SUMMARY OF THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE FOR HERBS FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED SIDE EFFECTS

2007-2017
Author Year Design Cancer Sample Summary of Findings
Diagnosis Size
Deng et al. 2009 Clinical Practice Mixed 330 studies The botanical kava kava, for example, proved more
Guideline effective than the placebo in treating anxiety, stress,
and insomnia in chemotherapy patients.
It is considered a viable alternative to benzodiazepines
because of its benefits and the absence of potential
dependency and addiction.
2011 RCT (Randomized bone 60 Ginger root powder was effective in reducing severity
Pillai et al. Control Trial) sarcoma participants of acute and delayed chemotherapy induced nausea
vomiting (CINV) as additional therapy to ondansetron
and dexamethasone (antiemetic, aka anti
nausea/vomiting drug) in patients receiving
chemotherapy.
2012 RCT Mixed 576 Ginger supplementation at daily dose of 0.5g-1.0g
Ryan et al. participants significantly aids in reduction of the severity of acute
chemotherapy-induced nausea in adult cancer patients.
2012 RCT Breast 100 Addition of ginger (1.5 g/d) to standard antiemetic (aka
Panahi et al. participants anti nausea/vomiting drug) therapy (granisetron plus
dexamethasone) in patients with advanced breast
cancer effectively reduces the prevalence of nausea 6
to 24 hours post chemotherapy.

2017 Systematic Review Mixed 281 studies While the prevalence of the use of herbal products
Koal & prior to surgical treatment is 38.9%, it was observed
Demircan that this rate increased to 54.1% during chemotherapy.
It was observed that the most frequently used product
was garlic prior to surgical treatment (19.2%) and that
it was urtica dioica (13.8%) during chemotherapy.
Before the surgical treatment, 94.3% of the patients,
and during chemotherapy treatment, 81.7% of the
patients, stated that the use of herbal products had not
been questioned by the physician or nurse.