| Breast cancer is the No.1 female cancer in the world.At present,the treatment therapies of breast cancer are mainly surgery,radiotherapy and chemotherapy.The purpose of these treatment therapies is to directly remove or kill the tumor,which TCM refers to the elimination of pathogens.It is undeniable that these western treatment therapies have the incomparable advantages in removing breast cancer tumors while comparing to TCM.However,the occurrence of breast cancer is related to two aspects of healthy qi and pathogenic factors,which TCM refers to“zhengqi”and “xieqi”.It can be seen clinically that many breast cancer still recur or the patients even face the risk of death after regular surgery or radiotherapy and chemotherapy.These cost the patient and their family a heavy price.Furthermore,these treatments not only kill breast cancer tumors,but also have a deadly effect on normal cells,and produce certain toxic side effects,as a result,breast cancer patients with insufficient“ zhengqi ” become even weaker.TCM believes that people with strong“zhengqi”do not attract “xieqi”to its body.The onset and recurrence of breast cancer is undoubtedly related to the lack of“zhengqi” in the body.TCM or acupuncture can play a role in supporting“zhengqi”and reducing toxic and side effects in the process of western medicine treatment of breast cancer.Although many clinical researches on breast cancer have also clearly shown that TCM treatment of breast cancer has made up for the shortage of western medicine in treatment.However,relevant data points out that the number of cases and mortality rate of breast cancer continue rising every year,and according to the survey,breast cancer has become the leading cause of death among Malaysian women since 2017.Therefore,TCM should seek new discovery in the understanding and prevention of breast cancer,so as to prevent breast cancer from getting deteriorated and increase the survival rate of patients in a better way.Overall viewing,TCM believes that they should pay attention to the interdependence and mutual restriction between the various organs and meridians of the human body when they study daily metabolism and any slight changes of the human body.Under pathological conditions,the internal organs and meridians can affect and transform each other.Breast cancer is a local manifestation of a systemic disease,the occurrence of breast cancer requires a 5 to 10-year-time process,during this period,the internal organs and meridians of the human body affect and transform each other.In addition to the internal organs and the twelve meridians,there are also the extraordinary fu organs and the eight extra channels in the human body,but the ancient and modern doctors' researches on the prevention and treatment of diseases,in the aspect of acupuncture and moxibustion,the main theoretical basis is the twelve meridians cycle,while in the traditional chinese medicine,the viscera meridians are the main theory,obviously,there are very few studies on the eight extra channels.However,chronic illness and asthenic syndrome are the pathological characteristics of the eight extra channels as well as the pathological characteristics of breast cancer.Therefore,the theory of the eight extra channels and its correlation with the prevention and treatment of breast cancer deserve our further study,in order to discover new theories that are beneficial in clinical applications.ObjectiveThrough the theoretical and literature research on the eight extra channels in acupuncture and chinese medicine,the incidence and also the prevention and treatment of breast cancer in the relationship with the eight extra channels are explored.This study is designed to allow TCM doctors to have a deeper understanding of the use of the eight extra channels,and provide a broader ways of treating clinical breast cancer.Thereby,to reduce the incidence and mortality of breast cancer,the using of TCM in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer is hoped to be enhanced.MethodologyThis research is divided into four chapters.The first chapter is related to literature research on breast cancer and the eight extra channels.It mainly discusses the current status and development trends of breast cancer research locally and internationally,traceability of traditional chinese medicine diseases and description of symptoms,analysis of viscera and meridians and disease locations,population incidence,etiology and pathogenesis,and syndrome differentiation treatment,as well as the ancient literature about the eight extra channels.Besides,is the discussion of the eight extra channels in modern literature,thereafter is the related discussions between the eight extra channels and breast cancer.The second chapter is a theoretical study on the correlation between the incidence of breast cancer and the eight extra channels.The author explores the relationship between breast cancer and the eight extra channels from the perspectives of pathogenesis,yin and yang,qi and blood,viscera meridians,qi activity and also the reproductive axis of