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The Eight Important Points of Cancer (10) – Afterword

The manuscript for this pamphlet was written two years ago in New York I’d hoped to publish an English version but could not find a com- < petent translator. This past spring I returned to Taiwan where JDI’. Lee Huan—shen of the National Chinese Medical Research Association read the manuscript and urged me to pubh’sh it. He added, ‘An‘ appendix of herbal prescriptions would certainly help many.” I replied, “This is a painful subject for me. A while back my teacher, Ch’ien Ming-shan wrote the lines:

I have a golden pill to bestow upon the world.

But people see mere dog feces.

Cancer is constantly changing and never limited to a single symptom—static prescriptions never cure an illness in flux, and may even cause some harm.” He replied, “If this is the case, why not first experiment on animals and examine the varying effects? Then you can prove the applications and publish the results.” But animal experiments are useless because their physical make—up is different from man, nor do I agree with laboratory testing of animals. Chinese medicine establishes a relationship between doctor and patient, and mutual assistance is imperative. Its effectiveness lies in attacking, scattering, draining, or supplementing a situation, and it brings the patient m’to proper balance. I trust my methods—they never harm the patient or involve a great expense. If the patient has undergone surgery for stomach or intestinal cancer or has hard part of the uterus or breast removed, and the cancer returns, additional surgery may be prohibitive. The surgeon Will’ be helpless and the patient can only await death. At this pom’t I would tell myself to courageously fight on and treat the patient while dispensing with any monetary profit. If my labors are not totally effective, I Will have at least tried as sincerely as if he were my own family—— nor would I have injured him, either.

From my forty years of experience, I’ve found that 70 to 80 percent of cancer patients can be cured, with 50 percent having complete recovery. If the world could see these results, Chinese medicine would become more acceptable, benefiting not only cancer patients but all mankind.

source: Master of Five Excellences 

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The Eight Important Points of Cancer (9) – Prevention

“The best doctor cures those not yet ill.” This is preventative medicine. You can cure any future illnesses if you receive qualified advice today. Sixty to seventy percent of cancer is self-inflicted through lifestyle—so preventative medicine is the best cure. The following are a few points on preventative medicine.

First, the Classic on Internal Medicine states, “Illness enters through the mouth,” so eat at certain times and in definite amounts—and watch what you eat! The ancients said, “Your meat should not over- come the meal’s substance.n9 Avoid foods that are rich, fatty, sweet, fragrant, or parched; stay away from foods too soft or oily and eliminate snacks! Drink some liquids before going to bed and after waking up; eat foods that help your digestion. Don’t eat more than 70% full at breakfast or dinner—at lunch you may enjoy yourself and eat up to 80%. Liquids benefit our yin while solids benefit your yang. These are the teachings of the wise Chinese men of old. The dietary habits of Americans are totally opposite to this. One should eat more at lunch because movement assists digestion. After dinner we are generally inactive, so a large evening meal confines our digestive system and an illness may slowly accumulate. Such a diet goes against the Tao of proper living. A balanced diet not only strengthens our stomach and spleen systems but also prevents cancer and other illnesses.

Second, the I Ching says, “As nature is always creatively active, so too the noble man constantly improves himself.” This same idea is expressed in the proverb, “A moving hinge doesn’t rust, running water doesn’t smell.” Without proper exercise anyone may quickly become old and infirm. During the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD) the legendary Hua T’o created the Five Animal Frolics, whose main exercises are exhibited in the two postures, The Constant Bear and The Stretching Bird. These movements help us to digest grains. Unfortunately, Hua T’o was innocently executed and left behind a single disciple, who fled into seclusion and reportedly died a youthful 120. It is a shame that their art of longevity was lost to the world. During the later Sung Dynasty (960—1279 AD), Chang San-feng created taichi, an exercise that surpasses even Hua T’o’s exercises.

About forty years ago I contracted tuberculosis and was near death. I began this exercise and not only quickly recovered, but also eliminated a hundred other minor illnesses—my body soon possessed the flexibility of a child. T’aichi relaxes the sinews and vessels and harmonizes the blood with chi. It is impossible for a taichi student to become suppressed, so cancer cannot gain a foothold. These are some of the benefits I have received from taichi, the worlds finest cancer prevention exercise.

