In most diseases of a chronic nature the treatment is more about management than cure. People can go on and live a very active and high quality life without having been cured. In contrast, with cancer, medically everything possible is done: we operate, we radiate, and we give chemotherapy -- to eradicate cancer. I think that this approach needs to be re-evaluated. We should approach cancer as a chronic disease since the approach of total eradication may carry with it the potential for more harm than the disease itself.
For every person whose life is saved by the "kill every last cancer cell" approach, how many people must forfeit the viable option of building up his or her natural cancer defenses, so that the cancer can be kept under control? Upon autopsy some patients are found to have cancer yet they have died of other diseases and the deceased had no idea that they had cancer.
Cancer has become more prevalent than ever before. It is now the second leading cause of death. The overall incidence of cancer is 44% greater today than it was 40 years ago and overall mortality is 3% higher. [1] There are significant rises in deaths from breast, skin, bowel and prostate cancer. It is estimated that 25% of people die from cancer and 45% die from cardiovascular disease. Based on the latest data (USA) 42% of all males and 39% of all females are expected to develop cancer at some time in their lives.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Cancer of the lung is the most common cause of cancer death, followed by large bowel, breast, and then stomach/pancreas. Medical treatment often has poor success due to treating the tumor but ignoring the whole system.
My number one concern is how to control cancer without weakening the host. This article will therefore concentrate on the herbal management of the cancer patient. My treatment approach would also involve dietary and nutritional advice and nutritional supplements, advice on support groups, stress reduction and the benefits of meditation.
I present a case history of a patient with glioblastoma (brain tumor) but the treatment model that I am proposing can be adapted for any type of cancer, be it breast, leukemia, bowel etc. I believe that there are certain fundamental principles that we need to adopt in treating the cancer patient and that adopting these can help the patient's body return to a state of health.
The aggressive approach to cancer from conventional sources can be complemented with well-prescribed herbal therapies. On the one hand there is an approach seeking to kill and destroy all cancer cells and on the other hand we have the approach of encouraging the body's own defense system to fight for itself.
Use of herbal therapy as an adjunct to surgical resection
Surgical intervention is certainly the most effective treatment of cancer if resection is indicated, but only a small percentage of cancer patients can benefit from surgery. In many cases, spread of the tumor with metastasis renders radical resection impossible. Even when the tumor has been totally removed at the early stage, there is still danger of recurrence. This makes sense from the traditional herbalist point of view, which holds that cancer is not only a local lesion but that lowered body resistance is the primary cause.
Supporting the patient along the lines suggested below help a great deal when dealing with surgery. The main herbal therapeutic actions are boosting vitality, immune support, liver support and reducing inflammation.
In this context, herbal medication can reduce toxic and side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Moreover, I believe it can also increase sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Panax ginseng, Withania, Astragalus and Siberian ginseng are all helpful in this area.
How does herbal medicine treat cancer?
Herbs represent the healing forces of nature. In the frenzied race to identify the right mineral or the right supplement to cure cancer, we often forget about the power of the natural plant or the whole food. There are, I believe, eight major considerations in treating a cancer patient. Obviously there needs to be a judicious selection from these herbs based on the individual case (as I have illustrated in the case history provided).
1. Strengthen body resistance and enhance vitality
This consideration recognizes that a patient can live with cancer as opposed to dying with cancer.
Panax ginseng (Panax)
Ginseng is used during convalescence to strengthen the body's resistance. Ginseng strengthens digestion and increases the function of the adrenal cortex. It increases ACTH and thereby increases cortisol production. In the alarm stage of stress the adrenal cortex response is facilitated. In the exhaustion phase there is a sparing effect on the gland. The vitamin C content and the weight of the gland are better preserved. Ginseng decreases the side effects of many toxic drugs including cancer drugs. [2] Ginseng may assist cellular differentiation.
Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng)
Siberian ginseng is an ideal herbal adaptogen. An adaptogen is a substance that can facilitate a nonspecific increase in the resistance of an organism to noxious influences including physical, chemical and biological stressors. [3] It also doubles the lifetime of rats exposed to prolonged radiation. [4, 5] When given to cancer patients it minimized the side effects from radiation, chemotherapy and surgery, and improved healing and wellbeing. [5] Survival time in patients with terminal disease was lengthened. [5] While Siberian ginseng has no direct cytotoxic effect, it has been shown to stimulate the immunological reactivity of humans with cancer. [6]
Astragalus membranaceus (Astragalus)
Traditionally used in Chinese Herbal Medicine as a tonic for building both vitality and blood. Astragalus helps stop debilitating sweating, promotes organ regeneration and is used for organ prolapse. Astragalus is beneficial in treating recurring colds, shortness of breath and chronic sinusitis. It tonifies the lungs, expels toxins and removes pus, and is good for deficient chronic ulcerations. The key-note for its use is chronic debility and immune depression. It is a warming herb so is well indicated wherever there are cold signs; such as sensitivity to cold, cold extremities, or white tongue moss. It is a major herb for the treatment of fatigue.
Patients with small cell lung cancer undergoing conventional treatment were treated with Panax ginseng leaf and Astragalus. The combined treatment was considered very successful with some patients gaining 3 to 17 years in survival. [7] Astragalus has demonstrated a wide range of immunopotentiating effects and has proven efficacious as an adjunct cancer therapy. [8]
Withania somnifera (Withania)
Withania is an herb indigenous to India used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine as a general tonic and in the treatment of various nervous disorders. Withania is an adaptogenic herb with a nervine sedative action.
In the Withania group adrenal weight increase was reduced, ascorbic acid loss was reduced, and Withania also prevented the reduction of the cortisol content of the adrenal glands. [9]
Oral administration of Withania to mice who were also being given urethane reduced the frequency and size of tumors. Mice receiving only the urethane had lung adenomas induced in 100% of animals, compared to 25% for Withania and urethane. Withania also reduced both the loss of body weight, and the increased mortality caused by the urethane. [10]
In one study to look at the effects of Withania and Panax ginseng on the dopaminergic (DA) system during stress, it was found that the DA system was significantly increased by stress and this increase was prevented by administration of either Withania or Panax. [11] Withania was devoid of any toxic effect even after 8 months of continuous administration.
2. Immune-enhancing therapy
Echinacea angustifolia/purpurea (Echinacea)
Echinacea is an immunostimulant, enhancing resistance to both viral and bacterial infections. It is also well-suited to the treatment of all chronic immune disorders.
Astragalus membranaceus (Astragalus)
Previously discussed.
Withania somnifera (Withania)
Withania has been shown to have immunostimulating properties. [12]
Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng)
Siberian ginseng is an herb well-indicated for chronic immune dysfunction.
Sheep sorrel formula (Essiac)
Anecdotal.
Uncaria tomentosa (Cat's claw)
Cat's claw, know as Una de gato in Spanish, is a woody vine said to have been used for centuries to help heal a vast assortment of ailments. One of twelve species of cat's claw native to Peru. Proponents claim that the herb has helped people to overcome numerous conditions, from arthritis and allergies to candidiasis and a weakened immune system.
Tabebuia avellanedae (Pau d'Arco)
