Treating Cancer With Chinese Herbs
Individualized Treatment Makes Scientific Assessment Difficult
Oct 24, 2007
The use of Traditional Chinese Medicine in cancer treatment is considered controversial. Because western or allopathic medicine relies on standard double blind placebo studies to determine efficacy, Chinese herbs more often end up being used in adjunct therapy to help with the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. But some Chinese herbs are showing antineoplastic effects, and their use is being examined more closely.
Western Evaluation of Eastern Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is highly individualized, making it difficult to develop a large enough sample size to meet western study standards. In TCM there are basic formulae, many of which are thousands of years old. These formulae are modified by substituting similar acting herbs, which may be more appropriate for a given individual.
The dilemma begins here. In order to best treat the individual cancer patient according to TCM standards, this process should occur. But once it happens, the course of cancer treatment for the patient cannot be included in studies except where the exact same cancer protocol is used. And because each person is different that doesn’t happen very often.
It is also rare for a single herb to be used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The Chinese herbalist takes advantage of the synergistic effects of herbal combinations to get better results when treating the cancer patient. While multi-drug therapies are used in western cancer medicine, generally each drug is administered separately. This makes the testing of each drug much easier.
Another problem that arises with studies of Chinese herbs used in cancer therapy is that the whole plant is often used. Even when only specific sections such as the roots are used, the western tendency to want to know what the ‘active ingredient’ is results in attempts to break down the plant into separate components, ignoring the probability that it is multiple ‘active ingredients’ that make herbs so effective against cancer.
Types of Chinese Herbs Used to Treat Cancer
Many of the herbs used to actively treat cancer are classed as Heat Toxin Clearing. Heat toxins have been linked to what is now understood as bacteria and viruses. And there is a stronger and stronger link being seen between viruses and cancer. More recently, some of the Clear Heat Toxin herbs have been used in vitro against several types of leukemia cells. How that will translate once cancer trials reach the in vivo stage remains to be seen.
Blood Invigorating herbs are also used in cancer treatment. Blood invigorators are used to dispel firm masses. Abscess treatment with some Blood invigorating herbs has been proven effective over time. Other masses, such as goiters, have also been reduced with Chinese herbs. Extrapolating to the use of these herbs to dispel cancerous masses makes sense.
Much of the anecdotal evidence for the use of Chinese herbs to treat cancer comes from cases where western treatment options had been exhausted. The cancer patients then turned to alternative therapies. Many of those using Chinese herbs showed significant improvement in quality of life, leading researchers to look more closely at this ancient medicine.
As more people opt for Traditional Chinese Medicine as all or part of their cancer treatment program, these ancient herbal formulas may become an accepted part of cancer management
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