Third, the medical classics say that like species can assist one another—but this is not true with the liver; the liver should never be supplemented. This liver is called the General of Fire and easily becomes suppressed. The ancients had other methods for dealing with the liver; separating, scattering, draining, softening, nourishing, comforting, dampening, etc. During spring all vegetation is alive, expanding and diffusing itself. The liver is correlated with the element wood because it too has a nature that enlarges itself. When we butcher a chicken, pig, cow, or lamb, the suppressed ch’i of their body enters the liver. In ancient times, when people were much more in touch with nature, men even died after eating liver in the spring!

Today, many doctors and herbalists prescribe liver remedies to supplement their patient’s blood. This provides quick relief and quick profit, but may actually precipitate an illness. Few are aware of this, and in recent years I’ve seen a daily increase in the number of cases involving inflammation of the liver, cirrhosis of the liver, and liver cancer. I suggest one method of cancer prevention is to stop taking supplementary doses of liver pills indiscriminately.

Fourth, the virtuous and wise men of old all followed the I Ching, “Find peace in nature, trust your fate.” If you possess this inner peace, then my previous three points on preventing cancer can be ignored, as this alone is the greatest and best method. How do you find peace in nature and understand fate? Start by eliminating desires and following what is natural. Trust your fate, for where there is life, there is death—don’t destroy yourself. Follow your original nature and pursue a quiet, reflective life. Then cancer will never harm you.

Summary: In ancient times, the best doctor cured those not yet ill, and the noble man never rested in improving himself.

Q: Does taichi really possess such marvelous application? Does the liver really possess such harmful potential?

A: Taichi is like swimming on dry land; it relaxes the sinews, opens the vessels, harmonizes the ch’i with the blood, and benefits both mind and body. It surpasses the benefits of swimming with none of its harmful side effects. With taichi, eradicating disease and lengthening your life are within reach. Eating liver directly supplements your liver. The Classic on Internal Medicine says, “Like species supplement each other,” and the I Ching says, “Similar ch’i search each other out.” But the Classic on Internal Medicine also says, “Do not supplement the liver.” Liver was aligned with the element wood to show its proclivity to spread or enlarge. Too much fertilizer under the tree hardens the wood; this is similar to cirrhosis of the liver and other disorders we see today.

source: Master of Five Excellences 

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The Eight Important Points of Cancer (7) – Treatment

There are two schools of thought in treating illness—the orthodox and the alternative methods. This distinction arose because of the variety of healing methods, including: acupuncture, acupressure, massage, shaman incantation, stone probe, surgery, breathing exercises, {and many others. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic on Internal Medicine says that herbal prescription is the only orthodox methodology— and this classic expounds the best method for treating the root of any illness. Unfortunately, Chinese medicine is seriously neglected—not only have we yet to recover from attacks by foreign governments, but we must also bear the brunt of our country’s cultural destruction by ignorant compatriots, bringing Chinese medicine to the brink of extinction. Nobody cares that we possess a cure for cancer, and if they did, few would truly accept the treatment in its entirety.

Eradicating the root of an illness combines correct diagnosis with proper herbal administration. Then there must be both a reason and a way to expel the illness. This may include: scattering, dispersing, vomiting, perspiring, purging, supplementing, or draining-each prescription has its own method of attack. With cancer I first calm the patient and revitalize the blood, relaxing any depressed, suppressed ch’i. Externally I apply a medicinal application to scatter the obstructed bumps; this is attacking the enemy from within and without—winning back occupied territory. If I try to subdue the disease or control it by force with harsh medication, or if surgical utensils are used as if I were arming the troops, I will encounter stiff resistance. Surgery is a gamble where everything depends on one roll of the dice.

The doctor who follows the orthodox methodology is like the legendary Yu the Great who instituted a system of canals and waterways to prevent floods; he accomplished his Imperial mission by channeling off the flood waters. If we imitate his father, who tried to control the waters by merely building dams, we too will suffer a shameful defeat.

Summary: Like Yu the Great who channeled the flood waters, the doctor must disperse and lead away the illness. Cancer cannot be controlled with harsh medication.

Q: What are the fundamental principles of orthodox treatment? Did the ancient prescriptions follow such methods? Are these methods effective?

A: Cancer develops gradually, so urgent treatment is ineffective, it must be channeled away and allowed to change its composition. The proper sequence employed in the orthodox methodology is to first lead the illness away from the area and then diminish its power by scattering it. If the illness has developed to where this is no longer possible, try to change it internally; take the wood away from the pot and halt its advance. This will change its purulent composition, and blunt the pain while safely dispelling the lesions.

source: Master of Five Excellences 

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The Eight Important Points of Cancer (6) – From First Sensation to Development and the Mistake of Procrastination

The symptoms of serious abdominal lesions include plain bump which neither hurt nor itch: similar to abdominal swelling due to constipation, phlegmatic lumps, the inner lumps of lymphadentitis, various bone ulcers and their accompanying ulcers, and cancer. All these illnesses have similar symptoms which must be diagnosed quickly and correctly by a qualified physician—procrastination can lead to serious complications. The early symptoms of cancer are usually ignored, and any noticeable development may take anywhere from a few months to a year, possibly ten years—my experience has shown me that cancer has no defined parameter.

Until forty years ago few people had cancer in China—and those who did, experienced only gradual development, whether it was of the stomach, breast, or uterus. Unfortunately, many were told to allow the bumps to grow and to disperse them only after several years. When I was young, my aunt contracted cancer and waited six years before breaking the bumps, causing her great pain. The bumps contained small holes which excreted a thick, foul—smelling pus. My mother told me, “Ninety percent of cancer patients die, that is how difficult it is to cure.” My aunt then went back and forth between various doctors for over two years before the pain gradually decreased. After that she rarely needed help and did not die until twenty years later.

During the war I lived in Chungkin’g where Ts’ai Chi-t’ou and I were studying herbal medicine. When Mr. Ts’ai was young he would follow his mother gathering medicinal herbs, and the stories he told still retain their flavor. His aunt had also contracted breast cancer. A herbal medication was applied to the bumps, which then dispersed. She lived another twenty to thirty years, well into her seventies.

Today, the number of cancer patients is so high and their stage of development so advanced that it is difficult to save even one in a thousand. What is different today from the days when my mother said one in ten could be cured? Although I’ve studied Chinese herbal medicine a long time, I still cannot answer that question. Hua T’o once said, “Any illness can be cured, but you cannot cheat fate.”

Many people fall ill prior to developing cancer due to their suppressed emotions—this energy must be allowed to escape through relaxation and recreation. When cancer is discovered it is vitally important not to worry. A wise man remarked, “Not having to dispense herbs is true Chinese medicine.” Trust your body’s ability to cure itself; this is ten times better than visiting even a famous doctor. Regular diet and exercise can work miracles. Early to bed, early to rise; relax and forget your troubles by the lakes and rivers; place aside preconceived notions of life or death. If we can do this I have no doubt nine out of ten cancer patients can be cured.

In dealing with cancer I use an internist’s approach. Cancer arises from suppression so I prescribe herbs that relax the contained chi and allow the energy to scatter and disperse, stopping the illness’s advance. Failing to advance, it recedes naturally. There is an old saying, “When you view the strange as if it were normal, its peculiarities naturally break down.”” I have cured many patients regardless of their condition, and all that I require is trust. I do not approve of radiation or chemotherapy. I have seen too many treated with far too few results. Many surgeons even undertake exploratory surgery to analyze the condition! But metal instruments should never touch cancer cells. For thousands of years Chinese medicine has recorded illnesses that should not contact metal objects and that worsen once the body is cut. These include lymphadentitis, phlegmal lumps, internal ulcers and their accompanying ulcers, bone ulcers, cancer, “fish eye” boils, carbuncle boils and others—none should contact metallic instruments. These diseases are clearly documented and I mention them only for reference.

Finally, don’t procrastinate! Do shun surgery except in unavoidable conditions. I hope internal medicine can advance as quickly as surgery. I stand to watch its progress.

Summary: The best cure for any illness is found within yourself. If the illness has progressed, follow the internist’s method. Herbs can scatter the suppression.

Q: Why was cancer so rare in ancient time? Why did it progress slower than today? And how did sufferers live longer?

A: Life was simpler and without the stress people feel today. Fame and fortune were not obsessions, nor did the ancient cultures have our modern drive for progress. Dietary and sleeping habits were reg- ular, and social interaction was relaxed. With less to worry about, cancer was rare. When people did contract it, most paid it no atten- tion. It caused no fear and so developed slowly.

