Library

Chen Youzhi's Medical Cases

By Chen Youzhi

Not a Good Prime Minister

--My Career as a Practitioner

Preface

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Chinese herbal medicine are profound and extensive, containing extremely rich human experience in the prevention and treatment of diseases. They are the gems of the splendid culture of the Chinese nation and a precious gift from the Chinese nation to the world. Physician Chen Youzhi inherited the legacy of his ancestors, apprenticed under masters, earnestly studied TCM and herbal knowledge, strived to absorb their essence, guided by theory, and engaged in clinical practice. He had reviewed over a million prescriptions from predecessors and contemporaries, diagnosed and treated 400,000 patients, accumulated a vast amount of data, and achieved some innovations. Guided by the noble quality of healing the sick and saving lives, Dr. Chen, in his spare time after work, utilized nighttime hours to write vigorously about his experiences and insights in treating various diseases, especially cancer. After years of writing, he compiled and edited this book. The experiences and cases contained in the book are beneficial for professionals or patients and their families alike, and constitute a contribution to society.

Physician Chen Youzhi comes from a family of TCM practitioners in Qingtian County, Zhejiang Province. Ancestors such as Chen Jingxing, Chen Yan, Chen Ding, etc., have left their illustrious names to this day. In his youth, Chen, adhering to the ancestral maxim of "doing good and accumulating virtue," apprenticed under Master Mao Dawen, a famous physician in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, receiving authentic transmission. He studied and worked for fifteen years at Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the earliest hospital of its kind in East China, laying a solid foundation in TCM, herbal medicine, clinical skills, and practice. Later, he was transferred to Zhejiang Cancer Hospital to specialize in the TCM prevention and treatment of tumors. On Saturdays and holidays, giving up rest, he held outpatient clinics at Huqingyutang Famous Doctors Hall, alleviating suffering, improving quality of life, and prolonging survival for numerous patients, particularly those with late-stage cancer or those facing death after failed surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. Among them were miracles of recovery from near-death states, with terminal patients achieving cures. It is truly said that 'saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda.'

The book *Bu Wei Liang Xiang* (Not a Good Prime Minister), compiled and authored by Chen Youzhi, explores the TCM prevention and treatment of tumors, common diseases, frequent diseases, and difficult/complicated syndromes; discusses the Theory of Five Movements and Six Qi (Wu Yun Liu Qi); and offers insights into certain drugs. It highlights syndrome differentiation and treatment (Bian Zheng Lun Zhi) and prescribing according to symptoms during the TCM diagnostic and treatment process, yielding significant efficacy. Integrating knowledge, scientific rigor, and practicality, it presents medical cases that surpass mere case records. In his forty-year career, the content is rich, reflecting the closeness between physicians and patients from different levels. With one volume in hand, one gains much benefit.

Table of Contents

Part One: Legacy of Ancestors

Part Two: Apprenticeship in Medicine

Part Three: Theory of Five Movements and Six Qi

1. Luck Theory and Hangzhou Climate

2. Luck Theory and Hangzhou Epidemics

3. Luck Theory in *Nei Jing* and the 1987 Shanghai Hepatitis A Epidemic

Part Four: Chinese Herbs

1. Ginseng (Renshen)

2. Toad (Chan)

3. Decoction and Administration of Chinese Herbs

Part Five: Overview of Tumors

1. TCM Prevention and Treatment of Precancerous Lesions of Gastric Cancer

2. TCM Treatment of Gastric Cancer

3. TCM Prevention and Treatment after Radiotherapy for Cancer

4. Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment for Common Toxic Side Effects of Chemotherapy Drugs

5. Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment for Cancer Fever

6. TCM Treatment of Late-Stage Liver Cancer ~ With Analysis of Clinical Data from 108 Cases

Part Six: Oncology Medical Cases

1. Clinical Significance of Positive Alpha-Fetoprotein in Diagnosing Liver Cancer

2. Familial Predisposition of Malignant Tumors

3. TCM Cure of Multiple Liver Cancers after Chemotherapy

4. Post-Liver Cancer Surgery: Anger Injures the Liver

5. Liver Cancer: TCM Cure of Stroke Three Years Later

6. TCM Treatment Prolongs Life after Interruption of Chemotherapy for Liver Cancer

7. TCM Treatment Shrinks Mass in Liver Cancer

8. TCM Treatment of Late-Stage Liver Cancer

9. Long-Term Survival with TCM Treatment after Chemotherapy for Liver Cancer

10. TCM Treatment of Liver Cancer Ascites: Survived for 2 Years

11. Lung Metastasis of Liver Cancer: Long-Term Survival with TCM Treatment

12. TCM Treatment after Liver Cancer Surgery: Survived for Three Years

13. TCM Treatment after Second Surgery and Chemotherapy for Gastric Cancer: Survived for 22 Years

14. Recurrence after Gastric Cancer Surgery: TCM Treatment Survived for 8 Years

15. TCM Treatment for Metastasis after Gastric Cancer Surgery and Chemotherapy

16. TCM Treatment for Intestinal Obstruction after Gastric Cancer Surgery

17. TCM Treatment for Elderly Patients with Gastric Cancer

18. TCM Treatment after Chemotherapy for Liver and Pancreatic Metastasis following Surgery for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

