversion of Qi and retention of Xue (Blood); overcontemplation (obsessive thoughts) and worry may damage Spleen leading to Xue Yu (Blood Stasis)

» therapeutic note: indirect moxa applied to needles to resolve Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) and dispel mass

» illustrative and related combinations: • St-36 and Sp-6 (+ and D): build and move Xue (Blood) and Qi • UB-31, UB-32, UB-33 and UB-34: regulate the Uterus • CV-6, CV-4, CV-3, and/or CV-2 (-): clear Damp-Heat • UB-32 and St-29: induce flow of Xue (Blood) in the Uterus (Finkelstein, p. 46) • CV-4, CV-6 and Sp-6 (-): promote Qi circulation and remove Xue Yu (Blood Stasis); (+) reinforce Qi, nourish Xue (Blood, and overcome Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) (Finkelstein, p. 85) • St-28, St-29 and/or St-30 (- and D): cool Damp-Heat; regulate Qi; move Xue (Blood) • CV-3 and Sp-6: regulate the Qi function of the Lower Warmer and the function of the genital organs - Sp-6 sends Qi up; CV-3 sends it deep (Finkelstein, p. 84) • Lu-7 and Kd-6: open the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) which nourishes the Uterus and regulates menstruation; usually indicated by head and neck pain, abdominal distension, vaginal discharge and other symptoms of congestion; uterine cancer is usually a part of Xu (Deficiency) Cold pattern effecting the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) • Sp-4 and PC-6: open the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) for which uterine cancer is often a part of Xu (Deficiency) Cold pattern, and reproductive disorders are a general symptom of dysfunction • UB-62 and SI-3: open the Yang Qiao Mai (Yang Motility Vessel) which transports Yang and for which gynecological problems are a Xu (Deficiency) symptom • Kd-6 and Lu-7: open the Yin Qiao Mai (Yin Motility Vessel) which transports Yin and for which gynecological problems are a Shi (Excess) symptom • UB-31, Sp-6 and GB-3: have strong hormonal action on women (Finkelstein, p. 46) • St-36, GV-14 and LI-4: return the white blood cell count to normal (leukopenia after chemotherapy) (Finkelstein, p. 20)

==**Homeopathy** == • Aurum arsenicosum: increased sexual desire and inflammation of ovaries; eruptions on vulva; menses absent or too copious, acrid and too frequent; itching of the vulva • Aurum muriaticum: indurated os and ovaries; leukorrhea with spasmodic contraction of vagina; hemorrhages from womb • Cadmium iodatum: after radium treatment has failed • Cadmium sulphuricum: black vomit as soon as something touches lips; cutting, lancinating pains • Folliculinum: history of birth control pills and/or estrogen replacement therapy, esp. bad reaction, i.e., estrogen poisoning; tendency to put others' needs before her own, and then become resentful later; woman has lost touch with her own inner rhythms and her reference has become external rather than internal; often best used in a single dose, or repeated every two weeks, possibly at new and full moons • Kali carbonicum: severe pain from hip to knee, esp. right side; pain in leg is characteristic • Kreosotum: hemorrhage from uterus; menses ceasing for few months then restarting with dark and offensive-smelling blood with acrid discharges, biting, itching in the uterus with sense of weight and bearing down • Lapis albus: intense burning pains and profuse debilitating bleeding • Thlaspi bursa pastoris: cancer with hemorrhage

==**Subtle Support** == • notes: A, A#, B, C, C#, D, E, F, G, G#

• chords: A minor, C minor, D minor, D# minor, tonic (Gimbel, p. 116)


==**Mind/Body** == see also: cancer patients: personality characteristics cancer correlations: psychoneuroimmunology

• Female problems represent a rejection of the feminine principle; denial of the self; rejecting femininity. (Hay, 1984, p. 165) • Uterus represents the home of creativity. (Hay, 1984, p. 187) • Surgery for pelvic malignancy involves loss of tissue which is sexually responsive. Loss of sexual function, however, is more likely to be related to the patient feeling unattractive, to lack of information, or to lack of support in dealing with postoperative psychological reactions. Many sexual problems will be solved by just the chance to discuss them; patients need to hear that their sexual concerns are completely normal. (Locke, 1986, p. 259) • Comprehensive cancer management should include members of the medical discipline who provide holistic and humanistic treatment. One team member should be both a qualified sex therapist and psychotherapist. This individual should be introduced to patients at the onset of treatment, be involved in a preoperative assessment, during hospital stay, and during the postoperative period. (Locke, 1986, p. 260)

