Could Cancer Be Prevented By Eating Apricot Pits? – Laetrile and Pancreatic Enzyme Treatment

Beard Researches Pancreatic Enzyme Therapy
John Beard  first discovered the invasive activities of trophoblasts in 1902. He observed that when the fetus attaches itself to the uterine wall, it is attacked by trophoblasts in a similar manner as the invasive action of cancer cells. When the placenta is in place, the trophoblasts cease to attack.

Placental Structure and Transport – Photo Credit: University of Bern – Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine  www.ibmm.unibe.ch/content/groups/albrecht_group

Beard observed that trophoblast invasion begins to decrease at about the same time that the pancreas in the developing fetus begins to develop, and consequently he began researching  pancreatic enzymes, particularly Chymotrypsin, in the treatment of cancer.

Structures of the pancreas Acinar cells produce digestive enzymes, which are secreted into tiny ducts that feed into the pancreatic duct.  Photo Credit: Encyclopedia Britannica  www.britannica.com

Beard conducted research experiments with the pancreatic fluid extracted from young animals. The cancer tumors in both animals and humans decreased in size after pancreatic substances were injected into the tumors.  The digestive enzymes trypsin and chymotrypsin halted the growth of 100% of fast-growing cancers when it was taken orally at an extremely high dosage.

Dr. John Beard – The Enzyme Treatment of Cancer and Its Scientific Basis

John Beard’s 20 years of hard laboratory research, still holds up to rigorous scientific scrutiny today.  His multiple research studies were published in JAMA and in a book on the use of enzyme therapy for cancer between 1902 and 1911.

The Discovery of Vitamin B-17
In the 1930’s and 1940’s, Ernst Theodore Krebs Jr. (May 17, 1911 – September 8, 1996) and his father, Ernst T. Krebs Sr. developed and applied the Beard Thesis of Cancer to their work with both the pancreatic enzymes and Laetrile (Vitamin B-17).   Ernst was an American biochemist from San Francisco.  Both he and his father are widely recognized as the co-discoverers of Vitamin B-17, commonly known as Laetrile (a synthesized form of vitamin B-17)  or Amygdalin, for the control of cancer.

Laetrile, also known as Amygdalin,  is found in most fruit seeds, namely apricot seeds, apple seeds, etc. Apricot kernels are one of the richest sources of vitamin B-17.

Ernst Jr. was a graduate student at the University of California in Berkeley from 1943 to 1945 and did research work in pharmacy from 1942 to 1945.  Both Ernest Jr. and Sr. also discovered another of the B vitamins called B-15, or pangamic acid. Ernst Jr. and Sr. both studied and expanded the upon the research of Dr. John Beard, and the use of Chymotrypsin, and in 1945, Ernst T. Krebs Jr. was instrumental in founding the John Beard Memorial Foundation.

Cancer Trophoblast and Laetrile, Vitamin B17 Molecule  Photo Credit: Vision B Seventeen Sdn Bhd, Prof Syed Putra Meir, Indonesia

Medical claims by Krebs Jr. and Sr. are not supported by the FDA and are considered by some professionals to be “quackery.” (Markle 1980, Lerner 1981).  The FDA, the AMA, and the American Cancer Society have labelled it fraud. Moreover, the use of Laetrile as a cure for cancer has been advertised as a possible risk for cyanide poisoning. Vitamin B-17 contains part of the cyanide molecule (called the cyanide ‘radical’), but so does vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin). Certain chemicals, after ingestion, can be converted by the body into cyanide. Those most at risk of unintentional cyanide poisoning are those who work in industries that use cyanide and those who smoke have twice the amount of cyanide as those who don’t.

However, when Laetrile was used by Beard and Krebs to cure cancer, the cyanide was released into the tumor in extremely small quantities.  Research studies, including those opposed to the use of Laetrile, have shown that used in the recommended dosages even intravenous application was “free of clinical toxicity and no cyanide could be detected in the blood” (Day 2013).  Today there are many products on the market in other countries based on the work of Krebs Jr. and Sr. and promoting Laetril or Vitamin B17 as a “cure” for cancer.

