Therapeutic efficacy of Traditional Chinese medicine, “Kuan-Sin-Yin”, in patients undergoing chemotherapy for advanced colon cancer – A controlled trial

Background Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used increasingly as complementary medicine in cancer care. Kuan-Sin-Yin (KSY) is a TCM decoction containing seven herbs known to cause immunomodulation or anticancer activity, and which are associated with the TCM concept of Qi and energy supply. Kuan-Sin-Yin has cytostatic effects on cancer cells in animal models. Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the level of improvement in meridian energy and heart-rate variability (HRV) and to assess whether these observations are compatible with TCM theory. Method A non-randomized controlled trial was designed with monitoring of the meridian electro-conductivity and heart-rate variability (HRV) to compare the efficacy of Kuan-Sin-Yin in the control and experimental groups. 52 patients were enrolled in this study. We also measured cancer-related symptoms and quality of life as secondary outcomes. Results We found that colon cancer patients who received KSY as complementary therapy benefitted with enhancement of meridian energy (Yin meridian: 27.90:35.45 μA; p = 0.014; Yang meridian: 27.09:33.55 μA; p = 0.024) and increases in HRV activity (78.40:129.04 ms; SDNN: p = 0.001) and parasympathetic tone(HF:1644.80:3217.92 ms²; p = 0.003; RMMSD:99.76:164.52 ms; p = 0.002). Cancer-related symptoms decreased (ECOG > 1:46.2:7.7%; p = 0.0001), and quality of life (KSY group: PCS 35.46:42.12, p = 0.0001; MCS: 44.50:47.55, p = 0.209) was improved with statistical significance. Conclusions The correlation of positive results reflected in meridian energy and HRV activity confirms the positive role of complementary medicine of Kuan-Sin-Yin in cancer care.