20 Herbs that can fight cancer
DOUBLE STANDARDS
It is an undeniable fact that herbs have been eaten for their health-giving properties for thousands of years. History and experience tells us to eat Thyme, but not Deadly Nightshade. Trained, expert Medical Herbalists know exactly what herbs can, and cannot, do.
Unlike certain drugs companies, such herbalists have yet to pay millions of dollars to avoid court action over claims that they hid research studies showing negative results. No herb in recent years has been lauded as a health-restorer, only to be subsequently ´withdrawn´ after causing deformity, heart attacks and/or death. Taking a cocktail of prescription medicines, not herbs, is the number one cause of death in states such as Florida.
Whereas, your Government upholds your freedom to choose to buy cigarettes over the counter throughout Britain even though they have clear health-damaging risks, it will not give you the same freedom to choose to buy natural compounds like herbs. Oddly, you need to be protected from eating herbs, but not cigarettes (or alcohol).
Unlike GM food that is increasingly available in the High Street, yet rarely, if ever, goes through rigorous Government regulation or independent research and was created synthetically just a few years ago, common herbs that haven´t changed for centuries will not be available in pills and liquids on the same High Streets after May 1st 2011. An EU Directive will remove them for health safety reasons.
The world is a very mixed up place.
Here are twenty herbs that just might help your fight against cancer. You will be pleased to know, even after May 1st 2011, you can still have them prescribed and made for you by experts working with CANCERactive.
1 ASTRAGALUS (Huang Qi): A Chinese herb; an immune system booster, known to stimulate body´s natural production of interferon. It also helps the immune system identify rogue cells. Work with the herb in both cancer and AIDS cases has been encouraging. The MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Texas conducted research showing that taking Astragalus when having Radiotherapy doubled survival times.
2 BERBERIS FAMILY (e.g. Podophyllum peltanum):Slow active purgative. Research has shown these herbs to have a strong action against cancer and they have been used with many cancers, especially Ovarian cancer.
3 BLOOD ROOT (Sanguinaria canadensis): Research shows consistent anti-neoplastic activity. It is effective against cancer tumours, and can shrink them; and has proven useful with sarcomas.
4 BUTCHERS BROOM (Ruscus aculeatus): The active ingredients of this herb has been found to be the ruscogenins which have tumour-shrinking and anti-oestrogenic abilities. Thus its use in the treatment of breast cancer.
5 CAT´S CLAW (Uncaria tormentosa): An adaptogen and powerful immuno-stimulant, it enhances the white cells clean up process (phagocytosis). It is an excellent companion to astragalus, curcumin and echinacea. Research indicates it can reduce tumour size, particularly with skin cancers. It also helps reduce the side-effects of chemo and radiotherapy.
6 CHAPARRAL (Larrea mexicana): Cancer Watch covered a major research study from the US which heaped praise on this herb. It appears to boost the immune system, stop metastases and reduce tumour size. Seems especially interesting with breast cancer. It is also an anti-oxidant and anti-microbial, with low toxicity.
7 CURCUMIN (Turmeric): This spice (Curcuma longa or Turmeric root) has been shown to have significant anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activity. That alone seems enough for certain hospitals in America to consider using it in the treatment of polyps and colon cancer. However new research shows that it can both shrink cancer tumours and inhibit blood supply growth to tumours. It is a powerful antioxidant with liver protective benefits, and outperformed several anti-inflammatory drugs without side-effects in research.
8 DANG SHEN ROOT (Codonopsis pilosula): increases both the white blood cell and red blood cell levels, so can be extremely helpful to patients having chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or to patients whose cancer diminishes levels of either.
9 ECHINACEA: Another known immune system booster, it gained a populist reputation in treating colds. There is research on its helpfulness with brain tumours apart from its abilities to increase the levels of certain immune white cells in the body.
10 FEVERFEW: This herb caused a storm when research from Rochester University in New York showed it to be more effective than the drug cytarabine in killing leukaemia cells. The US Food and Drug Agency put the active ingredient, parthenolide, on to its fast track programme. Nothing has yet been heard. But then, the FDA has never approved a herb for use as a cancer treatment.
