Gynecological Cancer
Gynecological cancer refers to Cancers of the female reproductive tract. This includes vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus and ovaries.
Cervical Cancer
Cervical Cancer is almost always caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Vaccines are now available making Cervical Cancer one of the most preventable types of Cancer.
Symptoms may include:
- bleeding between periods
- pain during sex or bleeding after sex
- heavier periods
- discharge from the vagina
- vaginal bleeding after menopause
Uterine Cancer
There are 2 main types of Uterine Cancer:
- Endometrial cancer (in the lining of the uterus)
- Uterine sarcomas
- discharge that is watery or with blood, often with a foul smell
- bleeding between periods or after menopause
- abdominal discomfort or pain
- difficult or painful urination
- pain during sex
Ovarian Cancer
Cancer of the Ovaries can be asymptomatic or present with a variety of vague symptoms.
Symptoms may include:
- abdominal bloating or swelling
- pain in the abdomen or pelvis
- indigestion, loss of appetite, feeling full after eating
- frequent or urgent urination
- change in bowel habit
- weight loss or weight gain
- unexplained fatigue.
Family history, Smoking and obesity are risk factors. Having had children, using oral contraceptives or having tubal ligation all reduce risk of Cervical Cancer.
Traditional Treatment
In Traditional medicine, promoting and regulating the menstrual cycle is regarded as important to avoid various gynecological disorders which may include cancer. Moving the blood and regulating Qi are important factors both to prevent and treat Gynecological Cancers.
Douches have long been used for Gynecological Cancer in the western tradition, especially of the Cervix. It is interesting to note that prepared (boiled) juice or distilled water of Black Nightshade has been long used topically, and water extracts have been shown to inhibit growth of Cervical Cancer in modern research.
Wirtzung (1598) gave several rules in the treatment of Cancer of the Uterus or Cervix:
1. If there is an ulcer which is very moist, drying medicines should be applied
2. If there is a ‘venomous’ quality the principle method of treatment is to remove the venomous quality. (ie. medicines that clear Poison)
3. Food and drink must be chosen which cleanse and create good blood.
4. The use of ‘Maturative’ medicines increases the venomous matter and increases the cancer.
5. Use medicines that dissolve and dry, followed by Incarnative medicines
6. If the Ulcer can be seen ‘the same is to be refreshed with clean and fine cloth continually’
7. ‘Quietness in this diseases is better than motion’
Bloodletting, especially in the right foot is useful.
Diet
1. Thin, red, dry wine
2. Wine with Mastic, Comfrey and Feverfew boiled in it
Combination of TCM and Western Treatment
As with various other Cancers, the combination of Chinese Herbal Medicine along with standard Western Treatment was shown to significantly improve 3 year survival compared to Western Medicine alone. (see here)
Review of most used Chinese herbs and Formulas from Taiwanese Database
Reviewing the Taiwanese Databases treating over 7500 patients over a 10 year period, the following 9 herbs were most prescribed, in descending order:
|
Hedyotis Bai Hua She She Cao Rhubarb (Da Huang) Scuetllaria Ban Zhi Lian |
Salvia Dan Shen Atractylodes Bai Zhu Licorice (Gan Cao) |
Magnolia Hou Po Fritillaria Bei Mu Cuttlefish Bone (Hai Piao Xiao) |
In addition, the following were the 4 most prescribed formulas:
1. Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San
2. Ma Zi Ren Wan
3. Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
4. Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang
Special Formula
1. Cervical Cancer: Gold chloride (1 grain), White Sugar (1 drams). Powder, divide into 12 doses. Take 1 dose twice daily. (Sobernheim, 1840)
2. Cervical Cancer: doses of extract equivalent to 60 grams of Pinellia Ban Xia was taken daily in 3 divided doses while the same herb was used topically. Out of 247 cases, 63 had complete recovery, marked improvement in 84 cases and slight improvement in 44 cases. (Chen & Chen)
3. Cervical Cancer: decoction of Arisaema Tian Nan Xing was taken beginning with 15 grams daily and increasing to 45 grams daily. The same herb was used topically in suppository or douche. Effective rate was 78%. (Chen & Chen)
4. Ovarian Cancer
Vinegar-prepared Zedoary (E Zhu)
Vinegar-prepared Sparganium San Leng
Vinegar-prepared Flying Squirrel feces (Wu Ling Zhi)
Rhubarb (Da Huang)
Musk
5. Modified Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Cinnamon twig Gui Zhi
Poria Fu Ling
Paeonia Mu Dan Pi
Paeonia Bai Shao
Peach kernel Tao Ren
Zedoary (E Zhu)
Cyperus rotundus Xiang Fu
Safflower Hong Hua
Solanum nigrum Long Kui
6. After necessary Bleeding and Purging
Oxymel of Squill 0.5 oz.
Byzantine Syrup
Syrup of Vinegar 3/4 oz. ea.
Lovage Water
Agrimony Water 1 oz. ea.
Chicory Water 2 oz.
