A cancer journey begun in anxiety — we walk that road with you, not alone
Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are powerful weapons against cancer. The Sandol Cancer Care Clinic does not replace them. We walk alongside standard treatment, helping you endure it better and go the distance.
#Alongside standard treatment#Fewer side effects#Quality of life#Evidence by cancer type
※ Herbal medicine does not replace standard cancer treatment, and effects and outcomes vary by cancer type, stage and individual. This page presents research findings and does not guarantee any particular result.
Our View
At Sandol, we see cancer from two directions.
The principles of cancer treatment in Korean medicine come down to two axes. These two forces do not compete with standard cancer treatment — they complement it. Herbal medicine acts as a companion that raises the efficacy of cancer treatment while reducing the side effects that arise along the way.
Fuzheng (扶正) — the power that protects
It bolsters the patient's body (vital energy, jeonggi) and immunity, protecting the stamina and resilience needed to endure treatment.
Quxie (祛邪) — the power that expels
It targets the cancer itself directly, inhibiting cancer-cell growth or inducing cell death.
OUR GOAL
To stay by your side so you can complete standard treatment to the end, filling the gaps (improving the body's environment) and walking with you.
That is the goal of the Sandol Cancer Care Clinic.
Evidence · 5 Major Cancers
Evidence by cancer type
We examine the four benefits described earlier through data on five cancers that are common among Koreans. All figures below are results reported or observed in studies; since many are observational (cohort) studies, it is accurate to read them as association rather than causation. Effects and outcomes vary by individual and stage.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer — when herbal medicine is added to standard treatment
In both non-small-cell and small-cell lung cancer, adding herbal medicine has been reported to help with quality of life, survival and protection against side effects.
Advanced NSCLC + chemotherapy
In a randomized controlled trial, adding herbal medicine markedly improved quality of life and produced fewer thrombocytopenia (low-platelet) side effects.Xiao et al. Medicine. 2021
Meta-analysis (NSCLC)
Adding herbal medicine confirmed greater treatment efficacy, improved quality of life and protection against side effects.Support Care Cancer. 2020
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) meta-analysis
22 RCTs, 1,887 patients. Adding herbal medicine raised anticancer efficacy and performance status (KPS), increased 1-year, 3-year (2.1×) and 5-year survival by 2.4×, and reduced gastrointestinal side effects and myelosuppression.Shuntai et al. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2020
EGFR-TKI combination meta-analysis
1,137 patients with advanced NSCLC and EGFR-sensitizing mutations. 41% reduction in progression risk (HR 0.59, P<0.00001), response rate 1.23×. The TKI side effects of skin toxicity and diarrhea fell 42% and 57%.Yan Lu et al. Front Pharmacol. 2021
Mechanism summary
Inducing multiple forms of cell death / suppressing drug resistance and restoring drug efficacy / blocking the seeds of metastasis and recurrence / switching the immune environment into a 'cancer-suppressing mode'. Xi et al. Mol Cancer. 2025
Read more on the blog: 'Lung cancer & herbal medicine'
Liver Cancer
Liver cancer — the longer you take it, the wider the survival gap
In a large cohort and a post-resection meta-analysis, herbal-medicine use was observed to be associated with lower mortality risk, less recurrence and improved survival.
Large cohort (127,237 patients, 2000–2009)
Compared with non-users, herbal-medicine users had a 36% lower mortality risk (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.63–0.64). A liver-protective effect was observed across accompanying liver conditions including cirrhosis, alcoholic/non-alcoholic liver disease and hepatitis B and C.Liao et al. Liver Int. 2015
Real-world data
The more consistently patients took it, the longer they survived; the difference was especially large in early-stage liver cancer, where survival differed by more than threefold.Cheng et al. Heliyon. 2022
Real-world data
Taking herbal medicine long-term from the early (stage A) phase was associated with a 96% lower mortality risk and more than tripled survival (134.47 months [long-term herbal use] vs 40.8 months).Cheng et al. Heliyon. 2022
The standard-treatment + herbal-medicine group showed about 24% less recurrence and about 21% lower mortality, with survival improved by +8% at 1 year, +19% at 3 years and +26% at 5 years. The gap widened over time.Wang et al. Am J Transl Res. 2024
Survival improvement in patients who also took herbal medicine was confirmed at about +8% at 1 year, +19% at 3 years and +26% at 5 years. Notably, the gap grows ever larger over time (Wang 2024). [The graph was newly created with reference to the paper.]
Read more on the blog: 'Liver cancer & herbal medicine'
Gastric Cancer
Gastric cancer — long-term users had the best survival
In patients who received gastric-cancer surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy, herbal-medicine use — especially long-term use — was observed to be positively associated with survival and quality of life.
