Combining traditional forms of Chinese and Western medicine could offer new hope for developing new treatments for liver, lung, colorectal cancers and osteosarcoma of the bones, according to experts from Cardiff University’s School of Medicine. Working with scientists from Peking University in China, the Cardiff team is planning to test the health benefits of a traditional Chinese medicine, Yangzheng Xiaoji. The team will also examine how combining the traditional Chinese medicine with more traditional methods, such as chemotherapy, might improve patient outcomes and lead to the development of new cancer treatments and therapies.
“Although a few successes, most of the traditional remedies are short of scientific explanation, which has inevitably led to skepticism – especially among traditionalists in the West. As a result, we set out to test the success of a Chinese medicine and then consider how combining it alongside traditional methods like chemotherapy could result in positive outcome for patients.”
The formula, Yangzheng Xiaoji, is a traditional Chinese medicine composed of 14 herbs that has been shown to be beneficial to cancer patients.
In 2012 the Cardiff team discovered that the formula works by inhibiting the adhesion and migration of cancer cells to block the spread of cancer cells in the body.
“The formula has been shown to be beneficial to patients with certain solid tumours, when used alone and in conventional therapies, such as chemotherapy.
“It suggests that combining the formula with conventional as well as new therapies could hold the key to developing new treatments for cancer patients.
“We are already looking to clinical trials in treatment of lung and other cancer types.”
Source: Cardiff University (2013, September 28). Combining Chinese, Western medicine could lead to new cancer treatments. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 2, 2013, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130928091021.htm.