 

Gerson Therapy Nutritional Program for Cancer Prevention
Dr. Max Gerson (October 18, 1881 – March 8, 1959) was a German-born American physician who developed the Gerson Therapy, an alternative dietary therapy, which he claimed could cure cancer and most chronic, degenerative diseases.  Gerson Therapy is based on the belief that all disease is caused by the accumulation of  toxins in the body.

Dr. Max Gerson – Gerson Therapy

A predominantly vegetarian diet is prescribed to cure the disease including hourly glasses of organic juice and various dietary supplements.  Gerson was in agreement with the earlier work of Beard, that tumors develop as a result of pancreatic enzyme deficiency.  Those who are following the Gerson Therapy receive enemas of coffee, castor oil and sometimes hydrogen peroxide or ozone. In A Cancer Therapy: Results of 50 Cases (1990),  Dr. Max Gerson discusses the research, theory, and practice of his Gerson Therapy to treat cancer. Cases are documented with X-ray photographs, before and after.  The National Cancer Institute evaluated Gerson’s claims and concluded that his research results were statistically inconclusive. The American Cancer Society reported that “[t]here is no reliable scientific evidence that Gerson therapy is effective in treating cancer, and the principles behind it are not widely accepted by the medical community. It is not approved for use in the United States.” The Gerson Institute is a non-profit organization in San Diego, California. The institute claims that Gerson Therapy is a “non-toxic treatment for cancer and other chronic degenerative diseases.”

Dr. William Donald Kelley, D.D.S.

Dr. William Donald Kelley Cures Himself of Cancer
In the 1960’s, Dr. William Donald Kelley, a dentist from Grapevine, Texas, cured himself of pancreatic cancer based on Beard’s work with pancreatic enzymes and nutritional regimen.  Kelley, like Beard and Krebs, also studied pancreatic enzymes and the similarities of trophoblasts and cancer cells.

Trophoblast – Photo credit: Division of Biomedical Sciences at St.George’s, University of London
Reproductive and Cardiovascular Disease Research Group http://www.rcdrg.sgul.ac.uk

He concluded that cancer cells and trophoblasts have a common origin in primordial germ cells.  He believed that when the body is weakened by toxic exposure and nervous system imbalance, and primordial germ cells migrate to this point in the body, and cancer can develop. In 1967 Kelley published, One Answer to Cancer.  In 2005 he updated and published Cancer: Curing the Incurable without Surgery, Chemotherapy or Radiation (Kelley 2005) based on 50 years of systematic nutritional planning for 33,000 patients (Kelley 2005).

Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez

Gonzalez Continues the work of Beard and Kelley
In the 1990’s Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez, became interested, as a young medical student, in the use of pancreatic enzymes and nutrition as a possible treatment for cancer. He conducted research based on the findings of Dr. John Beard and William Donald Kelley.  Gonzalez incorporated many of Dr. Beard’s and Dr. Kelley’s key points into his own treatment regimen, The Gonzalez Regimen (PDQ) includes the use of pancreatic enzymes, along with nutritional supplements, coffee enemas, and prescriptive diets.  An example of the Gonzalez Regimen for a patient with pancreatic cancer would be:

1. Fresh raw fruits, raw and lightly steamed vegetables, and freshly made vegetable juice daily.
2. Plant-based cereals, nuts, and seeds, whole-grain bread and brown rice.
3. One or two eggs daily, whole-milk yogurt daily, and fish two or three times a week, no red meat or poultry.Vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. Freeze-dried thymus and liver
4. Porcine lyophilized pancreatic enzyme (25 g to 40 g capsules daily) taken without meals at regular intervals throughout the day.

