Natural cures for cancer can be useful supplements to traditional methods
Natural cures for cancer such as acupuncture and massage can be useful supplements to traditional methods of treating cancer. But “cure” solutions that claim to eliminate the disease naturally have not been proven to work and can be dangerous for cancer patients.
The Internet is awash with cancer “magic bullets” and so-called foolproof prevention methods, and well-meaning people may urge cancer patients to try them out in the hope of eliminating their disease. Some patients worry that traditional treatments are ineffective or will have significant side effects, so seeking a treatment whose effectiveness is not supported by scientific evidence may even prove dangerous. In a time of uncertainty and anxiety, any hope of a cure – even without medical proof – is understandably tempting.
“Patients want something ‘natural’ to treat their cancer or prevent their cancer from coming back,” said K., a Memorial Sloan-Kettering pharmacist and herbalist. . Yang. “But the people promoting these therapies may not necessarily have a medical or oncology background.” In addition, patients who try these therapies may find that by the time they return to seek mainstream treatment, it is too late and their cancer has spread.”
Dr. Yang is the manager of the About Herbs Database, which is created and maintained by MSK’s Integrated Medicine Services. The service offers complementary therapies such as acupuncture, music therapy and massage that are used in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, mainstream cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
Here, Dr. Young explains the hype and scientific evidence surrounding three widely publicized but unproven therapies: cannabis oil, lysine, and the ph-regulated (also known as alkaline) diet.
Cannabis oil is often touted as a treatment to destroy or shrink cancerous tumors, as well as a cure for diabetes, ulcers, arthritis, migraines, insomnia, infections, and many other ailments. Also known as cannabis oil or cannabis oil, it is derived from the cannabis plant and typically contains a higher percentage of CBD (cannabidiol) compounds, which are less psychoactive than the more famous tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) compounds that give cannabis users a high.