Today, many doctors begin exploratory surgery without realizing that cancer is an illness that should not touch metal, and the battlefront becomes ablaze. Afterward radiation and chemotherapy are employed to control its development. After surgery the cancer cells mobilize within the body, and if completely eliminated the patient lives but a few years longer. If there is any metastasis, the patient’s condition worsens immediately and there is nothing left to do.

source: Master of Five Excellences 

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The Eight Important Points of Cancer (4) – Nature and Composition

Chinese medicine distinguishes every illness by nature, yin or yang, and by composition, depleting (draining) or repleting (filling). A yin—nature illness should be depleting, yang should be repleting.4 When a symptom corresponds to the nature and course of an illness. we say it “moves according to its proper course,” and it is not severe. When they fail to correspond we say the illness “moves contrary to its proper course.” and it will be severe.

Historical medical records show that cancer was rare and unusual. The first symptoms of simple bumps correspond to yin/depleting illnesses such as boils, which when drained cause some pain–sometimes requiring stitches to close the wound. When a cancer bump is opened, however, there is great pain. Inside are small holes which secrete large amounts of vile pus—conditions not evident of yin/ depleting illnesses. After the lesions are broken it is evident the illness is a yang/repleting one. This situation is contrary to the diagnosis prior to rupturing the boil and shows a significant “contrary” illness.

Now we understand some of the doubts and difficulties the physician encounters with this complicated illness. Dr. Yang showed great vision when he created the character for cancer. Cancer belongs to the yang/repleting variety and contains a suppressed energy. This energy is like a closed pot on the stove; when the heat is turned up too high, the fire is locked within, though the pot’s exterior may show no trace of the heat. If the physician can correctly diagnose the signals coming from inside, the nature and composition of the illness will be evident and its cure easier.

Summary: Externally yin and internally yang shows an illness proceeding contrary-wise. When a fire is suppressed inside, the body should not be cut open.

Q: After breaking, how do the nature and composition alter?

A: Exactly opposite—~the external becomes repleting and the internal becomes depleting.

source: Master of Five Excellences 

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The Eight Important Points of Cancer (3) – Symptoms

Cancer can attack any area of the body. During Tang and Sung times, doctors noticed that most men suffered in the abdominal area, while women suffered in breast and uterus. The head, face, and extremities were the least afflicted. Cancer of the blood, or leukemia, of the nervous system, and other areas are modern afflictions and will not be discussed here.

One of the first symptoms of cancer is plain, white bumps which neither hurt nor itch; they have no particular sensation and arouse no suspicion. The patient usually seeks medical attention once these bumps enlarge. This development may take anywhere from a few months to a year or even ten years—individual health and environment prohibit generalizations. These enlarged bumps become painful as they begin to constrict blood vessels, precipitating a slight paralysis or restricted limb movement. The patient Will exhibit an emaciated appearance resulting from diminished appetite—evidence of a critical situation. The bumps may, however, exhibit no sensation until broken. Large amounts of pus drain from the wound and the patient experiences stinging pain. Sleeping and eating diminish, and a painful death is imminent. Anesthetics are administered around the clock and the patient survives but a few days. Cancer is by far the most painful and frightening disease known to man. It is unbearable to watch someone suffer and die from it or even listen to accounts of cancer sufferers.

Summary: When the bumps first develop they are ignored because they neither hurt nor itch. As they enlarge, soreness shows the swelling is constricting blood vessels. At this point the illness is quite serious.

Q: After the lesions are broken, can we just suture the hole?

A: Yes, but only a knowledgeable doctor can suture the wound while draining the pus, all the while supplementing the patient’s ch’i.

source: Master of Five Excellences 

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The Eight Important Points of Cancer (2) – History

Cancer-related afflictions have increased at an alarming rate in this century. Records from the United States Department of Health indicate that cancer claims one life every four minutes. Let me summarize what Chinese medical history says about cancer.

In the Ling Chu Classic, the chapter on “Lesions” contains much information on epidermal lesions, but does not clearly describe the symptoms we recognize as cancer. The chapter “Carbuncles and Boils” relates the appearance of skin ulcers which show characteristics of cancer lesions, though the two are quite different.