Does the FDA Approve Pancreatic Enzymes as Cancer Treatment?
The FDA has not approved Vitamin B17 (laetrile) or pancreatic enzymes as a cancer treatment. Others (Gonzolez 2007,  Kelley 1999, 2005,  Day 2013, Sarue, et al, 2004) claim that it has been shown to be effective based on clinical trials and argue that the reason that is not approved by the FDA is because of lack of funding for long-term credible research (Gdanski 2002).  Although these treatments are banned in the United States, other countries do offer pancreatic enzyme treatment and high doses of Vitamin B17 as an alternative treatment for cancer.

 

Research has recently shown these foods to be effective in fighting cancer. See our article “20 Cancer Fighting Foods” for more research

Although these treatments are banned in the United States,  more investigation  and research exploring the effect of enzyme therapy, nutrition, diet and exercise on reducing cancer risk might be beneficial. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), a change in diet is helpful in reducing cancer risk, yet the AICR states that no single food or food component can protect you against cancer by itself.  Strong evidence does show that a diet filled with a wide variety of healthy vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans helps lower risk for many cancers. (See our article, “20 Cancer Fighting Foods.”)  AICR recommends filling at least two-thirds of your plate with vegetables, fruit, whole grains and beans.  Exercise has also shown to boost immunity and help fight cancer, and to be an effective treatment for those recovering from cancer.  Always check with your doctor or trusted health care provider or practitioner before making a change in your diet or exercise routine.

Resources

1. Beard J. The action of trypsin upon the living cells of Jensen’s mouse tumor. Br Med J 4, 140-141, 1906. Nutritional Research and Educational Foundation.
2. Beard J: The Enzyme Treatment of Cancer and its Scientific Basis. London: Chatto & Windus, 1911.
3. Day, Phillip,  Cancer: Why We’re Still Dying to Know the Truth, ISBN 0-9535012-4-8 (370 pages),  Credence Publications 2013
4. Day, Phillip, B17 Metabolic Therapy in the Prevention and Control of Cancer – A Technical Manual, Paperback Publisher: Credence Publications 2002 ISBN-13:9781904015055
5. Gerson, M, A Cancer Therapy: Results of Fifty Cases and the Cure of Advanced Cancer by Diet Therapy : a Summary of 30 Years of Clinical Experimentation,  Gerson Institute, 1990, ISBN 0882681052, 9780882681054, Gerson Therapy
6. Gdanski, Ron Cancer: Cause, Cure and Cover-up, Published by Nadex Publishing 2000, Gnosis
7. Gonzalez NJ, Isaacs LL: Evaluation of pancreatic proteolytic enzyme treatment of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, with nutrition and detoxification support. Nutr Cancer 33 (2): 117-24, 1999. PubMed
8. Gonzalez NJ: Pancreatic cancer, proteolytic enzyme therapy and detoxification [excerpts]. Clinical Pearls News November 1999. Available online Accessed January 26, 2015.
9. Gonzalez N: Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez on nutritional cancer therapy: a Moneychanger interview. The Moneychanger July 1995. Available online Accessed January 26, 2015.
10. Gonzalez NJ, Isaacs LL. The Gonzalez therapy and cancer: a collection of case reports. Altern Ther Health Med 13(1), 46-55, 2007.Nutritional Research and Educational Foundation.
11. Herbert, Victor (May 1979). “Laetrile: The cult of cyanide. Promoting poison for profit”.The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 32 (5): 1121–58.
12. Kelley WD: One Answer to Cancer. Mount Pearl, Canada: Cancer Coalition for Alternative Therapies, Inc. 1999. Available online Accessed January 26, 2015
13. Kelley WD, Rohe F: Cancer: Curing the Incurable without Surgery, Chemotherapy, or Radiation. Bonita, Calif: New World Promotions, 2005. WebMD
14. Krebs, Ernst T Sr, Krebs, Ernst T Jr,  and Beard, Howard H, The Unitarian or Trophoblastic Thesis of Cancer, The Medical Record, July 1950. (republished in B17 Metabolic Therapy in the Prevention and Control of Cancer – A Technical Manual, by Phillip Day, Credence Publications)
15. Lerner, Irving J. (1981). “Laetrile: A lesson in cancer quackery”– A Cancer Journal for Clinicians  31 (2): 91–5. Wiley Online Library
16. Markle, Gerald E.; Petersen, James C., eds. (1980). Politics, Science, and Cancer: The Laetrile Phenomenon. American Association for the Advancement of Science Selected Symposium (49). Boulder, CO: Westview Press. ISBN 0-89158-854-X.
17. Moertel, Charles G.; Fleming, Thomas R.; Rubin, Joseph; Kvols, Larry K. et al. (January 1982). “A clinical trial of amygdalin (Laetrile) in the treatment of human cancer”. New England Journal of Medicine 306 (4): 201–6.
18. Saruc M, Standop S, Standop J, Nozawa F, Itami A, Pandey KK, Batra SK, Gonzalez NJ, Guesry P, Pour PM. Pancreatic enzyme extract improves survival in murine pancreatic cancer. Pancreas 28(4), 401-412, 2004. Pub Med

________________________________________

This article is written by Jean Voice Dart, M.S. Special Education from Illinois State University. Jean is a published author and has written hundreds of health articles as well as hosting a local television program, “Making Miracles Happen.” She is a Registered Music Therapist, Sound Therapist, and Master Level Energetic Teacher, and is the Executive Director, founder and Health and Wellness Educator of the Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance. The Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance is a registered 501 (c) 3 nonprofit health and wellness education organization. For more information about the Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance contact us or visit our website at www.montereybayholistic.com.

 

Disclaimer: The Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance is a charitable, independent registered nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and does not endorse any particular products or practices. We exist as an educational organization dedicated to providing free access to health education resources, products and services. Claims and statements herein are for informational purposes only and have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The statements about organizations, practitioners, methods of treatment, and products listed on this website are not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information is intended for educational purposes only. The MBHA strongly recommends that you seek out your trusted medical doctor or practitioner for diagnosis and treatment of any existing health condition.

Cancer: An Overview of the Diseases – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

What is Cancer?
Cancer is a word used for more than 100 diseases. The subject of cancer is extremely vast. Each type of cancer is different and varies greatly to each other. This article will focus on cancer in general, and will not describe one kind of cancer in much detail. To fully comprehend the word, there needs to be some dissection of the human cell. Each cell contains deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) which is genetic material that makes up all humans.

Normal cells divide to create new cells and eventually die when they are not needed anymore. Cancer cells do not die; they continue to grow, and form abnormal cells that invade other tissues in the body. The body doesn’t need these cancer cells. The DNA in these cancer cells are damaged due to an injury or the environment, thus any cells created onward from these cells will be flawed as well. A mass is formed from the cancer cells called a tumor.

Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood stream. More tumors can grow as a result of this migration. Tumors can crowd normal tissues in the body. Tumors are not cancerous by definition. Some tumors are benign and some are malignant.  Benign tumors can grow and cause minor health issues; however they can’t invade other tissues. Malignant tumors are cancerous and invade other tissues. Doctors who specialize in cancer diagnosis and treatment are called oncologists. These physicians work with their patients on a one-on-one basis to create an appropriate plan for treatment (National Cancer Institute, 2014).

Categories of Cancer
The National Cancer Institute (2014) provides a description of the main categories of cancer in the following:

• Carcinoma- cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. There are a number of subtypes of carcinoma, including adenocarcinoma, basil cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and transitional cell carcinoma.
• Sarcoma- cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessel, or other connective or supportive tissue.
• Leukemia- cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood.
• Lymphoma and myeloma- cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system.
• Central nervous system cancers- cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

Statistics on Cancer
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2014, the United States will have over a million new cases of cancer and over five hundred thousand deaths. Millions of people survive cancer each year. The number of survivors of cancer has been steadily increasing every year.

Over 13 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with cancer, and lung cancer has been reported with the highest percentage of deaths among both men and women. There are many different types of cancer.  The risk of developing cancer increases with age. Some cancers are more prevalent among certain populations, and some are exclusive to one gender such is the case with Prostate Cancer and men.

