* The traditional Chinese herb Scutellaria (called skullcaps in the West) contains a combination of plant chemicals that together can significantly slow the growth of several different cancers, according to a study published in the January 2009 issue of Planta Medica.

* Adding a mushroom extract to interferon therapy for prostate cancer significantly improves the treatment's effectiveness, and may help reduce both its cost and side effects, according to a study published in the Journal of Hematology and Oncology.

* An herb many Americans take to get an energy boost might also help doctors treat one of the most common-and deadly-cancers. Researchers have discovered that ginseng, particularly when heated, may be very effective against colorectal cancer, according to a study in The American Journal of Chinese Medicine.

* Why are the overwhelming number of studies on natural products and cancer performed in cells and animals and not patients? In a recent study that appeared in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine, the authors conclude that rigorous trials are necessary to explore the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicines. In a special Editor's Note the reason why rigorous trials have not been performed is suggested.