Chinese psychophysiology: • Kidney ~ Shen stores Jing (Essence) and governs birth, growth, reproduction, development, and aging; houses the Zhi (Will); expresses ambition and focus; provides the "Fire of Life" through its Yang functions; provides the nourishing and stabilizing qualities of Yin and Water that balance the Yang and the Fiery qualities; relates particularly to chronic conditions because it carries the constitutional endowment from the parents; manifests through the reproductive function, particularly the internal aspects of the reproductive organs, and governs the process of passing on life to offspring; and displays the effects of overwork, aging, chronic degenerative processes, and extreme stress. » Healthy expressions are gentleness, groundedness, and endurance. » Kidney Xu (Deficiency) signs include indecisiveness; confused speech; dreams of trees submerged under water; cold feet and legs; abundant sweating (Seem, p. 28); fearfulness; apathy; chronic fatigue; discouragement; scatteredness; lack of will; negativity; impatience; difficult inhalation; low sex drive; lumbago; sciatica; and musculoskeletal irritation and inflammation, especially when worse from touch. As always, chronic Yin Xu (Deficiency) predisposes to Empty Heat and/or acute inflammation. » Intense or prolonged fear depletes the Kidney. Often chronic anxiety may induce Xu (Deficiency) and then Fire within the Kidney. (Maciocia, p. 250) Overwork, parenting, simple aging, and a sedentary or excessively indulgent lifestyle all contribute significantly to Kidney Xu (Deficiency).

• Liver ~ Gan is the home of the Hun (Ethereal Soul); it relates to decisiveness, control, and the principle of emergence; stores and cleanses the Xue (Blood); maintains smooth flow of Qi and Xue (Blood); has an intimate relationship with the genitals and Lower Warmer; and reflects emotional harmony and movement. » Healthy expressions are kindness, spontaneity, and ease of movement. » Liver Xu (Deficiency) signs include impotence; frigidity; pain in thighs, pelvic region, and throat; ready tendency to "the blahs" (Seem, p. 28); timidity; depression; irritability; vertigo; pruritus; dry eyes, skin, and/or tendons; asthma; aching at the waist; hernia; and difficulty raising head up and down. Liver Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) predisposes to Xue Yu (Blood Stasis). » Tumors and other masses are considered a form of Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) and thus ultimately are derived from Qi Stagnation. Liver Qi Stagnation reflects and accentuates emotional constraint as the Liver's function of facilitating smooth flow in the body is constricted. Stagnation is associated with frustration, irritability, tension, and feeling stuck. With time this pattern tends to produce a gloomy emotional state of constant resentment, repressed anger or depression, along with tightness in the chest, frequent sighing, abdominal tension or distension, and/or a feeling of a lump in the throat with difficulty in swallowing. (Maciocia, p. 216) Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) often begins with Qi Stagnation. » Liver Shi (Excess) signs include discontent; anger; pain in lumbar region and genitals (Seem, p. 28); muscular tension; excessive sex drive; insomnia; moodiness; excitability; genital diseases; red, tearing eyes; compulsive energy; and bitter taste in the mouth. Chronically suppressed anger can implode and give rise to Fire in the Liver and Gall Bladder with symptoms of irritability, bitter taste, headaches, etc.

• Spleen ~ Pi governs digestion; transforms food into Qi and Xue (Blood); governs the Xue (Blood) and holds it in the vessels; and relates to the ability to assimilate, stabilize, and feel centered and balanced. » Healthy expressions are fairness, openness, deep thinking, and reminiscence. » Spleen Xu (Deficiency) signs include slightness (deficient "form"); abundant elimination; morning fatigue; cold, wet feet (Seem, p. 28); abdomen taut and distended like a drum; craving for sweets; flatulence; nausea; mild edema; memory failure; heavy feeling in legs; pale lips; loose stools; muscular weakness; and, indirectly, obesity. » The excessive use of the mind in thinking, studying, concentrating, and memorizing over a long period of time tends to weaken the Spleen and may lead to Xue Yu (Blood Stasis). This also includes excessive pensiveness and constant brooding. (Maciocia, p. 241) Likewise, inadequate physical exercise and excess consumption of sweet and Cold foods will also deplete the Spleen. Environmentally, the Spleen is highly susceptible to attack from external Dampness and Cold.