Oldenlandia diffusa (also known as Hedyotis diffusa or Bai Hua She She Cao) has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), particularly for its purported anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. In the context of chemotherapy, modern scientific research has begun to explore its potential to alleviate chemotherapy-induced side effects, such as myelosuppression, gastrointestinal toxicity, and general immune suppression. However, the scientific evidence remains preliminary and mainly consists of in vitro studies, animal experiments, and a limited number of small-scale clinical trials.

Some studies suggest that extracts of Oldenlandia diffusa can exert immunomodulatory effects, protect bone marrow cells, and reduce oxidative stress—mechanisms relevant to mitigating chemotherapy side effects. For example, preclinical research has found that its polysaccharides may promote white blood cell recovery after chemotherapy. Additionally, certain components have shown anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects in animal models.

Human clinical data, however, are sparse and of low methodological quality. A handful of studies from China have reported improvements in quality of life and reductions in some side effects among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy plus Oldenlandia diffusa as adjunct therapy, but these often lack rigorous controls or blinding, and sample sizes are small.

In summary, while there is some preliminary scientific evidence to support the use of Oldenlandia diffusa for reducing chemotherapy side effects, the quality and quantity of evidence are currently insufficient for strong clinical recommendations.