Breast cancer is a form of cancer that begins in the breast tissue. Age, gender, family history and genetics play important roles in the development, spread and severity of this disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most recent statistics indicate that more than 200,000 women were diagnosed with the condition in 2007, and almost 40,000 women died because of it. The treatment of breast cancer depends upon the stage and type of the cancer and may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery. Certain herbs such as rosemary may also help manage the condition.
What Is Rosemary?
Rosemary, or Rosmarinus officinalis, is a small, evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean area. The long, needle-like leaves and twigs of the plant are used as a spice in cooking and to treat a variety of ailments, including muscle pain, indigestion, memory loss and hair loss. Volatile oils present in the leaves are responsible for its biological activity. The supplements are available as dried herbs, powders, teas, liquid extracts and volatile oils.
Link Between Rosemary and Breast Cancer
Several studies have been conducted to establish a link between rosemary and breast cancer. Crude ethanolic extracts of rosemary have the ability to prevent the proliferation of breast cancer cells in the laboratory, report the researchers of a study published in the June 2007 issue of the journal "Oncology Reports." Another study in the October-December 2010 edition of the "Brazilian Journal of Microbiology" revealed that apart from the antiproliferative activity, rosemary essential oils also possess significant antioxidant properties and thereby stabilize the free radicals formed as a result of various metabolic activities in the body. The unstable free radicals may interact with the components of healthy cells and turn them into cancerous ones.
Rosmarinic acid, extracted from the leaves of Rosmarinus officinalis, has the ability to inhibit the expression of genes that increase the risk of development of tumors in a variety of tissues, including breast tissues, says a study published in the November 2008 edition of the "Journal of Nutrition."
Side Effects
Rosemary supplements are generally safe to use, although the University of Maryland Medical Center states that allergic reactions to the herb may sometimes occur. Consuming large amounts of rosemary oils can also lead to vomiting, spasms, coma and fluid in the lungs. Rosemary can also lead to miscarriage and may interfere with certain hypertensive and blood-thinning medications.
Precautions
It is important to remember that no clinical trials have been conducted to prove the efficacy of rosemary in treating breast cancer in actual cases. Hence, rosemary may not replace your existing medications. Always talk to a doctor before using rosemary supplements because they may lead to side effects and interfere with the other medications you might be taking.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Breast Cancer Statistics
- "Oncology Reports"; Anti-proliferative and Antioxidant Properties of Rosemary Rosmarinus Officinalis.; S. Cheung, et al.; June 2007
- "Brazilian Journal of Microbiology"; Rosmarinus Officinalis Essential Oil: Antiproliferative, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities; Abdullah Ijaz Hussain, et al.; October-December 2010
- "Journal of Nutrition"; Rosmarinic Acid Antagonizes Activator Protein-1--Dependent Activation of Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in Human Cancer and Nonmalignant Cell Lines; Kristen A. Scheckel, et al.; November 2008
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Rosemary
