Thursday, April 06, 2006

Chinese Herbs in Cancer Treatment

The importance of Chinese herbs in the cancer fight is multifactorial. Chinese Herbs can help build qi and blood as is the case with herbs used to cook with.

Certain herbs such as Reishi Mushroom and Astragalus have immunomodulating and antioxidant properties. Others can help treat side effects and promote healing. Still others have strong antitumor properties in their own right. One of the most intersting that is Bai Hua She She Cao - Oldenlandia. This herb I have seen have a strong chemotherapeutic action, but is not toxic to the organs, even at high dosages. It does however cause white blood cell counts to drop. This herb and most all Chinese herbs are used in combinations and formulas tailored to the needs of the individual and the disease. It is not wise to start taking oldenlandia unless you know what you are doing.

See research on Oldenalndia.
Oldenlandia diffusa extract effectively inhibited the growth of all the eight cancer cell lines and induced significant increase of apoptosis. The extract exhibited minimum toxic effect on normal pancreatic cells. Furthermore, there was a significant inhibition of lung metastases in the animal model with no noticeable adverse effects. The herb extract could be a potential anticancer agent.
I must reniforce, using herbs or coming to see me is not a substitute for standard medical supervision, especially with a cancer diagnosis. When a person decides to use alternative medicine, tell your doctor. Some herbs may interact with other treatment agents. We are all looking for the safest, best way to treat. Keping everyone informed is just smart.

I must also emphasize, the most effective treatment for many cancers begins with early detection and surgical removal of the tumor if possible, not seeing if herbs and nutrients can impact what could be a life-threatening situation.