Traditional Chinese Medicine and Professionals in Cancer Care
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Traditional Chinese Medicine: an overview ›
Find Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners ›
Traditional Chinese Medicine: an overview
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in cancer care is grounded in the philosophy of restoring balance and harmony in the body’s energy, or qi, to promote overall health and well-being. It is a highly developed medical system that has been practiced for over 2,000 years and is widely integrated into modern healthcare in China, where it is used alongside conventional Western medicine in hospitals. There are now many TCM practitioners globally. According to TCM, cancer arises from imbalances in the body’s internal systems, particularly disruptions in the flow of qi, blood, and organ function. TCM practitioners focus on treating the whole person rather than just the disease, aiming to support the body’s natural healing processes, reduce side effects from conventional treatments, and improve quality of life. This holistic approach integrates physical, emotional, and spiritual health, acknowledging the interplay between these aspects in the cancer journey.
What do TCM practitioners offer?
TCM employs a variety of therapies designed to restore balance, manage symptoms, and enhance well-being. These therapies often complement conventional cancer treatments and may include:
- Herbal medicine: Herbal formulas including single herbs like astragalus ›, turmeric ›, and reishi mushroom › are used to boost immunity, reduce inflammation, and strengthen the body’s resilience during cancer treatment.
- Acupuncture ›: This therapy is widely used in TCM to manage pain, reduce nausea, and alleviate fatigue, particularly during chemotherapy or radiation treatments.
- Mind-body practices: Techniques such as tai chi and qigong › promote relaxation, improve energy flow, and support mental well-being.
- Dietary therapy: TCM dietary recommendations focus on strengthening digestion and nourishing the body, tailored to the individual’s constitution and health condition.
Together, these therapies work alongside conventional cancer treatments to manage symptoms, enhance recovery, and potentially reduce the risk of recurrence.
Many TCM therapies and herbs have been reviewed in our Supplements and Therapies Database ›, where we evaluate their evidence for medical benefits.
Herb and supplement safety
It’s important to consult a certified clinician if you want to use Chinese herbal preparations. Quality and safety are major concerns, as some herbs sourced from Asia have been found to contain contaminants such as heavy metals, microbes, or DNA from undeclared plants or animals. Multiple studies have reported persistent contamination in some traditional Chinese herbal remedies, so it is essential to source high-quality, properly tested products ›.1Ernst E. Toxic heavy metals and undeclared drugs in Asian herbal medicines. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences. 2002 Mar;23(3):136-9; Ting A, Chow Y, Tan W. Microbial and heavy metal contamination in commonly consumed traditional Chinese herbal medicines. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2013 Feb;33(1):119-24; Kim H, Hughes PJ, Hawes EM. Adverse events associated with metal contamination of traditional chinese medicines in Korea: a clinical review. Yonsei Medical Journal. 2014 Sep;55(5):1177-86; Coghlan ML, Maker G et al. Combined DNA, toxicological and heavy metal analyses provides an auditing toolkit to improve pharmacovigilance of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Scientific Reports. 2015 Dec 10;5:17475.
Who are TCM practitioners?
TCM practitioners must undergo specialized training to provide safe and effective care. Various certifications are available to certify their expertise:
- Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (Dipl OM)
- Diplomate of Acupuncture (Dipl Ac)
- Diplomate of Chinese Herbology (Dipl CH)
- Diplomate of Asian Bodywork Therapy (Dipl ABT)
Find a TCM practitioner
The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine provides a searchable directory › of professionals.
Yes to Life: Chinese Herbal Medicine › Find practitioners or clinics providing Chinese herbal medicine
Nancy’s List Directory of Integrative Practitioners and Healing Centers › (search for “Chinese”)
Helpful links
Fountain Project Health & Wellness Center › Free TCM clinic in Richmond, CA
Pine Street Foundation › Clinic and research on TCM and cancer
Erlene Chiang – TCM for cancer › An interview with the Cancer Help Program’s TCM practitioner
Explore the research on TCM-related therapies
Learn about other medical approaches
Keep reading about how to integrate your choices
Reviewers of selected sections
Dr. Rao is a medical oncologist, the medical director of integrative oncology at University Hospitals Connor Whole Health, and director of medical oncology for genitourinary cancer at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center. He is the 2022-23 president-elect of the Society for Integrative Oncology. Dr. Rao is also the host of the podcast Integrative Oncology Talk, with support from the Society for Integrative Oncology.
After graduating from the University of Michigan Medical School and completing a residency program in internal medicine at the University of California San Diego, Dr. Rao completed a fellowship in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona and later obtained a board certification in integrative medicine through the American Board of Integrative Medicine. Dr. Rao has trained in Ayurveda and Healing Touch. He also attended the Leadership Program in Integrative Medicine at Duke University. His research interests include genitourinary oncology, sleep, and integrative medicine implementation and program development.
Erin Price, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C, was driven to help others facing cancer shortly after her own breast cancer diagnosis in 2010 at the age of 27. Erin currently serves as the Young Adult and Psychosocial Support Programs Director at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts in Washington, DC, where she manages various programs and serves as a therapist and integrative patient navigator. Her areas of expertise include cancer survivorship, adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer, and integrative cancer care. She is also a graduate of the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s Project LEAD scientific research advocacy training, an experienced grant reviewer for the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, and a member of the Georgetown Breast Cancer Advocates. She has presented at several national conferences and been published in peer-reviewed journals. In 2021, she was recognized as a 40 Under 40 Rising Star and Emerging Leader in Cancer.
Christine has a dynamic background in the life sciences, public health, and program operations. Her career began at the lab bench with a Gates Foundation-funded HIV Vaccine research group, which led her to graduate studies in public health epidemiology at UC Berkeley. Her research experience spans clinical epidemiology research to evaluating the impacts of community nutrition programs in Los Angeles, the Central Valley, and Oakland. Most recently she has worked in executive operations for a seed-stage venture capital firm based in San Francisco. Personally, Christine is passionate about holistic health and wellness. She is a clinical herbalist and Reiki master, and she has been practicing yoga for 15+ years. She brings a breadth of experiences to her work leading the CancerChoices program.
Last update: October 31, 2024
Last full resource review: August 2021
CancerChoices provides information about integrative in cancer care, a patient-centered approach combining the best of conventional care, self care and evidence-informed complementary care in an integrated plan cancer care. We review complementaryin cancer care, complementary care involves the use of therapies intended to enhance or add to standard conventional treatments; examples include supplements, mind-body approaches such as yoga or psychosocial therapy, and acupuncture therapies and self-care lifestyle actions and behaviors that may impact cancer outcomes; examples include eating health-promoting foods, limiting alcohol, increasing physical activity, and managing stress practices to help patients and professionals explore and integrate the best combination of conventionalthe cancer care offered by conventionally trained physicians and most hospitals; examples are chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy and complementary therapies and practices for each person.
Our staff have no financial conflicts of interest to declare. We receive no funds from any manufacturers or retailers gaining financial profit by promoting or discouraging therapies mentioned on this site.
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