TCM suggested for Liu Xiaobo illness

The family of Liu Xiaobo, a convicted criminal released by China on medical parole, has agreed to take traditional Chinese medicine as a supplementary treatment for Liu, according to an official release on Friday.

Liu is receiving treatment for liver cancer at the First Hospital of China Medical University in Shenyang, Liaoning province.

On Thursday morning, two prestigious experts with rich experience in liver cancer treatment—one with the Beijing-based Guang'anmen Hospital under the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and the other from the Longhua Hospital affiliated with the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine—were invited to the Shenyang hospital for a joint consultation on Liu's sickness.

The experts said the diagnosis of Liu's illness is clear and the treatment is proper, but suggested that TCM could improve the effect of chemotherapy and reduce side effects, according to a release from the Shenyang Bureau of Justice.

Currently, Liu's treatment mainly relies on molecular-targeted drugs and TCM could be used as a supplementary, they said, but whether he takes the medication depends on Liu and his family, the release said.

Liu's wife Liu Xia was briefed about the consultation, and she said she believed the hospital has done all that is possible to treat her husband. Liu Xia agreed to take the TCM advice and expressed gratitude for the medical experts, according to the release.

The First Hospital of China Medical University said its doctors found symptoms of the illness during a physical checkup on May 31 and confirmed Liu's diagnosis on June 7 after consultations with 22 medical experts, according to another release from earlier this week.

The Jinzhou Prison in Liaoning, where Liu Xiaobo has been serving his sentence, said the inmate had hepatitis B before his imprisonment in 2009 and has received annual health checks.

Besides regular checks, the prison said its medics had added tests of hepatitis B and cancer for Liu since 2012 and found no abnormalities.

Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2009 for engaging in activities aimed at overthrowing the government.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010. However, China considers the award reflects poorly on the Nobel Committee, as Liu was convicted of criminal acts against the State before the prize was announced.