As researchers still search for the cure for cancer, many studies have turned to natural treatments, remedies, and supplements for answers. Recently, a team of Chinese scientists uncovered a surprising, natural cancer-fighting extract: chrysanthemum. Their research built on previous suppositions that this herb has many beneficial healing properties, and has possibly found yet another use for it.
What Is Chrysanthemum Extract?
Known as a common flower, the mum, Chrysanthemum indicum extract (CIE) exhibits “antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunodulatory, and neuroprotective effects,” according to a recent paper published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology. The study was conducted by the Xi’an Jiaotong University School of Medicine in China and the results published in the September 2009 issue of the journal.
CIE has shown a strong amount of anticancer activity in studies focused on liver cancer, metastatic breast cancer, and esophageal carcinoma. Treating postoperative patients of metastatic breast cancer with CIE resulted in a five-year survival rate of 70% and a remission rate of 60%. A Chinese study, using CIE in conjunction with other traditional Chinese medicines, had a 67% response rate in patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma. Scientists expect CIE can combat other forms of cancer as well, although more research is needed.
How Does CIE Treat Cancer?
CIE interferes with the growth cycles of malignant cells, ending the rapid spread of the cancer cells in the body. The extract reprograms cells to die instead of grow by rewriting their mitochondrial code. When given enough time to spread from cell to cell, CIE destroys the cancer completely.
CIE does all of this without harming healthy human cells. In fact, it had no effect on healthy cells surrounding cancer cells, leading scientists to conclude that CIE could become a very promising future treatment for cancer.
Other Benefits of the Chrysanthemum
Alternatively, CIE can actually help human cells, as it has long been used by traditional healers around the world to treat dizziness, headaches, fevers, and inflammation. Modern medicine uses CIE to treat vertigo, hypertension, pneumonia and colitis, among other conditions. Chrysanthemums, as a flower, are also known for their improvement to air quality when kept as houseplants. Considering these benefits, and its cancer-fighting properties, CIE may become an extract used for total health and wellness in individuals.
As one of over 3,000 herbs shown to provide anti-cancer benefits, CIE might best be paired with other herbal supplements to optimize its effectiveness. Further research and studies will be needed, but scientists remain optimistic that the clearest way to fight cancer may be a natural remedy.
References:
- Baker, S. "Stop and Kill Cancer Cells: Chrysanthemums could Hold the Key, Chinese Scientists Find." Natural News.
- Huff, E. "New Research shows powerful tumor-destroying effects of Chrysanthemum extracts." Natural News.
Stephanie Haddad - Stephanie Haddad is a freelance writer living in the Boston area with her husband, their dog, and their new daughter. She focuses her work ...
