People facing painful and lengthy cancer treatments often search for hope from natural or alternative remedies. One substance some supporters claim can be an effective treatment is vitamin B17, alternately referred to as amygdalin or laetrile. You should always consult a physician if you're considering vitmain B17 as a cancer treatment.
Vitamin or Chemical
A vitamin is an organic compound naturally produced by plants or animals, and our bodies need a variety of vitamins to function properly. Amygdalin is a chemical that occurs naturally in some foods such as fruit pits, and is commonly referred to as vitamin B17 even though it is not really a vitamin at all, according to the New York University Langone Medical Center. Some people tout amygdalin, and its purified form laetrile, as natural cancer treatments.
Cancer Treatments
After its initial discovery in 1830, amygdalin was used as an anticancer treatment in Russia, according to the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. Later use in the United States revealed that amygdalin was too toxic, though the purified form of the compound, laetrile, came to be popular as an alternative cancer treatment in the 1970s. The National Cancer Institute reports, however, that there is little evidence to support the claim that laetrile is an effective cancer treatment.
Negative Side Effects
According to the National Cancer Institute, the side effects of vitamin B17 treatments are similar to those of cyanide poisoning. Cyanide is a neurotoxin, affecting the body's nervous system and causing minor symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, dizziness and headache. More serious side effects include a blueish discoloration of the skin, known as cyanosis, liver damage, low blood pressure, difficulty walking, mental confusion, coma and death.
Approved Use
The United States Food and Drug Administration is responsible for approving any drugs or medications before manufacturers can sell them in the United States. The FDA has not approved laetrile as a cancer treatment, nor as a treatment for any other medical condition. The agency also takes regulatory action against websites and manufacturers who produce or sell laetrile in the United States or who make claims about the substance's ability to cure or treat cancer. However, the drug is produced and used as a cancer drug in Mexico.
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