Relief may be in sight for cancer patients suffering from the side effects of radiotherapy after researchers from the University of Adelaide found that a combination of traditional Chinese herbs reduces the severity of radiation-induced gastrointestinal mucositis (GIM).
GIM may cause inflammation, abdominal pain and bloating, ulcers, diarrhoea, as well as nausea and vomiting, and while there is currently no effective treatment for the condition, the study outlines the potential benefits of the herbs “Kushen” and “Baituling” for those who have GIM after receiving radiotherapy to treat stomach, abdominal, and pelvic cancers.
“While this has only been tested on rats, the findings of this research are extremely positive as they show that we may be able to provide a treatment for people who suffer from mucositis as a result of their cancer treatment,” said corresponding author on the study, Professor David L. Adelson from the University of Adelaide’s School of Biological Sciences, who is also director of Zhendong Australia—China Centre for Molecular Traditional Chinese Medicine….