Available online 6 April 2016
Abstract
Introduction
Integrative
Oncology when combined with conventional care can be effective and
reduce adverse symptoms of cancer and its treatment. The purpose of this
exploratory study was to explore whether individualised medicinal herbs
given to cancer patients at a Brazilian hospital improved symptoms and
wellbeing.
Methods
This
exploratory study was carried out between May 2012 and January 2013.
Data from nineteen patients who received medicinal herbs every 21 days
for three months were compared before and after their treatment and also
with 14 patients who did not receive medicinal herbs who acted as a
comparison group. An adapted version of the MYMOP was used to identify
patients’ self-reported symptoms and perceptions of wellbeing.
Results
After
completing the medicinal herbs’ treatment with the intervention group,
10 patients reported feeling better (p value = 0.24) and nine felt
worse. Of the comparison group eight patients reported feeling better (p
value = 0.29), four felt worse, and two declared feeling no
alterations. The Student T test was used to compare differences between
the medicinal herbs’ and comparison group. The results for the
intervention group didn’t achieve statistically significant changes (p
value = 0.48), compared to the comparison group.
Conclusion
The
medicinal herb treatment delivered as part of the integrative care in
oncology produced clinically significant effects for over half of the
patients while undergoing conventional cancer treatment. However, the
wellbeing improvement was not statistically different from a group of
cancer patients who did not receive herbs.
Keywords
- Medicinal herbs;
- Phytotherapy;
- Oncology;
- Neoplasms;
- Integrative medicine;
- CAM
© 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
