Herbs Anti-Cancer Supplements

While all of the following supplements for cancer are generally very safe to take and contraindicated only in a few situations, all supplements and medications can interact with other supplements and medications, and either potentiate or decrease their effects. In rare cases, they can also cause harm to the body, so it’s best to consult with your doctor before taking them. It is beyond the scope of this book to list every type of potential interaction, so you may also want to do a supplement search on WebMD, which lists all supplements and their potential side effects and drug interactions, to make sure that the cancer fighting herbs and supplements that you are taking are safe and appropriate for you.

#1. CoQ10

Cancer results from oxidative damage to cells, which is caused by “free radical species,” or unstable molecules that damage cells. Many of us have huge amounts of free radicals in our bodies, due to environmental toxins, a poor diet and inflammation. CoQ10 is a potent intracellular antioxidant that quenches free radicals, making it a great supplement for cancer. It also enhances the activity of macrophages, one of your body’s key immune cells that “gobbles up” and digests cellular debris, foreign substances, microbes, and cancer cells in a process called phagocytosis. CoQ10 increases the proliferation of granulocytes, another type of immune cell involved in healing.

CO-Q10 is generally safe for most people to take as an anti-cancer supplement. Some researchers are concerned that it might lower the effectiveness of some chemotherapy drugs, so you’ll want to consult with your doctor if you are on a chemotherapy regimen. It may also be contraindicated in a few other situations or conditions. See WebMD.com for more information, and the Resources section for CO-Q10 product and dosage recommendations.

#2. Quercetin

Quercetin is a potent antioxidant and immune system modulator famous for its ability to modulate a gene signal called NF-kappaB, which is crucial for helping your body to manage stress and inflammation. As a cancer fighting supplement, it has also been shown in many studies to encourage cancer cell self-destruction, inhibit tumor growth, and reduce cancer’s resistance to chemotherapy. Some types of cancer that have been proven in studies to be affected by quercetin include: breast, esophageal, colorectal, hepatocellular (liver) carcinoma, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate cancers.

Quercetin also chelates, or removes, “transition” heavy metals from the body. These are heavy metals that may have just entered the body and which have not yet found a home deep within the tissues.

One of the quercetin products that we recommend to our patients and which you may want to try is called Bio-FCTS™ from Biotics Research. This product, which is made from buckwheat, also contains other anti-cancer herbs and substances, such as green tea extract, bioflavonoids and thymus and spleen extracts, all of which boost the immune system. See the Resources section for information about where to obtain this and other quercetin products. Typical dosages of oral quercetin have been found to be safe, but there have been a few reports of kidney damage when it is given via IV, although such reports are rare. See WebMD for other possible contraindications and side effects.

#3. Melatonin

Melatonin is yet another powerful antioxidant which is naturally secreted by the pineal gland in your brain at night while you sleep. Many of us don’t produce enough melatonin, due to the prevalence of electromagnetic fields in our environment (EMFs) and excessive artificial light exposure at night, among other reasons. Taking supplemental melatonin can help you to sleep better, but it is also a powerful anti-cancer supplement.

Melatonin has been shown in many studies on supplements and herbs for cancer to have cytotoxic effects upon different types of cancer, including some liver, breast, prostate, lung, and brain cancers. The result of a combined analysis of ten research studies on melatonin published in the Journal of Pineal Research, demonstrated that melatonin is able to lower the risk of many types of cancer by up to 34%. The lead researcher concluded, “The substantial reduction in risk of death, low adverse events reported and low costs related to this intervention suggest great potential for melatonin in treating cancer.”

We recommend dosages of 3-20 mg of melatonin to our patients, depending on their needs and the other cancer fighting vitamins and herbs they are taking. Lower amounts, such as 1-3 mg, are usually sufficient for improved sleep, while higher doses—anywhere from 10-20 mg—are needed to treat cancer. If you just want to prevent cancer or get better rest at night, taking 1-3 mg is usually sufficient. To find whether it’s an appropriate cancer treatment for your particular type of cancer, you’ll want your doctor to order an RGCC test. If so, he or she can then determine how much you need for that purpose. See the Resources section for product recommendations and further information about dosing guidelines.

Melatonin has been proven to be very safe when it is taken according to established guidelines, and is a very beneficial supplement for most people, whether they are taking it as an anti-cancer supplement or not. However, it may be occasionally contraindicated in a few situations. See WebMD.com for more information.

