Chinese Herbal Medicine for Reducing Chemotherapy-Associated Side Effects in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) in reducing chemotherapy-associated side effects in breast cancer patients, involving 54 studies with 4,032 patients. CHM significantly reduced the frequency and severity of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and diarrhea, and it also alleviated symptoms such as alopecia and myelosuppression. Additionally, CHM improved immune function by increasing T cells and NK cells. Despite these promising findings, the study noted significant heterogeneity among studies and highlighted the need for larger, high-quality trials to confirm CHM's efficacy and safety. Limitations included potential biases and language barriers, which restricted the inclusion of studies from other Asian countries.