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.
RELATED: 5 Herbs To Help Relieve Multiple Myeloma Symptoms
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.
Although some herbs 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.