Your body is exposed to low levels of radiation each day from cell phones, television and computer screens, occasional air travel and medical imaging procedures. Higher levels of radiation exposure can occur as an occupational hazard or from undergoing radiation treatments for cancer. A variety of herbs may help your body heal and repair from excessive radiation exposure, known as radiation poisoning.
Turkey Tail Mushroom
A mushroom called turkey tail can help to boost immune activity and speed your recovery from cancer chemotherapy and radiation treatments, according to naturopath Linda Page, author of "Linda Page's Healthy Healing: A Guide to Self-Healing for Everyone." This mushroom, a prolific and common inhabitant of forests around the world, increases activity of white blood cells called T-cells and also acts as a mild antibiotic. It can be taken as a medicinal broth or in capsule form, but is not meant for cooking.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera protects against damaging effects of radiation by scavenging free radicals, according to a study published in the May 2011 issue of the journal "Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology." In the laboratory animal study, doses of 750 milligrams per kilogram body weight of aloe vera were most effective at protecting against radiation damage. Aloe vera also increased blood levels of the antioxidants glutathione peroxidase and vitamin C. In another study, published in the 2009 issue of the "Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology," aloe vera was found to decrease oxidation of lipids in the livers of experimental animals.
Astragalus and Echinacea
The herbs astragalus and echinacea are useful for protecting your immune system from damage during radiation treatments and other medical procedures, according to Dr. Gabriel Cousens, author of the book "Conscious Eating." Astragalus is an adaptogen and an important herb in Chinese herbal medicine. Researchers who conducted a study published in the April 2011 issue of the journal "Fitoterapia" reported that astragalus extract supplementation helped to reverse radiation-induced organ damage in laboratory animals. Flavonoid compounds in astragalus were responsible for the benefits. Echinacea protects human blood cells against radiation damage, according to a study published in the June 2009 issue of the journal "Arhiv za Higijenu Rada i Toksikologiju."
Panax Ginseng
Panax ginseng reduced blood cell and liver damage in laboratory animals, according to a study that appeared in the March 2011 issue of the journal "Integrative Cancer Therapies." In the study, laboratory animals that received ginseng supplementation showed significantly higher red blood cell counts than a control group that did not receive the supplement. Ginseng-treated animals also showed higher levels of the antioxidant glutathione.
References
- "Linda Page's Healthy Healing: A Guide to Self-Healing for Everyone"; Linda Page; 2004
- "Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology"; Evaluation of Radioprotective Efficacy and Possible Mechanism of Action of Aloe Gel; D. Saini, et al.; May 2011
- "Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology"; Radioprotective Effects of Aloe Vera Leaf Extract on Swiss Albino Mice Against Whole-body Gamma Irradiation; P. Goyal, et al.; 2009
- "Integrative Cancer Therapies"; Amelioration of Radiation-induced Hematological and Biochemical Alterations in Swiss Albino Mice by Panax Ginseng Extract; P. Verma, et al.; March 2011
- "Conscious Eating: Second Edition"; Gabriel Cousens; 2009
- "Integrative Cancer Therapies"; Amelioration of Radiation-Induced Hematological and Biochemical Alterations in Swiss Albino Mice by Panax Ginseng Extract; P. Verma, et al.; March 2011
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