Compiled by Joseph Brady MSTCM, L.Ac., Dipl. OM

Contact: taichiproj@earthlink.net | joe.brady@faculty.ccmu.edu

1529 York Street, Denver, CO 80206

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Cheryl Wheeler and Jacqui Shumway for their invaluable assistance in verifying and formatting references. Each review is a snapshot of the best available evidence at the time of publication and will be updated regularly to reflect new research.

Author’s Note on AI Use

Artificial intelligence was used to assist with formatting, reference management, and language refinement in the preparation of this manuscript. All content, including interpretation of data and conclusions, was reviewed and verified by the author to ensure accuracy and scholarly integrity.

Chinese Medicine in Integrative Oncology: Evidence-Based Applications

Integrative oncology combines conventional cancer therapies with complementary approaches to support symptom management, improve quality of life, and enhance treatment efficacy. Among these, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)—including acupuncture, herbal medicine, and traditional exercises—has gained significant attention due to emerging clinical evidence supporting its role in oncology care (Ni et al., 2024; O’Brien et al., 2022).

Current Evidence and Clinical Applications

Acupuncture: Highest Evidence in TCM Oncology

Acupuncture is the most thoroughly studied TCM intervention in cancer care, with Level I evidence for several indications. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have demonstrated its effectiveness in aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia, with significant pain reduction (weighted mean difference: -3.03 for worst pain) (Qi et al., 2022). Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting is another indication with strong evidence, leading to clinical guideline recommendations (Mao et al., 2022). Additionally, acupuncture has shown benefit for cancer-related fatigue and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, with systematic reviews supporting its clinical utility (Tan et al., 2021; Rademacher, 2021).

Safety studies indicate a low incidence of adverse events, with most being mild and transient (de Valois et al., 2024). However, careful adaptation is needed for patients with lymphatic compromise, thrombocytopenia, or immunosuppression.

Chinese Herbal Medicine: Promising Adjunctive Therapy

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has demonstrated Level II evidence for improving survival and reducing side effects when used alongside conventional treatments. A Taiwanese cohort study involving 5,707 patients found prolonged survival and reduced recurrence among those using CHM (Mukhtar, 2023). Specific formulations such as Astragalus-containing therapies and ShenQiFuZheng injection have shown benefits in immune function and myelosuppression (Dai et al., 2024).

PHY906, a standardized four-herb formula, has been studied in clinical trials for reducing gastrointestinal toxicity from chemotherapy (Jung & Cheon, 2024). Furthermore, CHM has shown promise in reversing chemotherapy resistance, including inhibition of P-glycoprotein and modulation of apoptosis pathways (Chen et al., 2024).

Safety concerns include potential herb-drug interactions, quality control issues, and rare cases of hepatotoxicity, necessitating clinical monitoring during use (Jung & Cheon, 2024).

Traditional Chinese Exercise and Supportive Care

Systematic reviews support Traditional Chinese Exercise (TCE) such as Tai Chi and Qigong for improving physical, psychological, and physiological health in cancer patients. Protocols of 60–90 minutes, 2–3 times per week for 10–12 weeks are most effective (Song et al., 2020). Evidence is currently Level III, with further research needed.

Integration with Conventional Oncology

Integrative strategies include:

• Adjuvant therapy: CHM with chemotherapy improves efficacy and reduces adverse reactions (Yang et al., 2020).
• Supportive care: Acupuncture and CHM manage side effects during treatment (Rossi et al., 2017).
• Maintenance therapy: TCM during remission helps prevent recurrence (Ni et al., 2024).

Timing considerations suggest benefits from prophylactic, concurrent, and post-treatment use (O’Brien et al., 2022). Ongoing trials aim to standardize these approaches.

Conclusion

The evidence base for Chinese medicine in oncology is expanding, with acupuncture supported by high-quality trials and herbal medicine showing promising adjunctive benefits. Challenges remain in methodological quality, standardization, and integration, but ongoing research supports TCM as a valuable component of integrative oncology.

References (APA Style)

Chen, L., Xu, Y., Wang, Y., Ren, Y., Chen, Y., Zheng, C., Xie, T., Jia, Y., & Zhou, J. (2024). Integrative Chinese-Western medicine strategy to overcome docetaxel resistance in prostate cancer. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 318, 118265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2024.118265

Dai, Z., Wang, J., Wang, Q., Wang, Y., He, Y., Peng, Y., Zhang, Y., Liu, L., Song, N., & Li, N. (2024). Traditional Chinese medicine for gastric cancer: An evidence mapping. Phytotherapy Research, 38(3), 1155–1170. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8155

de Valois, B., et al. (2024). Acupuncture in cancer care: Recommendations for safe practice. Supportive Care in Cancer, 32(4), 238. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-024-08386-6

Jung, J., & Cheon, C. (2024). Synergistic and additive effects of herbal medicines with chemotherapeutics: A scoping review. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 23, 15347354241259416. https://doi.org/10.1177/15347354241259416

Mao, J. J., et al. (2022). Integrative medicine for pain management in oncology: SIO–ASCO guideline. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 40(34), 3998–4024. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.22.01357

Mukhtar, M. (2023). Effects of herbal medicine in cancer patients: A cohort study. Journal of The Chinese Medical Association, 86(7), 645–653. https://doi.org/10.1097/jcma.0000000000000945

Ni, B., et al. (2024). Integrating Chinese medicine into mainstream cancer therapies: A promising future. Frontiers in Oncology, 14, 1412370. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2024.1412370

O’Brien, K., Ried, K., BinJemain, T., & Sali, A. (2022). Integrative approaches to cancer treatment. Cancers, 14(23), 5933. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14235933

Qi, W., Han, L., & Tang, Y. (2022). Effects of acupuncture on breast cancer patients taking aromatase inhibitors. BioMed Research International, 2022, 1164355. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/1164355

Song, Y., et al. (2020). Traditional Chinese exercise for cancers: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(14), 5011. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH17145011

Tan, J. Y., et al. (2021). Acupoint stimulation for cancer-related fatigue: A synthesis of RCTs. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 45, 101490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101490

Yang, J., et al. (2020). Efficacy of TCM with chemotherapy in NSCLC: A meta-analysis. Supportive Care in Cancer, 28(12), 6005–6014. https://doi.org/10.1007/S00520-020-05433-W