Changes of tongue and pulse parameters in 50 lung cancer patients treated with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine

Abstract

To observe the changes of tongue and pulse parameters in lung cancer patients after combined treatment with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, and to probe into the application of the tongue and pulse parameters in evaluation of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine therapy on lung cancer patients. Electropulsograms and tongue pictures of 50 lung cancer patients were examined by TP-I digital electropulsography. The tongue and pulse parameters of the patients, including the indexes of moistness and dryness, thinness and thickness, fissure, swollenness and emaciation, greasiness and likeness of curd, and power spectral ratios (PSRs) 1, 2, 3, 4 and cepstrum spectral ratios (CSRs) 1, 2, 3, 4, were observed after 1-month and 2-month treatment with Yifei Kangliu Oral Liquid (a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine) plus chemotherapy, respectively. The above parameters of the lung cancer patients were compared before and after the treatment. PSR1 increased, while PSR2 decreased significantly after 1-month and 2-month treatment as compared with before treatment (P < 0.05). PSR1 decreased, while PSR2 increased after 2-month treatment as compared with after 1-month treatment (P < 0.05). PSR4 after 1-month treatment was lower than before treatment (P < 0.05). The tongue parameters including the indexes of moistness and dryness, and greasiness and likeness of curd increased significantly after 1-month and 2-month treatment as compared with before treatment (P < 0.05). The index of thinness and thickness decreased, while the index of fissure increased significantly after 1-month treatment as compared with before treatment (P < 0.05). Tongue and pulse parameters can be regarded as one of reference indexes in evaluation of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine therapy on lung cancer patients.