Cancer – Chemo & Radio Side Effects

Chenotherapy and Radiotherapy, along with Surgery where applicable, remain the most common treatments for Cancer in Modern Medicine. All of these tactics can be viewed as “attacking” therapies, and yet little to nothing is done to support the body during the biggest battle of its life. Chemo- and Radio-therapy in particular damage healthy Blood cells and lower immunity by reducing white blood cell numbers.

Traditional and Herbal medicine has the advantages of supporting the body, increasing red and white blood cell count, ameliorating side effects, and increasing quality of life while in some cases extending life span, or being curative in their own right.

Exhaustive studies in China have consistently shown the co-administration of Western treatment with Chinese Herbal Medicine increases overall effectiveness, improves quality of life, and increases 5 year survival rate. In many cases there is a marked statistical difference.

Herbs Found to Increase effectiveness of Chemotherapy

Astragalus Huang Qi
Atractylodes Bai Zhu
Codonopsis Dang Shen
Poria Fu Ling
 Licorice
Tangerine Peel
Dang Gui
Solanum nigrum
Western Tradition

Simples

Formulas







 Chinese Classification

Simples

Formulas


Sheng Mai San
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang
Special Formula

General

Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang


    Astragalus Huang Qi
    Atractylodes Bai Zhu
    Cimicifugae Sheng Ma
    Bupleurum Chai Hu
    Citrus Chen Pi
    Ginseng
    Dang Gui
    Licorice
This is commonly used during Chemotherapy. It enhances anti-cancer effects, improves appetite and digestion, increases energy, reduces side effects of chemotherapy, mitigates cancer fatigue and  improves quality of life post-surgery or while taking chemotherpy.


Nausea & Vomiting

Huang Qin Decoction,


    Scutellaria Huang Qin
    Licorice
    Paeonia Bai Shao
    Jujube (Da Zao)
Effective for gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.


Neuropathy from Chemotherapy

Shao Yao Gan Cao Decoction


    Paeonia Bai Shao
    Licorice (Gan Cao)
Shown effective to prevent onset of Neuropathy and an effectiveness of 65% in treating advanced colorectal Cancer patients with neuropathy due to oxaliplatin.


Gastric Toxicity

Ban Xia Xie Xin Decoction


    Pinellia Ban Xia
    Scutellaria Huang Qin
    Ginseng
    Coptis Huang Lian
    Licorice
    Ginger (Gan Jiang)
    Jujube (Da Zao)
Attenuate chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal toxicity and mucositis in Gastric and Colorectal Cancer patients. (See here)


Diarrhea due to Gastric Toxicity

Ban Xia Xie Xin Decoction


    Pinellia Ban Xia
    Scutellaria Huang Qin
    Ginseng
    Coptis Huang Lian
    Licorice
    Ginger (Gan Jiang)
    Jujube (Da Zao)
Attenuate chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal toxicity and mucositis in Gastric and Colorectal Cancer patients. (See here)

Research

–Synergistic Effects of Plant Derivatives and Conventional Chemotherapeutic Agents: An Update on the Cancer Perspective

Side Effects of Chemo- and Radio-therapy
1. Chinese Herbal Medicine for Reducing Chemotherapy-Associated Side-Effects in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
2. Therapeutic efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine, Shen-Mai San, in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy: study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
3. Chinese Herbal Medicine for Chemotherapy-Induced Leukopenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of High-Quality Randomized Controlled Trials

Specific Herbs:
Licorice:
–Recent Advances in Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice)-Containing Herbs Alleviating Radiotherapy- and Chemotherapy-Induced Adverse Reactions in Cancer Treatment

Synergistic with Chemotherapy

Solanum


–Sensitizing effect to Adriamycin–Anti-Cancer Activity of Solanum nigrum (AESN) through Suppression of Mitochondrial Function and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Breast Cancer Cells
–Enhances cytoxicity of 4 Chemotherapy drugs–Aqueous Extract of Solanum nigrum Leaves Induces
Autophagy and Enhances Cytotoxicity of Cisplatin, Doxorubicin, Docetaxel, and 5-Fluorouracil in Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cells
–Synergism with Doxorubicin on Breast Cancer–Combination of Solanum nigrum L. herb ethanolic extract and doxorubicin performs synergism on T47D breast cancer cells
–Enhancement of Cisplatin and Doxorubicin–Integrated Treatment of Aqueous Extract of Solanum nigrum-Potentiated Cisplatin- and Doxorubicin-Induced Cytotoxicity in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
–Enhances Docetaxel–Aqueous Extract of Solanum nigrum Leaf Activates Autophagic Cell Death and Enhances Docetaxel-Induced Cytotoxicity in Human Endometrial Carcinoma Cells
–Reverses Multi-drug resistance–Solanine reverses multidrug resistance in human myelogenous leukemia K562/ADM cells by downregulating MRP1 expression
–Enhances various chemotherapeutic drugs to Ovarian Cancer–Cisplatin-, Doxorubicin-, and Docetaxel-Induced Cell Death Promoted by the Aqueous Extract of Solanum nigrum in Human Ovarian Carcinoma Cells.