The Place of All Natural Chinese Herbs in Cancer Treatment

Medical philosophy is vastly different than all naturalAstragalus to alleviate the toxic side effects of
herbal therapy. Medical doctors are aggressive in theirchemotherapeutic drugs. In the peer-reviewed
attack on cancer and try to burn the cancer out, cutjournal, Carcinogenesis, June of 2007, researchers
it out, or kill it with potent drugs. Herbal philosophy isM.M. Tin et al reported that Astragalus inhibited cell
based on the support of the body's natural defensesgrowth and promoted the death of cancer cells.
and working with the body until any illness is gone.They also found that Astragalus reduced the size of
Both philosophies have their triumphs and challenges.tumors without causing death and without causing a
In many people's minds, the big question is where dodrop in body weight in studies on mice. The
all natural Chinese herbs fit into the grand scheme ofresearchers concluded that Astragalus could be an
cancer treatment?effective chemotherapeutic agent in colon cancer
Why Not Mix Both Philosophies?treatment and used as an adjuvant in combination
Many alternative health practitioners and even medicalwith other orthodox chemotherapeutic drugs to
physicians now have decided that both philosophiesreduce the side effects of chemotherapy
can be incorporated together and result in a morecompounds.
successful outcome for patients with cancer,In another study, patients with small cell lung cancer
especially those on chemotherapy treatment. In theused traditional chemotherapeutic drugs like
last few decades, clinical research studies havevincristine, cyclophosphamide and carmustine and
proven that it is indeed possible to combine medicalresearchers added the all natural Chinese herbs
therapy with all natural Chinese herbs.ginseng and Astragalus to the therapy. The survival
For example, synthetic IL-2 is often used as arate increased to as long as 17 years in some of the
treatment modality by the medical profession forpatients! Again, this proved that a chemotherapy
patients with colorectal cancer, lymphoma, melanoma,natural solution mixture of treatment could work.
and kidney cancer. The chemotherapy drug isGlycyrrhiza glabra, of licorice, is also another Chinese
extremely toxic and can cause serious side effects.herb that activates immune cells in human subjects.
The herb Astragalus was given to patients withThe Journal of Phytotherapy Research reported on a
colorectal cancer. When researchers and doctorsstudy in August 2006 where immune cell function
combined their efforts and administered the all naturalwas enhanced within 24 hours of ingesting licorice
Chinese herb Astragalus to patients receivingand also Astragalus and Echinacea. CD4 and CD8 T
synthetic IL-2, the white blood cells of patientscell counts increased and continued for at least seven
became faster and more efficient. The drug'sdays. When the all natural Chinese herbs licorice and
effectiveness was enhanced, proving that aAstragalus along with Echinacea were used together,
chemotherapy natural solution mixture could work,another immune cell function was improved, that of
that all natural Chinese herbs do indeed have a placeCD69 expression.
in chemotherapy treatment.There are plenty of other studies that show that all
Studies show that Astragalus helps in cancer casesnatural Chinese herbs can be used as a
by increasing killer cells. Astragalus also helps offsetchemotherapy natural solution. What we are seeing is
immune damage from numerous drugs. Astragalusthat using the chemotherapy drugs by themselves
protects the immune system, increases the metaboliccan almost assure one of toxic side effects to come,
rate and increases energy levels. All these functionsbut using them with the all natural Chinese herbs, the
can only aid a chemotherapy patient.chemotherapy treatment can be endured better and
Researchers frequently comment on the use ofwith a higher quality of life.