Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy Can Help Slow PF Progression, Study Finds

Alice Melãoby Alice Melão

In Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, News.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy Can Help Slow PF Progression, Study Finds

Pulmonary rehabilitation mixture (PRM), an herbal-based formula used for decades in Chinese traditional medicine, has therapeutic potential against pulmonary fibrosis (PF) progression by targeting several molecular factors known to be involved in fibrotic processes, concludes a new study.

The study, “Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic assessment of pulmonary rehabilitation mixture for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis,” appeared in the journal Scientific Reports.

PF is a life-threatening condition with few therapeutic possibilities. To date, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved only two: Ofev (nintedanib) and Esbriet (pirfenidone). Despite the positive effects these therapies can provide to patients, they do not cure the condition, and in more severe cases only a lung transplant can improve the patient’s quality of life.

In recent years, interest in Chinese herbal and natural recipes to treat several illnesses has soared. PRM, also known as Fei-Fu-Kang, has been used for decades to treat PF and lung cancer. It consists of eight herbs: Astragali Radix, Codonopsis Radix, Ophiopogonis Radix, Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus, Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus, Anemarrhenae Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. These components have known anti-tumor activity and can stimulate an immune response, among other activities with pharmacological potential.

Previous studies in preclinical mice models of acute lung injury shows that PRM treatment alleviates signs of lung tissue swelling. With that in mind, researchers from China’s Binzhou Medical University wanted to address PRM’s potential effects and its underlying therapeutic mechanism of action in PF.

They found that ], in several experimental human cells line models, PRM attenuated both the epithelial-mesenchymal and endothelial-mesenchymal transitions —  two cellular mechanisms known to happen in PF development.

This positive effect wasn’t restricted only to in vitro experiments with cells. Researchers also showed that animal models of PF receiving PRM also showed reduced signs of fibrosis. In addition, the activity of PRM components was found to reduce the levels of FGF-2, PDGF-BB, TLR-4, HMGB1, and HIF-1α — all known participants in the underlying mechanisms of PF.

Authors concluded that the blood can absorb PRM’s chemical components after oral administration. This, combined with PRM’s demonstrated therapeutic potential to treat PF in vivo, supports its further testing as a multi-target therapy for pulmonary fibrosis.

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33 comments

  1. Ed says:

    well when already?!…why do they need a clinical trial for PRM herbal remedy, if the Chinese have been taking it and using it for decades?!..why is there even a hold up for this to be approved if they have proven it to be working against I.P.F!?…why is there so much of a hold up when so many people are suffering and dying so much cause of this terrible disease?!…doesnt make sense at all! smh

  5. lexpublico says:

    Pulmonary rehabilitation mixture (PRM) also known as Fei-Fu-Kang.

    Fei Fu Kang is not a standard formula so you will have to find a well trained Chinese herbalist in your area to make it for you. Within the study the used the composition as follows: “Astragali Radix 14 (1200 g), Codonopsis Radix 13 (700 g), Ophiopogonis Radix 10 (480 g), Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus 11 (360 g), Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma 9 (240 g), Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus 9 (240 g), Anemarrhenae Rhizoma 8 (240 g) and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma 6 (120 g) were mixed and then extracted twice in 20 L of 50% ethanol for 24 h each time. The extracted solution was combined and evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. Then, the crude extract was reconstituted with 10 L distilled water.”

    I am looking for an herbalist now.

  8. Sharon Azar says:

    I have a lung condition (scarring on the left lung which was found via a regular chest xray). My doctor suspects this may possibly be pulmonary fibrosis. I am refusing the chest CT he is recommending due to the large amount of radiation delivered. I would like to find a good Chinese doctor here in NYC for diagnosis and treatment.

    • Gil says:

      Go get diagnosed ASAP! There is one of three ways to get diagnosed: CT, bronchoscopy or biopsy. CT is the least invasive. Start receiving Ofev to try and slow down your disease until some new drug is approved to treat IPF. I’m waiting for phase 3 of PRM-151 to begin, to try and enroll my grandpa who is very ill. I got this Chinese medicine for him, from a kind herbalist who agreed to help him, here in Israel, it seems to reduce his cough but not helping very much with breathing otherwise.
      This disease can exacerbate in as little as three weeks! Like in my grandpa’s case… do yourself a favour: start treatment ASAP

    • John H. Gartner says:

      Hello Sharon,
      There are some doctors that use a 4K Laser, treating lung diseases. If you wish to find out more about this. I suggest
      you get in touch with Anthony Hall, D.C. He is wonderful in
      sharing information. He can direct people to various practitioners around the country. His e-mail address is: Summit Chiropractic. He uses this laser on his patients, as well as himself. He, also has Fibrosis.