TCM.Firstly,explain the relationship between the Chong Ren Du Meridians and the pathogenesis of breast cancer from the perspective of healthy qi and pathogenic factors.Thereafter,through theoretical researches on the origin of the human body meridians,the origin of the Chong Ren Du Meridians,the communication between the eight extra channels and the Sanjiao,Qi Street,Four Seas and the twelve meridians,and analyze and explain how the eight extra channels pass through the Sanjiao,Qi Street and the Four Seas to communicate with the whole body in order to play a leading role in accumulating and regulating the circulation of yin ang yang,qi and blood in the twelve meridians.The eight extra channels are the main core of regulating the balance of yin and yang so as to explore the importance of the eight extra channels in prevention and treating breast cancer.Finally,through the important effect of the eight extra channels on the qi activity and also the reproductive axis of TCM,the relationship with breast cancer is discussed.The third chapter is the clinical literature and theoretical research on the prevention and treatments of breast cancer with related acupoints of the eight extra channels.Firstly,by sorting out the literature on acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of breast cancer,studying its correlation with the acupoints related to the eight extra channels.Based on the path of the eight extra channels and their related acupoints,the acupuncture and moxibustion literature of breast cancer in the past 30 years was systematically sorted out,and the rules of using the relevant acupoints of the eight extra channels in the literature preventing and treating breast cancer was summarized,in order to explore the characteristics and theoretical application of the theory of the eight extra channels in the clinical prevention and treatment of breast cancer.Materials and Methods: 1)Literature searching: systematically search the literature published in cnki.net from the year of 1989 to 2018,the clinical treatment of breast cancer treated by acupuncture is used as the key words,including the abstract or full text of the searching results.Download the included literature,read the full text,analyze and summarize it,and organize it systematically.2)Literature inclusion criteria: a)Including clinical trials and animal experiments.b)Acupuncture treatment includes general acupuncture,thread embedding,warm moxibustion,etc.,or acupuncture combined with other TCM methods such as chinese medicice used or TCM massage.c)The scope of the disease is mainly the prevention and treatment of breast cancer,including the previous treatments,after and during chemotherapy and radiotherapy.3)Document exclusion criteria: a)Duplicate reports.b)Insufficient literature to use.c)Documents lacking authenticity or reference value.d)The literature of the main acupoint is not clearly indicated.4)Searching results: A total of 80 articles were retrieved by key words.28 articles met the inclusion criteria,including 25 clinical experimental studies and 3 animal experimental studies.In this paper,28 articles that met the criteria were entered into an Excel table for analysis.Thereafter is the theoretical discussion on the acupoints which related to the eight extra channels being used in toxic and side effects caused by the treatment of breast cancer after surgery,radiotherapy and chemotherapy,as well as the theoretical discussion on the suppression and prevention of breast cancer tumors.The fourth chapter is the chinese herbs analysis of the eight extra channels and its correlation with breast cancer.The first section is the analysis and study of the chinese herbs related to the eight extra channels from the book of De Pei Ben Cao-Qi Jing Yao Kao written by Yan Jie et al and also Ye Tian-shi's book of Lin Zheng Zhi Nan Yi An.According to these two books,the medicines that related to the eight extra channels are gathered and classified for establishing a database.The medicines that do not indicate which meridian belongs to are strictly not included.After that,to have a clearer and more accurate clarification,the national planning textbook eleventh five-year edition Zhong Yao Xue,as well as Ben Cao Gang Mu and the 2015 edition of Zhong Guo Yao Dian are used for reference.After the names of the chinese medicines are unified,the viscera,the four qi,the five flavors,and the effectiveness of the chinese medicines are noted down and all the data is sorted out and analyzed,thereafter the medicines characteristics of the eight extra channels are summarized.The second section is to explore the effects of the medicines of eight extra channels in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer through the clinical treatment literature and theoretical research.Findings1)The interaction between the healthy qi and the pathogenic factors is the pathogenesis of breast cancer,and its pathogenesis is related to the gradual weakness and decline of the eight extra channels.The asthenia of the Du meridian is the initial factor leading to the onset