Cancer salves have been used in alternative medicine as a treatment for skin cancer for over 100 years. They began to fall into disfavor with the rise in the popularity of allopathic medicine at the beginning of the 20th century. Cancer salves are also known as black salves. All black salves are made with both zinc chloride and the rhizome of Sanguinarea canadensis, also known as bloodroot. Proponents argue that the therapeutic action of black salves is not unlike that of some conventional cancer therapies, although the cells are killed with chemical burns, not lasers or heat. If you are considering using black salves, it is important that you first consult with an experienced health care professional.
Bloodroot Controversy
In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, and the Federal Trade Commission, FTC, collaborated to restrict the importation and sale of black salves in America. They based their decision on the inference that the bloodroot was responsible for the incidence of serious skin damage in patients using black salves. Unlike most herbs believed to have anti-cancerous properties, bloodroot's ability to destroy cancer cells is well established. This may be due, in part, to the presence of the toxic alkaloid sanguinarine, which promotes cell self-destruction, according to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. In addition to sanguinarine, bloodroot also contains powerful proteolytic enzymes. Nonetheless, these alone cannot be responsible for the serious skin damage patients using black salves have reported. Zinc chloride, on the other hand, may well be responsible.
Zinc Chloride Dangers
Zinc chloride is a caustic chemical and an essential ingredient in cancer salves. It reacts with water, producing considerable heat. Zinc chloride must penetrate deep into the skin's keratin layer to affect tumor cells; consequently, it is essential to debride the skin before applying. Zinc chloride may cause more damage to cancerous cells than healthy cells, according to Michael Tierra, co-founder of the American School of Botanical Medicine. This alone is the primary reason for the increased interest in using cancer salves. Tierra also believes that salves using an excessively high concentration of zinc chloride are responsible for the reports of skin damage. Concentrations greater than 40 percent are indeed well known to cause burns, scarring or disfigurement. He instead recommends using cancer salves with no more than 30 percent zinc chloride and extending the course of treatment. The addition of oils in cancer salves may also decrease the incidence of scarring.
Self-Treatment Concerns
Under no circumstances should you attempt to treat yourself with a caustic cancer salve. While it is difficult to find a medical professional experienced in assessing the appropriateness of escharotic therapy, there have been several cases of serious injury, disfigurement and death resulting from attempts to self-administer cancer salves. The first three days of treatment can also prove to be excruciatingly painful for a small minority of patients, making it wise to have the assistance of a physician to prescribe appropriate pain-relieving medication. As with most skin cancer treatments, some patients will need post-treatment reconstructive surgery.
Diagnostic Concerns
Among folk medical practitioners, it is often believed that treatment can conclude after the body has sloughed the escharotic scab. Unfortunately, this belief has prevented some patients from getting the post-treatment diagnostic care they need to determine whether cancer cells remain. Due to the risk of recurrence, your doctor must perform regular checkups.
References
- "PlanetaryHerbs"; Thoughts on the Use of Escharotic Pastes for the Treatment of Cancer; Michael Tierra; August 2005
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Bloodroot; November 2010
- "Archives of Dermatology"; Consequences of Using Escharotic Agents as Primary Treatment for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer; S. McDaniel and G.D. Goldman; December 2002
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