Advantages of TCM treatment:
TCM treatment for multiple myeloma is based on wholistic concept, herbal medicine can strengthen the immunity against cancer. Chinese medicine is natural and mild. It can make up for the inadequacy of other treatments. By regulating the balance of Yin and Yang, TCM can improve the body functional status, reduce the side-effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, speed up the postoperative recovery. TCM, in addition, can control or delay the reoccurence, thus prolonging the patient's life. Some TCM treatment are recommended as follows:

Herbal Prescriptions:
1.  Stagnant heat invading the meridians
Herbal Prescription: Radix Paeoniae Rubra (Chishaoyao) 15g, Radix Paeoniae Alba (Baishaoyao) 15g, Semen Persicae (Taoren) 9g, rhizoma cibotii 15g, Radix Dipsaci (Xuduan) 15g, Fructus Psoraleae (Buguzhi) 9g, Oldenlandia diffusa 30g, Caulis Spatholobi (Jixueteng) 30g, bittersweet 15g, Paniculate Swallowwort Root 15g, ramulus mori 12g, Herba Dendrobii (Shihu) 9g, Arisaema Cum Bile (Dannanxing) 5g, rice sprout 12g  

2. Deficiency of both qi and yin
Herbal Prescription: Radix Astragali (Huangqi) 30g, Radix Glehniae (Beishashen)">Radix Glehniae (Beishashen) 30g, rhizoma cibotii 12g, Fructus Lycii (Gouqizi) 12g, Radix Dipsaci (Xuduan) 12g, Radix Rehmanniae (Shengdihuang) 15g, Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata (Shudihuang) 15g, Herba Dendrobii (Shihu) 15g, Liriope graminifoia (Maidong), Fructus Psoraleae (Buguzhi) 15g, tribulusterrestris15g

3. Accumulation of Heat Toxins
Herbal Prescription: Radix Rehmanniae (Shengdihuang) 30g, Imperata arundinacea (Maogen) 300g, cool diaphragm powder15g, Fructus Trichosanthis (Gualou)">Fructus Trichosanthis (Gualou) 12g, Cortex Radicis (Mudanpi) 9g, Radix Paeoniae Rubra (Chishaoyao) 9g, Flos Lonicerae (Jinyinhua) 9g, Fructus Forsythiae (Lianqiao) 9g, Folium Polygoni Tinctorii (Liaodaqingye) 9g, Rhizoma Anemarrhenae (Zhimu) 9g, Rulvis Glycyrrhizae Extractionis Sedilis 5g

Other TCM Treatments:  
A number of natural products isolated from Chinese herbs have been found to inhibit proliferation, induce apoptosis, suppress angiogenesis, retard metastasis and enhance chemotherapy, exhibiting anti-cancer potential both in vitro and in vivo, including flavonoids (gambogic acid, curcumin, wogonin and silibinin), alkaloids (berberine), terpenes (artemisinin, β-elemene, oridonin, triptolide, and ursolic acid), quinones (shikonin and emodin) and saponins (ginsenoside Rg3), which are isolated from Chinese medicinal herbs.

1. Scutellaria radix
In the study to investigate the effects of the traditional Chinese herbal medicines Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang (HLJDT), Gui-Zhi-Fu-Ling-Wan (GZFLW), and Huang-Lian-Tang (HLT) on the proliferation and apoptosis of myeloma cells by the Yamaguchi University, indicated that HLJDT inhibited the proliferation of myeloma cell lines and the survival of primary myeloma cells, especially MPC-1- immature myeloma cells, and induced apoptosis in myeloma cell lines via a mitochondria-mediated pathway by reducing mitochondrial membrane potential and activating caspase-9 and caspase-3. Further experiments confirmed that Scutellaria radix was responsible for the suppressive effect of HLJDT on myeloma cell proliferation, and the baicalein in Scutellaria radix showed strong growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis in comparison with baicalin or wogonin.

2. the root and rhizomes of Rheum palmatum L.
Emodin is an active component of a traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine isolated from the root and rhizomes of Rheum palmatum L. According to the study by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hoshi University, emodin significantly induces cytotoxicity in the human myeloma cells through the elimination of myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1). Emodin inhibited interleukin-6-induced activation of Janus-activated kinase 2 (JAK2) and phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), followed by the decreased expression of Mcl-1. Activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 was triggered by emodin, but the expression of other antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family members, except Mcl-1, did not change in the presence of emodin.

3. Sophora roots
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of clonal plasma cells in bone marrow in the elderly. Matrine, a main alkaloid if Sophora roots, has been shown to inhibit cellular proliferation and induce apoptosis of various cancer cells. According to the study by the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, matrine could exert antiproliferative effects on myeloma cells and induce apoptosis of myeloma cells in vitro. The induction of apoptosis appeared to proceed via the mitochondrial pathway, including down-regulation of Bcl-2/Bax ratio, loss of Deltapsim, release of cyt c from mitochondria to cytosol, and activation of caspase-3.