Alternative therapy refers to treatments that are promoted as cancer cures. They are unproven because they have not been scientifically tested, or were tested and found to be ineffective. They are often promoted by people outside of the medical field. If used instead of standard treatment, the patient may suffer, either from lack of helpful treatment or because the alternative treatment is actually harmful.
The term unproven can be confusing because it is sometimes used to refer to treatments with little basis in scientific fact, while it may also refer to treatments or tests that are under investigation.
HERBAL MEDICINE
WHAT IS IT?
Herbal medicine is the use of plants or plant parts in their natural state - without chemical processing - as medication for aches, pains, and illness. Herbal remedies contain many chemical ingredients, some helpful and others dangerous. Herbs are sold dried, finely chopped, powdered, in capsule or liquid form. Products may include only the leaf, root, or another specific part, or they may contain the entire plant. Herbal remedies also are sold as a combination of different plants. They may be swallowed as tablets or capsules, brewed as teas, applied to the skin as gels, or added to bath water.
Unlike approval medicines, herbs may contain harmful ingredients or contaminants along with those thought to be helpful. Because whole plants (or parts such as leaves, roots, etc.) are ground up, chemical interactions might take place causing harmful side effects.
Although promoted as cancer cures, neither Essiac, mistletoe, Pau D'Arco, chaparral tea, or any other herbal remedy cures cancer.
WILL IT HELP?
As a general rule, many herbal remedies can be used safely as alternatives to over-the-counter medications for minor ailments that people tend to treat themselves. However, herbal medicines should not to be used instead of mainstream drugs to combat life-threatening diseases such as cancer.
