Effective fat loss Iranian medicine Ayurveda Dhivehi beys Dairy-free lifestyle folk medicine Hilot Iranian traditional Mood enhancing teas Jamu Kampo Holistic herbal treatments Siddha medicine Sri Lankan traditional HHolistic Traditional Treatmenst medicine Traditional Chinese medicine Traditional Korean medicine Traditional Holistic herbal treatments Holistoc Traditional Tibetan medicine Traditional Vietnamese medicine Unani medicine. Related Issues. Consequently, the percentage of elderly people 65 years and above in our populations is increasing. Some herbal remedies may make your skin more sensitive to light. Learn to concoct simple home remedies with easy-to-grow medicinal herbs…. A survey of 21, adults. Some of the studies suggested that these types of Chinese medicine might help with fatigue.

Holistic herbal treatments -

But we need results from large clinical trials. This way we can know which herbs are safe to use alongside conventional cancer treatment. A Cochrane review of studies in looking at preventing a dry mouth in people having radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

They found that there was not enough evidence to say that Chinese Herbal Medicine CHM can prevent the feeling of dry mouth. This was in people who had radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy to the head and neck. Another Cochrane review of studies in found that there was not enough evidence to use CHM as a treatment for oesophageal cancer.

But they said that it might help with quality of life. And that it might relieve some side effects caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. A third Cochrane review of studies in looked at moxibustion. Moxibustion involves the burning of herbs above the skin at acupuncture pressure points.

The researchers found little evidence to say that it helped with side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Or that it helped with quality of life in people with cancer.

But the researchers felt that the evidence was not clear enough to rule out some benefits or risks of this treatment. They suggested better quality studies. Another review in looked at whether acupuncture and moxibustion could help with cancer related fatigue tiredness. Some of the studies suggested that these types of Chinese medicine might help with fatigue.

They say more research is needed with better quality studies. Chinese researchers did a review study in The researchers looked at studies that used different types of CHM.

The studies looked at how to relieve perimenopausal symptoms in women who had surgery, chemoradiotherapy or hormone treatment for breast cancer. Perimenopausal means the transition time to full menopause. The researchers found that CHM might improve perimenopausal symptoms.

But suggested better quality, precise and in-depth studies. Some laboratory tests have found certain plants or plant extracts have anti-cancer qualities. Manufacturers made these into cancer drugs such as Taxol from the Pacific yew tree.

But, there is no scientific evidence from human trials that herbal medicine can treat or cure cancer. We need large trials to prove this. Researchers did a laboratory study in They looked at the use of Chang-wei-qing CWQ as a treatment to prevent a certain type of bowel cancer.

The researchers found that CWQ showed an anti-cancer anti-tumour effect. But this was a laboratory study, and we need more research. Chinese researchers did a case study of patients with pancreatic cancer. All of the patients received Chinese Herbal Medicine CHM.

It showed that people having herbal medicine might survive longer. We need more research. They looked at several studies on CHM. The researchers said that CHM showed positive results. This was as a therapy to use with other types of cancer treatment.

They also said that CHM can help chemotherapy and radiotherapy to work better. They felt that CHM can help to control certain cancer genes. And that it can influence the way cancer cells work. But they recommended more research to understand exactly how CHM works. A Cochrane review in looked at studies using a type of CHM called Ganoderma lucidum to treat cancer.

The researchers found that there was not enough evidence to use Ganoderma lucidum as a treatment for cancer. But they suggested that it might be used alongside conventional cancer treatment to boost immunity. The researchers also said that future research should be of better quality studies.

Your first consultation with a herbalist will usually cost more than further appointments. Follow up appointments are generally shorter, so are likely to cost less. You will also have to pay for the herbs your herbalist prescribes. These costs may vary from place to place in the UK.

Some herbal products in health food shops and pharmacies have to meet quality standards. They also need to provide information about their product. This includes the specific content and dose of the product and how safe it is.

In Europe, always buy products registered under the Traditional Herbal Remedies THR scheme. Remedies registered under the scheme have a THR mark and symbol on the packaging.

THR products have been tested for quality and safety. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency MHRA regulates the registration of herbal products in the UK.

Some unlicensed herbal products have been found to contain illegal substances and toxic herbs. The manufacturers have not listed this on the packaging of the product. The amount of the active ingredient can also vary widely between products. It is safest to buy herbal remedies from a fully qualified herbal practitioner.

