Fighting breast cancer may mean taking potent drugs that leave you ill; if you’re looking for natural alternatives or options to supplement treatment, herbs may offer many benefits. Speak to your physician before adding any herb to your diet for the purposes of breast cancer prevention or therapy and take them only as directed.
Black Cohosh
Black cohosh, a perennial herb also known as bugwort and rattleweed, may offer several benefits for breast cancer. Early research published in the November-December 1999 issue of “Oncology Reports” notes that black cohosh imparts estrogenic effects on breast cancer cells in laboratory testing, which means that it may help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. Evidence in the February 2004 edition of the “Breast Cancer Research and Treatment” bears this out. Additionally, some breast cancer patients take black cohosh as a way of warding off hot flashes caused by some treatments for breast cancer. Research is not conclusive, however, as to the effectiveness of this herb for any purposes relating to breast cancer. A review of six studies in the July 2008 “Pharmacological Research” indicates that more research with standardized black cohosh preparation is needed to determine its usefulness.
Turmeric
Many people know turmeric as a yellow herbal spice used in curry dishes; it also finds use as a food coloring agent for butter, cheese and other foods. The American Cancer Society notes that turmeric contains a potent compound known as curcumin, which acts as an antioxidant. It may also offer protection against cancer. Researchers note in the February 2011 issue of “The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry” that curcumin targets breast cancer stem cells in laboratory testing. Further research will help scientists determine turmeric’s effectiveness in breast cancer treatment.
Green Tea
Green tea, considered an herbal treatment, is not only a tasty drink, it also has polyphenols that may slow breast cancer cell growth. Studies on the effectiveness of green tea for this purpose vary. Evidence in the September-October 2010 “Cancer Genomics and Proteomics” correlates breast cancer prevention with the polyphenols in green tea, but the April 2004 issue of the “British Journal of Cancer” reported that in a study of 35,000 Japanese women, green tea did not demonstrate any effect. Additional research may help clear up this discrepancy.
Flaxseed
Flaxseed comes from an annual herb native to the Middle East region. The American Cancer Society website indicates that flaxseed has lignans, a compound that may help prevent breast cancer and slow its growth. Researchers note in the February 2011 issue of “The British Journal of Nutrition” that flaxseed may also boost the effectiveness of some breast cancer medications, and a study published in the January 2011 edition of “Cancer Research” theorizes that consuming a diet containing flaxseed may slow the growth of breast cancer cells as well as certain breast cancer treatments.
References
- Office of Dietary Supplements; Black Cohosh; November 2008
- "Oncology Reports"; Growth Inhibition of Human Breast Cancer Cells By Herbs and Phytoestrogens; D. Dixon-Shanies, et al.; November-December 1999
- "Breast Cancer Research and Treatment"; Growth Inhibitory Activity of Extracts and Purified Components of Black Cohosh on Human Breast Cancer Cells; L.S. Einbond, et al.; February 2004
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Black Cohosh; December 2009
- "Pharmacological Research"; Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga Racemosa) For Menopausal Symptoms: A Systematic Review of Its Efficacy; F. Borrelli, et al.; July 2008
- "The British Journal of Nutrition"; Flaxseed Cotyledon...; J. Chen, et al.; February 2011
