Score one for ancient natural medicine

A new study shows that ancient Chinese medicine may help people who suffer from the damaging intestinal side effects of chemotherapy. The herbs stimulate intestinal cell regeneration and reduce inflammation.

Peonies and skullcap (purple flower) combined with licorice and fruit from a buckthorn tree come together in a concoction called Huang Qin Tang (sounds like Hu-wang Chin Tong). This ancient herbal medicine has been used in China for centuries to allay all types of intestinal disorders. From something as common as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting to the more modern side effects of chemo for cancer patients of all types.

The research, published in the August 18 issue of Science Translational Medicine, refers to a Western-style ½ trial confirming that the herbal combination reduces damage to the intestines caused by chemo in patients diagnosed with rectal and colon cancer.

The research was done mice at Yale University School of Medicine and a company called PhytoCeutica. Yung-Chi Cheng, Wing Lam, and colleagues showed that the healing effects from the herbal mix come from the ability to target numerous biological processes in mice.

The mice in the experiment had cancer, were exposed to chemotherapy which reduced tumors, but suffered from damaged intestinal lining. After a few days on Huang Qin Tang, the damaged intestinal linings were restored. The herbs also blocked inflammatory cells to the intestines and reduced swelling.

The suggests there may actually be something to this ancient Chinese medicine stuff. “We will continue to refine these processes to better study and understand the sophisticated nature of herbal medicines. Revisiting history may lead us to discovering future medicines,” said Cheng.

Source: AAAS, ScienceDaily