Breast Cancer afflicts more than 2 million women in the United States. If Breast Cancer is caught in the early stages, the chances for survival are over 95%. Cancer as a diagnosis doesn’t necessarily mean the person will die from the disease. Millions of people survive from cancer each year (American Cancer Society, 2014).

Causes of Cancer
Cancer can be caused by one or more factors. The American Cancer Society states that the causes of cancer are connected with genetics, tobacco, diet, physical activity, sun exposure, radiation exposure and other carcinogens.

Some cancers are hereditary due to an abnormal gene mutation being passed down from parent to child. Up to one-tenth of all cancers are inherited. Smoking cigarettes/cigars are very dangerous and can be detrimental to a person’s health. Smoking cigarettes has been proven to cause different types of cancer such as lung, oral, and esophageal cancer.

There is a link between diet and physical activity and cancer. Poor diet and lack of regular physical activity increases the chances of developing the disease. Research studies show that aerobic exercise and weight training boosts the immune system in cancer survivors and lowers the risk of cancer.

Research has recently shown these foods to be effective in fighting cancer.

Over 33% of deaths from cancer are related to poor diet (American Cancer Society, 2014). Diets high in trans fats can increase the risk of cancer.  See our article “What is Good Fat?” and “20 Cancer-Fighting Foods.”   Recent studies have shown that increasing acidity and lowering cancer cell pH (increasing acidity) is effective against cancer cell mitosis in the laboratory studies.

Extensive lifetime exposure to UV rays in sunlight can lead to Skin Cancers such as basil cell and melanoma cell cancers. Radiation exposure agents include x-rays and gamma rays. The Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (2014) describes the characteristics of x-rays and gammas rays as “electromagnetic radiation like visible light, radio waves, and ultraviolet light”. High and frequent exposure to these agents causes cancer. People who work in nuclear power plants have a greater risk of developing cancer cells than those working in regular office buildings. Small amounts of these agents can be found in medical imaging tests and other sources. Carcinogens or environmental factors leading to cancer provided by the American Cancer Society include:

• Lifestyle factors (nutrition, tobacco use, physical activity, etc.)
• Naturally occurring exposures (ultraviolet light, radon gas, infectious agents, etc.)
• Medical treatments (chemotherapy, radiation, immune system-suppressing drugs, etc.)
• Workplace exposures
• Household exposures
• Pollution

Symptoms of Cancer
The symptoms of cancer depend on the type of cancer you may have. Mayo Clinic (2014) provides a list of the general symptoms people may exhibit from the diseases.

The symptoms include, but are not limited to the following:

• Fatigue
• Lump or area of thickening that can be felt under the skin
• Weight changes, including unintended loss or gain
• Skin changes, such as yellowing, darkening or redness of the skin, sores that won’t heal, or changes to existing moles
• Changes to bowel or bladder habits
• Persistent cough
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hoarseness
• Persistent indigestion or discomfort after eating
• Persistent, unexplained muscle or joint pain
• Persistent, unexplained fevers or night sweats

Diagnosis of Cancer
Physical self-examinations are important preventative measures to diagnosing cancer. If you display one or more of the symptoms expressed in the previous passage, it’s recommended to seek out a physician for a professional opinion. The physician will perform a physical examination of the area in question and take a complete medical history.

A biopsy is usually performed by taking a sample of the lump and examining the cells under a microscope. The American Cancer Society (2014) states that other tests that may be performed include: “x-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and fiber-optic endoscopy examinations”. If the tests come back positive for cancer cells, more tests need to be performed to determine exactly what kind of cancer is present and in what stage the cancer is in which is process called staging. The National Cancer Institute has created a chart to show how oncologists categories the stage of their patient’s cancer. The Cancer Staging Chart is provided below.

