title: [Traditional Chinese medicine for cancer pain].
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.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Ju-yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Rui-xin
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lixing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lao
mesh_terms: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal