Therapies promoted as literal alternatives to conventional cancer treatments should be viewed with caution. Lifestyle changes and other complementary therapies may provide adjunctive approaches to healing, symptom control and enhanced quality of life. Alternative therapies may improve physiological and psychosocial well-being by giving individuals more control and responsibility for self-care. Decisions about cancer treatments are personal and typically involve many factors. A multi-faceted approach to life-changing illness is frequently what works for patients and families.
Wheat Grass
A tertiary cancer center in India studied the effects of wheat grass juice on 400 cancer patients who were receiving palliative care. The study, published in a June 2006 supplement to the "Journal of Clinical Oncology," stated that wheat grass is a complete protein containing live enzymes, vitamins and minerals. The goal of the study was to see if wheat grass improved quality of life in the terminally ill patients. Study subjects were between the ages of 22 and 87. Cancers represented included lung, breast, esophageal, colon, ovarian, liver and stomach. Researchers saw improved blood work, including hemoglobin, serum proteins and albumin and patients tested higher in strength and energy levels after one ounce of fresh wheat grass juice was given daily for six months. The study concluded that wheat grass juice provided an alternative to blood transfusion in cancer treatment and that its use should be encouraged.
Raw Vegan Diet
Enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber present in high amounts in raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and sprouts are considered to be potent cancer-fighters. Proponents of this diet avoid cooked grains and foods from animal sources. Columbia University researchers evaluated the ability of people to adhere to a diet of uncooked plant foods and tried to identify predictors of compliance. Study participants were polled upon arrival at a raw vegan facility and 51 subjects completed a follow-up interview 12 weeks later. The subjects included 23 men and had an average age of 54. Sixteen percent of participants were already eating a diet of 80 percent raw plant foods at baseline. Adherence to the diet increased after a stay at the facility and some predictors of adherence were higher education level, severity of disease and self-confidence. The study, published in the February 2008 issue of "Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice," concluded that self-confidence was a predictor that might be influenced to improve adherence to a raw vegan diet.
Curcumin
A derivative of the spice tumeric, curcumin is a commonly used and highly researched natural phytochemical. It seems to inhibit tumor growth and the proliferation of cancer cells. Effects may be limited by poor absorption and the difficulty of achieving adequate concentrations to fight systemic malignancies; however, preliminary studies show promise for curcumin in the treatment of multiple myeloma, pancreatic and colon cancers. A review of studies, published in the January-February 2003 issue of "Anticancer Research," states that human trials have shown curcumin to be safe and non-toxic at doses of up to 10g per day.
References
- "Journal of Clinical Oncology"; Effect of Wheat Grass Juice in Supportive Care of Terminally Ill Cancer Patients--- A Tertiary Cancer Centre Experience From India; Dey S., et. al.; June 20, 2006
- "Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice"; Factors affecting Adherence to a Raw Vegan Diet; Link LB, et. al.; February 2008
- "Anticancer Research"; Anticancer Potential of Curcumin: Preclinical and Clinical Studies; Aggarwal BB, et. al.; Jan-Feb 2003
