The National Cancer Institutes indicate that more than 40,000 new cases of leukemia were diagnosed in the U.S. in 2010. Leukemia is a type of cancer that begins in the bone marrow -- tissue that is responsible for producing different types of white blood cells -- and suppresses the body's ability to ward off disease. Garlic is a traditional herbal remedy that may help fight leukemia by causing malignant cells to undergo apoptosis, a type of cell death. Discuss its use with your doctor before adding garlic to your regular routine.
Leukemia
Your body depends on its white blood cells to fight off infection and disease. In leukemia, one of these cell types becomes abnormal and grows out of control, crowding out healthy cells and compromising your immune system. There are several forms of leukemia, including some that develop quickly and others that form more slowly. Risk factors are not the same for all types, but they include smoking, exposure to radiation or toxic chemicals and having certain viral infections or a family history of leukemia.
Garlic
Garlic has been part of traditional herbal medicine for hundreds of years. Its bulbs contain several compounds with medicinal value, including a natural chemical called alliin that is transformed into a slightly different chemical called allicin when the clove is crushed. Allicin is a natural antibiotic that blocks the growth of bacteria. It also boosts the immune system, stimulating several types of immune cells to attack abnormal cells. In addition, a number of laboratory studies reported that allicin and other compounds in garlic help kill leukemia cells by causing them to undergo apoptosis, a form of cell death.
Apoptosis Research
Apoptosis is a natural phenomenon that leads to a cell's death. Once a cell begins apoptosis, it cannot survive. For this reason, apoptosis is sometimes called programmed cell death. Several studies with alllicin and other garlic-derived compounds suggest that garlic may cause leukemia cells to undergo apoptosis. In a study published in "Biologics: Targets and Therapy" in 2008, several chemicals from garlic caused apoptosis of cultured malignant cells taken from children with leukemia, while leaving normal cells uninjured. Several other studies found similar results with different types of leukemia cells. These are promising findings, although clinical trials of garlic with human subjects are still needed.
Recommendations and Precautions
To obtain the medicinal benefit of garlic, consume crushed fresh garlic, without heating or drying, at a dose of 2 to 4 grams daily. Alternatively, aged garlic extract is available from most health food stores; the usual dose of extract is 600 to 1,200 mg daily, in divided doses. Garlic is generally considered safe, although it may sometimes cause stomach upset or bad breath. Garlic may also interact with some medications, including blood thinners and anti-HIV drugs. Consult your doctor to discuss whether garlic is a good choice for you.
References
- National Cancer Institues: What You Need to Know About Leukemia
- National Cancer Institute: Leukemia
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Garlic
- "Biologics: Targets and Therapies"; Garlic Compounds Selectively Kill Childhood Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells...; Gl Hodge, et al.; March 2008
- "Molecular Cancer Therapeutics"; Apoptotic Killing of B-Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells by Allicin...; F. Arditti, et al.; February 2005
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Garlic
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