Every year nearly 45,000 new cases of leukemia are diagnosed in the US, as per the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Leukemia is a kind of cancer that develops in the bone marrow. The bone marrow is responsible for the production of blood cells. If the DNA of a white blood cell is damaged, the cell will begin to multiply at an extremely alarming rate. Such a cell can proliferate to such an extent that it can outnumber other healthy blood cells. This is what leukemia is. When white blood cells are not functioning properly, a person becomes susceptible to infections, bleeding without clotting and anemia. As a result, they lose weight fast and have an inefficient immune system. While conventional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy are available for leukemia, some people prefer herbal treatments as they do not have side effects.
However, before a person starts any kind of herbal treatment for leukemia, it is best he/she first consults an oncologist, as the herbs may interfere with the medications the person is already taking. Also, it is not advisable to stop any form of treatment or medication without first consulting an oncologist.
Green tea is considered effective for leukemia. It is made from dried and wilted leaves. Some tea plants, like Camellia sinensis, are used for making green tea. It has been a popular beverage for several centuries, deriving its origin from Chinese medicine. Scientists are now exploring green tea extracts, which have epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), for leukemia patients. This compound is believed to have anticancer properties. The Clinical Cancer Research published a paper in 2009 that stated when these extracts were used along with curcumin, they showed result because the active component is turmeric root. In a test tube research, the results showed that there was a change in the cell death mechanism in case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. This treatment has showed some favorable results, like resistance to the normal cell death. However, green tea treatment cannot completely replace conventional cancer treatment.
The scientific name of mistletoe is Viscum album, and it is an evergreen and a semi-parasitic plant, which grows on oak tree and poplar. An ingredient called the lectin found in mistletoe extract acts as an anticancer agent. This compound alters the chemicals and also bonds outside the cell, as per the research conducted by the University of Maryland Medical Center. In 2010, an article published in the Journal of Leukemia and Lymphoma stated that mistletoe has been used in European hospitals for treating mistletoes for some time now. A laboratory research on mistletoe proved that it had anticancer properties. However, the dosages should be administered just by an experienced physician.
Turmeric is an herb and has several medicinal properties. It has been used for healing different ailments, including cancer, for several centuries. In fact, turmeric is a popular cure in Asian cultures from something as simple as cut to something as serious as cancer.