Primary hepatic carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors. China is a major country for liver cancer, accounting for about 50 % of the patients worldwide. Although there are a variety of treatments for primary hepatic carcinoma, chemotherapy remains an important method, and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a commonly used local chemotherapy. Currently, there are no effective therapeutic measures to target adverse reactions generated after chemoembolization. A new approach is needed to alleviate post-TACE syndrome. Clinical and experimental studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine can reduce adverse reactions and improve clinical efficacy when combined with primary hepatic carcinoma treatment. This suggests that traditional Chinese medicine plays an important and irreplaceable role in alleviating adverse reactions after TACE. However, there is still a need for high-quality experimental and clinical studies to obtain evidence of effective treatment.