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Researchers in China have used traditional Chinese medicine involving plant-based medications for years in lung cancer clinical trials. Results of these studies suggest that Chinese herbs help some lung cancer patients cope with the side effects of cancer treatment.
Written by Michelle Whitmer • Edited By Walter Pacheco • Medically Reviewed By Tejal Parekh
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Whitmer, M. (2023, November 16). Traditional Chinese Medicine and Lung Cancer. Asbestos.com. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/alternative/traditional-chinese-medicine/
Whitmer, Michelle. "Traditional Chinese Medicine and Lung Cancer." Asbestos.com, 16 Nov 2023, https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/alternative/traditional-chinese-medicine/.
Whitmer, Michelle. "Traditional Chinese Medicine and Lung Cancer." Asbestos.com. Last modified November 16, 2023. https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/alternative/traditional-chinese-medicine/.
U.S. clinical trials have not studied traditional Chinese herbs in lung cancer care to justify their use yet. Because mesothelioma is a rare cancer, no clinical trials on Chinese herbs for mesothelioma have occurred.
Certain herbs may be helpful for mesothelioma patients. But there is no scientific evidence on the value of Chinese herbs in mesothelioma. No studies have investigated the potential risks and side effects.
Mesothelioma patients should discuss any herb or natural remedy with their doctor prior to using it to make sure it is safe.
Chinese researchers have conducted such clinical trials for decades. They believe the evidence supports the use of Chinese herbs in cancer care. The use of medicinal herbs is an integral part of Chinese culture and treatment.
Many Chinese cancer patients begin taking astragalus before they receive chemotherapy. It often improves survival and lessens side effects. No high-quality studies of astragalus use in cancer patients have been conducted in the U.S.
Approximately 133 Chinese herbs have been historically used in the treatment of lung cancer. The herbs used most frequently might have healing effects on lung tissue and may boost the immune system.
In 2013, PLoS One published a review of 24 Chinese clinical trials on non-small cell lung cancer.
The most commonly used herbs include:
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Clinical trials on herbal medicine in cancer care are uncommon in the U.S, and this contributes to a lack of scientific consensus in America.
For example, a 2022 study conducted in China compared the effects of combining traditional Chinese medicine herbal remedies with chemotherapy in cervical cancer patients. A control group received only chemotherapy, while an observation group received both chemotherapy and herbal remedies.
The observation group that received herbal remedies had better immune system cell counts and experienced fewer adverse reactions to chemotherapy. These kinds of studies have yet to be conducted in the United States.
In 2013, BioMed Central Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a British medical journal, published a review of nearly 3,000 Chinese clinical trials on cancer dating back to 1911 and reported that 72% of the studies combined conventional cancer treatment with traditional Chinese medicine.
The most frequently reported benefits of Chinese medicine in these cancer studies included:
Some of the risks and side effects reported in the study included:
Until the U.S. invests in clinical trials on the effects of Chinese medicine in cancer care, the scientific consensus will remain unclear. For now, most U.S. doctors refrain from recommending herbs to cancer patients because of a lack of research on proper dosing, drugs interactions and potential side effects.
Before working with a Chinese medicine practitioner, it’s important for cancer patients to know that most Chinese medicine practitioners are not licensed medical doctors in the U.S. They may be referred to as a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, but unless they went through conventional medical school, training and licensing in the U.S., they are not considered a licensed medical doctor in the United States.
Because most Chinese medicine practitioners do not have a formal medical background, they haven’t received the in-depth training that an oncologist has received to diagnose and treat cancer patients. For this reason, it is important for cancer patients considering herbal medicine to discuss it with their oncologist first.
Your oncologist can warn you of potential drug interactions or unwanted side effects that may come with herbal medicine. Print out any research you found on the herbs you’d like to take and bring them to your oncologist to review.
For patients who do choose to learn more about Chinese medicine after consulting with their oncologist, working with a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner can make the process of obtaining and taking Chinese herbs easier for patients. Experienced practitioners not only know the best sources for Chinese herbs, they can also blend each patient’s unique prescription of various herbs into one capsule to simplify administration.
The intricacies of Chinese herbal medicine and how specific herbs are prescribed to each individual patient is highly personalized.
The Chinese medicine practitioner considers many individual aspects of each patient before prescribing herbs.
Examples may include:
Many details about your health will be collected and considered when deciding which herbs to prescribe. As a result, it isn’t highly recommended for someone to start taking Chinese herbs without consulting an experienced practitioner.
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