Can Chinese medicine be used in conjunction with radiotherapy?

  Many patients and family members have the question: Will there be any conflict between Chinese medicine and radiotherapy and chemotherapy drugs, will it affect the effect of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and can they be performed simultaneously? Over the years, a large number of clinical practices have told us that there is no conflict between TCM and radiotherapy, and up to now there are no reports of patients’ effectiveness of radiotherapy being reduced because of receiving TCM treatment. Chinese medicine treatment is one of the approaches in tumor synthesis, which is applicable to all stages of tumor patients’ treatment. In different stages, TCM plays different roles and functions. During radiotherapy, western medical treatment is the main force of anti-tumor treatment, and its treatment itself has strong “killing power”, which can not only kill and inhibit tumor cells, but also bring different degrees of damage to normal cells in human body, manifesting as adverse reactions in bone marrow function, digestive system, nervous system and so on. At this time, TCM treatment is in the auxiliary position, focusing on “escorting” for radiotherapy.  Through the treatment methods of benefiting qi and fostering the righteousness, filling essence and nourishing blood, and regulating the spleen and stomach, it can improve or alleviate the patient’s weakness, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, numbness of hands and feet, bone marrow suppression and other adverse reactions and symptoms, with the aim of enabling the patient’s radiotherapy to proceed more smoothly, so it does not take anti-tumor as the main treatment direction.  Some patients think that the vomiting reaction after chemotherapy is already very serious, and the use of traditional Chinese medicine will increase the vomiting reaction even more, and the Chinese medicine they drink will be vomited out, so it will not play any role. In fact, many herbal medicines have good antiemetic effects and can improve appetite at the same time if used properly. After the completion of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, TCM has changed from an auxiliary position to the main position, not only to continue to support and harmonize the spleen and stomach, but also to strengthen the anti-tumor treatment at the same time.  It should be emphasized that TCM treatment needs long-term persistence to obtain certain effect, preferably up to two years, or at least more than one year. If you take medicine for 10 days and half a month and then rest, you often give up halfway and it is difficult to achieve the desired effect.