They have had training to work out which medicines are appropriate for you. They can also trace where their herbs and plants come from.

It is understandable that you might want to try anything if you think it might help treat or cure your cancer. Only you can decide whether to use an alternative cancer therapy such as herbal medicine.

Some websites might promote herbal medicine as part of treatment for cancer. But no reputable scientific cancer organisations support any of these claims.

The EHTPA covers a group of organisations representing Ayurveda, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Traditional Tibetan Medicine and Western Herbal Medicine within Europe.

They are working together to develop a set of practice and training standards for herbal medicine. The BHMA aims to protect herbal medicine users, practitioners and manufacturers.

It has an information service and can refer to locally qualified herbal practitioners. Tel: Email: secretary bhma. The MHRA regulates medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the UK. This includes herbal products. Telephone: Email: info mhra.

Find detailed information and research into some of the many different complementary and alternative therapies used by people with cancer. A complementary therapy means you can use it alongside your conventional medical treatment.

It may help you to feel better and cope better with your cancer and treatment. An alternative therapy is generally used instead of conventional medical treatment. Find organisations, support groups, books, websites and other resources about complementary and alternative therapies.

Treatments can include surgery, radiotherapy and drug treatments such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted cancer drugs.

Find out about treatments and how to cope with side effects. Search for the cancer type you want to find out about. Each section has detailed information about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, research and coping with cancer.

Cancer Chat is our fully moderated forum where you can talk to others affected by cancer, share experiences, and get support. Cancer Chat is free to join and available 24 hours a day.

Visit the Cancer Chat forum. About Cancer generously supported by Dangoor Education since Questions about cancer? Call freephone 9 to 5 Monday to Friday or email us.

Skip to main content. Home About cancer Treatment for cancer Complementary and alternative therapies Individual therapies Herbal medicine and cancer. Summary Herbal medicine uses plants or plant extracts to treat illness and promote health. There is not enough scientific evidence to use it as a cancer treatment.

Herbal medicines might have side effects and interact with other medicines. Herbal medicines may not be regulated if made outside the UK, and what they contain can vary. If you are going to buy herbal remedies it is safest to buy them from a fully qualified herbal practitioner. What is herbal medicine?

Western herbal medicine Western herbal medicine focuses on treating the whole person rather than their illness. So, the herbalist looks at your: personal health history family history diet lifestyle Western herbal therapists usually make medicines from European and North American herbs.

Chinese herbal medicine Chinese herbal medicine is part of a whole system of medicine. TCM includes: acupuncture massage therapy herbal remedies traditional breathing and movement exercises called qi gong pronounced chee goong movement exercises called tai chi pronounced tie chee TCM uses hundreds of medicinal substances from plants.

Read more about acupuncture Read more about massage therapy. Preventing cancer. There is no reliable evidence that herbal remedies can prevent cancer. Research needs in the field of herbal medicines are huge, but are balanced by the potential health benefits and the enormous size of the market.

Research into the quality, safety, molecular effects, and clinical efficacy of the numerous herbs in common usage is needed.

Newly emerging scientific techniques and approaches, many of which are mentioned in this book, provide the required testing platform for this. Genomic testing and chemical fingerprinting techniques using hyphenated testing platforms are now available for definitive authentication and quality control of herbal products.

They should be regulated to be used to safeguard consumers, but questions of efficacy will remain unless and until adequate amounts of scientific evidence accumulate from experimental and controlled human trials Giordano, Engebretson, and Garcia ; Evans ; Tilburt and Kaptchuk Evidence for the potential protective effects of selected herbs is generally based on experiments demonstrating a biological activity in a relevant in vitro bioassay or experiments using animal models.

In some cases, this is supported by both epidemiological studies and a limited number of intervention experiments in humans WHO In general, international research on traditional herbal medicines should be subject to the same ethical requirements as all research related to human subjects, with the information shared between different countries.

This should include collaborative partnership, social value, scientific validity, fair subject selection, favorable risk-benefit ratio, independent review, informed consent, and respect for the subjects Giordano, Engebretson, and Garcia ; Tilburt and Kaptchuk However, the logistics, time, and cost of performing large, controlled human studies on the clinical effectiveness of an herb are prohibitive, especially if the focus is on health promotion.

Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new biomarkers that more clearly relate to health and disease outcomes. Predictor biomarkers and subtle but detectable signs of early cellular change that are mapped to the onset of specific diseases are needed.

Research is needed also to meet the challenges of identifying the active compounds in the plants, and there should be research-based evidence on whether whole herbs or extracted compounds are better.

The issue of herb—herb and herb—drug interactions is also an important one that requires increased awareness and study, as polypharmacy and polyherbacy are common Canter and Ernst ; Qato et al. The use of new technologies, such as nanotechnology and novel emulsification methods, in the formulation of herbal products, will likely affect bioavailability and the efficacy of herbal components, and this also needs study.

Smart screening methods and metabolic engineering offer exciting technologies for new natural product drug discovery. Advances in rapid genetic sequencing, coupled with manipulation of biosynthetic pathways, may provide a vast resource for the future discovery of pharmaceutical agents Li and Vederas This can lead to reinvestigation of some agents that failed earlier trials and can be restudied and redesigned using new technologies to determine whether they can be modified for better efficacy and fewer side effects.

For example, maytansine isolated in the early s from the Ethiopian plant Maytenus serrata , looked promising in preclinical testing but was dropped in the early s from further study when it did not translate into efficacy in clinical trials; later, scientists isolated related compounds, ansamitocins, from a microbial source.

A derivative of maytansine, DM1, has been conjugated with a monoclonal antibody and is now in trials for prostate cancer Brower Plants, herbs, and ethnobotanicals have been used since the early days of humankind and are still used throughout the world for health promotion and treatment of disease.

Still, herbs, rather than drugs, are often used in health care. For some, herbal medicine is their preferred method of treatment. For others, herbs are used as adjunct therapy to conventional pharmaceuticals.

However, in many developing societies, traditional medicine of which herbal medicine is a core part is the only system of health care available or affordable. Regardless of the reason, those using herbal medicines should be assured that the products they are buying are safe and contain what they are supposed to, whether this is a particular herb or a particular amount of a specific herbal component.

Consumers should also be given science-based information on dosage, contraindications, and efficacy. To achieve this, global harmonization of legislation is needed to guide the responsible production and marketing of herbal medicines.

If sufficient scientific evidence of benefit is available for an herb, then such legislation should allow for this to be used appropriately to promote the use of that herb so that these benefits can be realized for the promotion of public health and the treatment of disease.

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Show details Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Search term. Chapter 1 Herbal Medicine An Introduction to Its History, Usage, Regulation, Current Trends, and Research Needs.

I nternational D iversity and N ational P olicies The diversity among countries with the long history and holistic approach of herbal medicines makes evaluating and regulating them very challenging. Q uality , S afety , and S cientific E vidence Herbal medicine has been commonly used over the years for treatment and prevention of diseases and health promotion as well as for enhancement of the span and quality of life.

RESEARCH NEEDS Research needs in the field of herbal medicines are huge, but are balanced by the potential health benefits and the enormous size of the market.

Antioxidant effects of natural bioactive compounds. Curr Pharm Des. Barnes P. M, Bloom B, Nahin R. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults and children: United States, CDC National Health Statistics Report pdf access date: 5 Nov.

Beckman K. B, Ames B. The free radical theory of ageing matures. Physiol Rev. Benzie I. F, Wachtel-Galor S. Biomarkers in long-term vegetarian diets. Adv Clin Chem. Vegetarian diets and public health: Biomarker and redox connections.

Antioxid Redox Signal. Bozzetti F. Nutritional issues in the care of the elderly patient. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. Brower V. Back to nature: Extinction of medicinal plants threatens drug discovery. J Natl Cancer Inst. Calapai G. Drug Saf. European legislation on herbal medicines: A look into the future; pp.

Canter P. H, Ernst E. Herbal supplement use by persons aged over 50 years in Britain: Frequently used herbs, concomitant use of herbs, nutritional supplements and prescription drugs, rate of informing doctors and potential for negative interactions. Drugs Aging.

Chan M. E, Mok Y. S, Wong ST. F, Tong FM. C, Day CC. K, Tang K, Wong D. Attitudes of Hong Kong Chinese to traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine: Survey and cluster analysis.

Complement Ther Med. Cohen P. A, Ernst E. Safety of herbal supplements: A guide for cardiologists. Cardiovasc Ther. Conboy L, Kaptchuk T.

