Herbal derived conventional medicines and TCM in treating cancer:
Many conventional drugs derive directly from herbs. Some examples of herbal derived drugs commonly used in cancer treatments are: Vincristine and Vinblastine (derived from chang chun hua, catharanthus roseus), Taxol (derived from hong dou shan, taxuz sinensis), Etoposide and Teniposide (derived from gui jiu xiao hua, podophyllum peltatum), and Irinotecan (derived from xishu, canpotheca acuminata). Lots of herbal remedies with evidence of antitumor action are also commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Here are some examples: Han Lian Cao (herba eclipta prostratae), Ban Lan Gen and Da Qing Ye (isatis tintorio), Lei Gong Teng (tripterygium wilfordii), Dong Ling Cao (rabdosia rubescens), Jiang Huang (curcuma longa), Hong Ling Zhi (red ganoderma lucidum), Huang Qi (astragalus membranaceus), and many more.
From TCM also derives ATRA (the use of trans-retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide), a treatment first developed and used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), and now a standard cancer treatment that have saved the lives of many people in the world. More info on the history of ATRA therapy ➣
TCM herbal remedies are typically available in formulas containing multiple ingredients and sometimes as a single herb. TCM herbal products are used in the forms of infusions (decoctions), pills, tablets, capsules, granule powders, oral liquids, injections, enemas, and topical creams. Some products for oral administration are available in form of 5:1 concentrated extracts, and infusions of herbal medicines for intravenous administration are commonly used in TCM hospitals.
Note: To avoid using ineffective products and inappropriate use of herbs, herbal remedies should be used under professional guidance
. The professional indication and administration of some herbal products may require a prescription from a licensed practitioner. It is also strongly recommended to consult a licensed health care provider with knowledge of herbal medicine, before using any herbal product.
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