Herbal Medicines as Adjuncts to Cancer Chemotherapy—Part 1: Immunomodulators
Publication: Alternative and Complementary Therapies
Volume 25, Issue Number 1
Abstract
Immunomodulating herbs that have been studied in patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer are reviewed in depth. Trametes versicolor (turkey tail, yún zhī) mushroom, formerly known as Coriolus versicolor, Astragalus membranaceus (astragalus, huáng qí) root, Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng, rén shēn) root, and Viscum album (European mistletoe) injectable extracts are reviewed in depth. These represent the four best-studied natural herbal immune adjuncts to chemotherapy. Various reports of these agents' abilities to reduce adverse effects and improve survival in cancer patients are discussed in depth. Other less well studied herbal immunomodulators are also mentioned more briefly. Part 2 of this article will focus on herbal therapies for other specific adverse effects of chemotherapy such as nausea, mucositis, neuropathies, and organ damage.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
Volume 25 • Issue Number 1 • February 2019
Pages: 46 - 52
Copyright
Copyright 2019, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.
History
Published in print: February 2019
Published online: 29 January 2019
Published ahead of print: 10 January 2019
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