Cancer Fatigue: Can Ginseng Help?

Fatigue can be a debilitating symptom of cancer, and a common side effect of its treatment. Many cancer patients going through treatment experience extreme tiredness, exhaustion, and weakness, often severe enough to adversely affect the quality of their life. Rather than add another prescription to the daily dosages, ginseng may be a natural alternative that is more palatable to patients.

Ginseng, an aromatic herb, has been used in Chinese medicine for several thousand years to restore energy. It is classified as an adaptogenic herb with multiple effects, many of which are regulatory in nature. The root contains a complex mixture of saponin glycosides (ginsenosides), and even though the mechanism of action is unclear, this agent is reported to enhance the immune system and reduce fatigue.

Researcher Debra Barton, Ph.D., an associate professor of oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., notes that 90 percent or more of cancer patients suffer extreme lethargy and low energy levels throughout their treatment. Dr. Barton conducted tests on the Wisconsin species of American ginseng, all derived from a single crop, to confirm a uniform concentration of ginsenosides, the active compounds thought to offer health benefits. (Note: Wisconsin ginseng is different from other forms of American ginseng sold in health food stores, and is only available through the Ginseng Board of Wisconsin, which monitors quality control.)

The research was based on a study of 282 people who had breast, colon, or other types of cancers. After eight weeks of randomly assigned doses of ginseng (ranging from 750 to 2000 milligrams per day), 25 percent of those on the two highest doses reported their fatigue was moderately to much better. They also reported improvements in their mental, physical, and emotional well-being, while only 10 percent on the lowest dosage or a placebo reported any improvement in their energy level or general feeling of wellness.

While this is a small test, with a particular type of ginseng, it is prompting a larger study, to be conducted in 2008. Confirming the positive effects that ginseng has on fatigue and mental and physical well being would be immensely beneficial and educational to the traditional medical establishment. Currently, doctors recommend a regimen of exercise to combat fatigue, and many cancer patients are grasping for hope, and self-medicating with a variety of alternative therapies.