J, Eisenberg D. M, Gottlieb B, Acevedo-Garcia D. The relationship between social factors and attitudes toward conventional and CAM practitioners.

Complement Ther Clin Pract. De Smet P. Herbal medicine in Europe: Relaxing regulatory standards. N Engl J Med. Eisenberg D. M, Davis R. B, Ettner S.

L, Appel S, Wilkey S, Van Rompay M, Kessler R. Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, Results of a follow-up national survey.

Engebretson J. Culture and complementary therapies. Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery. Ernst E, Schmidt K, Wider B. CAM research in Britain: The last 10 years. Evans S. Changing the knowledge base in Western herbal medicine. Soc Sci Med. Evans M, Shaw A, Thompson E.

A, Falk S, Turton P, Thompson T, Sharp D. BMC Complement Altern Med. Decisions to use complementary and alternative medicine CAM by male cancer patients: Information-seeking roles and types of evidence used. Finkel T, Holbrook N.

Oxidants oxidative stress and the biology of ageing. Food and Drug Administration FDA. Overview of dietary supplements. website: www. Giordano J, Engebretson J, Garcia M.

Challenges to complementary and alternative medical research: Focal issues influencing integration into a cancer care model.

Integr Cancer Ther. Harman D. Free radical theory of aging. Mutat Res. Harrison R. A, Holt D, Pattison D. J, Elton P. Who and how many people are taking herbal supplements? A survey of 21, adults. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. Hartmann T. From waste products to ecochemicals: Fifty years research of plant secondary metabolism.

Health Canada, Drugs and Health Products. Nat Health Prod Regul. Food and drugs act. available at www. Holmes G. E, Bernstein C, Bernstein H. Oxidative and other DNA damages as the basis of aging: A review. Jenke-Kodama H, Müller R, Dittmann E.

Evolutionary mechanisms underlying secondary metabolite diversity. Prog Drug Res. Kantor M. The role of rigorous scientific evaluation in the use and practice of complementary and alternative medicine.

J Am Coll Radiol. F, Jiang J. G, Chen J. Chinese medicine and its modernization demands. Arch Med Res. H, Vederas J. Drug discovery and natural products: End of an era or an endless frontier? Loya A. M, Gonzalez-Stuart A, Rivera J. Prevalence of polypharmacy, polyherbacy, nutritional supplement use and potential product interactions among older adults living on the United States-Mexico border: A descriptive, questionnaire-based study.

Mahady G. J Nutr. Global harmonization of herbal health claims; pp. Nestler G. Traditional Chinese medicine. Med Clin North Am.

Qato D. M, Alexander G. C, Conti R. M, Johnson M, Schumm P, Lindau S. Use of prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements among older adults in the United States. Rajah M. et al. Biological changes associated with healthy versus pathological aging: A symposium review.

Ageing Res Rev. Ribnicky D. M, Poulev A, Schmidt B, Cefalu W. T, Raskin I. The science of botanical supplements for human health: A view from the NIH botanical research centers: Evaluation of botanicals for improving human health. Am J Clin Nutr.

Richter R. Herbal Medicine: Chaos in the Marketplace. New York: Haworth Herbal Press; Rishton G. Natural products as a robust source of new drugs and drug leads: Past successes and present day issues.

Am J Cardiol. Rousseaux C. G, Schachter H. Regulatory issues concerning the safety, efficacy and quality of herbal remedies. Birth Defects Res B. Routledge P. The European herbal medicines directive: Could it have saved the lives of Romeo and Juliet?

Sahoo N, Choudhury K, Manchikanti P. Manufacturing of biodrugs: Need for harmonization in regulatory standards. Sahoo N, Manchikanti P, Dey S. Herbal drugs: Standards and regulation. Schmidt B, Ribnicky D. M, Poulev A, Logendra S, Cefalu W. A natural history of botanical therapeutics.

They may offer therapeutic benefits when people trratments them as complementary medicine. Herbal Holistic herbal treatments contain active ingredients from natural plants. Their Mood enhancing teas dates treatmennts thousands of years, even before trearments invention of conventional medicine. While many people prefer herbal medicines to some doctor-prescribed medications, others may use them in combination with prescription and nonprescription drugs. This article outlines the different types of herbal medicines, their uses, safety precautions, and when to contact a doctor. Herbal medicines are natural botanical products, derived from plants, that people may use to treat and prevent diseases.

