Astragalus

• Astragalus is one of our top therapies beneficial across several cancer types
• Modest evidencesignificant effects in at least three small but well-designed RCTs, or one or more well-designed, mid-sized clinical studies of reasonably good quality (RCTs or observational studies), or several small studies aggregated into a meta-analysis (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of better tumor response to chemotherapy among people treated with herbal mixtures containing astragalus
• Modest evidence of better survival, tumor response rate, and clinical effectiveness of chemotherapy among people with colorectal cancer treated with astragalus either alone or as part of herbal mixtures
• Modest evidence of better survival, performance status, and clinical effectiveness of radiotherapy among people with esophageal cancer treated with herbal mixtures containing astragalus
• Modest evidence of better survival, performance status, and clinical effectiveness of transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) among people with liver cancer treated with herbal mixtures containing astragalus
• Modest evidence of better clinical efficacy and overall response to FOLFOX among people with stomach cancer treated with astragalus polysaccharides injection
• Modest evidence of better survival, disease control, performance status, and tumor response to chemotherapy among people with lung cancer treated with herbal mixtures containing astragalus

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What is your body terrain? ›

• Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of higher markers of immune function among people with cancer treated with intravenous astragalus or an herbal mixture containing astragalus
• Preliminary evidence of less inflammation after mastectomy among people treated with an herbal mixture containing astragalus

See How can astragalus help you? What the research says ›

• Good evidencesignificant effects in one large or several mid-sized and well-designed clinical studies (randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with an appropriate placebo or other strong comparison control or observational studies that control for confounds) (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of less chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicitytoxicity from a biological, chemical, or physical agent producing an adverse effect on the structure or function of the central and/or peripheral nervous system among people treated with herbal mixtures containing astragalus
• Good evidence of fewer blood-related side effects such as neutropeniaan abnormally low number of neutrophils in the blood, leading to increased susceptibility to infection and anemia among people with colorectal, stomach, or advanced non-small cell lung cancers treated with astragalus, with substantial effect sizes in some of the lung cancer studies
• Good evidence of less radiation esophagitisinflammation of the esophagus or pneumonitisinflammation of lung tissue during radiation therapy among people with lung cancer treated with Aidi injection or Shenqi Fuzheng injection, herbal mixtures based on astragalus
• Good evidence of better quality of life during chemotherapy or radiotherapy among people treated with herbal medicines containing astragalus
• Modest evidencesignificant effects in at least three small but well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs), or one or more well-designed, mid-sized clinical studies of reasonably good quality (RCTs or observational studies), or several small studies aggregated into a meta-analysis (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of less toxicity from paclitaxel-based chemotherapy among people with lung cancer treated with Aidi injection containing astragalus
• Modest evidence of substantially better appetite during treatment among people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with an herbal mixture containing astragalus
• Modest evidence of substantially less fatigue during chemotherapy among people treated with an herbal mixture containing astragalus
• Modest evidence of less chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting or diarrhea among people treated with astragalus-based Chinese medicines
• Modest evidence of less liver dysfunction related to chemotherapy with an herbal mixture containing astragalus
• Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of less pain among people with advanced cancers treated with astragalus polysaccharides

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We did not find any published evidence investigating astragalus for reducing cancer risk.

• Recommended at least weakly as part of an herbal mixture in clinical practice guidelines integrating traditional Chinese and Western medical care
• Used by many integrative cancer professionals
• Used widely by practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine

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• Generally well tolerated and considered safe, but a few side effects are noted
• May interact with anticoagulants, diuretics, and antihypertensive drugs
• May interfere with some chemotherapy drugs and/or affect hormone-sensitive cancers
• Before using this therapy, consult your oncology team about interactions with other treatments and therapies. Also make sure this therapy is safe for use with any other medical conditions you may have.

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• Widely available as a supplement
• Prices are generally low to moderate (less than $2000 US/year)
• Intravenous treatment and injections require administration by a licensed healthcare professional and are more expensive than supplements

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