Volume 5 Issue 2 - Summer 2010

by Henry McGrath

Introduction

In TCM hospitals throughout China, herbs are considered the treatment of choice with cancer patients (see other article1). However, in the West not all cancer patients are able or willing to take Chinese herbs, for reasons such as these:

• concern about toxicity
• some patients are not able to tolerate herbs (particularly if their digestive system has already been compromised by chemotherapy)
• concern over the interaction between the herbs and other drugs. Some consultants prohibit their patients from taking herbs during chemotherapy, due to concern over the high level of antioxidants in some herbs
• sometimes a fully qualified and experienced herbalist will not be in the local area.