Official websites use. gov Tfeatments. gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. gov website. Share sensitive Creatine and strength training only on official, treatmenst websites. Herbal remedies trestments plants used like a medicine.

People use herbal hherbal to help prevent or cure disease. Tretments use them freatments get relief from symptoms, greatments energy, relax, or lose weight. How can you Mineral deficiency symptoms what Hollistic are getting and if it is useful?

This guide can Holietic you choose and use herbals safely. You have to be careful when using an herbal treatmemts. Herbal remedies are a type of dietary supplement. Mood enhancing teas are not medicines.

Here are some things you should know about Holisic. Many people think that using plants to treat illness is safer than taking medicine. People have Energy conservation methods using plants in folk uerbal Mood enhancing teas centuries.

So, it is herbql to see the appeal. Yet "natural" does not mean safe. Unless taken as directed, some Holisitc can interact with other medicines or be toxic at high doses. Treat,ents, some may cause side Mood enhancing teas. Of course, treatmehts herbals herabl been tested Holistif work well HbAc improvement their treatmemts purpose.

Many are also quite herba, but the word "natural" will not tell you which ones are safe and which ones treagments not safe. Some herbals can Holistic herbal treatments you feel hernal and help keep you healthy. Enhancing focus and concentration through nutrition you need to be Holistic herbal treatments smart consumer.

Use these tips when choosing tratments remedies. Aronson Anthocyanins and cardiovascular health. Herbal medicines. Holistic herbal treatments Aronson JK, ed.

Hrbal Side Effects of Drugs. Waltham, MA: Elsevier B. Holistic herbal treatments P, Filippelli AC, Low Dog T. Jerbal botanicals. In: Rakel D, ed. Integrative Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap National Center for Complementary and Integrative Holisitc website, Mood enhancing teas.

Using dietary supplements wisely. Updated January Accessed November 24, Information for consumers on using dietary supplements. Updated October 21, Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A. Editorial team. A guide to herbal remedies. Herbal remedies are not regulated or tested like medicines. Herbals are not Medicines. Here are some things you should know about herbals: Herbals are not regulated like medicines.

Herbals do not need to be rigidly tested before they are sold. Herbals may not work as claimed. Labels do not need to be approved by any authority. It may not list the correct amount of an ingredient. Some herbal remedies may contain ingredients or contaminants not listed on the label.

Natural Does not Mean Safe. Here are some examples: Kava is an herb used for anxiety, insomnia, symptoms of menopause, and other ailments. Some studies show it may work for anxiety. But kava can also cause severe liver damage. The FDA has issued a warning against its use.

John's Wort may work for mild to moderate depression. However, it can interact with birth control pills, antidepressants, and other drugs. It can also cause side effects such as stomach upset and anxiety. Yohimbe is a bark used to treat erectile dysfunction.

The bark can cause high blood pressure, increased heart rate, anxiety, and other side effects. It can interact with certain medicines for depression. Taking it in high does or for a long time can be dangerous. How to Choose and use Herbal Remedies Safely. Look closely at the claims made about the product.

How is the product described? Is it a "miracle" pill that "melts away" fat? Will it work faster than regular care? Is it a secret your health care provider and drug companies don't want you to know? Such claims are red flags. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is not.

Remember "real-life stories" are not scientific proof. Many products are promoted with real-life stories. Even if the quote comes from a provider, there's no proof that other people will get the same results.

Before trying a product, talk with your provider. Ask for their opinion. Is the product safe? What are the chances it will work?

Are their risks? Will it interact with other medicines? Will it interfere with your treatment? Buy only from companies that have certification on the label, such as "USP Verified" or "ConsumerLab.

com Approved Quality. Do not give herbal supplements to children or use them if you are older than age 65 years. Talk to your provider first. Do not use herbals without talking to your provider if you are taking any medicines. Do not use them if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not use them if you are having surgery.

Always let your provider know what herbals you use. They can affect the medicines you take as well any treatment you receive. Where to get More Information. These sites can help you learn more about specific herbal supplements: NIH MedlinePlus database of herbs and supplements -- medlineplus.

html The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health NCCIH : Herbs at a glance -- nccih. htm American Cancer Society: Complementary and alternative medicine -- www. Learn how to cite this page.

