In the mid-1800s, Russians started taking a new remedy for cancer. The substance, derived from cyanide, is present in nuts and in the pits of stone fruits. Amygdalin, as the substance is known, also was used briefly in the United States in the early 20th century and again in the 1970s. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center says those promoting amygdalin as a cancer cure sometimes call it vitamin B-17.
Pros and Cons
As far as the United States' medical community can tell, amygdalin does not offer a benefit to humans. In fact, the substance is now banned in the country. After seeing the results of clinical trials, researchers determined that the substance was ineffective against cancer. They also concluded amygdalin was too dangerous to allow anyone to take it. In 1982, the "New England Journal of Medicine" reported that 178 cancer patients in a clinical trial took amygdalin. None showed any improvements while several participants developed cyanide toxicity, sometimes to levels that were almost deadly.
The Theory
According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, those promoting amygdalin as a cancer cure rely on theories that have been disproved. One claim, for instance, says that a vitamin B-17 deficiency causes cancer. Proponents of this idea say that not only is amygdalin a vitamin, it also is the B-17 vitamin. Others try to explain that cyanide changes into a nontoxic substance once it enters the healthy cells in the body. They further clarify that the toxin remains deadly when they get into the cancerous cells, killing them.
Additional Side Effects
In addition to causing cyanide poisoning and possible death, amygdalin also can lead to other health problems. Some of them are skin irritation, nausea, dizziness, headaches, vomiting and coma.
Caution
Amygdalin is not legal in the United States, but it is available on the Internet and for sale abroad. Do not take it or give the product to anyone. U.S. doctors cannot prescribe it or supervise the treatment. Tests also revealed that certain supplies of amygdalin injections were contaminated with microbes and others lacked a label with dosage information.
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