11 GOLDENSEAL: One cause of stomach cancer can be the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. This burrows into the mucous lining of the stomach to hide from gastric acids, and then causes irritation, acid reflux, ulcers and even cancer. Goldenseal is generally anti-microbial and is used in the Caribbean and South East Asia against parasites. Goldenseal, helped by the mineral Bismuth, will kill Helicobacter pylori. Vets seem to know this, even if doctors don´t.
12 MILK THISTLE: Known for years to be helpful to the liver, this herb has now been shown to be capable of protecting the liver during chemotherapy. Research in America showed that leukaemia patients who took milk thistle had reduced liver toxicity and chemo side-effects. There is a little evidence that it has its own anti-cancer activity too.
13 PAU D´ARCO: This tree bark was original thought to be a strong anti-cancer agent, but then its actions were clarified as strongly anti-bacterial, anti-yeast and anti-microbial. That alone might be enough in some cases of cancer cause. But new research on the differing ingredients has shown the quinoids possess immune strengthening abilities and seem to help in cases of blood and lymph cancers.
14 RED CLOVER: Research from a number of centres including the Royal Marsden has shown its potential as a part of a treatment programme against oestrogen-driven cancers, from breast to prostate. One active ingredient in the so-called Herb of Hippocrates is the anti-oestrogen Genistein.
15 SHEEP´S SORRELL: Used in Essiac and other herbal remedies it is a cleanser and aids healthy tissue regeneration. There is some suggestion from research that it helps normalise damaged cells and tissue. It is also a highly praised ´vermifuge´ - intestinal worms have little or no resistance to this herb.
16 SKULLCAP (Scutellaria barbata): Research has shown action against many cancer types, for example against cancers of the lung, stomach and intestines.
17 SUTHERLANDIA (Cancer Bush): Peer reviewed research studies indicate that this herb is anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-fungal. It boosts the immune system and inhibits Tumour Necrosis Factor, known to drive wasting in cancer patients.
18 THOROWAX, or HARES EAR (Bulpleurum scorzoneraefolium): Research has shown its ability to enhance the production of natural interferon and it seems especially useful in bone cancer.
19 WHEATGRASS: One of the top private hospitals in South East Asia extols the benefits of freshly juiced wheatgrass. One shot gives you the chlorophyll of some 12 or more kilograms of broccoli. It acts as a blood purifier, and liver and kidney cleansing agent. After two weeks of daily use, blood and tissue oxygen levels improve, as does circulation. And oxygen is the enemy of the cancer cell, as Otto Warburg told the world.
20 WORMWOOD: Another Chinese Herb, this has outperformed certain anti-malaria drugs and is now used by the aid agencies. It is strongly anti-microbial and anti-yeast and can be used as an effective part of an anti-candida diet. Also certain cancer treatments cause excesses of yeasts to form (for example, in Leukaemia treatment) threatening the patients health further. Excess yeasts are even felt by some cancer experts to be one of the causes of cancer. However, in recent research Wormwood has been shown to have direct anti-cancer properties.
Many of these herbs are available freshly prepared via the Natural Selection shop. Click here to go to the shop.
HEALTH WARNING!
Please be clear, no one is saying these herbs are not without any side-effects. Equally they may conflict with some drugs. The important point is that we are still discovering many of their benefits, albeit very slowly, because individual local herbalists just do not have the funds to conduct large scale clinical trials like the drugs companies do. You should seriously consider the usefulness of herbs as a part of your integrative cancer-fighting programme. They just might make a serious difference to your health. But please make sure you go to an expert medical herbalist for clear and informed advice.
Can herbs help fight cancer?
As many as 88 percent of all cancer patients seek help from herbs and other alternative therapies. It's easy to see why. Certain herbal remedies appear to work -- after all, the potent anticancer drug taxol comes from the bark of the yew tree -- and compared with nauseating, painful, expensive, and sometimes ineffective conventional treatments, taking herbs or drinking medicinal teas may seem like an attractive option.
