病倒了就狂灌溫水。
My understanding of the “doctor within the body” is that the human body is like a precisely designed, multitasking operating system.
The body’s internal doctor does not necessarily need to be in a zero-calorie state before it becomes active. Autophagy is only one part of this multitasking system. For example, while we are sleeping, multiple repair processes take place simultaneously. The liver carries out detoxification and supports blood circulation; the endocrine system begins releasing hormones and enzymes that help regulate areas of imbalance; and the immune system acts like a guard, constantly protecting the body.
Some systems are working all the time, while others are activated more strongly during sleep, when the body enters a deeper state of repair.
However, autophagy is indeed associated with a fasting state and ketosis, when the body begins shifting toward using stored fat for energy.
Whether or not the body is in a repair state, it constantly requires energy and nutrients. Normally, it first uses available blood glucose. As glucose availability decreases, the body increasingly shifts toward fat metabolism and ketone production. During prolonged energy deprivation, cellular recycling processes such as autophagy can also increase, allowing the body to break down and recycle certain damaged or unnecessary cellular components.
The body is operating continuously. It is constantly consuming energy and nutrients and producing metabolic waste. The sources of energy and building materials may include glucose, amino acids, fatty acids and ketones, while cellular recycling provides another way of recovering useful materials from damaged or unnecessary components.
We often underestimate the importance of sleep. Many repair and maintenance processes occur during sleep. Yet modern people often do not sleep well and may consequently rely on medication. Whether medication-induced sleep is equivalent to fully restorative natural sleep is an important question.
One factor affecting sleep is excessive mental arousal—the brain remains in an activated state even though the day is over. Therefore, rather than relying only on medication, calming the mind may also be important. Meditation and sitting quietly are, in my view, among the best ways to cultivate a calm state of mind.
The human body is an extremely sophisticated system. Because energy is limited, certain processes may receive a higher priority than others. Some functions may be temporarily reduced or delayed while the body directs energy toward more immediate physiological needs. Waste elimination may therefore not always receive the highest priority.
When the body has insufficient capacity to deal with accumulated waste, the material may remain in the body for longer periods. The lymphatic system is part of the body's immune and fluid-management network, and lymph nodes can act as sites where immune cells encounter and process foreign material and cellular debris.
From my perspective, this raises an important question about how the body handles long-term accumulation of damaged cells and abnormal tissue.
I believe that when the body's metabolic and repair mechanisms are functioning effectively, the body has its own mechanisms for identifying, removing and recycling damaged cellular components. Autophagy is one of these mechanisms.
This is why I believe natural healing can be surprisingly simple: give the body sufficient rest and allow its own regulatory and repair mechanisms to function.
The body's rest begins, in one sense, when we stop eating. Whenever we eat, the body has to digest, absorb and metabolize new nutrients, while also dealing with the metabolic by-products generated by those processes. During periods without food, the body can shift its metabolic priorities.
At the same time, many physiological processes continue during sleep. Therefore, insufficient sleep may interfere with some of the body's normal maintenance and recovery processes.
My conclusion is that natural healing can be viewed as being based on a few fundamental principles:
fasting, adequate sleep, relaxation and allowing the body time to recover.
Other practices—such as bowel cleansing, heat therapy and exercise—may, from this perspective, be viewed as supportive approaches intended to promote circulation, sweating, movement and elimination.
This is roughly the theory of natural medicine that I have developed from my own observations and experiences with natural-health practices over the past several years.
In essence, my understanding is that the human body is not a passive machine that needs to be repaired from the outside every time something goes wrong. It is a highly sophisticated, self-regulating and multitasking biological system, with its own mechanisms for maintenance, adaptation, repair, recycling and recovery.
The key is to understand these mechanisms, support them appropriately, and avoid unnecessarily interfering with the body's natural processes.
枸杞子＋白芍＋菊花可以作为一个偏向“养肝、柔肝、清肝明目”的组合来理解，但三者性质并不完全相同。
| 中药 | 中医常见功效 | 性味特点 |
|---|---|---|
| 枸杞子 | 滋补肝肾、益精、明目 | 甘，平 |
| 白芍 | 养血柔肝、缓急止痛、调和营卫 | 苦、酸，微寒 |
| 菊花 | 疏风、清热、平肝、明目 | 甘、苦，微寒 |
比较温和的日常茶饮思路可以是：
如果只是想要护眼、清肝明目茶，可以考虑以枸杞＋菊花为主，比加入白芍简单。
如果你有糖尿病、肾脏疾病、正在服用降糖药/降压药/抗凝药，或者准备每天长期喝，最好先让中医师或医生根据你的情况确定剂量。尤其不要把中药茶当成治疗疾病的替代品。
Dry tongue
麦冬, 莲子, 百合
Dry lips
山药, 玉竹, 石斛
Dry throat
This is actually a more useful ranking for vegetarians, because the food with the highest zinc content is not always the food from which your body absorbs the most zinc.
