Immunomodulating herbs that have been studied in patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer are reviewed in depth. Trametes versicolor (turkey tail, yún zhī) mushroom, formerly known as Coriolus versicolor, Astragalus membranaceus (astragalus, huáng qí) root, Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng, rén shēn) root, and Viscum album (European mistletoe) injectable extracts are reviewed in depth. These represent the four best-studied natural herbal immune adjuncts to chemotherapy. Various reports of these agents' abilities to reduce adverse effects and improve survival in cancer patients are discussed in depth. Other less well studied herbal immunomodulators are also mentioned more briefly. Part 2 of this article will focus on herbal therapies for other specific adverse effects of chemotherapy such as nausea, mucositis, neuropathies, and organ damage.
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