The Tang Dynasty (613~906 AD) physician Yan Shih-ying authored a medical guide in which he recounts an unknown illness. He said the first symptoms appeared as skin ulcers similar to boils, i.e., plain hard bumps which neither itched nor hurt. Cutting these “ulcers” caused great pain’ and, upon inspection, each contained small holes—symptoms different from normal skin ulcers. So Dr. Yang, a physician of courageous intelligence, created a new character that symbolize’d these inner holes. He called it p’ing chuang, the “many-holed ulcer.” Gradually, by Sung times (960 to 1279 AD), this character is found scattered amongst an ever increasing number of medical files, though doctors had yet to agree upon a definite name or conclusive treatment.

Doctors noticed that when the ulcers were broken, the holes looked as deep as “a cave in a ravine,” prompting some to name this the “cave-like” illness. Doctors returned to the original character Dr. Yang had created with its pictographs of mouths, or holes. Below the “mouth” radical they placed the “mountain” radical coming from the “cave” character and signifying depth. The final character composed the radicals for mouths above a mountain and were enclosed in the “illness” radical. Doctors pronounced this character ai. From Dr. Ts’ung Chin-chien on, what the world recognizes today as the English word “cancer” was called in Chinese ai cheng.

Summary: The T’ang doctor Yang Shih-ying name the illness “p’ing chuang,” as the broken lesions contained holes that caused great pain.

Question: Did cancer exist in pre-T’ang times?

Answer: I suspect so, but lacking pre-Tang medical files, I can only surmise.

source: Master of Five Excellences 

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The Eight Important Points of Cancer – Short Background to Master Cheng

Cheng Man Ching is one of the greats of contemporary Tai Chi and is the single best-known contributor to the spread of Chinese internal arts to the US where today millions of people practice Tai Ji. Professor Cheng as he was referred to as, was also an accomplished doctor who helped hundreds of patients with terminal cancer to cure completely and live long after western doctors had given them the “death sentence”.  Below is the introduction to a seminal paper Master Cheng wrote covering the topic of cancer, one of his keenest interests. I share this text with the utmost respect to those that had taken up the challenge of translating the text from original Chinese, and publishing it.

While I understand that the text is copyrighted, I still think that it is of utmost importance to have this invaluable text available to as many people as possible. I have no doubt in my mind that Master Cheng’s intention was that his wisdom would benefit as many people as possible. After studying the topic of cancer nearly two decades I found Master Cheng’s analysis on the topic the single most useful analysis on the topic of cancer, even though just 8 short pages long. For further convenience for the modern reader, I’ve broken the text down to individual posts as the chapters are presented in the original text. I’ve emitted chapter 9 – which covers the topic of surgery – as unfortunately many have already gone through surgery at the time they become interested in such texts. At least that have been my experience so far. I will anyhow say that Master Cheng, as any traditional Chinese internist, does not support surgery, and sees it as one of the primary causes for cancer to spread throughout the body. I will at some point add a commentary on the topic of surgery, and will include Master Cheng’s seminal text as part of it.

My personal connection with Master Cheng is strong, even though I was not blessed to meet with him in person. The first internal martial arts that I learned was Cheng Man Ching style Tai Chi, which is a simplified form with focus on health benefits and general well being. Some years later I had the great fortune of meeting with my Shifu, a legendary martial arts master, and a skilled Chinese doctor,  who lacking a better expression, gave me life. He is the chief disciple of Chiao Chang Hung, a titan of the 20th century Internal Martial arts and the founder of Taipei Tai Chi Association. Grandmaster, together with another legend, Chen Pan Ling, started the association in order to support the spread of Chinese internal martial arts throughout the world. Cheng Man Ching became the most successful many masters who took on that task of vital importance. Today, his style of Tai Chi is the most widely practiced form of Chinese internal martial art in the west.

It is with great reverence that I share this one of a kind commentary on the topic that had created more havoc and despair than any other during past 50 years since Master Cheng had originally wrote the commentary.

Part 1 – Introduction

Part 2 – History

Part 3 – Symptoms

Part 4 – Nature and Composition

Part 5 – Causes

Part 6 – From First Sensation to Development and the Mistake of Procrastination

Part 7 – Treatment

Part 8 – [not available]

Part 9 – Prevention

Part 10 – Afterword