Commonly used herbs in cancer treatment 

Some of the commonly used herbs in cancer treatment are

• Garlic: It is a potent herb with anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-parasitical and anti-fungal properties. Eating 8-10 cloves of garlic per day is said t be anti-cancerous as well.
• Parsley: It has apigenin which prevents angiogenesis and ultimately stifles the cancer cells.
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  Chapparal: Found in the deserts of Mojave, it is a potent anti-cancer herb. It is very effective in flushing out toxins from the liver and is a powerful liver stimulant.
• Red clover: The purple blossoms of red clover have isoflavones called ‘genistein’ and ‘daidzein’ which have strong anti cancer properties, especially against hormone dependant cancers like breast and prostate cancer. It prevents angiogenesis or development of blood vessels which nourish the tumor. It also has antioxidants like vitamin E and tocopherol. It can be used in tea, tincture or poultice form.
  
• Echinacea: It is a powerful herb with a potent immune-boosting effect. It is recommended for a minimum of six months.
• Green tea: Basically found in China, green tea has powerful antioxidants called ‘polyphenols’, a type of bioflavonoids. It also contains carotenoids, proanthocyanidins and theanine. It is particularly useful in cancers of breast, stomach, liver, skin, lung, intestines and colon.
• Oldenlandia: It is an herb commonly found in China. It is said to stop tumor growth and is particularly effective against colon, stomach and esophageal cancers. It is taken in tea, as a pill or as a tincture.
• Cleavers: It is basically used for cancers that have metastasized to the lymph nodes as it is very effective in reducing the tumors and shrinking the lymphatic drainage. It can be added to the soups in raw form or be consumed as a tonic.
• Graviola: Found in the forests of Amazon, it is used to eliminate cancer cells in lung, pancreatic, breast, prostate and colon cancers. It also possesses strong immune boosting properties and improves the body’s defense mechanisms.
• Essiac: Made as a concoction of burdock root, slippery elm, sheep sorrel and Indian rhubarb, it has long been used in Canada as an anti- cancer treatment because of its antioxidant property and its ability to inhibit the growth of tumor cells.
• Poke root: It is a very strong anti-cancer herb and is used to burn away external tumors like breast cancer. Preparations of poke root are also taken to eliminate the toxins out of the lymphatic system. It is used for its detoxifying properties.
• Extract of sapium sebiferum: The milky extract of the herb is applied externally on cancerous lesions to melt them away.
• Artemisia annua: Mainly used in the treatment of breast cancer, it is highly specific against the cancer cells.
• Root of tragia involucrata: It is basically used to combat the severe pain associated with cancer.
• Mistletoe: It consists of two groups of toxins- a) viscotoxins, which kill the tumor cells by their cytolytic action, and b) lectins, which prevent the further growth of the tumor cells by their cytostatic action.
  
• Rosemary: It contains terpenes fatty acids which inhibit the formation of new tumor cells.
• Turmeric: A daily consumption of ½ teaspoon of turmeric is said to prevent mutations in the cellular DNA, thus preventing the formation of cancerous cells.
• Thyme: It is said to be particularly effective against oral cancers.
• Barley green: It is not only effective against the existing cancer but is also beneficial in protecting the body against the growth of any new tumor. It exerts its antioxidant properties because of vitamin A and C, iron, folic acid and chlorophyll that it contains.

Herb treatment against cancer employed by the Chinese is also garnering much interest these days. It is based on the principle of “Fu Zheng Gu Ben” where “Fu Zheng” means strengthening what is correct and “Gu Ben” means regeneration and repair. Herbs are used to attack the accumulated cancer cells, to boost the immune system of the body and to remove the cause of the cancer from the body. Commonly used Chinese herbs in the treatment of cancer include Dong ling cao, Yi yi ren, Tu fu ling, Ling zhi and Ren shen.

Herb treatment is an effective means of treatment against cancer as it does not produce the harmful side effects of the conventional medicines besides being easy on the pockets. However, before starting with this form of treatment, it is always a good idea to discuss it with the primary physician as some of the herbs may interfere with the other medicines.