Chinese herbal medicine has been practised in China for over 2000 years.

Unlike western medicine, Chinese herbal medicine looks more at treating patterns of symptoms or problems rather than the underlying disease that may be causing those problems. The idea is that by using mixtures of herbs and minerals imbalances in the body that produce unwonted symptoms can be corrected and people will feel better.

Only a very few Chinese herbalists would claim to be able to prevent or treat cancers with their remedies but many do feel they can help to ease the side effects of conventional treatments, like radiotherapy and chemotherapy and help with pain control and general wellbeing.

In China several thousand different herbs and minerals are used in treatments. These are usually put together in complex mixtures with one or two major herbs, to treat the principal symptoms, and other 'minor' compounds to boost their effectiveness or to deal with other lesser problems. This means that the number of different formulations, or recipes, used in Chinese medicine is enormous.

Although some studies done in China have claimed that Chinese herbal medicine can actually help to prevent or treat cancers there are no results from clinical trials in the western world to confirm this.

Generally Chinese herbal preparations are safe although there have been occasional problems with impurities in the mixtures causing complications.

Although Chinese herbal medicine is not usually available on the NHS there are many practitioners throughout the UK and the Department of Health is currently looking at regulating and approving the training of Chinese herbalists in England and Wales.

So although it would be very unwise, and possibly even dangerous, to use Chinese herbal medicine as an alternative to normal treatments for cancer, the therapy may sometimes help in coping with some of the problems caused by the illness.