Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer is a Cancer of the Pancreatic Tissue. It is often not found until advanced as early Pancreatic Cancer often presents with no symptoms, and by the time symptoms do appear, the Cancer is often advanced and metastasized giving it a poor prognosis.The most common type of Pancreatic Cancer is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma which forms on the ducts of the Pancreas.
Signs
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain that radiates to your back
- Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss
- Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
- Light-colored stools, Dark-colored urine
- Itchy skin
- New diagnosis of diabetes or existing diabetes that’s becoming more difficult to control
Risk Factors:
- Family History
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- History of Pancreatitis
- Obesity
- Being over 65
Most used Herbs and Formulas in Taiwanese Databases
Taiwanese Databases were studied over a 13 year period, looking at the impact of Chinese Medicine in conjunction with standard western treatment, versus western treatment alone. Chinese Medicine was shown to increase survival in Pancreatic Cancer patients as long at it was taken for at least 90 days. Some researchers have shown survival times to more than double, and 5 year survival rate increases. The following herbs were the most prescribed, in descending order:
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Hedyotis Bai Hua She She Cao Medicated Leaven Shen Qu Scutellaria Huang Qin |
Scutellaria Ban Zhi Lian Salvia Dan Shen Astragalus Huang Qi |
Bupleurum Chai Hu Rhubarb (Da Huang) Cyperus rotundus Xiang Fu |
Meanwhile, the following Formulas were most prescribed, in descending order:
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Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang Shen Ling Bai Zhu San Ping Wei San |
Xiao Chai Hu Tang Gui Pi Tang Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San |
Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang Bao He Wan Chai Hu Shu Gan Tang |
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang was by far the most commonly used formula with the next 3 also being often used. Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San was also used, although less commonly. (see here)
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Western Tradition Simples
Suggested Formulas Tincture of Pill Millipedes Tincture of Black Nightshade Decoction of Dodder of Thyme (Mesue) Decoction of Dodder of Thyme (Rhasis) Decoction for Cancer (Fuller) Syrup of Fumitory Greater Syrup of Fumitory Compound (Augustana) Syrup of Dodder of Thyme (Mesue) Syrup of Betony (Pharmacopoeia Augustana) Powder of Gum Lacca Greater (Dialacca Maj.) (Mesue) Indian Pills (Mesue) Pills for Melancholy (Unani) Arab Confect Purging Melancholy (Confectio Hamech) |
Chinese Classification Simples
Formulas Ping Xiao Capsules Damp Heat / Phlegm Heat Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang Xiao Chai Hu Tang Qi and Blood Stasis Chai Hu Shu Gan tang Qi and Blood Deficiency Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang Shi Quan Da Bu Tang Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang Ping Wei San Supportive during Chemotherapy Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San |
Special Formula
Japanese Research found that stage IV Pancreatic Cancer patients given either Shi Quan Da Bu Tang or Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang were able to double their life expectancy, and in some cases, lived for years after initial diagnosis. (see here)
Zuojin Pills
Coptis Huang Lian 9 grams
Evodia Wu Zhu Yu 1.5 grams
This has been shown to inhibit pancreatic cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. (see here)
Pancreatic Cancer
Poria Fu Ling
Scutellaria Huang Qin
Codonopsis Dang Shen
Atractylodes Bai Zhu
Coix Yi Yi Ren
Dang Gui
Citrus peel Chen Pi
Artemisia Yin Chen Hao
Polyporus Zhu Ling
Agrimony (Xian He Cao)
Smilax Tu Fu Ling
Hedyotis Bai Hua She She Cao.
(This was listed in a research case)
Pancreatic Cancer
Bupleurum Chai Hu
Scutellaria Huang Qin
Angelica Dang Gui
Codonopsis Dang Shen
Atractylodes Bai Zhu
Poria Fu Ling
Citrus Fo Shou
Curcuma E Zhu
Curcuma Yu Jin
Artemisia Yin Chen Hao
Coix Yi Yi Ren
Polyporus Zhu Ling
Smilax Tu Fu Ling
Agrimonia Xian He Cao
Patrinia Bai Jiang Cao
Hedyotis Bai Hua She She Cao
This was used for an elderly patient with Pancreatic cancer in the head of the Pancreas who didn’t receive any other treatment other than a biliary stent. His TCM diagnosis was Phlegm-Heat, Blood Stasis and Qi and Blood deficiency and his herbs were modified as needed over the course of his treatment. After less than 18 months treatment, his tumor was resolved and he lived for 9 years, dying of old age. (See here)
Research
–Complementary Chinese Herbal Medicine Therapy Improves Survival of Patients With Pancreatic Cancer in Taiwan: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study–Chinese Herbal Medicine Effectively Prolongs the Overall Survival of Pancreatic Cancer Patients: A Case Series
–Herbals and Plants in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review of Experimental and Clinical Studies
–Efficacy of Chemotherapy Integrated With Traditional Korean Medicine in Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: A Single-Center Retrospective Study
Boswellia
–Hydrodistilled essential oil of Boswellia sacra was investigated for its effect against Pancreatic cancer cell lines. All fractions of the oil suppressed cell viability and induced apoptosis with the high-molecular weight fractions being strongest (these containing higher levels of boswellic acid) (Ni et al., BMC Complement Altern Med, Dec 2012).
–Frankincense essential oil prepared from hydrodistillation of Boswellia sacra gum resins induces human pancreatic cancer cell death in cultures and in a xenograft murine model
–Earlier research also demonstrated boswellic acid to suppress growth and metastasis of human pancreatic tumors. (Park et al., PLoS One, 2011)
Calendula:
–Identification of antitumoral agents against human pancreatic cancer cells from Asteraceae and Lamiaceae plant extracts.
Cannabis
–Flavonoid Derivative of Cannabis Demonstrates Therapeutic Potential in Preclinical Models of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
–Potential Use of Cannabinoids for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
–Preclinical and Clinical Assessment of Cannabinoids as Anti-Cancer Agents
Mastic
–Gemcitabine combined with gum mastic causes potent growth inhibition and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells
Poria:
–Pachymic Acid Inhibits Growth and Induces Apoptosis of Pancreatic Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo by Targeting ER Stress
–Triterpenes from Poria cocos suppress growth and invasiveness of pancreatic cancer cells through the downregulation of MMP-7.
–Triterpenes from Poria cocos suppress growth and invasiveness of pancreatic cancer cells through the downregulation of MMP-7
Rabdosia
–Oridonin inhibits BxPC-3 cell growth through cell apoptosis.
–Oridonin induces apoptosis in SW1990 pancreatic cancer cells via p53- and caspase-dependent induction of p38 MAPK.
Rheum, Rhubarb
–Emodin and rhein decrease levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in human pancreatic cancer cells and attenuate cancer cachexia in athymic mice carrying these cells.
–Effects of emodin on the demethylation of tumor-suppressor genes in pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells.
Yarrow:
–Identification of antitumoral agents against human pancreatic cancer cells from Asteraceae and Lamiaceae plant extracts.
FORMULAS
–Utilising network pharmacology to explore the underlying mechanism of Wumei Pill in treating pancreatic neoplasms