Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine Confirms Effectiveness of Herbal Medicine for Radiation-Induced Esophagitis

No Significant Side Effects Reported in Herbal Medicine Group
Safety and Efficacy Confirmed

A recent study has found that herbal medicine treatment is effective in managing radiation-induced esophagitis (RIE). Radiation-induced esophagitis is the most common complication that occurs in patients with thoracic cancer undergoing radiation therapy.

Jaejun Ha, Oriental Medicine Doctor at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine. Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine

The Spine and Joint Research Institute at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine announced on September 22 that its research paper on this topic has been published in the SCI(E)-level international journal "Integrative Cancer Therapies" (IF=3.077).

Radiation-induced esophagitis is a complication that frequently occurs in patients who receive radiation therapy during the treatment of cancers in the chest. During thoracic cancer radiation therapy, the esophagus is inevitably exposed to a certain amount of radiation. This exposure can irritate the inner lining of the esophagus, causing inflammation and swelling of the mucosal surface, which leads to radiation-induced esophagitis.

The main symptoms of radiation-induced esophagitis include odynophagia, which is a sharp, burning pain in the esophagus when swallowing food, as well as indigestion, esophageal stricture, anorexia, nausea, and chest pain. In severe cases, patients may barely be able to eat, resulting in dehydration due to lack of fluid intake or malnutrition caused by nutrient deficiency. These conditions can further lead to secondary complications such as weakened immunity and overall physical debilitation, and in extreme cases, may even result in death.

In response, the research team led by Jaejun Ha, Oriental Medicine Doctor at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine's Spine and Joint Research Institute, systematically reviewed clinical research data from 7,283 patients with radiation-induced esophagitis. They divided patients into two groups: one that received herbal medicine treatment and another that received only standard care, and analyzed the preventive and therapeutic effects.

In the clinical studies, patients in the herbal medicine group mainly took oral herbal formulas containing a mixture of herbs such as Rehmannia glutinosa, Ophiopogon japonicus, Scrophularia ningpoensis, Lonicera japonica, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Patients in the control group received symptomatic treatments such as pain relief and mucosal protective therapies to alleviate symptoms.

The analysis revealed that the herbal medicine group had an approximately 29% higher prevention rate of radiation-induced esophagitis compared to the control group. This indicates that herbal medicine can effectively reduce esophageal damage commonly observed during radiation therapy. Especially considering that there has been no clear preventive or therapeutic method for radiation-induced esophagitis, this suggests that herbal medicine could serve as a clinical alternative.

Additionally, in the analysis of recovery rates evaluating therapeutic effectiveness, the herbal medicine group showed about a 29% higher rate than the control group. This demonstrates that herbal medicine not only suppresses symptoms but may also accelerate the recovery process in patients who have already developed radiation-induced esophagitis.

Jaejun Ha, Oriental Medicine Doctor at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine, stated, "We observed meaningful results, such as a reduction in the incidence and alleviation of symptoms of radiation-induced esophagitis, in patients with thoracic cancer who received radiation therapy and took herbal medicine. If larger-scale clinical studies are conducted in the future, they will provide definitive evidence for the effectiveness of herbal medicine treatment."

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