What Treatment Approaches does Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Offer for Chemotherapy Side Effects?
The goal of treatment in Chinese medicine is to restore the individual’s essential balance – of mind, body, and energy. Every person’s experience with disease is unique, and treatment must be likewise uniquely designed for each individual. Many patients use alternative therapies in addition to their standard conventional treatments. While many Chinese medicine treatments have been used for thousands of years, scientific research on herbal and dietary formulas is relatively recent. Studies done in Europe, the United States, Canada, India, China, and Japan have identified active compounds in various herbs, mushrooms and plants that have bioactive properties and some efficacy against nausea and tumors. Many plants contain compounds that affect the human immune system. Others have demonstrated immune system activity in mice or other animal models. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are skilled in recognizing the patterns of physical symptoms that occur with chemotherapy, a