Complications of traditional Chinese/herbal medicines (TCM)--a guide for perplexed oncologists and other cancer caregivers.
BACKGROUND
Cancer patients often seek complementary or alternative medicines to supplement or replace treatments prescribed by licensed medical practitioners. Traditional Chinese/herbal medicine (TCM) is a popular complementary intervention among cancer patients of Asian ethnicity, many of whom take it during their conventional treatment. Few of these patients inform their doctors, however, creating a risk of unexpected sequelae arising from either pharmacologic toxicity, unsuitable dosing, interactions with anti-cancer drugs or other medications, adulteration, or idiosyncratic reactions. If unrecognized, these problems may be misattributed to conventional treatment toxicity or disease progression, and remedial action may be inappropriate or delayed.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this review is to help oncologists recognize the common presentations of TCM-related problems in cancer patients-such as abnormal liver function tests, unexpectedly severe myelosuppression, hemostatic defects, renal functional impairment, or suspected drug interactions-and to teach strategies by which these problems can be anticipated, prevented, or managed.


CONCLUSIONS
Through sensitive understanding of the reasons favoring TCM usage, oncologists can gain the trust and respect of their TCM-using patients while ensuring the safety and efficacy of conventional anticancer treatments.
Chiu
Joanne
J
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Rd, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Yau
Thomas
T
Epstein
Richard J
RJ
D004340:Drug Contamination; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal