Chemical companies with a vested interest in finding new drugs have scoured the world seeking for new sources of plant material used by indigenous people or as cottage remedies in the treatment of cancer. There have been hundreds of indigenous plants used in traditional therapies in various countries throughout the world over past centuries. Some of them have been tested and are still being trialled in current efforts to find a way of curing cancer, now recognized as a difficult exercise because of the complex nature of the disease.

Modern research proves the efficacy of some plants such as astragalus, eleutherococccus, shisandra and shiitake mushroom and many of the plants used traditionally in herbalism.

However, there are many more employed by traditional herbalists that can be included in the range of plant material offering value in therapy, sometimes used in herbal extract, sometimes as food, and sometimes as homoeopathic doses.

There are particular plants that affect certain types of cancer by improving specific physiological functions. No magic overall formula has been found so far that is applicable to all types of cancer. However, medical and herbal research continues. The University of Wisconsin, for instance lists 150 plants which they have established as having potential value in the treatment of cancer.

Aconitum napellus Aconite usually considered a toxic plant is used successfully in homoeopathic form

Acronychia baueri Acronychia, an Australian plant, contains alkaloid acronycine which is found to attack various types of leukaemia and some tumours (12 out of 17 mice tumours). It is still being investigated.

Agropyron repens Couchgrass for prostatic hypertrophy Agropyron + Hydrangea is given for prostate enlargement

Allium sativum  Garlic – and raw onions one of the best preventative    medicines. Garlic for carcinoma and preventive for cancer. In Japan fresh garlic has shown a successful degree of immunity against cancer.

In personal diet garlic is best raw if anticipating full medicinal effect.

Aloe vera juice is used both internally for cancer of the gastro-intestinal tract and externally for skin cancer.

Althaea officinalis Marshmallow root heals internal cancers and soothes digestive tract and tissues

Aristolochia debilis  Birthwort and other species  are used in some countries but Care is advised in their use in cancer treatment

Artemisia capillaris  Yin Chen Hao and others of the wormwood family are used in cancer treatment in Europe and also China.

Astragalus membranaceus Astragalus Root – helps the immune system and generates anti-cancer cells in the body

Atropa Belladonna  Belladonna – used in homoeopathic medicine for cancer

Beta vulgaris Beetroot  – Beetroot Juice– is proven in Germany to cure ‘incurable’ cancer  patients and is claimed by Dr. Siegmund Schmidt, to reduce effects of radiation therapy.

The effective remedy employs the beet after excluding the section immediately below the juncture of the leaves.

Cactus grandi  syn Selenicereus grandiflorus  Night Blooming Cereus for prostate troubles and some early cancers

Calvatia giganteum  Giant Puffball mushroom produces calvacin a proven anti-tumour agent, effective against 14 types of cancer in animals.

Camellia sinensis  Green Tea  is high in antioxidants and inhibits some cancers

Camptocheca acuminata is a Chinese Tree proven effective against leukaemia. Experiments continuing.

Carica papaya  Pawpaw – latex of the green fruit for treatment of skin cancers in Ghana.Trials involving the leaves for internal use in cancer as well as for external application to tumours are promising.

However the fruit is an important food and valued for general nutrition as well as a cancer preventative.

Castanospermum australe – Morton Bay Chestnut from Australia used in HIV cases and under worldwide investigation and trials for cancer treatment. It is claimed that a constituent castanospermine in the seeds alters the surface of the virus and makes it non-infectious.

Catharanthus roseus Madagascar Periwinkle is now regularly used in the treatment of leukaemia

Ceanothus americana  New Jersey Tea is an old traditional North American herb used in skin cancer treatment

Cedrus libani  Cedar oil is used in treatment of cancer

Cephaelis ipecacuhana – Sth America, Brazil, claims some success with this plant

Chaga inonotus  Cancer and TB of bones

Chelidonium majus  Chelidonium, Greater Celandine as a cancer treatment and liver medicine helps improve condition – if used in conjunction with vitamins

Cistus ladanifer  gum is used in treating bronchitis and cancer

Cnicus benedictus  Holy Thistle is effective in cancer treatment

Conium  maculatum Henbane is valued in treatment of patients with terminal cancer pain

Cratageus cuneata Hawthorn sp. for ovarian cancer

Croton corymbulosus ,C. tiglium Croton of various species used in minimum dose for many diseases including its effect upon cancerous cells in Malaysia and S..E. Asia

Curcuma longa syn C. domestica  Tumeric  – the root is a valued food medicine and considered a powerful food in the prevention of cancer. It’s value as a high antioxidant  is considered by some to be equal or greater than vitamin E for this purpose.

Curcuma zedoaria  Zedoary for treatment of cervical Cancer

Cuscuta trifolii  Dodder and other species of the plant used in cancer treatment

Daucus carota Carrots – raw carrots and carrot juice some have claimed this alone as a cure.

This common food is highly valued.

 

Erythroxylum coca  Coca , Cocaine – used in advanced cancer pain

Euphorbia peplus Petty Spurge, Cancer Weed is used commonly in Australia as an external treatment for skin cancer

Glycyrrhiza glabra Liquorice Root is one of the most important herbs for prevention of cancer and for its treatment also  – considered by the Chinese along with ginseng and other herbs It offers a defence and – immunity

Hydrastis canadensis Golden Seal treats cancer of liver and digestive tract gastro-intestinal

Juniper virgiana has a proven to be a success in some types of cancer

Larrea divaricata  Chaparral is Nth American cure for cancer with high success rate –leaves and stems are used in a tea taken 3x daily.

