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Other common
name(s): liu wei di huang wan, six flavor rehmanni,
rehmannia six
Scientific/medical
name(s): none
Description
Six Flavor Tea is a Chinese herbal combination that is
promoted to enhance conventional treatment of small-cell lung cancer.
Overview
Available scientific evidence does not support claims about
Six Flavor Tea's health benefits.
How is it promoted for use?
Six Flavor Tea pills are mainly sold as a treatment for kidney
deficiencies, which practitioners claim can cause a buildup of
disease-causing toxins. They contend Six Flavor Tea can also treat
weakness or pain in the lower back, insomnia, night sweats, dizziness,
tinnitus, impotence, sore throat, headache, burning of the palms of the
hands or soles of the feet, and high blood pressure. This product is
also promoted as a cure for diabetes. In Chinese medicine, this herbal
remedy is reportedly used for deficient liver or spleen qi or yin.
What does it involve?
Six Flavor Tea is sold in pill form.
What is the history behind it?
Some say that Six Flavor Tea is a traditional Chinese formula,
and that it has been used in Asia for thousands of years.
What is the evidence?
Available scientific evidence does not convincingly support
any of these claims. Although a few Chinese studies have been reported,
the studies contain insufficient information to evaluate their
reliability. Most of the claims of proponents are not addressed in any
studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals.
Are there any possible problems or
complications?
This product is sold as a
dietary supplement in the United States. Unlike companies that produce
drugs (which must provide the FDA with results of detailed testing
showing their product is safe and effective before the drug is approved
for sale), the companies that make supplements do not have to show
evidence of safety or health benefits to the FDA before selling their
products. Supplement products without any reliable scientific evidence
of health benefits may still be sold as long as the companies selling
them do not claim the supplements can prevent, treat, or cure any
specific disease. Some such products may not contain the amount of the
herb or substance that is written on the label, and some may include
other substances (contaminants). Though the FDA has written new rules
to improve the quality of manufacturing processes for dietary
supplements and the accurate listing of supplement ingredients, these
rules do not take full effect until 2010. And, the new rules do not
address the safety of supplement ingredients or their effects on health
when proper manufacturing techniques are used.
Most such
supplements have not been tested to find out if they interact with
medicines, foods, or other herbs and supplements. Even though some
reports of interactions and harmful effects may be published, full
studies of interactions and effects are not often available. Because of
these limitations, any information on ill effects and interactions
below should be considered incomplete.
Most Web sites recommending Six Flavor Tea claim that this
product causes no side effects. Relying on this type of treatment alone
and avoiding or delaying conventional medical care for cancer may have
serious health consequences.
Additional Resources
More information from your American Cancer
Society
The following information on complementary and alternative
therapies may also be helpful to you. These materials may be found on
our Web site (www.cancer.org)
or ordered from our toll-free number (1-800-ACS-2345).
References
Hu SJ, Fang Q, Liu JS, Zhang L, Cao EZ. Clinical study on
intervention of liuwei dihuang pill on hormonotherapy in treating
nephrotic syndrome [in Chinese] [abstract]. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za
Zhi. 2005;25:107-110.
Shen JJ, Lin CJ, Huang JL, Hsieh KH, Kuo ML. The effect of
liu-wei-di-huang wan on cytokine gene expression from human peripheral
blood lymphocytes. Am J
Chin Med. 2003;31:247-257.
Vickers A, Goyal N, Harland R, Rees R. Do certain countries
produce only positive results? A systematic review of controlled
trials. Control Clin
Trials. 1998;19:159-166.
Zheng WC, Hu SJ, Fang Q. Intervention of liuwei dihuang pill
on lupus nephropathy treated with cylophosphamide and glucocorticoids
[in Chinese] [abstract]. Zhongguo
Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2005;25:983-985.
Note: This information may not cover
all possible claims, uses, actions, precautions, side effects or
interactions. It is not intended as medical advice, and should not be
relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor, who is
familiar with your medical situation.
Last Medical Review: 11/01/2008
Last Revised: 11/01/2008
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