Belly button patch may fight cancer fatigue without drugs

NCT ID NCT07690293

Not yet recruiting Symptom relief Sponsor: China Medical University Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 08, 2026 · Last updated Jul 24, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study tests whether a traditional Chinese medicine patch placed on the belly button (Shenque acupoint) can reduce fatigue in cancer patients about to start radiotherapy. Eighty adults with cancer-related fatigue will receive either the real herbal patch or a sham patch daily for two weeks. Researchers will measure changes in fatigue, quality of life, heart rate variability, and blood counts before and after treatment.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Traditional Chinese medicine patch (herbal powder applied at the Shenque acupoint)
What this could lead to: If effective, this simple patch could offer a drug-free way to reduce fatigue and improve quality of life for cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage trial with only 80 participants. The sham patch uses flour and coloring, so blinding may be imperfect, and results may not apply to all cancer types.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cancer

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CANCER-RELATED FATIGUE

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