Background. Chinese herbal products (CHPs) given as a
therapy for symptom relief have gained widespread popularity among women with
breast cancer. The aim of this study was to analyze the utilization of CHP among women with
breast cancer in Taiwan. Methods. The usage, frequency of services, and CHP prescribed for
breast cancer among women with
breast cancer were evaluated, recruited from a randomly sampled cohort of 1,000,000 beneficiaries from the National Health Insurance Research Database. The logistic regression method was employed to estimate the odds ratios (
ORs) for utilization of CHP. Results. 81.5 percent (N = 2, 236) of women with
breast cancer utilized
traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and 18% of them sought TCM with the intent of treating their
breast cancer.
Jia-wei-xiao-yao-san (Augmented Rambling
Powder) was the most frequently prescribed formula for treating
breast cancer. Among the top 10 most frequently prescribed CHP for treating
breast cancer, seven contained dang qui (Angelica sinensis-radix) and six contained ren shen (Panax ginseng-radix), which are reported to have potential beneficial synergistic effects on
breast cancer cells. Conclusion. CHP containing dang qui (Angelica sinensis-radix) or ren shen (Panax ginseng-radix) are the most frequently prescribed for
breast cancer and their effects should be taken into account by healthcare providers.