19. Third Surgery for Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Stomach

20. Long-Term Survival with TCM Treatment for Tumor Fever in Lung Cancer

21. TCM Treatment for Bone Metastasis of Lung Cancer

22. Central-Type Cancer of the Left Lung: Survived 4 Years with TCM Treatment

23. Post-Colorectal Cancer Surgery Metastasis: Mass Disappeared with TCM Treatment

24. TCM Cure of Gallbladder Cancer

25. Clear Diagnosis and Differential Treatment

26. TCM Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

27. TCM Treatment after Radiochemotherapy for Thymoma

28. TCM Cure of Pleural Metastasis in Upper Left Chest Three Years after Kidney Cancer Surgery

29. Long-Term Survival with TCM Treatment for Prostate Cancer with Multiple Metastases

30. 18 Years Post-Surgery for Malignant Melanoma

31. Long-Term Survival with TCM Treatment for Multiple Myeloma

32. TCM Treatment for Recurrence after Surgery and Radiotherapy for Glioma

33. Long-Term Good Survival with TCM Treatment for Recurrent Bladder Cancer Post-Surgery

34. TCM Treatment of Leukemia

35. TCM Treatment of Malignant Lymphoma

36. TCM Treatment of Esophageal Cancer

37. TCM Treatment for Urinary Retention (Long Bi) after Cervical Cancer Surgery

38. TCM Treatment of Nodular Goiter

39. TCM Cure of Recurrence after Second Surgery for Thyroid Adenoma

40. Qi Goiter (Qi Ying)

41. Three Cases of TCM Treatment for Metastatic Tumors

42. Do Not Randomly Seek "Medical Care" When Sick

43. Two Elderly Patients with Cervical and Gastric Cancer

Part Seven: Diarrhea {Medical Cases}

In Treating Chronic Diarrhea, Attention to Detail is Essential

1. Supplementing Mingmen (Gate of Life) and Warming/Spleen Earth

2. Removing Fuel from Under the Cauldron: Heavy Use of Aconite (Fuzi)

3. Pediatric Diarrhea: Strengthening Spleen with Codonopsis and Poria (Shen Ling)

4. Lower Jiao Slippery Diarrhea: Astringency to Conclude Treatment

5. Astringent and Convergent Properties: Local Medicinal Selection

6. Knowing Liver Transmits to Spleen: First Strengthen the Spleen

7. Cold Injuring Yang Qi: Warm the Cold

8. Chronic Diarrhea: Yin Damage Extending to Yang

Part Eight: Liver Diseases {Medical Cases}

1. Severe Jaundice Hepatitis

2. Acute Jaundice Hepatitis

3. Acute Hepatitis B

4. Acute Jaundice Hepatitis

5. Treating Hepatitis B According to Individual, Time, and Location

6. Hepatitis Medicine: Disease Cured upon Arrival

7. Hepatitis Cirrhosis

8. Hepatitis B Serological Markers Turning Negative {1}

9. Hepatitis B Serological Markers Turning Negative {2}

10. Old Gao's Cirrhosis

11. Miss Shen's Cirrhosis

Part Nine: Difficult and Complicated Syndromes {Medical Cases}

1. Behcet's Disease: Treating from the Heart

2. Erysipelas with Fever

3. Unexplained Fever

4. Bronchiectasis Hemoptysis: Cured Upon Speech

5. Urticaria (Yin Zhen)

6. Rhubarb (Dahuang) Treating Urticaria

7. Depression Syndrome (Yu Zheng)

8. Epilepsy

9. Removing Fuel from Under the Cauldron: Treating Midnight Dancing

10. Treating Urinary Retention (Long Bi) via the Lung

11. Asthma

12. Lumbar Disc Herniation

13. Hernia

14. Night Sweats

15. Stroke {1}

16. Stroke {2}

17. Internal Movement of Liver Wind

18. Endogenous Heat-Toxin Accumulation

19. Nephrotic Syndrome {1}

20. Nephrotic Syndrome {2}

21. Dampness is the Chief of Hundred Diseases

22. Transforming Dampness and Strengthening Spleen

23. Diarrhea with Infection: Cured Upon Touch

24. Spleen Deficiency Abdominal Distension

Postscript

Part One

Legacy of Ancestors

Qingtian County is located in southern Zhejiang Province. Its terrain features rolling mountains and crisscrossing streams, with beautiful scenery and talented people. Hardworking and brave ancestors created a history of civilization with their hands. Farmers diligently cultivated, turning barren hills into terraced fields for grain. Craftsmen produced exquisite stone carvings of unparalleled skill, renowned since ancient times. Merchants spread across the five continents and four seas. Scholars throughout dynasties, from the Southern Song to the end of the Qing Dynasty, saw 121 individuals pass the Jinshi examination, making it a place where celebrities emerged in abundance.

Qingtian has a large mountain, originally named Qingtian Mountain, now known as Taihe Mountain, located north of the county seat. It derived its name from white cranes roosting there in ancient times.

Legend has it that Ye Fashan refined elixirs and tested swords here. Upon completion of the elixir and attainment of the Dao, he mounted a crane and ascended to heaven. Hence it is also called "Sword-Testing Stone" and "Elixir Mountain." Taoists refer to "Qingtian Cave" as the 30th Celestial Grotto, a Taoist holy site. Due to towering pines, strange rocks, elegant scenery, there are eight scenes: Dawn at Xie Bridge, Jade Splashing on Elixir Mountain, Asking Cranes in Immortal Village, Emerald Rings Nurturing Beauty, Listening to Waves While Holding Pines, Dew Drops Pointing to Changes, Hunzhi Testing Sword, and Whistling to the River. Each has its own charm. The main scene, 'Hunzhi Testing Sword,' is at Hunzhi Peak on top of Taihe Mountain. A 15-meter-high giant rock stands majestically. Legend says Ye Fashan tested his sword after refining the elixir, splitting the rock into four. The furnace opening is one meter wide, shaped like a cross. The rock face features cliff inscriptions and an image of the Green Ox Daoist. Below are Taihe Cave, Panlong Cave, and the Elixir Well. Here are the footprints of Li Bai, Lu You, Liu Bowen, and Guo Moruo who crossed boats to climb the mountain. Celebrities through generations were intoxicated by the scenery here, leaving countless calligraphy treasures for posterity. South of the foot of Hunzhi Peak lies a beautiful stone about two meters high, called "Taihe Mountain Filial Piety Rock." Legend holds that those who are filial to parents and elders can make the rock dance gracefully by pushing it. At the foot of the mountain, in early years, were vegetable plots and graveyards reclaimed by our Chen family ancestors. According to genealogical records, Chen ancestors once served as generals and prime ministers, especially producing many famous doctors, bringing glory to the clan!

Chen Zhongli, the first ancestor of Qingtian, moved from Yueqing to Qingtian during the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty, marking a history of 800 years. The Chen clan is arranged by generation; I am already the 25th generation.

