What are the commonly used Chinese patent medicines for nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a common type of head malignant tumor. Due to its anatomical location and sensitivity to radiotherapy, radiotherapy is the first choice for its treatment. However, during radiotherapy, some Chinese patent medicines are often used in combination to reduce the side effects of radiotherapy.

Nasopharyngeal Detoxification Granules

Drug composition: wild chrysanthemum, Xanthium sibiricum, Paris polyphylla, Snakehead tendon, Zanthoxylum bungeana, Prunella vulgaris, Gentiana scabra, Codonopsis pilosula.

Functions and indications: Clearing away heat and detoxifying, resolving phlegm and dispersing stagnation. It is used for nasopharyngeal swelling and pain due to accumulation of heat and toxicity, chronic inflammation of the nasopharynx, and increased secretions after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Xihuang Pills

Drug composition: bezoar, frankincense (degreased), myrrh (degreased), musk, and yellow rice.

Functions and indications: clearing away heat and detoxifying, promoting blood circulation and relieving pain. It is more suitable for nasopharyngeal cancer patients with fire toxicity.

Liuwei Dihuang Pills

Drug composition: Rehmannia root, Cornus officinalis, Chinese yam, Paeonia suffruticosa root, Poria cocos, and Alisma orientalis.

Function and indications: nourishing yin and tonifying kidney. From "Xiaoer Yaozheng Zhijue", it is used for patients with late-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma with excessive heat damaging yin, yin deficiency and excessive fire, with symptoms such as soreness of waist and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, deafness, hot flashes, night sweats, dry mouth, etc.

Note: Use with caution in patients with spleen deficiency and diarrhea.

Rokugunmaru

Drug composition: centipede, insect exuvia, whole insect, ginger worm, pangolin, and night-shining sand.

Functions and indications: dredge meridians, remove blood stasis and reduce swelling. It is now mostly used for nasopharyngeal carcinoma with metastasis of neck and submandibular lymph nodes, with hard tumors like stones and pain without ulceration.

Note: Avoid frying or stir-frying large meat dishes.