Royal Recovery Meets Ancient Wisdom: How Traditional Chinese Medicine Supports Cancer Healing – Vol 2

“The holistic therapy that saved Kate in her toughest times.” – Daily Mail

Did you know that Princess Kate relied on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) ,
to support her cancer recovery?

At Grand Meridian Clinic, we are proud to offer this powerful system of healing, rooted in centuries of wisdom and increasingly backed by modern science.

 🔍 TCM Perspective on Cancer Symptoms

Medicinal herbs have been used for over 3,000 years, with Shen Nong Ben Cao (compiled between 106 BC and 220 AD) recognized as one of the earliest comprehensive herbal pharmacopoeias. In traditional East Asian medicine, herbal therapy has long served as a foundational approach to cancer treatment. Today, it continues to play an important role as part of integrative oncology, complementing conventional therapies. Modern research has identified specific medicinal herbs with anti-tumor properties, anti-inflammatory effects, and analgesic benefits for managing cancer-related pain. The integration of traditional herbal medicine with modern biomedical approaches offers a more holistic and potentially effective path for cancer care.

 Conventional Cancer Therapies and Their Limitations

  • Surgical Intervention: Surgical resection remains a primary modality for localized tumor removal. However, it often results in significant disruption of physiological homeostasis, including impairment of qi, blood circulation, and body fluids, which may contribute to postoperative fatigue and functional imbalance.

  • Radiation Therapy: Utilizes ionizing radiation to induce DNA damage and apoptosis in malignant cells. While effective in reducing tumor burden, radiation inevitably affects adjacent healthy tissues, leading to collateral damage and depletion of vital substances such as qi and essence (jing).

  • Chemotherapy: Involves the administration of cytotoxic agents that target rapidly proliferating cancer cells. Despite its systemic efficacy, chemotherapy is associated with considerable toxicity, frequently resulting in immunosuppression, gastrointestinal disturbances, and hematologic complications.

  • Targeted Therapy: Employs monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule inhibitors designed to interfere with specific molecular pathways implicated in cancer progression. While these agents offer precision, their high cost and potential for adverse effects—such as skin rashes, liver toxicity, and cardiovascular risks—limit long-term tolerability.

  • Immunotherapy: Aims to potentiate the host immune response against tumor antigens through immune checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines, or adoptive cell transfer. Although promising, immunotherapies can trigger immune-related adverse events, including autoimmune phenomena and systemic inflammation.

TCM Treatments
Cancer-related symptoms (both pre- and post-treatment) often fall under Qi deficiency, Yang deficiency, and deficiency-fatigue syndromes in TCM. Treatments focus on:

  • Eliminating toxic heat

  • Relieve accumulation of qi, blood and phlegm

  • Tonifying Qi

  • Nourishing Yang

  • Nourishing Yin

During chemotherapy or radiotherapy, symptoms often involve Heat or Toxic patterns, which can lead to mixed conditions (e.g., deficiency-excess, Qi stagnation with Spleen deficiency). Treatment plans must be highly individualized, guided by TCM diagnostic principles including fatigue severity, treatment stage, and tongue/pulse diagnosis.

🌀 Post-Surgery without Chemo/Radiation?

Continued TCM treatment is still essential to reduce risk of recurrence or metastasis.

The treatment strategy focuses on “Three Adjustments”:

  1. Adjust the spirit (調心):
    In TCM, “The Heart governs the spirit.” Emotional well-being is critical. Many cancer patients experience fear, anxiety, or depression. TCM helps balance emotions, enhance resilience, and promote mental strength during recovery.

  2. Adjust the Body (調體):
    Herbal formulas and acupuncture are used to tonify the kidneys (the root of vitality) and regulate organ systems. Kidney-tonifying pastes and acupuncture can help restore organ function, boost immunity, and improve disease resistance.

  3. Adjust Digestive Energy (調胃):
    The Spleen and Stomach are the source of postnatal Qi and metabolic function. Strengthening digestive energy supports nutrient absorption, energy production, and overall vitality.

🌿 Post-Surgical Recovery with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Enhancing Recovery & Reducing Discomfort After Surgery

Chinese medicine can effectively reduce or eliminate post-operative discomfort and accelerate healing. For example:

  • After lung cancer surgery, patients may experience coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue — commonly diagnosed in TCM as “Lung and Spleen Qi deficiency.” Herbal therapy focuses on tonifying the Lung and Spleen, soothing the chest, regulating Qi, resolving blood stasis, and relieving pain.

  • After gastrointestinal tumor surgery, symptoms like abdominal bloating, poor appetite, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea may occur. Herbal prescriptions that strengthen the Spleen, harmonize the Stomach, regulate Qi, and resolve dampness can offer relief.

With 2–4 weeks of post-operative herbal regulation, many patients experience:

  • Restored digestive function

  • Improved energy levels

  • Significant reduction in surgical discomfort

 🌿 TCM Formulas & Herbs Frequently Used in Cancer Care

Widely studied and published in medical journals:

  • Classical Tonics: Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang, Gui Pi Tang, Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang, Huang Qi, Ren Shen

  • Heat- and Toxin-Clearing Herbs: Ban Zhi Lian, Bai Hua She She Cao, Huang Lian

🔬 Radiation Therapy Side Effects & TCM Management

TCM excels in regulating physiological functions and strengthening the body to enhance the quality of life for cancer patients. Through a multimodal approach, TCM aims to restore immune balance and normalize metabolic processes to help inhibit tumor progression. When appropriately integrated with conventional Western treatments, TCM can improve patients’ tolerance to therapies and support faster recovery. The combination of holistic TCM care with the strengths of modern medicine offers a comprehensive and synergistic approach to cancer treatment.

  • Alternative and complementary therapies for cancer. (2010). In Springer eBooks. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0020-3

    Henni, J. (2025, July 3). Kate Middleton Turned to a Traditional Chinese Medicine Technique amid Cancer Journey That She Also Used While Pregnant. People.com.

    Xi, Z., Dai, R., Ze, Y., Jiang, X., Liu, M., & Xu, H. (2025). Traditional Chinese medicine in lung cancer treatment. Molecular Cancer, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-025-02245-6

    Ye, L., Jia, Y., Ji, K., Sanders, A. J., Xue, K., Ji, J., Mason, M. D., & Jiang, W. G. (2015). Traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of cancer and cancer metastasis. Oncology Letters, 10(3), 1240–1250. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2015.3459

    Zafar, A., Khatoon, S., Khan, M. J., Abu, J., & Naeem, A. (2025). Advancements and limitations in traditional anti-cancer therapies: a comprehensive review of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy. Discover Oncology, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02198-8

Why Choose Kamwo?

At Grand Meridian Clinic, we bring together modern medicine and timeless TCM wisdom. Whether you are undergoing chemotherapy, in remission, or supporting a loved one — we are here to help ease the journey.

 

Dr. Olivia Choi

L.Ac, DACM, MPH, MSBB, BPharm

Grand Meridian Clinic