Stage	Definition
Stage 0	Carcinoma in situ (abnormal cells are present only in the layer of cells in which they developed)
Stage I, Stage II, and Stage III	Higher numbers indicate more extensive disease: Larger tumor size and/or spread of the cancer beyond the organ in which it first developed to nearby lymph nodes and/or tissues or organs adjacent to the location of the primary tumor
Stage IV	The cancer has spread to distant tissues or organs

Chart A: Cancer Staging Chart

 

Treatment of Cancer
Cancer can be treated in many different ways. The traditional methods to treating cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. New treatments are targeted therapy, immunotherapy, hyperthermia, stem cell transplant, photodynamic therapy, and laser in cancer treatment. Surgery is most often used to get rid of cancer growing inside the body.

Chemotherapy is the use of certain Food and Drug Administration Approved or FDA drugs and medicines to combat the cancer. With radiation therapy, a high-energy beam targeted at the site of the cancer is used. In some cases, a combination of these treatments has been proven to be very effective in getting rid of cancer cells (National Cancer Institute, 2014).

 

Complementary/Alternative Treatments of Cancer
Complementary/Alternative treatments have not been proven to cure cancer; however they play an active role in reliving the side-effects of cancer treatments. People who are diagnosed with cancer sometimes choose other methods for a variety of reasons.

The National Cancer Institute (2014) describes some of these reasons below:

• They would like to relieve the side effects of mainstream cancer treatment without having to take more medicine.
• They are seeking a less unpleasant treatment approach that might have fewer side effects.
• They want to take an active role in improving their own health and wellness.
• They prefer alternative theories of health and disease, as well as alternative treatments.

In addition to making changes in nutrition, diet and physical exercise, other types of complementary/alternative treatments can help in relieving the side-effects of cancer treatments and in lowering the risk of cancer.   The complementary/alternative treatments are specific to the side-effects that manifest.

The Mayo Clinic (2014) provides a chart to show the most appropriate treatment to try for each side-effect from traditional cancer treatments.

 

If you’re experiencing	Then consider trying
Anxiety	Hypnosis, massage, meditation, relaxation techniques
Fatigue	Exercise, massage, relaxation techniquesn, yoga
Nausea and vomiting	Acupuncture, aromatherapy,hypnosis, music therapy
Pain	Acupuncture, aromatherapy,hypnosis,  biofeedback, massage music therapy
Sleep problems	Exercise relaxation techniquesn, yoga
Stress	Aromatherapy, hypnosis, massage, meditation,exercise, tai chi, yoga

Chart B: Alternative Treatment Chart

 

 

References
American Cancer Society. (2014). Understanding Cancer. Cancer Basics. Retrieved October 16, 2014, from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancerbasics/index

Guidance for Radiation Accident Management. (2014). Characteristics of Gamma Radiation and X-Rays. Basics of Radiation. Retrieved October 17, 2014, from https://orise.orau.gov/reacts/guide/gamma.htm

Mayo Clinic. (2014). Definition. Cancer. Retrieved October 18, 2014, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/basics/definition/con-20032378

National Cancer Institute. (2014). Defining Cancer. What is Cancer?. Retrieved October 18, 2014, from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/cancerlibrary/what-is-cancer

 

__________________________________________________

This article is written by Hang Pham. Hang Pham is a Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance Health and Wellness Educator. Hang Pham was born in Hoc Mon, Vietnam. She came to America in 1994, becoming a U.S. citizen in 2011. Hang graduated from Seaside High School with diploma and received her AA in General Studies from Monterey Peninsula College in 2011. She received her BA in Collaborative Health and Human Services from California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) in 2012. In addition to working as a volunteer staff with the Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance, she currently works as a Clerical Aid in the Human Resources Department of Salinas City Hall. The Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance is a registered 501 (c) 3 nonprofit health and wellness education organization. For more information about the Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance contact us or visit our website at www.montereybayholistic.com.

