Biswal, B.M., Sulaiman, S.A., Ismail, H.C., Zakaria, H., & Musa, K.I. (2013). Effect of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) on the development of chemotherapy-induced fatigue and quality of life in breast cancer patients. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 12, 312–322.
To examine the effects of Withania somnifera (WS) on fatigue and quality of life among patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy
WS was supplied as a powder in 500 mg capsules. Patients was asked to take four capsules three times daily for total daily dose of 6 g. Patients were followed for six cycles of chemotherapy. Study measures were conducted at baseline and periodically through treatment. Some measures were conducted on the first day of every cycle, and others were conducted on the first day of cycle 1, 3, and 6. Consecutive patients were alternately assigned to treatment or usual care groups.
Several QOL measures were significantly better in the treatment group compared to controls: physical functioning (p < .001), role functioning (p < .001), insomnia (p < .001), loss of appetite (p = .011), emotional functioning (p < .001), and social functioning (p < .001). Fatigue scores were significantly better as shown by repeated measures ANOVA in the intervention group (p ≤ .003). Ninety-eight percent of intervention patients found the intervention acceptable.
Findings suggest that the herbal treatment of WS is beneficial for the management of fatigue in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
The herbal treatment of WS, which has been used in Ayurveda medicine, may be beneficial to reduce fatigue in patients with cancer. This particular study has several important limitations; however, results are promising. Additional well-designed research with this herbal remedy is warranted.