#4. Artemisinin (Wormwood)

Artemisinin is an herb that comes from a plant called Artemisia, or wormwood. This anti-cancer herb has been widely studied, especially in recent years, for its anti-cancer effects. It disables cancer cells by reacting with the iron inside of them that helps them to grow, and by triggering free radical production. The free radicals destroy the cancer cell membrane, and with that, the cancer cell. Artemisinin also oxygenates the body.

Lab studies have shown artemisinin to have anti-cancer effects upon 55 different types of cancer cells, ranging from leukemia, to colon, lung and breast cancer cells, and fibrosarcomas (cancers derived from fibrous connective tissue). As one of the best cancer fighting herbs, it has also been proven to kill cancers that have traditionally been resistant to chemotherapy. See the Resources section for product recommendations and typical dosages.

Artemisinin is a very safe herb for cancer but, as with all of the supplements in this section, it should be taken only if your doctor and test results indicate that you need it. The side effects and contraindications of artemisinin are generally few. If you have a history of liver disease, you should consult with your doctor before using it, as there have been a few reports of liver problems among those who have used artemisinin, especially at higher dosages.

#5. Garlic

Garlic is a delicious anti-cancer food. It is also a powerful medicinal supplement for cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, studies suggest that consuming garlic may reduce the risk of developing many kinds of cancers, especially gastrointestinal cancers, such as stomach and colon cancers, but also esophageal, pancreatic and breast cancers.

Like all of the other supplements described in this article, garlic is toxic to cancer cells, but is a great addition to any anti-cancer herbal protocol because it also strengthens the immune system. People who eat garlic have increased natural killer (NK) cell counts, which is one of the body’s front-line immune cells involved in fighting cancer. Garlic also helps your liver to detoxify and remove cancer-causing compounds, and stimulates the production of glutathione, one of your body’s most important antioxidants. A meta-analysis of combined studies on the effects of garlic on gastric cancers, published in January, 2015 revealed that consuming any amount of garlic helps to prevent all kinds of gastric cancers, although the more you take, the greater the effects

So enjoy lots of garlic in your food, and if testing indicates, use higher amounts in supplement form as part of your anti-cancer vitamin, herb and supplement treatment regimen. Garlic is a wonderful food, and when taken in supplement form, is also safe when taken according to product guidelines. Since garlic lowers blood pressure, higher doses may be contraindicated in people with low blood pressure. See WebMD.com for further information on side effects and potential contraindications.

#6. Green Tea Extract (EGCG)

Green tea contains chemicals called polyphenols, which have potent anti-cancer herbal properties. The most famous of these is called EGCG, which is a powerful free radical scavenger and anti-inflammatory agent that protects cells from DNA damage that can lead to cancer. But it also directly induces apoptosis, or cancer cell self-destruction, and stops tumor blood vessel development. EGCG’s antioxidant effects are considered by some researchers to be more powerful than those of either Vitamins E or C.

EGCG rarely causes side effects, although there have been occasional reports of indigestion and nausea with it, and rarely, liver problems, especially when it is given in higher doses. Again, see WebMD for more information on the side effects and contraindications of EGCG. Along with many of the supplements and herbs for cancer listed here, you can purchase green tea extract over the counter. See the Resources section for product recommendations.

#7. Indole-3-Carbinol

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is a chemical that is found in cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and kale. As a cancer fighting supplement, it partially blocks the effects of chemicals that have xenoestrogenic effects upon the body, which can increase your risk for some types of cancers, especially reproductive cancers such as those of the breast, uterus, cervix and prostate.

You can do hormone testing to determine whether excess estrogen or xenoestrogens are playing a role in your disease or putting you at a greater risk of contracting certain types of cancer. The Estronex Profile is one test that does this, by measuring how well your body metabolizes and eliminates estrogens. If you find that you have too many “bad estrogens” in your body, you can reduce their impact by increasing your intake of vegetables that contain I3C, or by taking an over-the-counter I3C supplement, which you can get at your local health food store along with other anti-cancer herbs and vitamins. I3C is a very safe supplement for cancer that causes no side effects. If you take any medications that are broken down in the liver, indole-3-carbinol may increase their breakdown rate and decrease their effectiveness, so you may want to consult with your doctor before taking it, if you also take medications.

#8. Curcumin

Curcumin is a powerful anti-inflammatory chemical that comes from the popular Asian spice turmeric, which has a number of anti-cancer properties, making it a powerful cancer fighting herb.

