3 Common Herbs for Cancer Prevention

I am always reminding people of the quote "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." More and more people are actually prescribing to this philosophy and are changing their habits in an attempt to become healthier. One of the many things that people are doing these days is to take antioxidants as a way to decrease their risk of developing cancer. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this is a good time to bring to people's attention three very common herbs that can be used in the battle against cancer.

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao)
Chocoholics unite! Feel free to throw a chocolate party for your family and friends. Just be sure to serve dark chocolate, since milk and white chocolate do not have the same health benefits as the dark.

Most of us have probably heard in the news that dark chocolate can be good for your heart. Regular consumption can also lower your blood pressure. In fact, the Germans discovered that 3½ ounces of dark chocolate daily can lower blood pressure as much as such medications as atenolol and propranolol. (Bless the Germans!) Harvard studies have concurred and even discovered that cocoa and dark chocolate can significantly reduce LDL (the bad) cholesterol while raising the HDL (the good) cholesterol, plus help to prevent blood clots. Additional studies done at Harvard and also in Panama indicate that dark chocolate may very well be a weapon to use in the battle against cancer as well. For example, Harvard researchers found over a number of years that men who ate only 1-3 dark chocolate bars per month had a 36% lower death rate from cancer, as well as other diseases.

Dark chocolate may not be the definitive answer to battling cancer, but it can't hurt. Tell your friends that you are just taking your herbal medicine.

Warnings: Chocolate contains caffeine. Really good dark chocolate can actually cause caffeine addiction with such accompanying problems as insomnia and irritability. For example, a young girl in my class when I was studying in Germany loved her chocolate. Germany's chocolate is very good and quite potent. This normally sweet, quiet girl became irritable and aggressive, resulting in our German professor having to ration her chocolate.

Garlic (Allium sativum)
Garlic is another common herb with which most of us are familiar as an herb that is great for your heart. It is also a very powerful antioxidant, which can help to prevent the cell damage that often leads to cancer. The Iowa Women's Health Study found that regular consumption of garlic cut the risk of developing colon cancer by 35 percent. A Dutch study discovered that eating onions (a relative of garlic) reduced the risk of stomach cancer, while the Chinese found that garlic did the same. You really do not have to rush out and buy garlic capsules either. Just add a few gloves to your meals every week. (I tend to put garlic in everything.) This is one herbal medication that can be quite enjoyable to take.

Warnings: Garlic has anti-coagulant properties; therefore, if you are on anti-coagulant medications or taking medicinal amounts of vitamin E to reduce blood clotting, consult with your physician before using garlic in medicinal amounts.

Tea (Camellia sinensis)
Tea is second only to water as the world's most popular beverage. There have been a lot of reports in the news about the benefits of drinking green tea. The antioxidant compounds in tea, specifically epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG), gives tea its health benefits. The process by which the herb is made into the teas that we drink determine just how much of this EGCG is retained. White and green teas retain more antioxidants, while black teas contain the least. (Oolong falls somewhere in the middle.) Research done around the world has discovered that regular consumption of tea; i.e., green tea, reduces the risk of developing all major cancers, including leukemia. Those tea drinkers who do develop cancer tend to do so later in life, develop milder forms, and experience less chances of recurrence.

Warnings: Tea contains caffeine, which can cause insomnia, nervousness, and irritability.

References:

Castleman, Michael. The New Healing Herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Inc., 2009.

Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications: Chocolate and your health -- guilty pleasure or terrific treat?