According to the 1990 edition of the Qingtian County Gazetteer, the scientific and cultural level of the Southern Song Dynasty reached unprecedented heights in the long river of history. In the 8th year of Shaoxing (1138 AD), the Song Dynasty moved south and established its capital in Hangzhou. Its politics, economy, and culture shifted from the Central Plains to the South. At that time, Wenzhou's shipbuilding industry and lacquerware craftsmanship were quite developed. However, due to the rulers' heavy taxation and exactions on the people, while prosperity flourished, class contradictions were sharp, and farmers lived in hardship, forced to rebel. For example: Fang La's righteous army attacked Wenzhou in 1120, and in 1121, Yu Dao led a rebellion in Nanxi, Yongjia. Furthermore, natural disasters were continuous, with many years of severe cold, frequent storms and floods, and cold snaps with snow in late spring, leading to epidemics. Due to production growth and cultural prosperity, medical development was promoted. Simultaneously, the prevalence of epidemics objectively posed higher requirements and practical opportunities for pharmacologists. This also promoted the development of medicine in the Oujiang River basin of southern Zhejiang. At that time, herbs from Wenzhou such as Asparagus Root (Tianmendong), Dendrobium (Shihu), Ginger (Shengjiang), Cibotium Rhizome (Gouji), and Atractylodes Rhizome (Cangzhu) influenced the whole country. Many famous doctors and medical books also emerged. According to the Chen Clan Genealogy: Chen Yan (1121-1190 AD), second son of the sixth-generation ancestor Chen E, was an outstanding representative of the medical field at that time. In Xin Si year of Shaoxing (1161 AD), he wrote *Yi Yuan Zhi Zhi*; in Jiawu year of Chunxi (1174 AD), he wrote *San Yin Ji Yi Bing Fang Lun*. Based on the "Thousand kinds of ailments do not exceed three categories" from *Jin Gui*, and combining the theory of illness caused by excess of the Five Emotions from *Nei Jing*, he explored the source of disease, discussing internal causes, external causes, and non-internal/non-external causes—the "Three Causes"—bringing new development to TCM etiology. Since then, discussions on etiology have followed the Three Causes theory. This book played a certain role in the history of Chinese medicine.

In August 1957, People's Medical Publishing House selected ancient TCM classics for publication. It was reprinted in 1984. Among them were the life deeds of my ancestor Chen Yan:

Chen Yan [approx. 1121-1190], courtesy name Wuze, from Hexi, was a famous Southern Song dynasty medical scientist. He devoted himself to the medical way, excelled in formulas and pulse diagnosis, achieved immediate effects in treating diseases, and could predict outcomes for untreatable conditions. Based on clinical practice and drawing on predecessors' experience, he explored essential techniques of the medical way and established the "Three Causes Ultimate One" theory. In the first year of Chunxi (1174), he completed *San Yin Ji Yi Bing Yuan Lun Cui*. *History of Song* recorded it under the title *San Yin Ji Yi Bing Fang Lun*. *San Yin Ji Yi Bing Fang Lun* contains nearly 240,000 words, 18 volumes, divided into 180 categories, recording over 1,050 medical prescriptions, covering internal, external, ENT, gynecology, and pediatrics. Before discussing specific syndromes, it first presents general medical theory, among which the "Three Causes" theory regarding etiology is the theoretical focus of the whole book. *Ci Hai* entry for "Three Causes": Three Causes, a term in TCM, one method of classifying etiology. Collective term for internal causes, external causes, and non-internal/non-external causes. Song dynasty Chen Wuze's *San Yin Ji Yi Bing Fang Lun* takes the pathogenic factors of Cold, Summerheat, Dryness, Dampness, Wind, and Heat (generally 'Fire')—the 'Six Evils'—as external causes; excess of Joy, Anger, Worry, Thought, Sadness, Fear, and Fright—the 'Seven Emotions'—as internal causes; others such as hunger/fullness, fatigue, falls, crushing/drowning, metal wounds, and injuries from insects/beasts are collectively termed non-internal/non-external causes. The "Three Causes" theory was already proposed in Zhang Zhongjing's *Jin Gui Yao Lue* of the Han Dynasty, but Chen Yan elaborated on it based on combined treatment. This greatly developed etiological theory and laid the foundation for the development of pathology in later generations. The General Catalog of *Siku Quanshu* (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries) in the Qing Dynasty commented on this book: "Each category has discussion and prescriptions; the language is elegant and the reasoning concise and comprehensive, unlike the vulgar and cluttered works of other schools."