      • Carol says:

        Has anyone with sage 4
        COPD or fibrosis tried using Serrapeptase? Serrapeptase disolves scar tissue and fibrosis in the body. Inherited my ex of 20 yrs back in spring of 2017. CT showed fibrosis in one lung, started him on serrapeptase. He had to move him in house with us, changed his pulmonary spec. New doc. made new CT and got old one from previous Dr. New doc. couldnt believe such a mass of scar tissue just cleared up. When I inherited the ex back he was knocking deaths door only weighing in at only 135lbs, 6’1″. Started him on high grade supplements, IV vits., and proper nutrition, 8 months later, 175 lbs (normal weight for him) Not cured by any means, but no longer turning blue in face, almost passing out, and drowning in plegmn gone. Don’t know which one or synergistic effect of a comb helped. But atleast now with his meds and oxygen he is atleast enjoying an improved quality of life. We used high dose of liposomal vit. C along with monthly IV C therapy, liposomal quercetin for inflammation, Pharma NAC (which we can’t get anymore over the counter…think they trying to get drug stats approved), probiotics, and of course the serrapeptase for scar tissue. When he got better he said he was tired of taking all the stuff and improvements stopped. Can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink. Anyway if anyone might find benefit of improvement that is his story. Me I’m a 20 black mold survivor who literally had mold growing out of my body like a flesh eating bacteria before I got off meds causing and went natural. May all reads this post find the health they search for.

    • John H. Gartner says:

      Hello Sharon,
      I do not blame your feelings concerning the CT (Cat Scan) this
      machine emits more radiation, but in the case of a possibility that it may be P. F., do the test. Fibrosis can be somewhat slow or rapid. So, you have to go along with the negative protocol.
      I can recommend a chiropractic doctor, who uses a 4K Laser on his
      P.F. and also some patients. He has had it for five years and
      since using the Laser, it has kept it in check. This gentleman
      will also give names and addresses of people who use this Laser,
      in various states. He really helps a lot of people. His e-mail address is: Summit Chiropractic. His name is Anthony K. Hall, D.C. I have never met him, but he has answered all of my e-mails.
      Would appreciate hearing from you, if you get in touch with him.
      God bless,
      John

  9. Steve says:

    If you or someone you know has IPF/COPD and wants to learn more about Chinese medicine, there is a doctor in Tennessee who partners with the Wei institute and specializes in these conditions via telemedicine. Call (706) 581-3465 for a free phone consultation.

    • Ben Schmerbauch says:

      They are slightly cheaper buying from the Wei directly, I’m working with one of their respiratory specialists via phone and they give so much more than just the formulas. He’s been giving me breathing exercises and diet recommendations. I would highly encourage anyone looking for a solution to reduce symptoms and stop the progression to reach out.

      • JoAnn says:

        Hello Ben! Is the name of the company who produces the supplements on the bottles? The rep told me it’s a company in California. We started talking about something else and I forgot to ask the name. I’m glad these are working for you! I’m talking with my mom about this for her.

  11. Stephanie says:

    Here are the ingredients for the WEI “soups”: Wei Formula
    Soup A: Bulbus Lilii, Radix Codonopsis, Poria, Radix Ophiopogonis, Rhizoma Dioscoreae, Thallus Laminariae, Honey, Sweet Rice

    Soup B: Bulbus Lilii, Radix Codonopsis, Folium Mori, Poria, Radix Ophiopogonis, Rhizoma Dioscoreae, Thallus Laminariae, Apple Juice, Grape Juice, Honey, Sweet Rice

    $1000 for one month? 🙄

    • David says:

      You could find a licensed Chinese Herbalist (maybe from an acupuncture school) who can assemble the above formulaes for you. They cost a small fraction of what you might be paying. These schools like pacific college of acupuncture and oriental medicine (PCOM in NYC, Chicago and San Diego) have very inexpensive clinics for the public and would treat you according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) guidelines. Just saying. And the diet and exercise modalities could be amazingly helpful to you, as we may be allergic to many foods that we eat. And: these changes take time, they are not overnight. It took a long time for these diseases to develop and may take longer to dispatch with these complementary medicine approaches.

  12. William McMahan says:

    Starting week 14 today with the Wei Institute supplements. My cough has cleared up almost completely and I am able to get off my oxygen for over 2 hours at a time now. The Wei Specialist has helped me through every step of treatment. His direct line is (612)-808-8776 if anyone would like a free consultation about getting started.

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