Lycopersicon esculentum Tomato, Love Apple has earned its place as a valued tonic food to help prevent cancer . They contain nitrosamine blockers which are of value in diet (nitrosamine being capable of inducing cancer)

Panax ginseng Ginseng the pure extract is used in traditional Asian medicine

Petasites officinalis  Butterbur – Dr Vogel recommends it…. “Petasites is one of the best, if not the best of natural remedies, often giving better results than one hopes and expects in cases of tumours, especially those of suspected cancer or actual cancer.  If it is taken together with Viscum album, the reliable fresh plant extract from mistletoe, or in the form of a combination remedy made up of these two remedies, it is possible to experience satisfactory results even in cases where chemotherapy has no more to offer.”

  Petroselinum crispum Parsley is known to have high vitamin  B and potassium and contains an inhibiting substance in which tumour cells cannot survive and proliferate.

It helps in reducing free radicals and histamine.

Pfaffia paniculata, Brazilian Ginseng , Amazon Ginseng and Suma used in treatment of cancer. From the rainforests of the Matto Grosso region of Brazil. The root contains triterpene saponins, sterols, mineral including germanium. Its action enhances physical immunity and chronic infections.  The pfaffosides are chemically similar to the ginsenosides found in panax ginseng. It is proven to inhibit certain cancerous cells Dr. Milton Brazzach, Chairman of Pharmacology at University of Sao Paulo is said to use the wild roots as a regular cancer treatment.

Podophyllum peltatum Mandrake prescribed  and claimed to cure cancer – a traditional European remedy either as tincture or homoeopathic doses

 Polygonum multiflorum  Fo-ti is called Ho-shou-wu in China -f or longevity and treatment of tumours

Prunus ameniaca Apricot Kernels –eating 2-3 kernels each day was popularly taken as a cancer home cure but this has been rejected by the medical profession, along with the medicine Laetrile, on the basis of insufficient data

Ricinus communis Castor oil once given as a cottage remedy it is now found that the castor oil has a value in treating leukaemia and cancer, containing ricin, a toxic extract from the plant used in treating malignant cancer cells in bone marrow.  Ricin is extracted from the water soluble part of the castor oil seed. It is hoped that it will have wide application in the future for relieving cancer patients.  However, as a fresh seed it presents a dangerous poisonous plant to children

Salix nigra Slippery Elm Powder anti inflammatory – a soothing remedy used for cancer of the digestive tract.

Solanum nigrum Garden Nightshade, Black Nightshade leaves used in treatment of cancer in the form of an ointment. The unripe berry contains poisonous soloanine. Sedative aerial parts of plant have paralysing effect on nerve ends and used in painkilling ointments. Solanum lyratum shows strong inhibiting action on cancer cells without affecting normal cells.The genus is under continuing research.

Symphytum officinale  Comfrey  – external and internal for cancer relieves pain of stomach and intestinal cancer – soothes and heals tissues.

Both the root and leaves are valued medicinally with the leaves having additional value as a food when carefully prepared and eaten raw in salads or cooked in batter.

Tabebuia avellandedae, T. impetiginosa  Lapacho or Pau d’arco from Sth America and Brazil is a proven cancer remedy including leukaemia. It contains quercetin, xloidone and other flavonoids and napthaquinones. Known in Sth America as “the divine tree” It stimulates red blood cells in bone marrow and is usually administered together with yerba mate tea which contains iron. Animal research in the U.S discovered that lapachol inhibited solid tumours and also cell tumours but its potential toxicity caused a halt to experiments. Lapacho ingested orally is more effective than injected. Use of the wood of the plant in research shows 84% inhibition observed on Yoshida’s sarcoma and with no toxicity. Lapacho reduces pain with cancer of prostate, liver or breast in particular – also reduces arthritic pain.

Taxus brevifolia Yew Tree , Pacific Yew Tree – taxol is acclaimed as a new and successful cancer drug derived from this tree.

 Tylophora asmatica an Indian plant species has an alkaloid which has been shown to shrink cancerous tumours in rats. Research at Wollongong University College, isolated alkaloids from the Australian species T. crebriflora that show significant anti-cancer activity .

Ulmus fulva Slippery Elm Powder is an anti inflammatory , soothing remedy used for cancer of the digestive tract.

Uncaria tormentosa  Cat’s Claw, Una de Gato–the stem bark of this climbing vine contains alkaloids to treat serious illness including cancer.

Vinca major Greater Periwinkle from Europe produces vinblastine sulphate good for lung cancer.

Viola odorata Violet leaves are traditionally included in cancer cures. Leaves are made into a     tisane and used for external bathing and as internal tonic.

Violet is an ancient remedy for pain as well as to cure tumours. A few leaves in salads taken regularly in the diet provides a deterrent to cancer.

Viscum album  Mistletoe – This is a world wide indigenous cancer medicine is a specific traditional remedy for cancer. It is a traditional European remedy either as extract or homoeopathic doses stimulates cell metabolism. It is also good for arthritis and as a tincture, prescribed for epilepsy, migraine, high blood pressure, neuralgia and cancer. It is also an American Indian remedy for the same symptoms.

Vitis vinifera  Grape juice – fresh, is a fine tonic to treat or to avoid cancer. A grape cure – eating only grapes for some days is claimed by some to be effective but the juice and fasting is best.

Zingiber officinalis  Ginger is said to cure cancer.

Regarding Self-Help use of herbal medicines

Although many cottage remedies and traditional medicines are safe as medicines in their natural or whole state there is still a need for caution with the use of the strongly medicinal plants.

All these medicinal herbs and plants are potentially toxic as they contain the alkaloids that are extracted in drug manufacture. Only those that are classified as foods should be taken with safety without professional advice.

Tags: cancer remedies, phytotherapy, plant medicines, traditional natural medicines

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