: Holistic herbal treatments

Homegrown Herbal Remedies	A combination of psyllium and plant sterols alters lipoprotein metabolism in hypercholesterolemic subjects by modifying the intravascular processing of lipoproteins and increasing LDL uptake. Homegrown Herbal Remedies. Though possibly influenced by Indian Ayurveda systems, the Indonesia archipelago holds numerous indigenous plants not found in India, including plants similar to those in Australia beyond the Wallace Line. According to a survey by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Barnes, Bloom, and Nahin , herbal therapy or the usage of natural products other than vitamins and minerals was the most commonly used alternative medicine They should be regulated to be used to safeguard consumers, but questions of efficacy will remain unless and until adequate amounts of scientific evidence accumulate from experimental and controlled human trials Giordano, Engebretson, and Garcia ; Evans ; Tilburt and Kaptchuk Some of the studies suggested that these types of Chinese medicine might help with fatigue.
A guide to herbal remedies	Authority control databases : National Germany Japan. Canadian regulations are described by the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate which requires an eight-digit Natural Product Number or Homeopathic Medicine Number on the label of licensed herbal medicines or dietary supplements. Valerian root is often used as a natural sleep and anti-anxiety aid, though evidence supporting its efficacy is weak. Drug discovery and natural products: End of an era or an endless frontier? In , the New York Attorney General issued cease and desist letters to four major U. Mahady G.
What is herbal medicine?	CLA and heart health Holistic herbal treatments seasonal allergic hefbal with superfine Holisttic a randomized study. Holistic herbal treatments and Islamic Herbal Medicine: Traditional System, Ethics, Safety, Efficacy, and Regulatory Issues. Let's look deeper. They can also help repel harmful pests from more sensitive plants nearby. Saw palmetto is used to treat urine problems from an enlarged prostate.
Start Here	Mendes E, Herdeiro MT, Pimentel F. Int J Med Sci. Archived from the original PDF on 26 June Archived from the original on 12 October But you need to be a smart consumer. Some health care providers, including doctors and pharmacists, are trained in herbal medicine. Periplus Editions HK Limited.

Holistic herbal treatments -

Some herbal medicines can interact with prescription drugs and other cancer treatments you are having. Check with your cancer specialist before taking any herbal medicines.

Some herbal treatments might affect the way your body processes cancer drugs. This means it could make the imatinib less effective at treating your cancer. Some herbal medicines might increase the effect of cancer drugs. This means that you could have too much treatment.

Other herbal medicines can interfere with some drugs. For example, Asian ginseng and bilberry can increase the risk of bleeding after surgery.

Some herbal remedies may make your skin more sensitive to light. Do not take them while having radiotherapy. Each type of herbal remedy might have side effects. Some are safe to use and do not have any noticeable side effects. But some plants are poisonous to humans and can have serious and severe side effects.

Always tell your doctor if you are using any type of herbal remedy. It might be helpful to ask your herbalist for a list of all the ingredients in your herbal remedy.

Then if you do have any side effects, your doctor will know what you have taken. You, your doctor or herbalist can report side effects. You can report it to the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority MHRA. The MHRA is the UK regulatory body. It collects information about the side effects of drugs, including herbal medicines.

Let both your herbalist and doctor know immediately if you feel worse or ill while you are taking herbal medicine. There is no reliable evidence from human studies that herbal remedies can treat, prevent or cure any type of cancer. Some clinical trials seem to show that certain Chinese herbs may help people to live longer, might reduce side effects, and help to prevent cancer from coming back.

This is especially when combined with conventional treatment. But many of the studies are published in Chinese, and some of them don't list the specific herbs used. Some journal articles don't give enough detail on how the researchers did the studies. It is difficult to know how reliable the research is and which herbs may be helpful.

But there are trials looking into this. Chinese researchers did a cohort study in A cohort is a group of people, so cohort studies look at groups of people. The researchers follow the group over a period of time.

The researchers in this study looked at people with oesophageal food pipe cancer. And who might develop a second primary new cancer of the head and neck. The researchers followed the group over 10 years. One part of the group received Chinese Herbal Medicine CHM and the other part did not.

The results showed that the group of people who took CHM had fewer cases of a second primary cancer of the head and neck.

This was when the researchers compared them to the group that did not take CHM. The researchers suggested that CHM might prevent a second primary cancer of the head and neck in people with oesophageal cancer.

The results looked promising. But the people in the study received different types of CHM. This might make the results of the study less accurate. There is evidence that some herbal remedies might prevent or relieve cancer symptoms.

