引火归元以扶阳固本治疗大肠癌理论探析

Theoretical thoughts and investigation of guiding fire to origin to support yang and strengthen body resistance in the treatment of colorectal cancer

大肠癌是常见的消化系统恶性肿瘤,中医治疗大肠癌有着独特的优势。引火归元作为从《黄帝内经》中延伸的一种治疗法则,为临床辨证论治、增强治疗效果提供了思路。大肠癌的发生发展过程与相火离位、脾肾亏虚、阳气不足有关。先天禀赋不足,加之外邪侵袭,相火易离其位,导致机体脾肾亏虚、阳气不足,病理产物堆积,易发展为大肠癌,癌毒损伤机体阳气,同时经过手术、化疗等治疗后,阳虚更甚,脾肾不足,致离位之相火不能归位,形成恶性循环,病情日渐加重。引火归元法作为扶阳法中重要的一部分,可引离位之相火下行、温补脾肾、扶助补益阳气。应用引火归元法治疗大肠癌的代表方有肾气丸、潜阳封髓丹及引火汤,根据症状灵活加减,可提高临床疗效。

Colorectal cancer is a common malignant tumor of the digestive system. The treatment of colorectal cancer in traditional Chinese medicine has its unique advantages. As a treatment principle extended from Huangdi Neijing(The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic), guiding fire to origin provides us train of thoughts for treatment based on syndrome differentiation and enhanced therapeutic efficacy. The occurrence and development of colorectal cancer is related to the phase of fire separation, insufficiency of the spleen and kidney, and deficiency of yang qi. The inadequate innate endowment, coupled with the invasion of external pathogens, makes it easy for fire to leave its position, resulting in deficiency of the spleen and kidney and the deficiency of yang qi. As a result, pathological products are increasingly accumulated in the body, which can easily lead to the formation and development of colorectal cancer. The cancerous toxin injures the body’s yang qi. Moreover, yang deficiency becomes even worse following surgery, chemotherapy and other treatments, the spleen and kidney are deficient, and the dislocated phase of fire cannot return to its original position, forming a vicious circle and increasingly aggravating the disease. As an important part of the fuyang method, guiding fire to origin can guide the dislocated phase of fire downward, warm up the spleen and kidney, and aid the yang qi. The representative prescriptions of treating colorectal cancer with guiding fire to origin method are Shenqi Pill, Qianyang Fengsui Pill and Yinhuo Decoction, which can be modified flexibly according to symptoms to improve the clinical efficacy.