“Treating Poison with Poison” for Gynecological Tumors: Mechanisms and Clinical Applications

Abstract

This article aims to explore the application value and research progress of the “treating poison with poison” therapy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of gynecological tumors. The incidence rate of gynecological tumors continues to rise globally and in China. Although conventional Western medicine treatment has made some progress, it still faces challenges such as significant side effects, drug resistance, and high recurrence rates. The TCM “treating poison with poison” therapy utilizes toxic Chinese herbs to inhibit tumor cells and enhance immune function, and has demonstrated unique advantages in reducing the adverse reactions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This article systematically reviews the commonly used Chinese herbs, treatment schemes, and clinical efficacy of this therapy, pointing out that it has clear anticancer mechanisms in inducing apoptosis and inhibiting angiogenesis. However, it also has limitations such as significant toxic reactions, incomplete understanding of the mechanism of action, and insufficient clinical evidence. Future research should combine modern technologies to deeply analyze its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic characteristics, optimize the formulation process to improve targeting, and verify its safety and efficacy through rigorously designed clinical trials.