Monday, May 18, 2009

Ginseng benefits for breast cancer patients

The Facts:

* Almost 1,500 breast cancer patients took part in a Chinese study to explore whether ginseng had any positive effect on breast cancer survival, recurrence or quality of life.

* Around one quarter were regular ginseng users before diagnosis, some began using it after diagnosis and the study adjusted for these factors.

* The results showed regular ginseng users had a reduced risk of death and rated better on quality of life measurements, particularly with regards to psychological and social well-being.

Shaun’s comment: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and many want to use natural treatments in addition to those from their doctors. This was a huge study published in a top medical journal, and so the results can be taken seriously. Good research studies with ginseng are rare; one reason for this is because it cannot be patented, there is little incentive for a pharmaceutical company to invest in large, well-conducted trials. Women with breast cancer (and even those without) should give serious consideration to taking a ginseng supplement, based on these results.

Study Reference:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwj087


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