Disclaimer:  The Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance is a charitable, independent registered nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and does not endorse any particular products or practices. We exist as an educational organization dedicated to providing free access to health education resources, products and services. Claims and statements herein are for informational purposes only and have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The statements about organizations, practitioners, methods of treatment, and products listed on this website are not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information is intended for educational purposes only. The MBHA strongly recommends that you seek out your trusted medical doctor or practitioner for diagnosis and treatment of any existing health condition.

Can Aloe Vera Prevent and Treat Skin Cancer?

The latest  buzz is that aloe vera can help prevent and treat skin cancer. Is this true or rumor? What does research say about aloe vera?

HISTORY OF ALOE VERA
Aloe vera can be traced back to ancient Egyptian times. The leaves contain a clear gel that can be used as an ointment and the green part of the leaf can be used to create a juice or a dried product that can be ingested orally.  Throughout history, it has been used topically to heal wounds, soothe skin conditions, and to aid in constipation when ingested orally as a laxative.  Aloe vera has also been ingested for a variety of other conditions including diabetes symptoms, asthma, epilepsy, and osteoarthritis.  It’s been used as a cream to heal and relieve osteoarthritis pain, burns, sunburns, and psoriasis and can be found in over-the-counter skin products.  But what does scientific research say about aloe vera?

USING ALOE VERA TO HEAL THE SKIN
Multiple studies have been conducted, primarily with mice, on the effects of aloe vera on healing the skin such as a study by V. Thamlikitkul  and others, published in the 1991 Siriraj Hosp Gazzette,  showing that aloe vera is effective as an ointment in relieving and soothing pain and inflammation.

Reuter and other researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial compared the anti-inflammatory effect of 97.5% pure aloe vera gel to 1% hydrocortisone and a placebo gel. They concluded that the if the aloe vera gel, was applied under an occlusive bandage for 2 days following UV exposure, it significantly reduced inflammation compared to placebo gel or 1% hydrocortisone in placebo gel, but was less effective than 1% hydrocortisone cream. The authors suggest that aloe vera gel might be useful for the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions.

Choonhakarn and others conducted a randomized, double-blind clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of a prepared 70% aloe vera gel for the treatment of oral lichen planus infections compared to the base gel alone and reported a significant improvement of symptoms in the aloe vera group.

ALOE VERA AND CANCER
A few studies have been conducted on the effects of aloe vera and cancer. Many studies have been used with human skin cells in a laboratory or mice,  such as the 2007 study led by M. Saini, “Anti-tumor activity of Aloe vera against DMBA/croton oil-induced skin papillomagenesis in Swiss albino mice,”  from the Journal of Environmental Pathology Toxology and Oncology.  This study showed that aloe vera might be helpful in reducing or treating cancer in mice but the researchers concluded that more studies are needed.

Researcher Popadic,  and others, from the University of Belgrade School of Medicine found that Aloe vera and its constituents inhibit the process of skin cell production that accompanies skin cancer in a laboratory study. The researchers tested Aloe-emodin, (a part of Aloe), with human skin cells – keratinocytes – after being treated with radiation. Once radiated, keratinocytes will typically develop in the form skin tumors.  The researchers found that the Aloe-emodin was significantly beneficial in stopping the progression of tumor formation after radiation by the sun. Further research is needed.  No clinical research using human beings has been conducted.

Chen, and other researchers from the China Medical University found anticancer effect was greater with Emodin, as compared with Aloe-emodin and Rhein. But Aloe-emodin was observed having stronger cell repair abilities with the cells that hadn’t  yet become cancerous. The researchers found that Aloe Emodin and Rhein stopped tumor progression and caused cancer cell death.

There is early evidence that oral aloe vera may reduce the risk of developing lung cancer. Further research is needed in this area to clarify whether it is aloe itself or other factors that may cause this benefit.  One study conducted in Italy in 2009, tested 240 patients using aloe vera with chemotherapy for people for lung cancer, bowel cancer, or stomach cancer. Half the patients took liquid aloe vera three times a day in combination with standard chemotherapy treatment. In this study the cancer was controlled or shrank for a time in 67% of patients who had the combined aloe and chemotherapy treatment and in 50% of patients who had chemotherapy alone. Researchers said that patients using aloe vera had a better quality of life and that they had fewer chemotherapy side effects such as numb fingers and fatigue.  More research is needed under more controlled settings.