But remember that the Food and Drug Administration doesn't require testing for herbs and supplements as it does for conventional drugs, so it always pays to be cautious in the largely unregulated world of herbal medicines. Although some are clearly of value, other so-called cancer remedies are worthless, dangerous, or both. Always check with your doctor before trying a new herb, and consult people who have used it, if possible, to get some idea of what you're getting into.
Here's a look at what's known about the potential strengths, weaknesses, and side effects of some of the most popular herbal treatments for cancer.
Astragalus
This herb, also known as Huang ch'i, may help fight cancer by stimulating the immune system. When researchers at the University of Texas Medical Center mixed astragalus with the blood of cancer patients in a test tube, the function of cancer-killing cells called T lymphocytes improved by 260 percent. However, the American Cancer Society says there is no convincing scientific evidence that astragalus helps to fight cancer or mitigate the effects of chemotherapy.
The downside is that the herb can cause low blood pressure, dizziness, and fatigue, and overdoses can damage the immune system. When used orally in appropriate dosages, usually 9 to 30 grams a day, astragalus seems to be safe, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database.
PC-SPES
Once touted as a safe, effective herbal treatment for prostate cancer, PC-SPES is actually serious medicine with equally serious side effects. Researchers from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School found that the herbal cocktail -- a combination of eight traditional Chinese herbs including saw palmetto, skullcap, licorice, and Panax pseudo-ginseng -- dramatically increased estrogen levels and decreased testosterone in eight cancer patients. This hormonal shift has the potential to slow the growth of prostate cancer (which is why many prostate cancer patients take estrogen), but it comes with a price. All eight patients reported breast tenderness and a loss of sex drive, and one patient developed a blood clot in his leg.
And while PC-SPES has been proven to shrink prostate tumors, it was taken off the market in February 2002 after it was found to contain traces of the prescription drug warfarin (a blood thinner). Because the PC-SPES was tainted with prescription drugs, it is unknown whether it was the PC-SPES, the prescription drugs, or a combination of the two that led to the results. Subsequent tests have found additional traces of strong drugs in PC-SPES, including an artificial form of estrogen and a pain reliever called indomethacin that may act against tumor cells. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) plans to conduct new clinical trials of PC-SPES once it can guarantee a standard product.
Cat's Claw
Known by the scientific name of Uncaria tomentosa, this South American vine is an ancient treatment for arthritis, cancer, and other diseases. Cat's Claw remains popular among cancer patients despite the fact that the National Cancer Institute decided that the active ingredients in the herb weren't powerful enough to justify further studies. The herb is generally safe -- as long as you get the right kind. There are more than 30 plants that go by the name Cat's Claw, and some that are not Uncaria tomentosa end up in herbal remedies. They can cause gastric bleeding and other side effects, and won't deliver the mild benefits patients are seeking.
Essiac
This herbal tea (a blend of Indian rhubarb, sheepshead sorrel, slippery elm, and burdock root) has been promoted as a cure for all cancers, but there's little evidence that it has any curative powers. Studies at both Memorial Sloan-Kettering and the National Cancer Institute found that the tea failed to slow the growth of tumors in lab animals. Furthermore, a Canadian study of 77 cancer patients taking the herbal treatment found that only eight improved or remained stable. The tea, when pure, causes few side effects except for occasional nausea, but it has been known to be contaminated with the poisonous belladonna root (which closely resembles burdock root). If you do buy Essiac, stick with a well-known supplier.
Green tea
Purported to prevent certain cancers, green tea may also help slow the spread of the disease. Test-tube studies at Rutgers University found that compounds from green tea slowed the division of cancer cells from the lung and colon. Other studies have found that green tea stunts the growth of tumors in mice. But the results in human studies are contradictory. The National Cancer Institute notes that some studies suggest that green tea may be an effective cancer-fighter, while other studies found no benefit. The NCI is continuing to study what effect, if any, green tea has on cancer. In the meantime, drinking a few cups of the antioxidant-rich brew each day certainly won't do any harm, but don't overdo it -- some study subjects on high doses of green tea suffered nausea and diarrhea.
Iscador
This extract from European mistletoe contains compounds called lectins which, at least in theory, can kill cancer cells. A review in the journal Phytomedicine reported that Iscador improved the survival of cancer patients in 10 out of 11 trials (although the best-designed study was the one that found no effect). In addition, a Swiss study showed that Iscador more than doubled the rate of DNA repair in 12 out of 14 breast cancer patients. Other studies have shown no benefit. In a 2004 randomized trial of melanoma patients spanning eight years, researchers found no increase in survival time between those who took Iscador and those who underwent interferon treatment. And according to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, there is a serious risk of poisoning associated with Iscador, and it shouldn't be taken without a doctor's supervision.
Laetrile
This compound from the pits of apricots, peaches, and plums has not proven effective; taken orally, it sometimes proves to be more poisonous than conventional cancer treatments. In a multicenter study of 170 cancer patients, every subject showed tumor progression seven months after starting laetrile therapy. What's more, the compound can cause cyanide poisoning, especially when taken orally. Still commonly dispensed in Mexican cancer clinics, laetrile is illegal in most states and is not approved by the FDA for use in the United States.
Herbs used for cancer:
Essiac formula: burdock root (Arctium lappa), slippery elm inner bark (Ulmus rubra), sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella), and Indian rhubarb root (Rheum officinale).
Hoxsey formula: included Red clover, Burdock root, Barberry bark, Licorice root, Buckthorn bark, Prickly ash, poke berries and root, Stillingia root, Cascara amarga.
Montagna formula: Chaparral leaves - Dissolves malignant tumors. 2. Bloodroot - Purifies and cleanses bloodstream. 3. Red clover blossoms - Antidote to cancer. 4. Burdock root - Neutralizes and eliminates toxins. 5. Echinacea root - Natural herbal antitoxin. 6. Goldenseal root - Kills poisons, equalizes circulation. 7. Comfrey leaves - Relieves pain, establishes normal conditions. 8. Ginseng root - Stimulates vital cell processes.
Herbal salves
Wouldn’t it be amazing if cancer could be cured with natural herbs and spices? Well, it turns out nature offers a potential cure again. Here’s a list of 5 herbs and spices that have anti-cancer properties and could help in the fight against cancer.
1. Basil
Primarily featured in Italian food, basil has been frequently examined to discover the secrets of its health benefits. With its antibacterial, antiviral and antioxidant properties, there’s already plenty of reasons to love basil. However, it’s got even more goodness locked away in its leaves. New evidence suggests basil can actually decrease carcinogenesis — new tumors — and help protect against cancer.
2. Cardamom
Maybe making cardamom bread was a delightful part of your childhood, but there’s now another reason to use the cardamom herbs. Much like many different spices, cardamom has antioxidant properties. This helps to purge the body of free radicals and help prevent carcinogenesis in some lab studies.
3. Cinnamon
Yep, even something as common as everyday cinnamon can be used to reduce your risk of cancer. In several different studies, cinnamon has been shown to reduce cancer risk. This may be due to its high levels of iron and calcium. Even as little as a single half-teaspoon of cinnamon every day may be enough to take advantage of its anti-cancer properties.
4. Oregano
Another common spice, oregano is very high in antioxidant properties. This is due to its high content of flavonoids and phenolic acids that help give it its antimicrobial properties. These antimicrobial abilities help to prevent against colon cancer and restrict the growth of malignant cancer cells in the body.
5. Rosemary
A well-known spice (although one you may not normally use), rosemary is found in many mediterranean dishes and contains very, very high antioxidant properties. There is some data to support rosemary (along with other herbs) can aid in preventing oxidative stress, one of the causes of cancer. Topical use of rosemary extract may also have some anti-cancer benefits, too.
Rev. Tuan Le Ph.D. Clinical Psychology
VN DuPage Pastoral Counseling Center
Trauma, Grief, Depression, Addiction, Professional counseling in an ecumenical Christian setting Dr. Le
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Ps 23:1
DOUBLE STANDARDS
It is an undeniable fact that herbs have been eaten for their health-giving properties for thousands of years. History and experience tells us to eat Thyme, but not Deadly Nightshade. Trained, expert Medical Herbalists know exactly what herbs can, and cannot, do.
Unlike certain drugs companies, such herbalists have yet to pay millions of dollars to avoid court action over claims that they hid research studies showing negative results. No herb in recent years has been lauded as a health-restorer, only to be subsequently ´withdrawn´ after causing deformity, heart attacks and/or death. Taking a cocktail of prescription medicines, not herbs, is the number one cause of death in states such as Florida.
Whereas, your Government upholds your freedom to choose to buy cigarettes over the counter throughout Britain even though they have clear health-damaging risks, it will not give you the same freedom to choose to buy natural compounds like herbs. Oddly, you need to be protected from eating herbs, but not cigarettes (or alcohol).
Unlike GM food that is increasingly available in the High Street, yet rarely, if ever, goes through rigorous Government regulation or independent research and was created synthetically just a few years ago, common herbs that haven´t changed for centuries will not be available in pills and liquids on the same High Streets after May 1st 2011. An EU Directive will remove them for health safety reasons.
The world is a very mixed up place.
Here are twenty herbs that just might help your fight against cancer. You will be pleased to know, even after May 1st 2011, you can still have them prescribed and made for you by experts working with CANCERactive.
1 ASTRAGALUS (Huang Qi): A Chinese herb; an immune system booster, known to stimulate body´s natural production of interferon. It also helps the immune system identify rogue cells. Work with the herb in both cancer and AIDS cases has been encouraging. The MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Texas conducted research showing that taking Astragalus when having Radiotherapy doubled survival times.
2 BERBERIS FAMILY (e.g. Podophyllum peltanum):Slow active purgative. Research has shown these herbs to have a strong action against cancer and they have been used with many cancers, especially Ovarian cancer.
3 BLOOD ROOT (Sanguinaria canadensis): Research shows consistent anti-neoplastic activity. It is effective against cancer tumours, and can shrink them; and has proven useful with sarcomas.
4 BUTCHERS BROOM (Ruscus aculeatus): The active ingredients of this herb has been found to be the ruscogenins which have tumour-shrinking and anti-oestrogenic abilities. Thus its use in the treatment of breast cancer.
5 CAT´S CLAW (Uncaria tormentosa): An adaptogen and powerful immuno-stimulant, it enhances the white cells clean up process (phagocytosis). It is an excellent companion to astragalus, curcumin and echinacea. Research indicates it can reduce tumour size, particularly with skin cancers. It also helps reduce the side-effects of chemo and radiotherapy.
6 CHAPARRAL (Larrea mexicana): Cancer Watch covered a major research study from the US which heaped praise on this herb. It appears to boost the immune system, stop metastases and reduce tumour size. Seems especially interesting with breast cancer. It is also an anti-oxidant and anti-microbial, with low toxicity.
7 CURCUMIN (Turmeric): This spice (Curcuma longa or Turmeric root) has been shown to have significant anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activity. That alone seems enough for certain hospitals in America to consider using it in the treatment of polyps and colon cancer. However new research shows that it can both shrink cancer tumours and inhibit blood supply growth to tumours. It is a powerful antioxidant with liver protective benefits, and outperformed several anti-inflammatory drugs without side-effects in research.
8 DANG SHEN ROOT (Codonopsis pilosula): increases both the white blood cell and red blood cell levels, so can be extremely helpful to patients having chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or to patients whose cancer diminishes levels of either.
9 ECHINACEA: Another known immune system booster, it gained a populist reputation in treating colds. There is research on its helpfulness with brain tumours apart from its abilities to increase the levels of certain immune white cells in the body.
10 FEVERFEW: This herb caused a storm when research from Rochester University in New York showed it to be more effective than the drug cytarabine in killing leukaemia cells. The US Food and Drug Agency put the active ingredient, parthenolide, on to its fast track programme. Nothing has yet been heard. But then, the FDA has never approved a herb for use as a cancer treatment.
11 GOLDENSEAL: One cause of stomach cancer can be the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. This burrows into the mucous lining of the stomach to hide from gastric acids, and then causes irritation, acid reflux, ulcers and even cancer. Goldenseal is generally anti-microbial and is used in the Caribbean and South East Asia against parasites. Goldenseal, helped by the mineral Bismuth, will kill Helicobacter pylori. Vets seem to know this, even if doctors don´t.
12 MILK THISTLE: Known for years to be helpful to the liver, this herb has now been shown to be capable of protecting the liver during chemotherapy. Research in America showed that leukaemia patients who took milk thistle had reduced liver toxicity and chemo side-effects. There is a little evidence that it has its own anti-cancer activity too.
13 PAU D´ARCO: This tree bark was original thought to be a strong anti-cancer agent, but then its actions were clarified as strongly anti-bacterial, anti-yeast and anti-microbial. That alone might be enough in some cases of cancer cause. But new research on the differing ingredients has shown the quinoids possess immune strengthening abilities and seem to help in cases of blood and lymph cancers.
14 RED CLOVER: Research from a number of centres including the Royal Marsden has shown its potential as a part of a treatment programme against oestrogen-driven cancers, from breast to prostate. One active ingredient in the so-called Herb of Hippocrates is the anti-oestrogen Genistein.
15 SHEEP´S SORRELL: Used in Essiac and other herbal remedies it is a cleanser and aids healthy tissue regeneration. There is some suggestion from research that it helps normalise damaged cells and tissue. It is also a highly praised ´vermifuge´ - intestinal worms have little or no resistance to this herb.
16 SKULLCAP (Scutellaria barbata): Research has shown action against many cancer types, for example against cancers of the lung, stomach and intestines.
17 SUTHERLANDIA (Cancer Bush): Peer reviewed research studies indicate that this herb is anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-fungal. It boosts the immune system and inhibits Tumour Necrosis Factor, known to drive wasting in cancer patients.
18 THOROWAX, or HARES EAR (Bulpleurum scorzoneraefolium): Research has shown its ability to enhance the production of natural interferon and it seems especially useful in bone cancer.
19 WHEATGRASS: One of the top private hospitals in South East Asia extols the benefits of freshly juiced wheatgrass. One shot gives you the chlorophyll of some 12 or more kilograms of broccoli. It acts as a blood purifier, and liver and kidney cleansing agent. After two weeks of daily use, blood and tissue oxygen levels improve, as does circulation. And oxygen is the enemy of the cancer cell, as Otto Warburg told the world.
20 WORMWOOD: Another Chinese Herb, this has outperformed certain anti-malaria drugs and is now used by the aid agencies. It is strongly anti-microbial and anti-yeast and can be used as an effective part of an anti-candida diet. Also certain cancer treatments cause excesses of yeasts to form (for example, in Leukaemia treatment) threatening the patients health further. Excess yeasts are even felt by some cancer experts to be one of the causes of cancer. However, in recent research Wormwood has been shown to have direct anti-cancer properties.
Many of these herbs are available freshly prepared via the Natural Selection shop. Click here to go to the shop.
HEALTH WARNING!
Please be clear, no one is saying these herbs are not without any side-effects. Equally they may conflict with some drugs. The important point is that we are still discovering many of their benefits, albeit very slowly, because individual local herbalists just do not have the funds to conduct large scale clinical trials like the drugs companies do. You should seriously consider the usefulness of herbs as a part of your integrative cancer-fighting programme. They just might make a serious difference to your health. But please make sure you go to an expert medical herbalist for clear and informed advice.
Can herbs help fight cancer?
As many as 88 percent of all cancer patients seek help from herbs and other alternative therapies. It's easy to see why. Certain herbal remedies appear to work -- after all, the potent anticancer drug taxol comes from the bark of the yew tree -- and compared with nauseating, painful, expensive, and sometimes ineffective conventional treatments, taking herbs or drinking medicinal teas may seem like an attractive option.
But remember that the Food and Drug Administration doesn't require testing for herbs and supplements as it does for conventional drugs, so it always pays to be cautious in the largely unregulated world of herbal medicines. Although some are clearly of value, other so-called cancer remedies are worthless, dangerous, or both. Always check with your doctor before trying a new herb, and consult people who have used it, if possible, to get some idea of what you're getting into.
Here's a look at what's known about the potential strengths, weaknesses, and side effects of some of the most popular herbal treatments for cancer.
Astragalus
This herb, also known as Huang ch'i, may help fight cancer by stimulating the immune system. When researchers at the University of Texas Medical Center mixed astragalus with the blood of cancer patients in a test tube, the function of cancer-killing cells called T lymphocytes improved by 260 percent. However, the American Cancer Society says there is no convincing scientific evidence that astragalus helps to fight cancer or mitigate the effects of chemotherapy.
The downside is that the herb can cause low blood pressure, dizziness, and fatigue, and overdoses can damage the immune system. When used orally in appropriate dosages, usually 9 to 30 grams a day, astragalus seems to be safe, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database.
PC-SPES
Once touted as a safe, effective herbal treatment for prostate cancer, PC-SPES is actually serious medicine with equally serious side effects. Researchers from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School found that the herbal cocktail -- a combination of eight traditional Chinese herbs including saw palmetto, skullcap, licorice, and Panax pseudo-ginseng -- dramatically increased estrogen levels and decreased testosterone in eight cancer patients. This hormonal shift has the potential to slow the growth of prostate cancer (which is why many prostate cancer patients take estrogen), but it comes with a price. All eight patients reported breast tenderness and a loss of sex drive, and one patient developed a blood clot in his leg.
And while PC-SPES has been proven to shrink prostate tumors, it was taken off the market in February 2002 after it was found to contain traces of the prescription drug warfarin (a blood thinner). Because the PC-SPES was tainted with prescription drugs, it is unknown whether it was the PC-SPES, the prescription drugs, or a combination of the two that led to the results. Subsequent tests have found additional traces of strong drugs in PC-SPES, including an artificial form of estrogen and a pain reliever called indomethacin that may act against tumor cells. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) plans to conduct new clinical trials of PC-SPES once it can guarantee a standard product.
Cat's Claw
Known by the scientific name of Uncaria tomentosa, this South American vine is an ancient treatment for arthritis, cancer, and other diseases. Cat's Claw remains popular among cancer patients despite the fact that the National Cancer Institute decided that the active ingredients in the herb weren't powerful enough to justify further studies. The herb is generally safe -- as long as you get the right kind. There are more than 30 plants that go by the name Cat's Claw, and some that are not Uncaria tomentosa end up in herbal remedies. They can cause gastric bleeding and other side effects, and won't deliver the mild benefits patients are seeking.
Essiac
This herbal tea (a blend of Indian rhubarb, sheepshead sorrel, slippery elm, and burdock root) has been promoted as a cure for all cancers, but there's little evidence that it has any curative powers. Studies at both Memorial Sloan-Kettering and the National Cancer Institute found that the tea failed to slow the growth of tumors in lab animals. Furthermore, a Canadian study of 77 cancer patients taking the herbal treatment found that only eight improved or remained stable. The tea, when pure, causes few side effects except for occasional nausea, but it has been known to be contaminated with the poisonous belladonna root (which closely resembles burdock root). If you do buy Essiac, stick with a well-known supplier.
Green tea
Purported to prevent certain cancers, green tea may also help slow the spread of the disease. Test-tube studies at Rutgers University found that compounds from green tea slowed the division of cancer cells from the lung and colon. Other studies have found that green tea stunts the growth of tumors in mice. But the results in human studies are contradictory. The National Cancer Institute notes that some studies suggest that green tea may be an effective cancer-fighter, while other studies found no benefit. The NCI is continuing to study what effect, if any, green tea has on cancer. In the meantime, drinking a few cups of the antioxidant-rich brew each day certainly won't do any harm, but don't overdo it -- some study subjects on high doses of green tea suffered nausea and diarrhea.
Iscador
This extract from European mistletoe contains compounds called lectins which, at least in theory, can kill cancer cells. A review in the journal Phytomedicine reported that Iscador improved the survival of cancer patients in 10 out of 11 trials (although the best-designed study was the one that found no effect). In addition, a Swiss study showed that Iscador more than doubled the rate of DNA repair in 12 out of 14 breast cancer patients. Other studies have shown no benefit. In a 2004 randomized trial of melanoma patients spanning eight years, researchers found no increase in survival time between those who took Iscador and those who underwent interferon treatment. And according to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, there is a serious risk of poisoning associated with Iscador, and it shouldn't be taken without a doctor's supervision.
Laetrile
This compound from the pits of apricots, peaches, and plums has not proven effective; taken orally, it sometimes proves to be more poisonous than conventional cancer treatments. In a multicenter study of 170 cancer patients, every subject showed tumor progression seven months after starting laetrile therapy. What's more, the compound can cause cyanide poisoning, especially when taken orally. Still commonly dispensed in Mexican cancer clinics, laetrile is illegal in most states and is not approved by the FDA for use in the United States.
Herbs used for cancer:
Essiac formula: burdock root (Arctium lappa), slippery elm inner bark (Ulmus rubra), sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella), and Indian rhubarb root (Rheum officinale).
Hoxsey formula: included Red clover, Burdock root, Barberry bark, Licorice root, Buckthorn bark, Prickly ash, poke berries and root, Stillingia root, Cascara amarga.
Montagna formula: Chaparral leaves - Dissolves malignant tumors. 2. Bloodroot - Purifies and cleanses bloodstream. 3. Red clover blossoms - Antidote to cancer. 4. Burdock root - Neutralizes and eliminates toxins. 5. Echinacea root - Natural herbal antitoxin. 6. Goldenseal root - Kills poisons, equalizes circulation. 7. Comfrey leaves - Relieves pain, establishes normal conditions. 8. Ginseng root - Stimulates vital cell processes.
Herbal salves
Wouldn’t it be amazing if cancer could be cured with natural herbs and spices? Well, it turns out nature offers a potential cure again. Here’s a list of 5 herbs and spices that have anti-cancer properties and could help in the fight against cancer.
1. Basil
Primarily featured in Italian food, basil has been frequently examined to discover the secrets of its health benefits. With its antibacterial, antiviral and antioxidant properties, there’s already plenty of reasons to love basil. However, it’s got even more goodness locked away in its leaves. New evidence suggests basil can actually decrease carcinogenesis — new tumors — and help protect against cancer.
2. Cardamom
Maybe making cardamom bread was a delightful part of your childhood, but there’s now another reason to use the cardamom herbs. Much like many different spices, cardamom has antioxidant properties. This helps to purge the body of free radicals and help prevent carcinogenesis in some lab studies.
3. Cinnamon
Yep, even something as common as everyday cinnamon can be used to reduce your risk of cancer. In several different studies, cinnamon has been shown to reduce cancer risk. This may be due to its high levels of iron and calcium. Even as little as a single half-teaspoon of cinnamon every day may be enough to take advantage of its anti-cancer properties.
4. Oregano
Another common spice, oregano is very high in antioxidant properties. This is due to its high content of flavonoids and phenolic acids that help give it its antimicrobial properties. These antimicrobial abilities help to prevent against colon cancer and restrict the growth of malignant cancer cells in the body.
5. Rosemary
A well-known spice (although one you may not normally use), rosemary is found in many mediterranean dishes and contains very, very high antioxidant properties. There is some data to support rosemary (along with other herbs) can aid in preventing oxidative stress, one of the causes of cancer. Topical use of rosemary extract may also have some anti-cancer benefits, too.
Rev. Tuan Le Ph.D. Clinical Psychology
VN DuPage Pastoral Counseling Center
Trauma, Grief, Depression, Addiction, Professional counseling in an ecumenical Christian setting Dr. Le
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Ps 23:1