Dietary supplements
Nutrients, herbs, and other supplements can be powerful medicine.
While eating a wholesome, varied
diet is crucial to fighting cancer, it’s
hard to get all the nutrients your body
needs through diet alone — especially
during treatment. Certain herbs and
nutritional supplements can help
provide what you’re missing. Some
substances go even further, easing side
effects, reinforcing your conventional
treatment, and slowing cancer on a
cellular level. For example, herbs like
rosemary and garlic help your body
process and eliminate toxins, making
your body a less cancer-friendly environment.
And foods and supplements
with antioxidants seek out and destroy
free radicals, which are naturally
occurring substances that damage
healthy cells and leave them
vulnerable to cancer.
Sophisticated medicine
Many people assume
that because dietary
supplements are
natural, they are
by definition safe
as well. That’s not
always the case.
While some
nutritional supplements
may enhance
the effects of specific
treatments,
others can interfere
with conventional
therapies or even be
dangerous if taken
incorrectly or in
certain combinations.
And because
dietary supplements
are not regulated
as stringently as
pharmaceuticals,
their side effects
and interactions
may be more difficult
to predict.
That’s why it’s extremely important
to talk to your doctor and to work
with a licensed naturopathic physician
or dietitian before embarking on
any supplementation program. While
some oncologists may try to discourage
you from using supplements, it’s
still important to explain that you’re
interested in how they may help you.
If your doctor is dismissive or tells
you that you should avoid supplements
altogether, then you may want
to find a comprehensive or integrative
care facility that is willing to work
with you to design a supplementation
program that will support your
conventional treatment.
The naturopath’s pharmacy
The following supplements are gaining
recognition as particularly potent cancer
fighters. They should only be taken as part
of a comprehensive treatment plan, under
the supervision of a licensed practitioner.
Multiple vitamin supplements fortify your immune system
and support key physiological
and biochemical functions
when your system is taxed.
Melatonin is a hormone produced naturally by
the brain. Taken as a supplement, it is believed
to improve the quality of sleep and strengthen
the immune system. In some studies, it has
been shown to slow the spread of certain
types of cancer cells and to reduce side effects
of chemotherapy. Commercially available
melatonin is usually synthetically produced.
Fish oil supplements, rich
in omega-3 fatty acids,
can help prevent weight
loss, strengthen the immune
system, and have been shown to enhance
the effectiveness of some chemotherapy drugs.
Green tea is
a highly concentrated
source of
antioxidants, and is
widely regarded as
a powerful element in
both preventing and fighting the
spread of many types of cancer.
Whey protein contains all the
essential and nonessential amino
acids, including glutamine, which
fuels white blood cells, prevents
many ulcers that may result from
chemotherapy, improves energy
levels and immune system function,
and helps fight infections.
Whey protein can also help speed
recovery and weight gain after
conventional therapy.
Mushrooms such as
maitake and cloud
fungus mushrooms
contain immune
enhancers that are
widely used in Japan
and China to treat cancer.
Mushroom extracts can also be
used alongside conventional
treatments to increase their
effectiveness while decreasing
side effects.
Bioflavonoids, including Curcumin
and Quercetin, are powerful antioxidants
found in fruit and other
plant pigments that bolster the
immune system and have powerful
anti-cancer properties. They can also
work to enhance the effectiveness of
chemotherapy and radiation, while
protecting healthy cells from damage
during treatment.
Immune modulators, such
as IP-6 and polyerga,
stimulate the blood cells
and strengthen the body’s
natural immune system.
IP6 is found in whole
grains and legumes,
while polyerga is derived
from the pig spleen.
Modified citrus pectin,
extracted from the peel
and pulp of citrus fruits,
may prevent some types
of cancer from spreading.