WHAT ARE THE NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS OF ALOE VERA? 
Does ingesting aloe vera have negative side effects?  No studies have shown negative effects of using aloe vera on the skin.   However, aloe vera, when digested, has a laxative effect and is effective for relieving constipation, but it can be the cause of diarrhea.

Some countries approve of injecting aloe vera. Injecting aloe vera is illegal in the USA an UK and can have serious side effects.

A two-year National Toxicology Program (NTP) study on oral ingestion of non-decolorized whole leaf extract of aloe vera found clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in male and female rats, based on tumors of the large intestine.   According to the NTP, from what is known, they cannot predict that these findings are relevant to humans. The researchers concluded that more research and information is needed, including to determine how individuals use different types of aloe vera products, and the potential risks to humans.

Although aloe vera appears to be a promising alternative treatment for a variety of ailments, researchers agree that more controlled studies are needed to determine its effectiveness, both as a topical ointment or when ingested. The majority of research has been with skin cells and with laboratory animals, and therefore, researchers cannot accurately predict its effectiveness on human beings.

REFERENCES

Chen YY, Chiang SY, Lin JG, Yang JS, Ma YS, Liao CL, Lai TY, Tang NY, Chung JG. Emodin, aloe-emodin and rhein induced DNA damage and inhibited DNA repair gene expression in SCC-4 human tongue cancer cells. Anticancer Res. 2010 Mar;30(3):945-51.

Choonhakarn C, Busaracome P, Sripanidkulchai B, Sarakarn P. The efficacy of aloe vera gel in the treatment of oral lichen planus: a randomized controlled trial. Br J Dermatol. 2008;158(3):573-77.

Popadic D, Savic E, Ramic Z, Djordjevic V, Trajkovic V, Medenica L, Popadic S. Aloe-emodin inhibits proliferation of adult human keratinocytes in vitro. J Cosmet Sci. 2012 Sep-Oct;63(5):297-302.

Reuter J, Jocher A, Stump J, Grossjohann B, Franke G, Schempp CM. Investigation of the anti-inflammatory potential of Aloe vera gel (97.5%) in the ultraviolet erythema test. Skin Pharmacol Physiol.2008;21(2):106-10.

Saini M, Goyal PK, Chaudhary G. Anti-tumor activity of Aloe vera against DMBA/croton oil-induced skin papillomagenesis in Swiss albino mice. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 2010;29(2):127-35.

Thamlikitkul V, Bunyapraphatsara N, Riewpaiboon W, Theerapong S, Chantrakul C, Thanaveerasuwan T. Clinical trial of aloe vera Linn. for treatment of minor burns. Siriraj Hosp Gaz.1991;43(5):313-316.
_____________________________________

This article is written by Jean Voice Dart, M.S. Special Education from Illinois State University. Jean is a published author and has written hundreds of health articles as well as hosting a local television program, “Making Miracles Happen.” She is a Registered Music Therapist, Sound Therapist, and Master Level Energetic Teacher, and is the Executive Director, founder and Health and Wellness Educator of the Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance. The Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance is a registered 501 (c) 3 nonprofit health and wellness education organization. For more information about the Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance contact us or visit our website at www.montereybayholistic.com.  Images used in this article are free public domain from Pixabay.com or Publicdomainpictures.net

Disclaimer: The Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance is a charitable, independent registered nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and does not endorse any particular products or practices. We exist as an educational organization dedicated to providing free access to health education resources, products and services. Claims and statements herein are for informational purposes only and have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The statements about organizations, practitioners, methods of treatment, and products listed on this website are not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information is intended for educational purposes only. The MBHA strongly recommends that you seek out your trusted medical doctor or practitioner for diagnosis and treatment of any existing health condition.