How It Works
Bottom Line: There is insufficient evidence that Shi quan da bu tang can treat cancer in humans.Shi quan da bu tang is a herbal formula comprised of
Ginseng, Dong quai, Peony, Atractylodes, Hoelen, Cinnamon,
Astragulus, Cnidium,
Licorice, and Rehmannia. It is used in traditional medicine to treat fatigue, loss of appetite, dry or scaly skin, night sweating, dryness of mouth, and cancer. Laboratory studies suggest that shi quan da bu tang can help prevent cancer and metastases. Clinical data are lacking.
Purported Uses
Cancer treatment
Studies in mice suggest that shi quan da bu tang has anticancer and antimetastatic effects. There are insufficient data in humans.
Fatigue
This formula is traditionally used for fatigue. However, scientific evidence is lacking.
Apetite
There is no clinical data to support this use.
Dry skin
No studies have been conducted to investigate this use.
Dryness of mouth
This use is not backed by clinical data.
Night sweating
There is no scientific evidence to support this use.
Research Evidence
Researchers in Japan gave Shi quan da bu tang to six patients with advanced lung cancer for one year. They found that the formula increased the survival time of these patients. But since there was no control group, no conclusion can be made on the efficacy of the treatment.
Do Not Take If
You have hypersensitivity to any of the components.
Common Name
Juzen-taiho-to, SQT, TJ-48
Clinical Summary
Shi quan da bu tang is a Chinese herbal formula consisting of ten different herbs. Also known as Juzen-taiho-to in Japan, it is used in traditional medicine to alleviate symptoms of fatigue, loss of appetite, dry or scaly skin, night sweating, dryness of mouth, and for cancer treatment. Supporters believe that the beneficial effects of shi quan da bu tang are due to interactions between its components. Studies done in mice suggest that it has antitumor and antimetastatic effects
(2) (3) (4) (5) (6). These effects are mediated by stimulation of macrophages and natural killer cells. Shi quan da bu tang also exhibits radioprotective effect as evidenced by an increase in spleen colony forming unit in mice exposed to radiation
(7). Researchers in Japan administered Shi quan da bu tang to patients with advanced lung cancer for one year and observed an increase in survival time
(8). No adverse effects have been reported with use of Shi quan da bu tang. However, some components are known to cause interactions with other drugs.
Purported uses
Appetite
Cancer treatment
Dry Skin
Dryness of mouth
Fatigue
Night Sweating
Constituents
Mechanism of Action
Studies performed in mice suggest that shi quan da bu tang has antitumor and antimetastatic effects
(2) (3) (4) (6). These effects are mediated by stimulation of macrophages and natural killer cells. It also exhibits radioprotective effect in mice evidenced by an increase in spleen colony forming unit in mice exposed to radiation
(7). In vitro studies using human bone marrow cells indicate that shi quan da bu tang can stimulate hemopoiesis
(9).
Contraindications
Breast cancer patients should use this product with caution as dong quai and ginseng may stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells
(11).
Herb-Drug Interactions
Tamoxifen: Angelica sinensis (Dong quai) has estrogenic activity and may antagonize the effects of tamoxifen used to treat breast cancer.
Immunosuppresants: Astragalus membranaceus (Astragalus)
may antagonize the effects of immunosuppresants such as tacrolimus and cyclosporine.
Literature Summary and Critique
No clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of shi quan da bu tang.
References
- Zee-Cheng RK. Shi-quan-da-bu-tang (ten significant tonic decoction), SQT. A potent Chinese biological response modifier in cancer immunotherapy, potentiation and detoxification of anticancer drugs. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 1992; 14(9):725-36.
- Niwa K, et al. Preventive effects of Juzen-taiho-to on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and estradiol-17beta-induced endometrial carcinogenesis in mice. Carcinogenesis 2001; 22(4):587-91.
- Saiki I. A Kampo medicine "Juzen-taiho-to"--prevention of malignant progression and metastasis of tumor cells and the mechanism of action. Biol Pharm Bull 2000; 23(6):677-88.
- Tagami K, et al. Preventive effect of Juzen-taiho-to on endometrial carcinogenesis in mice is based on Shimotsu-to constituent. Biol Pharm Bull 2004; 27(2):156-61.
- Dai Y, et al. T-cell-immunity-based inhibitory effects of orally administered herbal medicine juzen-taiho-to on the growth of primarily developed melanocytic tumors in RET-transgenic mice. J Invest Dermatol 2001; 117(3):694-701.
- Ohnishi Y, et al. Oral administration of a Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine Juzen-taiho-to inhibits liver metastasis of colon 26-L5 carcinoma cells. Jpn J Cancer Res 1998; 89(2):206-13.
- Ohnishi Y, et al. Effects of juzen-taiho-toh (TJ-48), a traditional Oriental medicine, on hematopoietic recovery from radiation injury in mice. Exp Hematol 1990; 18(1):18-22.
- Satoh H, et al. Japanese herbal medicine in patients with advanced lung cancer: prolongation of survival. J Altern Complement Med 2002; 8(2):107-8.
- Hisha H, et al. Treatment of Shwachman syndrome by Japanese herbal medicine (Juzen-taiho-to): stimulatory effects of its fatty acids on hemopoiesis in patients. Stem Cells 2002; 20(4):311-19.
- Honso Professional Catalog 2002. Honso USA Inc.
- Amato P, et al. Estrogenic activity of herbs commonly used as remedies for menopausal symptoms. Menopause 2002 Mar-Apr;9(2):145-50.