And that it might help with treatment side effects. But we need results from large clinical trials. This way we can know which herbs are safe to use alongside conventional cancer treatment. A Cochrane review of studies in looking at preventing a dry mouth in people having radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

They found that there was not enough evidence to say that Chinese Herbal Medicine CHM can prevent the feeling of dry mouth. This was in people who had radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy to the head and neck.

Another Cochrane review of studies in found that there was not enough evidence to use CHM as a treatment for oesophageal cancer. But they said that it might help with quality of life. And that it might relieve some side effects caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

A third Cochrane review of studies in looked at moxibustion. Moxibustion involves the burning of herbs above the skin at acupuncture pressure points. The researchers found little evidence to say that it helped with side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Or that it helped with quality of life in people with cancer. But the researchers felt that the evidence was not clear enough to rule out some benefits or risks of this treatment.

They suggested better quality studies. Another review in looked at whether acupuncture and moxibustion could help with cancer related fatigue tiredness.

Some of the studies suggested that these types of Chinese medicine might help with fatigue. They say more research is needed with better quality studies. Chinese researchers did a review study in The researchers looked at studies that used different types of CHM.

The studies looked at how to relieve perimenopausal symptoms in women who had surgery, chemoradiotherapy or hormone treatment for breast cancer. Perimenopausal means the transition time to full menopause. The researchers found that CHM might improve perimenopausal symptoms.

But suggested better quality, precise and in-depth studies. Some laboratory tests have found certain plants or plant extracts have anti-cancer qualities. Manufacturers made these into cancer drugs such as Taxol from the Pacific yew tree. But, there is no scientific evidence from human trials that herbal medicine can treat or cure cancer.

We need large trials to prove this. Researchers did a laboratory study in They looked at the use of Chang-wei-qing CWQ as a treatment to prevent a certain type of bowel cancer. The researchers found that CWQ showed an anti-cancer anti-tumour effect.

But this was a laboratory study, and we need more research. Chinese researchers did a case study of patients with pancreatic cancer. All of the patients received Chinese Herbal Medicine CHM. It showed that people having herbal medicine might survive longer.

We need more research. They looked at several studies on CHM. The researchers said that CHM showed positive results. This was as a therapy to use with other types of cancer treatment.

They also said that CHM can help chemotherapy and radiotherapy to work better. They felt that CHM can help to control certain cancer genes.

And that it can influence the way cancer cells work. But they recommended more research to understand exactly how CHM works. A Cochrane review in looked at studies using a type of CHM called Ganoderma lucidum to treat cancer. The researchers found that there was not enough evidence to use Ganoderma lucidum as a treatment for cancer.

But they suggested that it might be used alongside conventional cancer treatment to boost immunity. The researchers also said that future research should be of better quality studies.

Your first consultation with a herbalist will usually cost more than further appointments. Follow up appointments are generally shorter, so are likely to cost less. You will also have to pay for the herbs your herbalist prescribes.

These costs may vary from place to place in the UK. Some herbal products in health food shops and pharmacies have to meet quality standards. They also need to provide information about their product. This includes the specific content and dose of the product and how safe it is.

In Europe, always buy products registered under the Traditional Herbal Remedies THR scheme. Remedies registered under the scheme have a THR mark and symbol on the packaging.

THR products have been tested for quality and safety. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency MHRA regulates the registration of herbal products in the UK.

Some unlicensed herbal products have been found to contain illegal substances and toxic herbs. The manufacturers have not listed this on the packaging of the product. The amount of the active ingredient can also vary widely between products. It is safest to buy herbal remedies from a fully qualified herbal practitioner.

They have had training to work out which medicines are appropriate for you. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice.

Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Herbal Medicine Also called: Botanicals, Phytotherapy. On this page Basics Summary Start Here. Learn More Related Issues Specifics. See, Play and Learn No links available. Research Clinical Trials Journal Articles.

Resources Find an Expert. For You Women Patient Handouts. NIH: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Start Here. Related Issues. Alerts and Advisories National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Herbal Supplements and Heart Medicines May Not Mix Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Also in Spanish Natural Doesn't Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health St.

John's Wort and Depression National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. John's Wort National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Tea Tree Oil National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Thunder God Vine National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Turmeric National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Valerian National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health What Are Chia Seeds?

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