Herbal Treatments for Chemotherapy Side Effects in Cancer Patients

As a cancer patient, you are familiar with the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy: Nausea, hair-loss, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Fortunately there are some natural remedies you can try to help alleviate these unpleasant side effects of chemo. As always, check with your health care provider before using these remedies, as herbs can sometimes have drug interactions.

1. Milk Thistle
A liver-tonic that has been used for thousands of years, Milk Thistle helps protect the liver from toxins like those found in chemo cocktails. Milk Thistle is so powerful that it has even been shown to protect against liver damage from poisonous mushrooms! You can find it at any pharmacy or drugstore, and even most supermarkets. It works by increasing bile production in the liver, bile which might otherwise become stagnant and sludgy, especially if you're eating less while undergoing chemo.

2. Ginger
For nausea, try ginger. You can get ginger in a variety of products, from straight raw ginger to ginger ale to lollipops with ginger. Raw ginger is best, just slice it up and mix it in warm water to create a tea. If you do drink ginger ale, do so in moderation as the sugar can actually feed cancer cells that the chemo is designed to destroy. Cancer cells live exclusively on blood sugar (glucose) and you do not want to feed them.

3. Arrowroot
For burning or pain in your stomach, mix one teaspoon of arrowroot or kudzu in 6 ounces of water.

4. Aloe Vera
To help stimulate hair growth, apply some aloe vera gel to bald spots. While this doesn't work for everyone, cultures have used it for many hundreds of years as a skin protectant and hair tonic. Aloe vera also works orally as a laxative to relieve constipation caused by dehydration.

5. Echinacea
Chemo can severely weaken the immune system, making you more susceptible to serious infections like the flu. Echinacea is an herb that the Chinese have used for thousands of years to strengthen the immune system. Many people supplement with it during the Winter months to prevent sickness, but as a chemo patient, you may want to take this to prevent illnesses that can worsen your fatigue.