title: Therapeutic efficacy of Traditional Chinese medicine, "Kuan-Sin-Yin", in patients undergoing chemotherapy for advanced colon cancer - A controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used increasingly as complementary medicine in cancer care. Kuan-Sin-Yin (KSY) is a TCM decoction containing seven herbs known to cause immunomodulation or anticancer activity, and which are associated with the TCM concept of Qi and energy supply. Kuan-Sin-Yin has cytostatic effects on cancer cells in animal models.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the level of improvement in meridian energy and heart-rate variability (HRV) and to assess whether these observations are compatible with TCM theory.
  
  
  METHODS
  A non-randomized controlled trial was designed with monitoring of the meridian electro-conductivity and heart-rate variability (HRV) to compare the efficacy of Kuan-Sin-Yin in the control and experimental groups. 52 patients were enrolled in this study. We also measured cancer-related symptoms and quality of life as secondary outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that colon cancer patients who received KSY as complementary therapy benefitted with enhancement of meridian energy (Yin meridian: 27.90:35.45μA; p=0.014; Yang meridian: 27.09:33.55μA; p=0.024) and increases in HRV activity (78.40:129.04ms; SDNN: p=0.001) and parasympathetic tone(HF:1644.80:3217.92 ms2; p=0.003; RMMSD:99.76:164.52ms; p=0.002). Cancer-related symptoms decreased (ECOG>1:46.2:7.7%; p=0.0001), and quality of life (KSY group: PCS 35.46:42.12, p=0.0001; MCS: 44.50:47.55, p=0.209) was improved with statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The correlation of positive results reflected in meridian energy and HRV activity confirms the positive role of complementary medicine of Kuan-Sin-Yin in cancer care.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Hemato-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Branch of Zhong-xing, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: silence021@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tsai-Ju
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Branch of Linsen and Chinese Medicine, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Taiwan International Traditional Chinese Medicine Training Center, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical-Oncology, Branch of Zhong-xing, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ruey-Hwa
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical-Oncology, Branch of Zhong-xing, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chin-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Branch of Zhong-xing, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yang-Chao
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Branch of Linsen and Chinese Medicine, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Taiwan International Traditional Chinese Medicine Training Center, Taiwan. Electronic address: owlherbs@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Chung-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods; D016740:Meridians; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal
keywords: Autonomic nervous system; Colon cancer; Heart rate variability; Kuan-Sin-Yin; Meridian; Traditional Chinese Medicine