Introduction The subject of anticancer herbs is certainly a controversial one. Opinions are polarized - with some strongly opposed to orthodox cancer treatments, and some strongly opposed to herbal medicine. A very significant amount of scientific research has been done in the investigation of anticancer properties of various plants - however much work still needs to be done. The purpose of this page is neither to attempt to persuade, nor to debunk - but simply to present as much good information as possible on the subject, in order that the person interested in the possibility of anticancer herbs may be assisted in doing their homework. See this page as a starting point for research or investigation. Ive done my best to cite references that I have found. It is written in the small print at the foot of this page in greater detail, but it is expedient to repeat it: This page is not medical advice, nor is it intended to substitute for professional medical consultation. Note - this page uses the term anticancer with a broad brush; and it is the most widely-used term - however please note that the National Cancer Institute considers that the term anticancer herb is not accurate enough. Their definition gives three terms: cytotoxic - action against tumors in vitro (i.e. in laboratory cell cultures); anti-tumor - toxic to tumors in animals; anti-cancer - action against tumors in human trials. Ref. article on this with many more points - healthy.net/scr/article.aspx?Id=1583 Mechanisms by which herbs may fight against or have a preventative effect on cancer are varied and the science complex. Some herbs may act as immunomodulators - stimulating the immune system to fight against cancer cells. Others may have a direct cytotoxic action - however this does not necessarily mean they should immediately be used; as an agent that has been shown to be toxic to cancer cells may also be toxic to healthy cells. Some herbs (such as Milk thistle) have been found by studies to act selectively against cancer cells and this is considered a highly desired quality. One of the challenges of the work against cancer is that there are so many factors which may influence it, that it becomes difficult to pin down both actual causes and beneficial agents in real life. I for one would welcome large scale big data type research which might more easily detect correlations between lifestyle, dietary and supplement factors with incidence of cancer. A future project for the world to consider? We now have the technology. With the above said, on to our list of over 60 herbs and plants for which anticancer properties have been reported / claimed. This page has officially turned into a mammoth tome and we have done our best to cite all references. I hope this information is of benefit to you. Lets work together to fight against this tragic disease. Suggestions are welcomed; please see the foot of the page for contact information. (Note - Anticancer Foods have now been separated from this list and appear on their own page.) Special thanks to Dan Ablir, Kelsey Wambold and Julie Anne Ne for their assistance with this page. herbs-info/anticancer-herbs.html
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 11:09:50 +0000
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