The main factor is phytate (phytic acid). Seeds, nuts, beans, and whole grains contain phytate, which binds zinc and lowers absorption. Fermentation, sprouting, sourdough, and soaking can reduce phytate and improve zinc availability.
This is an estimated practical ranking, not a laboratory measurement. It combines zinc content with typical phytate levels and food preparation.
Rank | Food | Absorption rating |
|---|---|---|
1 | Tempeh (fermented soy) | Excellent |
2 | Pumpkin seeds, soaked/roasted | Excellent |
3 | Hemp seeds | Excellent |
4 | Tahini (sesame paste) | Very good |
5 | Firm tofu | Very good |
6 | Cashews | Very good |
7 | Sourdough whole-grain bread | Very good |
8 | Fermented soybeans (natto) | Very good |
9 | Chickpeas, soaked and cooked | Good–very good |
10 | Lentils, soaked and cooked | Good–very good |
11 | Oats, soaked overnight | Good |
12 | Sesame seeds | Good |
13 | Peanuts | Good |
14 | Quinoa, rinsed and cooked | Good |
15 | Black beans, soaked | Good |
16 | Kidney beans, soaked | Good |
17 | Adzuki beans | Good |
18 | Buckwheat | Good |
19 | Pistachios | Good |
20 | Almonds | Moderate |
21 | Chia seeds | Moderate |
22 | Flaxseed (ground) | Moderate |
23 | Walnuts | Moderate |
24 | Whole-wheat bread | Moderate |
25 | Brown rice | Moderate |
26 | Green peas | Moderate |
27 | Soy milk | Moderate |
28 | Brazil nuts | Moderate |
29 | Hazelnuts | Moderate |
30 | Macadamia nuts | Lower |
Fermented soy foods and leavened breads tend to rank higher than their raw ingredients because fermentation or yeast action reduces phytate, improving zinc bioavailability.
Tempeh is especially impressive because it combines:
High zinc content
High protein
Fermentation that lowers phytate
Better mineral availability than unfermented soybeans
Research on vegetarian diets specifically identifies fermented foods, sprouts, and presoaked legumes as useful ways to improve zinc absorption.
Instead of eating one food, combine foods like this:
Overnight oats
2 tablespoons hemp seeds
1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
Tempeh or tofu
Brown rice or quinoa
Vegetables
Pumpkin seeds
Cashews
Lentils or chickpeas
Sourdough whole-grain bread
This kind of day can provide roughly 10–15 mg of zinc, depending on serving sizes, while also improving absorption through food preparation methods.
Choose tempeh over plain soybeans.
Soak beans overnight before cooking.
Eat sourdough instead of unleavened whole-grain bread.
Sprout mung beans, lentils, or chickpeas when practical.
Use tahini rather than only whole sesame seeds.
Soak oats overnight.
Avoid drinking tea or coffee immediately with your zinc-rich meal, since polyphenols and tannins can modestly reduce mineral absorption.
I can also make a top 20 vegetarian foods ranked for both zinc and testosterone support, or a kidney-friendly zinc ranking with lower phosphorus and potassium considerations.
https://chatgpt.com/share/6a7e4d94-70f4-83ec-884e-7e1f2eabe74d
黄精 (Huang Jing, Polygonatum), there is no well-established “十八反/十九畏” herb that is specifically listed as incompatible with Huang Jing. The traditional 18 incompatibilities and 19 antagonisms do not include Huang Jing.
The issue is generally not a strict “cannot mix” rule, but whether the combination is appropriate for the person's condition:
| Herb / group | Concern with Huang Jing |
|---|---|
| 熟地黄 (Shu Di Huang) | Both are rich/nourishing; combination can be overly cloying and contribute to poor digestion or loose stools in susceptible people |
| 山药 (Shan Yao) | Generally compatible, but both are tonifying and can be excessive for someone with significant dampness |
| 枸杞子 (Gou Qi Zi) | Commonly combined; caution if there is strong internal heat or digestive problems |
| 人参 / 西洋参 | Often compatible, but strong tonic combinations should be individualized |
| 党参 (Dang Shen) | Generally compatible; excessive tonification may aggravate bloating or digestive stagnation |
| 阿胶 (E Jiao) | Can make a formula particularly rich/cloying; caution with poor digestion or phlegm-dampness |
| 何首乌 (He Shou Wu) | Not a Huang Jing incompatibility, but requires particular caution because Polygonum multiflorum products can cause liver injury |
Traditional “十八反十九畏” are not absolute modern scientific interaction rules. A review from Taipei Medical University notes that the evidence and clinical interpretation are more complicated than simply treating every traditional incompatibility as an absolute prohibition.