of breast cancer and it is also the origin of women's decline of healthy qi.The pathogenesis of breast cancer can be summarized as the lack of yang qi in the Du meridian-the body's yang qi is weak and lack of impetus-the qi activity is stagnation-phlegm dampness and blood stasis and other yin and cold evils condensed-Chong Ren two meridians gradually weaken-the pathogenic factors follows the Chong Ren two meridians circulates to the chest without dissipating-phlegm,dampness and stasis flow in the breast-accumulate and develop into breast cancer.2)Ren Du two meridians are the beginning of the human body meridians.The Chong Ren Du three meridians are from the same source,it originates from the kinetic qi produced between the left and right kidneys under the navel.The eight extra channels connect closely with Sanjiao,Qi Street and the Four Seas,it is an important meridian system in the body besides the twelve meridians.The eight extra channels is the main hub of the body's qi activity.The imbalance of qi activity is closely related to the incidence of breast cancer.3)TCM reproductive axis theory can be used to guide the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.The reproductive axis is closely related to the Du meridian,therefore the author believes that the Du meridian should be added to the reproductive axis of TCM,that is,“Du meridian-the qi of Kidney-Tiangui-Chong Ren-Uterus Axis”.4)a)The research on acupuncture treatment of breast cancer has shows an increasing trend year by year,especially in the past 5 years,acupuncture treatment of breast cancer has become a new hot spot.b)The clinical trial of acupuncture for breast cancer is mainly aimed at treating the side effects caused by breast cancer surgery or radiotherapy and chemotherapy.Its curative effect is remarkable.c)In 28 literatures,a total of 62 acupoints were summarized,with a frequency in use of 181 times.A total of 30 acupoints related to the eight meridians were summarized from 62 acupoints,and the frequency of use was 105.Among them,there are 7 acupoints that belonged to Ren meridian(RN3,RN4,RN6,RN8,RN9,RN12,RN17),and 5 Du meridian acupoints(DU3,DU4,DU14,DU16,DU20),3 Yuan-primary acupoints(LI4,LR3,KI3),11 acupoints that related to the pathway of qi(ST25,ST30 and 9 back-shu points),1 four seas related acupoints(ST36),and there are 3 acupoints which is related to the eight confluence point(SJ5,LU7,PC6).d)The average rate of the eight extra channels related acupoints for treating upper limb edema and functional rehabilitation is 43%;the average rate for treating gastrointestinal reactions and leukopenia is 93%;the average rate for treating fatigue is 95%;for treating emotions,the average rate is 75%;the average rate for treating other breast cancer-related conditions is 60%;the average rate for animal experiments is 71%.5)Acupuncture and moxibustion of related acupoints from the eight extra channels can stimulate the body's innate qi,mobilize healthy qi to coordinate the yin yang qi blood of the five internal organs,restore the balance of the body's qi activity.It is the key acupoints for the treatment of gastrointestinal reactions,low white blood cells,fatigue,and negative emotions caused by breast cancer surgery or radiotherapy and chemotherapy.In addition,the clinical and experimental reports on tumor suppression and prevention by acupuncture and moxibustion have shown that the acupuncture points related to the eight extra channels can help to strengthen the body's immune system to suppress the growing of tumors or prevent the occurrence of breast cancer.6)a)There are 75 flavors of chinese medicines included in the eight extra channels,which are classified into 22 flavors of Du meridian,14 flavors of Ren meridian,29 flavors of Chong meridian,26 flavors of Dai meridian,8 flavors of Yangwei meridian,7 flavors of Yinwei meridian,3flavors of Yangqiao meridian and 3 flavors of Yinqiao meridian,with a total number of 112 frequencies.b)Tonic medicine account for 44% of the total number of medicines in the eight extra channels.The tonic medicine occupies 68% of the medicine in Du meridian,65% in Ren meridian,48% in Chong meridian,27% in Dai meridian,75% in Yangwei meridian,and 57% in Yinwei meridian.The medicines in Du Ren Chong and Yangwei meridian are mainly tonics medicine.30% of medicine in Dai meridian are astringents medicines,which is the majority medicine in the Dai meridian,while secondly,it is the tonics medicine which account for 27% of the total medicine in Dai meridian.c)Among the tonics medicine in the eight extra channels,61% of it are tonics medicines which classified as Yangqi and39% of it is tonics medicines for Yinblood.The majority of the tonics medicine in Du meridian,Chong meridian,and Dai meridian are tonics medicine for Yangqi,in which Du meridian account for 74%,Chong meridian account for 64.3%,Dai meridian account for 57%,besides that,Yangwei meridian account 50% of the tonics medicine for Yangqi.The majority of the tonics medicine in Ren meridian and Yinwei meridian are tonics medicine for Yinblood,which