Ginseng linked to better breast cancer survival

Using ginseng might improve survival and give a better quality of life after treatment in women with breast cancer. Ginseng is a popular herbal supplement that has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. In the West, it is mainly touted as a way to boost energy and the immune system; the various commercial preparations are generally made from the roots of one of several plant species, including Panax ginseng - also called Asian ginseng - and Panax quinquefolius, better known as American ginseng. The positive health effects of ginseng have been difficult to prove using modern science, as there are contradictory results from different studies, which might due to the wide variety of ginseng quality used in studies. Researchers from the Vanderbilt University in Nashville, USA, conducted a study, which included 1,455 Chinese women who were treated for breast cancer and then followed for up to 6 years. It found that women who had been using ginseng before their diagnosis were 30 percent less likely to die during follow-up than women who had never used the herb. In addition, breast cancer survivors who had started using ginseng after their diagnosis reported greater emotional well-being and a more active social life than those who never tried the herb. Most ginseng users in the current study took an American ginseng product or unprocessed white ginseng root; all also received mainstream cancer therapy - surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. Overall, 27 percent of the women were regular ginseng users before their cancer diagnosis, and they were 30 percent less likely to die of the disease compared with non-users, with factors like age, education and stage of the cancer taken into account. Of the 1,065 women who were still alive at the follow-up assessment, 63 percent said they had used ginseng after being diagnosed. It's not clear that the ginseng was responsible for these benefits. For one, many women tried multiple forms of traditional Chinese or alternative medicine, and it's not possible to separate their effects. But the findings are in line with lab research that has found that constituents of ginseng can inhibit tumour cell growth. Women with the disease should speak with their doctors before using the herb on their own. Like any drug, herbs can have side effects or interact with other medications - a particular concern for people receiving cancer drugs. The findings suggest future clinical trials should investigate the use of ginseng along with conventional breast cancer treatment.