TCM for Nausea and Chemotherapy Side Effects

Tell your cancer team first

Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy, and your care team can often ease them with anti-sickness medicines and advice. [1] The NHS says to call your care team now if you have a high temperature or other signs of infection, or signs of a blood clot such as a swollen, painful, warm leg or sudden breathlessness with chest pain. [1] Persistent vomiting can also cause dehydration. [2]

Some complementary approaches can interfere with cancer treatment: NCCIH says some herbs may make chemotherapy drugs less effective, and that herbal supplements may interact in harmful ways with cancer drugs. [3] Do not start any herb, tea or supplement during treatment without your oncology team agreeing. The wider topic is on TCM and cancer: supportive care and Chinese herbs during cancer treatment.

Where TCM fits

In TCM, nausea is explained through traditional ideas about the stomach and the flow of qi, which are traditional frameworks, not measurements. The research below measured vomiting and nausea scores. Acupuncture, acupressure and herbs are different interventions with different evidence, so they are separated here.

Acupuncture and acupressure

NCCIH says that experts generally agree that acupuncture is helpful for treatment-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients, but that this conclusion is based mainly on research done before current anti-sickness guidelines, and it is uncertain whether acupuncture adds benefit to current standard treatments. [4]

The Cochrane review notes that self-administered acupressure appears to help acute nausea but the studies had no placebo control. [5] Because acupressure bands and needles cannot be hidden from the person receiving them, expectation may account for part of any benefit. For methods and post-operative nausea see acupuncture for nausea and acupressure. During chemotherapy blood counts can be low, so tell an acupuncturist about your treatment schedule; NCCIH stresses that strict clean-needle procedures matter because chemotherapy weakens the immune system. [3]

Chinese herbal medicine

A 2020 meta-analysis of randomized trials of Chinese herbs added to chemotherapy in breast cancer found that herbs "may reduce" side effects including nausea and vomiting, but the included studies were of unsatisfactory quality and the authors said no confident conclusion could be drawn. [8] Label: insufficient evidence, with a real concern about interactions. I found no trial large enough, and with safety follow-up, to recommend a specific herbal product alongside chemotherapy.

Ginger

Ginger is an everyday remedy for feeling sick, and the NHS suggests ginger or peppermint tea and ginger foods for ordinary nausea. [2] For chemotherapy nausea, NCCIH says a 2019 review of 18 studies (over 1,600 participants) found mixed evidence, and people with cancer should check with their providers before using ginger or any supplement. [3] See ginger and indigestion and nausea.

Safety summary

• Ask your oncology team before any herb, patent medicine or supplement. [3]
• Chinese products have been found contaminated with undeclared drugs, heavy metals and pesticides. [9]
• Antioxidant, vitamin and mineral supplements might interfere with chemotherapy. [3]
• Do not stop or skip anti-sickness medicines because an herb is available.