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

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Specific Side Effects

General side effects: Astragalus, Ginseng, Licorice
Nasuea, Vomiting: Cannabis, Ginger, Tangerine peel (Chen Pi)
Anorexia: Cannabis
Fatigue: Astragalus Huang Qi, Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Cordyceps, Eleutherococcus Ci Wu Jia, Ginseng, Licorice, Rhodiola, Withania
Cachexia: Cannabis, Solanum nigrum
Pain management: Cannabis, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo, Tinospora

Cellular Damage: Curculigo Xian Mao,
Immunosuppresion/Immunomodulatory: Asparagus racemosus, Astragalus Huang Qi, Black Pepper, Cordyceps, Coriolus, Ganoderma, Ginseng, Phellinus, Poria Fu Ling, Polyporus Zhu Ling, Shilajit
Leukopenia: Madder, Spatholobus Ji Xue Teng
Granulocytopenia: Spatholobus Ji Xue Teng
Thrombocytopenia: Spatholobus Ji Xue Teng

Cardiotoxicity/Cardioprotective: Astragalus, Balm, Colchicum, Dioscorea Shan Yao, Jujube (Da Zao), Licorice, Neem, Salvia Dan Shen
Gastrointestinal toxicity: Tangerine peel (Chen Pi),
Hepatotoxicity/Hepatoprotective: Balm, Barberry, Garlic, Jujube (Da Zao), Neem, Nettle, Silybum, Solanum nigrum, Deer Horn (Lu Rong)
Nephroprotective/Nephrotoxicity: Barberry, Dang Gui, Calamus, Garlic, Jujube (Da Zao), Peach fruit, Licorice, Nettle, Plantain, Physalis, Schisandra, Tamarind, Wormwood, Borax, Deer Horn (Lu Rong)
Brain toxicity: Jujube (Da Zao)
Neurotoxicity: Neem
Peripheral Neuropathy: Plantain seed,
Testicular Protective/Testicular Damage: Basil, Cordyceps, Jujube (Da Zao), Yarrow
Ocular Toxicity: Yarrow, Lycium Gou Qi Zi
Aural Toxicity: Rehmannia

Mucositis (Radiation-induced): Licorice, Salvia Dan Shen, Sage, Yarrow
Phlebitis: Sesame oil,
Hair Loss: Long Pepper

Specific Chemotherapies:

Adriamycin: Salvia Dan Shen, Jujube (Da Zao), Plantain
Cisplatin: Barberry, Dang Gui, Calamus, Cordyceps, Salvia Dan Shen, Garlic, Yarrow, Asparagus racemosus, Jujube (Da Zao), Neem, Plantain, Physalis, Rehmannia, Schisandra, Wormwood, Borax, Deer Horn (Lu Rong)
Cyclophosphamide: Cordyceps,
Doxorubicin: Balm, Basil, Dang Gui, Cordyceps, Black Pepper, Neem, Plantain, Dioscorea Shan Yao, Silybum
5-Fluorouracil: Colchicum, Dang Gui, Salvia Dan Shen,
Gentamicin: Long Pepper, Tamariand
Paclitaxel: Yarrow, Tinospora

Radioprotective:

Protect from Radiation injury:
Acanthopanax Wu Jia Pi, Adhatoda, Aloe, Alstonia, Basil, Celandine, Dang Gui, Dragon’s Blood, Greater Cardamon, Epimedium Yin Yang Huo, Hypericum, Indian Spikenard, Polyporus Zhu Ling, Rhodiola; Bee Venom, Shilajit

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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, which may include Diarrhea

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)

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Research:

–Synergistic Effects of Plant Derivatives and Conventional Chemotherapeutic Agents: An Update on the Cancer Perspective
Side Effects of Chemo- and Radio-therapy
–Chinese Herbal Medicine for Reducing Chemotherapy-Associated Side-Effects in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
–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
–Chinese Herbal Medicine for Chemotherapy-Induced Leukopenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of High-Quality Randomized Controlled Trials
HERBS
Licorice:
–Recent Advances in Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice)-Containing Herbs Alleviating Radiotherapy- and Chemotherapy-Induced Adverse Reactions in Cancer Treatment
SYNERGISTIC WITH CHEMOTHERAPY
Solanum nigrum
–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.