account for 78% and 75% seperatly.d)The chinese medicinal properties for the eight extra channels consist of 56% warm,23% flat,and 21% cold.Warm medicine account for 82% in Du meridian,55% in Chong meridian,46% in Dai meridian,63% in Yangwei meridian,57% in Yinwei meridian and 67% in Yinqiao meridian.The ratio of the warm medicine of these 6 meridians was obviously higher with compare to the cold medicine.The ratio of both cold medicine and warm medicine in Ren meridian is equal to 36%,besides the ratio of cold medicine in Qiao meridian is higher than the ratio of warm medicine,with the ratio of 2:1.e)The five flavors of chinese medicine in the eight extra channels are being classified according to yin and yang,in which yang account for 59% and the yin account for 41%.Among the eight meridians,the ratios of the five flavors belong to yang is higher than the yin in the Chong meridian,Ren meridian,Du meridian,Yangwei meridian and Yinqiao meridian.For the Yinwei meridian and Yangqiao meridian,the ration of the five flavors of yin and yang is equal.Only the Dai meridian,the five flavors that belong to yin is slightly higher than the flavor of yang.Among the eight meridians,the sweet flavor type of the chinese medicine is the majority,except for Qiao meridian with the majority of spicy flavor type of chinese medicine.f)The visceral meridian of the chinese medicine in the eight extra channels is mainly attributed to liver meridian and kidney meridian,which cover 23% and 25%seperately.g)There are 28% of the chinese medicine in the eight extra channels is animal types.7)The eight extra channels have their own unique rules in terms of medicine categories,four qi,five flavors and the viscera meridian.The results of clinical literature research has shown that eight of the first ten high-frequency medicines treated by chinese medicine for breast cancer surgery are attributed to the eight extra channels,namely Astragalus,Atractylodes,Poria,Angelica sinensis,Licorice,Lycium barbarum,white Peony and Rehmannia.Except for Poria,the other 7chinese medicines are attributed to Chong Ren Du meridians.It can be seen that the eight extra channels medicines is the main core medicine for breast cancer,especially the medicine in the Chong Ren Du meridians is the key to the treatment of breast cancer.The tonic medicine of the eight extra channels can fundamentally supplement the primordial qi of the body,the sufficient of primordial qi means the body have strong immunity,not only helps to overcome the disease,its also can improve the treatment effect of breast cancer,speed up the recovery of physique,improve or reduce some adverse reactions after surgery,prepare for further radiotherapy and chemotherapy,achieve tumor suppression,improve long-term efficacy,reduce the recurrence rate and mortality of breast cancer after surgery.ConclusionThere is a close relationship between the incidence of breast cancer and the eight extra channels,therefore,in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer,the interaction with the eight extra channels should be considered.The eight extra channels have their own related acupoints in acupuncture treatment.Moreover,its also have their own unique rules in the application of medicine categories,four qi,five flavors,viscera meridian and etc.,and they should be given enough attention in clinical practice to open up new ideas for their usage in daily TCM practise.Through sorting out the research literature of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of breast cancer and the theoretical discussion on the prevention and treatment of breast cancer with medicine of eight extra channels,it is found that the eight extra channels plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.In the prevention and treatment of general diseases,TCM mostly uses the twelve regular channels and the five internal organs as the guiding theories,this is the general rules of prevention and treatment of diseases.The theory of the eight extra channels can be described as a transformation of TCM to prevent and treat diseases.It has special leading significance for breast cancer disease that is about life and death.Li Shizhen particularly emphasized the importance of the eight extra channels to the body.He stated that the eight extra channels are the backbone of the entire body meridians,and can always hold the twelve regular channels.If we know nothing on this,then we don't know the outline of the twelve regular channels.He stressed that if a doctor does not know this,then he does not know the pathogenesis.It is hoped that this study will allow doctors to have a deeper understanding of the application of acupuncture and medicine of the eight extra channels,and also hope that the theory of the eight extra channels can provide an innovative basis and a broader way for clinical prevention and treatment of breast cancer,in order to improve the overall level of TCM treatment of breast cancer,thereby reducing the upward tendency of its morbidity and mortality. |
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