Chen Clan Genealogy records that Chen Zhongli, eldest son of the sixth-generation ancestor Chen Rong, practiced medicine to benefit the world, spreading his fine reputation in the Oujiang and Kuocai Mountain regions. During the Jiading era of the Southern Song Dynasty, on one day returning from a house call, he saw two officials binding a young man onto a ferry boat. Inquiring about the cause, he learned the boy owed money to a rich man and was unable to repay. Chen generously paid off the debt for the boy without asking for his name or address. That night, he dreamed of a deity holding a tally and reading to him, conveying the order of the Supreme Lord: accumulating gold and books is inferior to accumulating hidden virtue. He gifted Panlong Mountain to him. The next day, as the sun rose from the east, indeed a mother and son arrived with a wooden tray holding a deed. The deed stated that in Nanmu Rock, Xiaoling Township, Shankou Town, there was a piece of land, bounded by Kui Ti Palace Ridge Water to the East, Shandu Shuangkeng Mouth to the South, Daji Tou Zhongtan to the West, and Touche to the North, totaling 36 mu. The mother said her son's surname was Jin, given name Xian. Yesterday, grateful for the life-saving grace, this land was left by ancestors. It is said that Panlong Mountain is a fengshui treasure land for burial, and she sincerely wished to reward the benefactor. Coincidentally, Chen Zhongli's father, Chen Rong, had passed away and was in the coffin but not yet buried. He immediately took his son to inspect the mountain. Nanmu Rock backs against the Donggong Mountain range and faces Qinzhen Tang (a Buddhist holy site, plaque handwritten by Zhao Puchu in 1984 saying "Qinzhen Chan Temple") to the west. Xiaoling Stream winds its way towards the Oujiang River. Departing from the county town that day, passing through Shankou and Renzhuang Township to disembark in Xiaoling Township, along the way were fragrant flowers and singing birds, clear mountains and waters, towering ancient trees. Valuable herbs such as Honeysuckle (Jinyinhua), Asparagus Root (Tianmendong), Ganoderma (Lingzhi), Gynostemma (Jiaogulan), Cornus Fruit (Shanzhuyu), Dioscorea Hypoglauca (Shenxian Duizhao Cao), Achyranthes (Niuxi), and Eucommia Bark (Duzhong) were everywhere. Indeed, it was a fairyland on earth, matching what was seen in the dream. Chen Zhongli read extensively, understanding astronomy, geography, Yin-Yang, and numerology. Inspecting Panlong Mountain, he saw it as a diagram of Fire Bureau, Yang Dragon, Noble Pattern. The ancestral mountain emitting the vein, Fire Star, represents Salary; the Sitting Mountain, Fire Star, represents Official; the Facing Mountain, Wood Star, represents Seal. Layers of passes and curtains, left and right both closing sand and water. The acupoint site has shrimp whiskers and crab eyes. Water from inner and outer halls all comes to bow and embrace. All waters converge and exit from the Xu direction. Birds and beasts guard the gates like huabiao pillars. Beads threading the acupoint possess complete Wealth, Official, Minister, and Seal qualities. It is a pattern of great wealth and nobility. He personally circled the dragon vein tomb site and paid land silver to each household according to price. He renamed Panlong Mountain as Da Panlong Mountain. The following year, Ding Chou year, his father's coffin was transported from Wenzhou to Da Panlong Mountain. When entering the pit, thunder roared loudly. Everyone said it was an auspicious omen. From then on, they settled in Heyi Fang, Qingtian County town.