Primary Liver Cancer

Primary liver cancer refers to a malignant tumor that originates in liver cells or intrahepatic bile duct cells, rather than spreading to the liver from cancer in another organ or tissue; it is therefore called primary liver cancer. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), liver cancer falls within the categories of “积聚” (abdominal masses), “胁痛” (hypochondriac pain), and “黄疸” (jaundice). When ascites develops in the later stages, it falls within the category of “鼓胀” (distension and swelling).

TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference

|Common Symptoms

Clinical Description:

Abdominal mass, hypochondriac pain, abdominal distension, fatigue and lack of energy, poor appetite, irritability, bitter taste in the mouth and dry throat, pale-red tongue with white coating, wiry or moderate pulse

In Plain Language:

  • You may be able to feel a lump in the abdomen.
  • Pain may occur on both sides beneath the ribs and may be more noticeable around the ribs.
  • The abdomen may feel swollen, tight, and uncomfortably full.
  • You may feel low in energy and physically weak, with less strength for daily activities.
  • Your appetite may be poor and you may have less interest in food.
  • You may feel restless or irritable and become angry easily.
  • You may have a bitter taste in your mouth and a dry, parched throat.
  • The tongue may appear pale red with a white coating.
  • The pulse may feel taut and wiry, or somewhat slow.

|Treatment Approach

Clinical Description:

Soothe the liver and relieve constraint; regulate Qi and strengthen the spleen

In Plain Language:

  • Use methods intended to smooth the flow of liver Qi and relieve constraint, helping Qi move more freely and easing discomfort such as distending pain beneath the ribs, chest tightness, low mood, irritability, and frequent sighing.
  • Use methods intended to regulate Qi and support the spleen, helping its digestive and transformative functions and easing problems such as poor appetite, bloating after meals, upper abdominal fullness, loose stools, and fatigue.

|Related Products

The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

|Common Symptoms

Clinical Description:

Abdominal mass, fullness and distension in the chest, hypochondria, epigastrium, and abdomen, dark complexion, low mood, belching, poor appetite, rough and dry skin, wiry pulse; purple tongue or petechiae and ecchymoses, or distended sublingual veins; thin yellow coating and a wiry, thready, rapid pulse

In Plain Language:

  • You may be able to feel a lump in the abdomen.
  • The chest, areas beneath the ribs, upper abdomen, and abdomen may feel full, bloated, or uncomfortable.
  • Your complexion may look dark or dull.
  • You may feel low or emotionally constrained.
  • You may burp or belch.
  • Your appetite may be poor, with little interest in food.
  • Your skin may feel rough and dry, with an uneven or scaly appearance.
  • The pulse may feel taut, like a tightly stretched string.
  • The tongue may look purple, show spots or patches of discoloration, or have enlarged, winding veins underneath.
  • The tongue coating may be thin and yellow.
  • The pulse may feel taut, thready, and rapid.

|Treatment Approach

Clinical Description:

Regulate Qi and invigorate blood; resolve blood stasis and dissipate accumulations

In Plain Language:

  • Use methods intended to regulate obstructed Qi and promote blood flow, helping Qi and blood circulate more smoothly and easing discomfort such as distending or stabbing pain, pain in a fixed location, tenderness to pressure, and bluish-purple discoloration under the skin.
  • Use methods intended to disperse blood stasis and gradually break down food stagnation, helping ease fullness after meals, upper abdominal bloating, bad breath, sour or rancid-tasting belching, constipation, or difficulty passing stool.

|Related Products

The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

|Common Symptoms

Clinical Description:

Abdominal mass, yellowing of the skin and eyes, ascites, distending pain beneath the ribs, poor appetite, bitter taste and dry mouth, red tongue with a yellow, greasy coating, wiry, slippery, rapid pulse

In Plain Language:

  • You may be able to feel a lump in the abdomen.
  • Your skin and eyes may look yellow, with an overall yellowish appearance.
  • Fluid may accumulate in the abdomen, causing it to enlarge and feel distended and uncomfortable.
  • There may be distending pain on both sides beneath the ribs, particularly around the rib area.
  • Your appetite may be poor, with less interest in food and reduced food intake.
  • You may have a bitter, dry mouth that feels parched or unpleasant.
  • The tongue may appear red with a yellow, greasy coating.
  • The pulse may feel taut and wiry, slippery, and rapid.

|Treatment Approach

Clinical Description:

Clear heat and resolve toxins; transform blood stasis and dispel dampness

In Plain Language:

  • Use methods intended to clear internal “heat” and dampness-related toxins, addressing heat-related or inflammation-like discomfort such as fever, restlessness, sore throat, mouth ulcers, red and painful skin swelling, bitter taste, and dry mouth.
  • Use methods intended to disperse blood stasis and eliminate dampness, promoting smoother circulation and reducing a heavy, sticky sensation. This approach may address discomfort such as distending or stabbing pain, tenderness to pressure, heaviness and fatigue, a thick, greasy tongue coating, a sticky feeling in the mouth, or scanty, dark urine.

|Related Products

The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

|Common Symptoms

Clinical Description:

Abdominal mass, dull pain beneath the ribs, low-grade fever, weight loss, fever, dry mouth, poor sleep, night sweats, reduced urine output, constipation, red tongue with little coating, thready and rapid pulse

In Plain Language:

  • You may be able to feel a lump in the abdomen.
  • You may have a persistent, mild ache on both sides beneath the ribs.
  • You may develop a low-grade fever, with a slight rise in body temperature and a mild feeling of warmth.
  • You may lose weight and appear noticeably thinner.
  • You may have a fever, with an elevated temperature and an uncomfortable feeling of heat.
  • Your mouth may feel dry and insufficiently moist.
  • You may sleep poorly, have difficulty falling asleep, or wake easily.
  • You may sweat while asleep or be prone to sweating at night.
  • Your urine output may be reduced.
  • You may have constipation, with straining or difficulty passing stool.
  • The tongue may appear red with little coating.
  • The pulse may feel thready and rapid.

|Treatment Approach

Clinical Description:

Nourish Yin and tonify the kidneys; nourish the blood and soften the liver

In Plain Language:

  • Use nourishing and moistening methods intended to replenish Yin fluids and essence associated with the kidneys, helping the body feel more “moisturized” and easing symptoms such as dry mouth and throat, warmth in the palms and soles, night sweats, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, tinnitus, and insomnia.
  • Use methods intended to nourish the blood and soothe liver Qi, helping Qi flow more evenly and easing problems such as low mood and irritability, distending pain beneath the ribs, dry or irritated eyes, dizziness, palpitations, or restless sleep.

|Related Products

The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

Yi Guan Jian
Zhibai Dihuang Wan

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