Ginseng relieves cancer fatigue
A pilot study suggests that ginseng can relieve fatigue and boost energy levels in people with cancer. The US based trial tested three doses (750 mg, 1000 mg and 2000 mg) of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) against placebo in 282 patients suffering from a variety of types of cancer, about half of whom were receiving chemotherapy. After eight weeks, 25% of patients taking 1000 mg of ginseng and 27% of patients taking 2000 mg reported feeling “moderately better” or “much better,” compared with only 10% of patients in both the placebo and the lowest dose ginseng groups.
(American Society of Clinical Oncology 43rd Annual Meeting: Abstract 9001).
Chinese herbs for chemotherapy toxicity
Traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCHM) does not reduce the toxic effects of chemotherapy on patients’ blood cell populations, however it does have a significant impact on control of nausea. One hundred and twenty patients with early-stage breast or colon cancer who required postoperative chemotherapy were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either individualised TCHM prescriptions of herbal extract granules or placebo packages containing non-therapeutic herbs that smelled and tasted like a typical herbal tea. TCHM did not reduce chemotherapy toxicity as measured by any haematological parameters. Incidence of nausea was the only non-haematologic toxicity that was significantly reduced in the TCHM group (14.6% versus 35.7%).
(A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study of Chinese herbal medicine as complementary therapy for reduction of chemotherapy-induced toxicity. Ann Oncol. 2007 Apr;18(4):768-74).
Ginseng & cancer
A study of nearly 1,500 breast cancer patients in Shanghai found that having taken ginseng regularly before their diagnosis resulted in a significantly reduced chance of dying from the cancer or other causes, and that taking it before and after diagnosis was associated with improved quality of life. The researchers conclude that regular use of ginseng at 1.3 grams per day may bring significant benefits for cancer patients.
(Association of Ginseng Use with Survival and Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Patients. The American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 163, April 1, 2006, pp. 645-53).
Acupuncture/Acupressure for Chemotherapy Vomiting
A systematic review published by the Cochrane Collaboration, an international organisation that evaluates medical research, pooled results from nine studies into the use of acupuncture for post-chemotherapy vomiting. Overall, 22% of patients who received acupuncture suffered vomiting the first day after chemotherapy, compared to 33% of those who did not receive acupuncture. When acupressure studies were evaluated, it was found that it was able to relieve nausea the day after chemotherapy (which acupuncture did not do) although it had no effect on vomiting.
(Ezzo JM et al. Acupuncture-point stimulation for chemotherapy-induced nausea or vomiting. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 2).
Chinese herbs for cancer
A trial of a traditional Chinese herbal medicine formula at Cairo University Hospital. The formula (Sanyang Kangtai, also known as Jiangjie Buxue Heji) has already been trialled at Beijing City Tumour Hospital and seven other Chinese hospitals. Results from those trials showed that 77% of 62 patients with middle and advanced stage lung cancer, who were also receiving chemotherapy, experienced complete or partial recovery compared to a control group receiving chemotherapy plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.
(The Journal of Complementary Medicine (2006) 5; 1).
TCM and radiotherapy
The Chinese medicine Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) was found to reduce the decrease of leukocytes, erythrocytes, thrombocytes and hematocrit in irradiated mice. Its protection was more effective in leukocytes and thrombocytes than other hematocytes. It also exerted a beneficial effect on clinical syndromes such as anemia. From the results in this study, the authors concluded that the most effective concentration with least toxicity was about 20 mg/20 g body weight
(J Ethnopharmacol 1996 Nov;54(2-3):69-75).
Astragalus combines well with chemotherapy
The combination of Huang Qi (Astragali Radix)-based Chinese herbal medicine and platinum-based chemotherapy is more effective in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer than the chemotherapy alone. An analysis of data from 34 published clinical trials suggests that at 12 months the mortality rate was reduced by 33% among those treated with the dual therapy. The Astragalus may work by stimulating macrophage and natural killer cell activity.
(McCulloch M et al. Astragalus-Based Chinese Herbs and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy for Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials. J Clin Oncol. Jan 20 2006: 419-430).