Nationwide cohort (1999–2008, surgery + adjuvant chemotherapy)
Non-users died sooner and in greater numbers, whereas herbal-medicine users — and long-term users above all — had the best survival.Shih et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021
Meta-analysis (9 studies, 2,158 patients)
The herbal-medicine group had about 2.91× better overall survival (OR 2.91, 95% CI 2.70–3.12), consistent at 3.18× (1 year), 4.06× (3 years) and 3.02× (5 years). Quality of life improved about 4× (OR 4.00), with less anemia, nausea and vomiting and, notably, a 70% lower likelihood of liver-function impairment.Lin et al. Ann Med. 2025
Tumor response rate up 54% (RR 1.54), 2-year survival up 32%, 3-year survival up 42%, and quality of life (performance index) improved by an average of 6.84 points. Side effects such as leukopenia and liver injury fell significantly.Kim et al. Integr Cancer Ther. 2024
Objective response rate up 35% (RR 1.35), disease-control rate up 12%, and side effects such as myelosuppression, nausea, vomiting and neurotoxicity fell by roughly half.Tan et al. Front Pharmacol. 2022
The longer gastric-cancer patients take herbal medicine, the higher their survival. As the graph shows, the group taking it long-term for 180 days or more fares best (Shih 2021). [The graph was newly created with reference to the paper.]
Read more on the blog: 'Gastric cancer & herbal medicine'
Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer — the longer you take it, the higher disease-free survival and the lower recurrence
In a multicenter prospective observational study of stage II–III surgical patients, the high-exposure group that took herbal medicine for a year or more consistently outperformed the low-exposure group at 5 years. (Below: 5-year point, high vs low exposure)
75.4%
Disease-free survival (DFS, 5-year)
High exposure 75.4% vs low exposure 64.6%
93.2%
Overall survival (OS, 5-year)
High exposure 93.2% vs low exposure 80.9%
23.5%
Recurrence/metastasis rate (5-year, lower is better)
High exposure 23.5% vs low exposure 34.0%
Multicenter prospective study (8 institutions, 312 patients)
The longer the duration of use, the higher the disease-free and overall survival and the lower the recurrence and metastasis.Xu et al. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 2017
Retrospective cohort (Shanghai, 529 patients)
Long-term use was favorable for survival across all stages, with the gap growing toward stages III–IV. In multivariate Cox analysis, herbal medicine was the factor that most reduced recurrence/metastasis risk (HR 0.349).Wang et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020
In colorectal-cancer patients, those taking herbal medicine led in survival throughout the full six years (Wang 2020). [The graph was newly created with reference to the paper.]
Read more on the blog: 'Colorectal cancer & herbal medicine'
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer — the greater the cumulative dose, the lower the mortality and the higher the prevention
In large cohorts, herbal-medicine use was observed to be associated with a lower incidence of invasive breast cancer and with survival in advanced breast cancer, and that association was stronger with cumulative, long-term use.
Large cohort (1999–2012, 184,386 patients)
Invasive breast-cancer incidence was lower in the herbal-medicine group than in non-users (1.73) — CHP 0.85 / Samul-tang (Four Substances Decoction) family 0.63, per 10,000 person-years. The greater the cumulative dose, the stronger the preventive association — <300g 35%↓ / 300–1,800g 51%↓ / ≥1,800g 70%↓.Tsai et al. Medicine. 2017
Advanced breast cancer (2001–2010, taxane-based, 729 patients)
Adding herbal medicine was associated with about a 50% reduction in overall mortality. Short-term use within 180 days reduced it 45% vs a 54% reduction with long-term use beyond 180 days — greater with longer use.Yuan-Wen et al. Cancer. 2014
Using herbal medicine within the year before surgery was associated with, after surgery, 24% fewer strokes (OR 0.76) and 26% less ICU need (OR 0.74). Length of stay and medical costs were also lower.Chen et al. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2026
Early herbal-medicine use improves 5-year survival (3,472 patients, 2003–2006)
Patients who also took herbal medicine within 2 years of a breast-cancer diagnosis had an about 32% lower risk of death within 5 years than those who did not.Chan et al. J Chin Med Assoc. 2024
In advanced breast-cancer patients, taking herbal medicine lowered mortality risk by 50% (Cancer 2014). [The graph was newly created with reference to the paper.]
Read more on the blog: 'Breast cancer & herbal medicine'
Mechanism · The science of Fuzheng & Quxie
How herbal medicine targets cancer
Recent research, including in the leading cancer journal Molecular Cancer (IF 33.9), summarizes the mechanisms by which the active compounds in herbal medicine target cancer cells as follows.
1
Inducing cell death (Apoptosis)
Flips the 'suicide switch' so cancer cells die on their own.
2
Halting the cell cycle (Cell Cycle Arrest)
Halts relentless division and proliferation at specific phases (G1, S, G2/M).
3
Regulating autophagy (Autophagy)
Disrupts the cancer cell's internal cleanup system to starve or destroy it.
4
Inducing ferroptosis (Ferroptosis)
Overloads iron and reactive oxygen species, bursting cancer cells through lipid peroxidation.
5
Blocking cancer metabolism (Metabolic Reprogramming)
Blocks the cancer cell's energy pathways (glycolysis, fatty-acid synthesis) to starve it.
6
Suppressing metastasis & angiogenesis
Prevents spread to other organs and the formation of new blood vessels.
7
Improving the immune environment
Blocks cancer cells' immune evasion and strengthens NK cells and T cells.