This is taken early in the morning for a number of days until the urine becomes clean and of good color. (Wirtzung)
7. Compound Yang She Granule
A Chinese preparation for Cervical Cancer developed at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center:
Hedyotis Bai Hua She She Cao
Solanum Lyratum Bai Ying
Madder (Qian Cao)
Echinops Yu Zhou Lou Lu
Angelica Dang Gui
Codonopsis Dang Shen
Atractylodes Huang Qi
It has been studied and found effective againbst Cervical Cancer. (see here)
8. Tibetan Medicine:
Vajra’s Nectar is combined with Costus 13 (Ru rta bcu gsum) for Cancer of the Stomach, Intestines, or Uterus.
Topically:
1. Cancer of the Uterus can be treated with douches of juices of Plantain, Knotgrass, Lettuce and Purslane mixed together. Concentrated decoction can also be used.
2. Decoction or clarified juice of Black Nightshade as a douche.
3. Douche for Cancer of the Uterus:
Datura leaf half oz.
Boiling water 2 pints
Infuse half an hour, strain and add 2 drams of Alum to each ounce of infusion. (Universal Formulary, 1850)
4. Salve for Tumors and Cancer of the Uterus, (infused) Oils of Wallflower, Feverfew, Saffron, Myrrh, Opopanax, Turpentine, made into a salve with Celery juice (Wirtzung)
5. Cervical Cancer,
Realgar
Alum
Myrrh
Powder and apply topically.
Research
–Therapeutic Potential of Natural Products in Treatment of Cervical Cancer: A Review–The Potential of Chinese Herbal Medicines in the Treatment of Cervical Cancer
–Mechanisms and Advances in Anti-Ovarian Cancer with Natural Plants Component
Cannabis
–Cannabidiol rather than Cannabis sativa extracts inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in cervical cancer cells
Cyperus rotundus, Xiang Fu
–6-Acetoxy Cyperene, a Patchoulane-type Sesquiterpene Isolated from Cyperus rotundus Rhizomes Induces Caspase-dependent Apoptosis in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells.
Ginger
–Essential Oil from Zingiber ottensii Induces Human Cervical Cancer Cell Apoptosis and Inhibits MAPK and PI3K/AKT Signaling Cascades.
–Molecular and biological functions of gingerol as a natural effective therapeutic drug for cervical cancer.
–6-Shogaol from ginger shows anti-tumor effect in cervical carcinoma via PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.
Hedyotis
–The anti-tumor effect and bioactive phytochemicals of Hedyotis diffusa willd on ovarian cancer cells.
Paris:
Aqueous Extract of Paris polyphylla (AEPP) Inhibits Ovarian Cancer via Suppression of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-Gamma Coactivator (PGC)-1alpha
Poria:
–Fuling Granule, a Traditional Chinese Medicine Compound, Suppresses Cell Proliferation and TGFβ-Induced EMT in Ovarian Cancer
Rabdosia:
–Glaucocalyxin B induces apoptosis and autophagy in human cervical cancer cells.
–Oridonin induces apoptosis via PI3K/Akt pathway in cervical carcinoma HeLa cell line.
Rheum, Rhubarb
–Emodin Induces Death in Human Cervical Cancer Cells Through Mitotic Catastrophe.
–Emodin induces apoptosis of human cervical cancer hela cells via intrinsic mitochondrial and extrinsic death receptor pathway.
Rosemary
–Assessment of Cytotoxic Activity of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), and Ginger (Zingiber officinale R.) Essential Oils in Cervical Cancer Cells (HeLa).
–Antiproliferation effect of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) on human ovarian cancer cells in vitro.
Solanum
–Antitumor activity of crude polysaccharides isolated from Solanum nigrum Linne on U14 cervical carcinoma bearing mice.
–Antitumor effects of total alkaloids isolated from Solanum nigrum in vitro and in vivo.
–Protective effects of fraction 1a of polysaccharides isolated from Solanum nigrum Linne on thymus in tumor-bearing mice.
–Aqueous extract of Solanum nigrum inhibit growth of cervical carcinoma (U14) via modulating immune response of tumor bearing mice and inducing apoptosis of tumor cells.
–Aqueous Extract of Solanum nigrum Leaf Activates Autophagic Cell Death and Enhances Docetaxel-Induced Cytotoxicity in Human Endometrial Carcinoma Cells
–Cisplatin-, Doxorubicin-, and Docetaxel-Induced Cell Death Promoted by the Aqueous Extract of Solanum nigrum in Human Ovarian Carcinoma Cells.
Toxicodendron Gan Qi
–Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) and butein induce apoptosis of paclitaxel-resistant SKOV-3/PAX ovarian cancer cells through inhibition of AKT phosphorylation
Turmeric:
–In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a standardized Curcuma longa Linn formulation in cervical cancer
Withania:
–Withaferin a alone and in combination with cisplatin suppresses growth and metastasis of ovarian cancer by targeting putative cancer stem cells.
Zedoary
OVARIAN
–Cytotoxic Activity from Curcuma zedoaria Through Mitochondrial Activation on Ovarian Cancer Cells
–Cytotoxicity of curcuminoids and some novel compounds from Curcuma zedoaria.
–Enhancement of cisplatin-induced apoptosis by β-elemene in resistant human ovarian cancer cells.
CERVICAL
–Therapeutic effects of β-elemene via attenuation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in cervical cancer cells