白花蛇草舌草
猫爪草
冬稜草
山慈菇
石見穿
The five herbs you listed are commonly discussed in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in relation to tumors/cancer, particularly as “清热解毒、散结、消肿” herbs. However, they should not be considered proven cancer cures. Modern evidence for these individual herbs is mostly laboratory/animal research, with much less high-quality human evidence. Reviews of Chinese herbal medicine similarly conclude that evidence quality is often insufficient for firm cancer-treatment recommendations.
| Chinese herb | Pinyin | Common English name | Traditional TCM role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 白花蛇舌草 | Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo | Hedyotis/Oldenlandia diffusa | 清热解毒、消痈、利湿 |
| 猫爪草 | Māo Zhǎo Cǎo | Ranunculus ternatus | 化痰散结、消肿 |
| 冬凌草 | Dōng Líng Cǎo | Rabdosia rubescens | 清热解毒、消肿散结 |
| 山慈菇 | Shān Cí Gū | Cremastra/Pleione pseudobulb | 清热解毒、消肿散结 |
| 石见穿 | Shí Jiàn Chuān | Salvia chinensis | 活血化瘀、清热解毒、散结 |
From a traditional TCM perspective, the combination is aimed at several overlapping concepts:
热毒 → 清热解毒
白花蛇舌草、冬凌草、山慈菇
痰结/肿块 → 化痰散结、消肿
猫爪草、山慈菇、冬凌草
瘀血/固定肿块 → 活血化瘀
石见穿
So a TCM practitioner might regard this as a “清热解毒 + 散结消肿 + 活血” group rather than simply five “anti-cancer herbs.”
Some laboratory studies of heat-clearing/detoxifying TCM herbs have reported mechanisms such as apoptosis, inhibition of proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis. But activity against cancer cells in a laboratory is not equivalent to demonstrating that an herb treats cancer in humans.
For example, the U.S. National Cancer Institute recognizes that some Chinese herbal formulations are being investigated as adjuncts to conventional cancer treatment, but that does not establish that individual herbs can replace surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy or immunotherapy.
If someone has cancer and is receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapy, don't automatically combine these five herbs without the oncologist and a qualified TCM physician checking the exact regimen. Herbal products can have drug interactions, affect liver/kidney function, or alter drug metabolism. NCI specifically warns that “natural” does not necessarily mean safe and that herbal products can interact negatively with medicines.
I checked the available research literature for all five. The important point is that the strongest evidence is still preclinical, although some of these herbs have a long history of TCM use and some have been studied as adjuncts in cancer care.
TCM: 清热解毒、消痈、利湿、散结
Common research name: Hedyotis diffusa Willd.
This is probably one of the most extensively researched herbs on your list.
Research has identified numerous constituents, including iridoids, flavonoids, anthraquinones, phenolic compounds and polysaccharides. Laboratory/animal research has reported:
A systematic review identified 58 potentially active antitumor constituents and multiple proposed mechanisms.
Research has included models involving:
But this does not mean it has been clinically proven to treat all these cancers.
A commonly cited decoction range is approximately 15–30 g/day, although clinical prescriptions may differ considerably according to the individual pattern.
TCM: 化痰散结、消肿
Botanical: Ranunculus ternatus Thunb.
This herb is particularly interesting when the TCM objective is “痰结、瘰疬、结块”.
Recent research has investigated it against:
A 2025 study found that extracts affected MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling in esophageal cancer cell models.
Another 2025 study investigated its alkaloid fraction in colorectal-cancer models and reported inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis-related processes.
A separate 2025 study investigated its saponins in breast-cancer models and reported effects involving JAK2/STAT3 signaling, tumor growth and apoptosis.
These are primarily cell and animal experiments, not evidence that taking 猫爪草 will stop cancer in humans.
TCM clinical prescriptions commonly use approximately 15–30 g, but dosage should be individualized.
TCM: 清热解毒、消肿散结
Major compound: Oridonin（冬凌草甲素）
Of your five herbs, this one has particularly interesting molecular cancer research.
Oridonin is a diterpenoid isolated from Rabdosia rubescens.
Research has reported:
A 2024 comprehensive review summarized research involving oridonin and multiple cancer models.
For example, laboratory and animal experiments have found inhibition of oral squamous-cell carcinoma through effects on PI3K/Akt signaling and apoptosis.
There is more clinical experience with Rabdosia rubescens preparations than with some of the other herbs on your list. A recent review reports that preparations such as tablets, syrups and other formulations have been investigated as adjunctive cancer therapies.
However, that still doesn't establish 冬凌草 alone as a replacement for standard cancer treatment.
