Sun Ginseng Treatment for Lung Cancer

Western oncologists have begun to work complementary and alternative medicine, including herbal medicine, into their treatment protocols. Ginseng is a dietary supplement that Japanese and Korean researchers recognize as improving mental and physical functioning in cancer patients. A 2009 Chinese study suggests that compounds in sun ginseng, a heat-processed form of Asian (panax) ginseng, may help combat the disease itself, even stealthy, stubborn lung cancer.

Effective Compounds in Ginseng

• Ginseng contains compounds called ginsenosides. In sun ginseng, the heat treatment amplifies the activity of specific ginsenosides. The Chinese study found that, when combined with low-dose chemotherapy, the ginsenoside Rg.3 suppressed tumor cell growth and prevented the growth of new blood vessels to supply tumors in mice that were injected with a human lung cancer. The mice who underwent the combination therapy lived longer and had better quality of life, the study found. To the Chinese scientists, this suggested that similar research should be conducted with humans.

Quality of Life

• The Korean study administered the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment and a General Health Questionnaire to cancer patients at the beginning of the double-blind, placebo-controlled study. To some patients, they administered sun ginseng for 12 weeks; the rest received placebo. Those who received sun ginseng reported improved quality of life based on the same scales, compared to those who received placebo instead. To the Korean scientists, this suggested that more research on sun ginseng and its potential positive effects on cancer patients was warranted.

Ginseng Fights Cancer

• A study published in the Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology reported that ginseng signals cancer cells to self-destruct, a process called apoptosis. The study further reported that ginseng may restore normal intercellular communication, reducing the opportunity for tumor growth.

Ginseng for General Good Health

• You can purchase sun ginseng as a dietary supplement. Ginseng is claimed to have anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, stimulant and immune-supportive properties. Some people take it to prevent cancer. It cannot hurt to add ginseng to your diet, with your doctor's support and supervision.

In Addition, Not Instead

• Complementary and alternative medicine, including traditional Asian herbal medicine such as the use of ginseng, may be helpful to patients battling cancer, even lung cancer, which is notoriously hard to treat partly because symptoms generally do not arise until well into the progression of the disease. Nevertheless, these modalities should be used in addition to established Western treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery--not instead of them.