Chinese herbal medicine potentially reduces chemotherapy-related hot flashes and improves life quality in breast cancer patients, with no severe side effects noted.
In the conducted non-randomized controlled trial, 48 participants with stage I-III breast cancer were divided into either a 24-week herbal treatment group or a control group. The herbal intervention involved a blend of two Chinese herbs, Jia Wei Xiao Yao San and Er Zhi Wan, administered in a 3:1 ratio, with a total daily dose of 4 grams taken three times a day. The primary outcome measured was the frequency and severity of hot flushes, rated using a visual analog scale. Secondary outcomes included patient's quality of life evaluated via a specific cancer therapy questionnaire, and meridian energy analysis assessed sympathetic activity and skin electrical conductance.
Participants who completed the trial, 25 in the herbal treatment group and 18 in the control group, showed remarkable results. The herbal treatment group saw a significant reduction in hot flush frequency at different intervals and a decrease in hot flush severity. Participants' physical well-being and particular concerns improved significantly in the treatment group versus the control group over time. Although there were no significant changes in overall electrical conductance at acupoints associated with the herbal treatment, specific meridians, including the heart, liver, and kidney, were significantly affected. Furthermore, after completing chemotherapy, sympathetic activity reduced in the treatment group.