Some Chinese clinical literature uses approximately 15–30 g, with higher doses sometimes appearing in specialist prescriptions. One clinical discussion reported 30–60 g in particular pulmonary-nodule prescriptions, illustrating why dosage should not simply be copied from another formula.
TCM: 清热解毒、消肿散结
Important: “山慈菇” is a name that can refer to different botanical sources in Chinese medicine, so the actual species/product should be confirmed before buying or prescribing it.
Research has investigated Cremastra appendiculata preparations/compounds in:
For example, network-pharmacology research has investigated Cremastra appendiculata against breast cancer and proposed multiple molecular targets and pathways.
But this area has substantially less convincing human clinical evidence than conventional cancer therapies.
From a TCM perspective, 山慈菇 is particularly associated with:
散结 + 消肿 + 解毒
Therefore it is traditionally considered when there is a mass, nodule, swelling or “结”.
TCM: 清热解毒、活血化瘀、散结
Botanical: Salvia chinensis Benth.
This herb is particularly interesting because it combines two traditional concepts:
清热解毒 + 活血散结
Research has examined:
Studies have investigated its polysaccharides, polyphenols and other constituents.
For example, animal research found that polysaccharides from Salvia chinensis affected immune responses in a transplanted hepatocellular-carcinoma model.
Another study investigated its effects in triple-negative breast-cancer models and identified compounds including quercetin and β-sitosterol.
Caution: one older pancreatic-cancer paper involving Salvia chinensis extract was subsequently retracted, so that particular result should not be used as evidence.
| Herb | Main TCM concept | Interesting research area | Evidence level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 白花蛇舌草 | 清热解毒、利湿散结 | Apoptosis, immune modulation, angiogenesis | 🟡 Mostly preclinical |
| 猫爪草 | 化痰散结 | Esophageal, colorectal, breast models | 🟡 Mostly preclinical |
| 冬凌草 | 清热解毒、散结 | Oridonin, apoptosis, cell cycle | 🟡 Preclinical + some clinical adjunct experience |
| 山慈菇 | 解毒、消肿散结 | Breast cancer/molecular studies | 🟠 Limited human evidence |
| 石见穿 | 清热解毒、活血散结 | Liver, breast and other cancer models | 🟡 Mostly preclinical |
From a TCM formulation perspective, they are not five identical “anti-cancer herbs”:
白花蛇舌草
→ 清热解毒
冬凌草
→ 清热解毒 + 散结
猫爪草
→ 化痰 + 散结
山慈菇
→ 解毒 + 消肿 + 散结
石见穿
→ 清热解毒 + 活血 + 散结
So the conceptual combination is:
清热解毒 + 化痰散结 + 消肿 + 活血化瘀
That explains why combinations containing several of these herbs appear in some TCM oncology prescriptions. For example, Chinese clinical literature describes prescriptions combining 白花蛇舌草、猫爪草、冬凌草 and 石见穿 according to the patient's presentation.
I would not recommend making a five-herb cancer formula from these numbers alone. Cancer treatment requires knowing the cancer type, stage, pathology, current drugs and liver/kidney function.
Also, the research doses used in cell experiments or animal studies cannot be converted directly into a safe human dose.
If someone is undergoing chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy or radiotherapy, the herbal combination should be checked for interactions before use.
Based on the literature I found, I would roughly divide them:
Research interest:
🥇 冬凌草 / Oridonin
🥈 白花蛇舌草
🥉 猫爪草
4️⃣ 石见穿
5️⃣ 山慈菇
For a single cancer patient, I would not give a fixed five-herb dosage based only on the cancer diagnosis. The appropriate dose depends on the cancer type/stage, treatment, liver/kidney function, other medicines, and the exact botanical product.
The key reason is that there is no well-established, evidence-based anticancer dosage for this five-herb combination in humans. NCI specifically warns that herbs can alter cancer-drug absorption/metabolism and potentially cause adverse outcomes.
These are general traditional prescription ranges, not a recommendation for a particular patient:
| Herb | Common traditional decoction range |
|---|---|
| 白花蛇舌草 | 15–30 g/day |
| 猫爪草 | 10–30 g/day |
| 冬凌草 | 10–30 g/day |
| 山慈菇 | 3–9 g/day |
| 石见穿 | 15–30 g/day |
Do not simply add the maximum of every range together. That could produce a substantially different formula from what a TCM physician would prescribe.
Also, 山慈菇 needs particular attention to botanical identification, because products sold under this Chinese name can represent different medicinal species.
I would not start all five herbs simultaneously without the oncologist/qualified TCM practitioner reviewing the cancer medicines. Even herbal formulations that are being investigated as adjuncts to cancer therapy are studied at specific formulations and doses—not simply as arbitrary combinations.
If you give me these 5 details, I can make the dosage discussion much more specific and safer:
