Traditional Chinese medicine for cancer pain.
- Author:
Juyong WANG
;
Ling XU
;
Ruixin ZHANG
;
Lixing LAO
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
Journal of Integrative Medicine
2011;9(2):129-34
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Pain is one of the common symptoms of cancer which seriously affects the quality of life of the patients. Cancer pain is mainly treated with the three-step method, biological therapy or nerve block therapy based on antitumor therapy. However, up to 50 percent of patients with cancer-related pain do not receive adequate pain relief, affecting their physical and psychological well-being, and leading to a lower quality of life for the patient after conventional treatment. Clinical observation suggests that traditional Chinese medicine may alleviate cancer-related pain either by oral administration, topical administration, acupuncture or other means with continuing non-addictive and non-drug-resistant qualities. However, scientific evaluation of the efficacy of herbs in the treatment of pain is insufficient; the underlying mechanisms are unclear and, safety and toxicity remain a concern.