At the Center, we do IV curcumin treatments, and recommend oral curcumin for our out of town patients. Most people can safely take high amounts of oral curcumin for cancer prevention along with other cancer fighting herbs and vitamins, but if you or your doctor wish to incorporate it into your treatment plan, it’s best to get tested to find out what dosage would be best for you.

Curcumin isn’t contraindicated in most health conditions or situations and can be safely taken with most other anti-cancer supplements and medications. Rarely, allergic reactions may occur. If you are allergic to plants in the ginger family, or yellow food coloring, which often contains curcumin, you may want to consult with your doctor before taking it.

organic-curcumin-supplement-neurogenesisWhere to Get It:

Organic Curcumin with Piperine 

Ultra-high quality, high-potency organic Turmeric (Curcumin) extract combined with black pepper for increased absorption and bioavailability. Free from preservatives, artificial colorings, soy or stearates.

 

#9. Essiac Tea

In 1922, a Canadian nurse named Rene Caisse from Ontario, Canada, learned that one of her patients had recovered from breast cancer by taking an Indian herbal tea from an Ojibwa medicine man. She apparently then used the recipe to treat her aunt’s stomach cancer and found it to be so successful that she opened a clinic and treated thousands of patients with injections and tea preparations created from the anti-cancer herbs. She named the combination of the herbs Essiac, which is her last name spelled backward.

Essiac is most commonly taken as a tea or in capsules and consists of four main cancer fighting herbs; burdock root, slippery elm inner bark, sheep sorrel and Indian rhubarb root, all of which have cytotoxic, or cancer-killing properties. Essiac also improves immune system function, relieves pain, restores energy, detoxifies the body, increases appetite, reduces inflammation and eliminates excess mucus in the organs—among other things.

Essiac tea has been reported in the media to be a controversial treatment but we have found that many of our patients respond well to it, and it shows up often on our patients’ RGCC test results as an effective anti-cancer herbal agent.

You can purchase Essiac as a tea or in supplement form, for both cancer prevention and treatment purposes. However, not all brands of Essiac products are created equal, and some may be downright ineffective, so if you decide to try Essiac, purchase the tea or capsules through a reputable company like Essiac Products (see where to get it/product recommendation below), which uses the original formula created by Renee Caisse in their products.

Essiac tea and supplements are generally very safe when taken according to product guidelines. Though this cancer fighting herb may be contraindicated in a few health conditions, such as kidney disease and colitis, or if you have a bowel obstruction or diarrhea. You may also want to consult with your doctor before taking Essiac if you are diabetic or on blood thinning medication. See WebMD.com for further information on potential contraindications and side effects.

#16. Medicinal Mushrooms

Medicinal mushrooms are used worldwide to treat cancer and enhance immune system function. Shiitake, maitake, ganoderma, reishi and cordyceps are a few of the most widely used mushrooms. They have been used for millennia in parts of Asia, and we also use them as part of some of our patients’ anti-cancer herbs and supplements regimens. Mushrooms have immune-modulating, anti-cancer, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and liver protective properties.

It is beyond the scope of this book to describe the anti-cancer benefits of all the different types of mushrooms that are out there, but one great combination mushroom product that I recommend to our patients is called Host Defense® My Community Capsules™.  This product contains 17 powerful mushroom species that have anti-cancer effects and which promote immune system health. It is a great addition to any anti-cancer protocol or cancer prevention regimen utilizing cancer fighting supplements. Other well-researched and quality mushroom products include those created by Dr. Tsu-Tsair Chi, a PhD biochemist and doctor whose formulas are used by many thousands of doctors worldwide. For more information on these and other recommended mushroom products, see the Resources section. Because there are such a wide variety of mushrooms on the market, each with its own unique anti-cancer benefits, it’s best to consult with your doctor and test to determine which of these might be best for your unique situation, and in what dosages.

Other Cytotoxic Nutrients

Other natural supplements and herbs for cancer that are effective for treating many cancers and which are well researched for their anti-cancer benefits, include, but are not limited to:

17. Aloe vera

18. Amygdalin

19. Cat’s claw

20. Low-dose Naltrexone

21. Lycopene

22. Mistletoe

23. Modified citrus pectin

24. Poly MVA

25. Rerio (Guna)

26. Resveratrol

27. Salicinium

28. Salvesterol

29. Thymex

30. Tocotrienols and Vitamin E

31. Vacu-Statin

Ask your doctor to order an RGCC test, or do a bio-energetic test (see Chapter 2 of my book) to find out whether some or any of these vitamins and herbs for cancer would be beneficial for treating the particular type of cancer that you have.

Read more: Best of Herbs for Cancer Treatment