Herb May Help Cancer Side Effects
By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - We are learning more and more about herbs and supplements as studies are being conducted. Some of the news is good and some is bad but that is why we do these studies.
According to the results of a Mayo Clinic study, high doses of the herb American ginseng over two months was found to reduce cancer related fatigue.
The study was done on 340 patients and most had breast cancer. This is not to say that it is the only treatment for fatigue in cancer patients, but it shows that some so-called natural treatments can have a positive effect.
Over the past decade there have been a growing number of studies on herbs and supplements and we are learning more. Unfortunately, there is not the regulation that we have with pharmaceuticals so concerns about contaminants and other problems with standardization are quite disturbing.