Synergy with chemotherapy
Herbal medicine has been reported to act selectively on cancer cells while affecting normal cells less; by increasing sensitivity to chemotherapy it boosts efficacy while reducing side effects such as diarrhea, vomiting and cardiac/renal toxicity, blocks cancer cells' immune evasion to complement immune-checkpoint inhibitors, and improves the gut-microbiome environment to optimize systemic immunity. Li et al. Mol Cancer. 2025 · Song et al. Mol Cancer. 2025
Benefits
Four benefits of adding herbal medicine
Across the major cancers common among Koreans, the results repeatedly observed when herbal medicine is added to standard treatment converge on the following four.
1
Higher survival
Across several cancers, the herbal-medicine group has been reported to have higher survival.
2
Less death, recurrence & metastasis
A trend toward lower mortality and lower post-surgery recurrence/metastasis risk was observed.
3
Fewer chemotherapy side effects
Nausea, vomiting, anemia, myelosuppression, liver injury and skin toxicity were reported to decrease.
4
Greater chemotherapy efficacy
A trend toward improved response by raising sensitivity to chemotherapy and delaying resistance was observed.
And all of this research points in one direction
"The longer and more consistently herbal medicine is taken, the greater its effect."
Dose · Duration
The longer and more consistently you take it
What studies across multiple cancers show in common is that 'the group taking herbal medicine longer and more consistently had better outcomes.' The same direction recurs in breast-cancer prevention (higher cumulative dose), advanced breast-cancer survival (54% lower mortality risk with long-term use), colorectal disease-free survival (a year or more of use) and liver- and gastric-cancer survival (long-term use best).
Because many of these are observational studies, it is accurate to understand this as a consistent association that long-term herbal-medicine use confers a beneficial effect. That large datasets across multiple cancers point in the same direction is highly meaningful.
Supportive Care
The role of acupuncture & moxibustion
Beyond herbal medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion also play a role in protecting quality of life during cancer treatment.
Acupuncture
Helps relieve cancer pain and reduce vomiting, insomnia, fatigue and neuropathy (numbness and tingling in the hands and feet) after chemotherapy and radiation.
Moxibustion
Reduces cancer-related fatigue to improve quality of life.
Managing muscle loss (cachexia)
Herbal medicine blocks the muscle-breakdown pathways (MuRF1, Atrogin-1) activated by chemotherapy, while electroacupuncture (jeonchim) stimulates muscle-synthesis signaling (Igf-1/Akt/mTOR) — a reported mechanism for preventing muscle-fiber atrophy.Huang et al. Antioxidants. 2022
Integrative Care
Care at the Sandol Cancer Care Clinic
The Sandol Cancer Care Clinic provides integrative care tailored to each phase, alongside patients receiving standard treatment.
1
During chemotherapy & radiation
We focus on relieving side effects (nausea, vomiting, fatigue, low white-blood-cell counts, etc.) and maintaining stamina.
2
Between treatments & recovery
We focus on restoring immunity and condition and managing recurrence/metastasis risk.
3
Post-treatment care
We help maintain quality of life and provide long-term care.
Principles of combined care
Do not stop the surgery, chemotherapy or radiation you are currently receiving on your own. Sandol Korean Medicine respects your oncology and surgical care and works alongside it to support your body. Please tell us about the medications you are taking and your treatment schedule at your visit.
Q. How should I understand the relationship between standard treatment (chemotherapy, surgery, radiation) and herbal-medicine treatment? ＋
After a war, reconstruction is essential to restore the environment and infrastructure to their pre-war state. Once the advance units — surgery, chemotherapy and radiation — have seized the initiative from the enemy (the cancer) and withdrawn, the follow-up unit of herbal medicine must begin the reconstruction work before recovery can finally be completed. This does not mean herbal-medicine treatment should begin only after standard treatment. Just as supplies must be delivered continuously during a war, even while standard treatment is in full swing, herbal medicine serves as a dependable supply line that achieves two goals: preventing side effects and maintaining stamina.
Q. Can I take herbal medicine 'instead of' standard cancer treatment? ＋
No. Herbal medicine does not replace standard treatment. It is premised on being combined while you continue surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
Q. Won't herbal medicine clash with chemotherapy or burden the liver and kidneys? ＋
In studies, combining herbal medicine actually tended to reduce some side effects, such as liver-function impairment. That said, it varies by individual condition and concomitant medications, so if you tell us all the medicines you are taking, we adjust accordingly.
Q. When is it best to start taking it? ＋
Studies generally report better outcomes with consistent, long-term use. We recommend starting at the right time, through consultation, from the outset of treatment.
Q. Which cancers does it help with? ＋
Evidence has accumulated mainly for cancers common among Koreans — lung, liver, gastric, colorectal and breast cancer. Because the approach differs by cancer type and stage, we advise you at your visit.
Q. Are the effects guaranteed? ＋
No. The figures on this page are results reported in studies, and actual effects and outcomes vary by individual and stage.
Q. My cancer treatment is already over — can I still start now? ＋
Care aimed at recovery after treatment and at managing recurrence/metastasis risk is possible. We set the direction after assessing your condition.
※ This page is for general information only and does not replace individual diagnosis or treatment; herbal medicine does not replace standard cancer treatment.
