If you have an ear to the ground in holistic/herbal cancer support, you have

no doubt heard of mistletoe (Viscum album) and the numerous clinical trials taking place with this cytotoxic (toxic to living cells, in this case – toxic to cancer cells) plant. In recent years we have seen the popularity of this plant soar as funding is made available for additional cancer research.

This is not the first time extensive clinical research in herbal medicine has

happened.

 

An excellent example took place in the early to mid 1960s with the use of the Pacific Yew tree (Taxus brevifolia). In 1964 the Research Triangle Institute (RTI), under the guidance of Dr. Wall and Mansukh Wani isolated the medicinal constituent Taxol, which was later used to create the

chemotherapy drug Tamoxifen. As history often repeats itself, I foresee

something to this effect likely taking place with Mistletoe as science

continues to unravel what it considers to be the most promising “active

ingredients” from this plant ally.

 

As an herbalist who works in the realm of natural medicine supporting clients actively on their cancer journey, there are a myriad of other herbs that are readily available to support each individual seeking help from our beautiful plant allies. I’ve never been one who believes in blanket solutions, but instead, I see each person as a unique human with their own complex and complete story – what works for one may not work for another. This is why having a variety of herbs at one’s disposal can often lead to more efficient and effective holistic support. In saying this, I wanted to share some of my favorites and some of the clinical research and traditional uses behind each wonderful plant.

 

 

 

Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) – This is by far one of my favorite adaptogenic and immunomodulating herbs. Reishi has been used for thousands of years and has a long-standing history in traditional Japanese herbalism and traditional Chinese medicine. It is considered by most to be one of the oldest known medicinal mushrooms. One of the benefits of Reishi is that its adaptogenic properties helps the body adapt to stressors (such as the inflammatory long-term stress associated with chronic illness), and its immunomodulating activities, allowing it to help modulate immune responses up or down. 

 

I have used this herb to support individuals with low immune reaction, and in contrast have used this herb to support individuals with over-active immune responses as seen in autoimmune. This beautiful mushroom is also protective to the liver, is a powerful antioxidant, and has strong anti-tumor properties. In clinical research we have seen that it is potently protective when it comes to radiation exposure and the damages associated with this type of cancer treatment.

 

 

 

 

Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) – Uncaria tomentosa has been used in Peru for over 2000 years but was first introduced to Europe in the 1990s as a natural supplement for AIDS and cancer. I was first introduced to the

tremendous potential of Cat’s Claw in the early 2000’s and have not been

able to set this herb down. Cat’s Claw is a woody vine native to the Amazon rainforest and other tropical regions of Central and South America. It is also found in areas like Mexico, Brazil, and northern Argentina. The name refers to the small, hook-like thorns that resemble a cat’s claw. This herb is ancient indigenous medicine and has a tremendously long history of use within many South American indigenous cultures. It’s not a plant that I use lightly, but rather one that I hold tremendous respect for and gratitude for its abilities. 

 

Though this is not a plant that has current in-depth clinical research, we know that it is highly anti-inflammatory, has the potential to help with Th1 inflammatory dominance, and that it has high potential for being anti- mutagenic (against cancer cell mutation) and anti-angiogenic (In the context of cancer, anti-angiogenic agents are used to starve tumors by blocking the growth of blood vessels that supply nutrients and oxygen) activity. We also know that it has potent immune-stimulating action and is a strong antioxidant. Another promising activity of Cat’s Claw is its ability to potentially regulate proper cellular apoptosis (natural cell death) which was revealed through caspases activation, down-regulation of Bcl-X(L), up-regulation of Bax, and cytochrome c release. Lastly, it is a highly utilized herb in South American folk medicine for breast cancer. 

 

Studies now reveal that its bark’s extract affects the growth of breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) through anti-proliferative action on cancer cell lines (MCF-7). It is also reported that Cat’s Claw contains anti-proliferative alkaloids such as pteropodine, uncarine, oxindole, and isopterpodine which are responsible for causing apoptosis (cellular death).

 

 

 

All-Heal(Prunella vulgaris) - also known as Self-Heal, is considered an

Invasive weed that is happy to take over your lawn. Here in the Pacific

Northwest, it grows in abundance during the summer months. It is native to

Europe and Asia, where it has long been used in traditional herbal medicine.

The classic authors once considered this herb to be one of the best and most reliable wound healers due to its ability to stop bleeding and increase cellular granulation. 

 

This herb is no stranger to even the most basic community herbalist and holds generations of use in both Western Herbalism and Traditional Chinese Medicine where it is referred to as Xia Ku Cao, meaning “Summer Dry Herb”. With its incredible ability to heal wounds, modern research has also found it to have the potential to be anti-angiogenic against cancerous tumors, a powerful antioxidant, an innate immune modulator, liver restorative, and a potent systemic tonic that supports immune restoration.

 

In modern clinical research we have seen that Prunella vulgaris

has the potential to inhibit metastasis and promote the apoptosis

of many kinds of tumor cells through different pathways. Triterpene compounds 2α-hydroxy ursolic acid and ursolic acid significantly inhibit breast cancer cells MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and normal breast cells MCF-10A. Betulinic acid (found in Prunella vulgaris) is reported to inhibit only breast cancer cells MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 but has no effects on normal breast cells MCF-10. To further this, Betulinic acid is also able to cross the blood/brain barrier, giving this herb theoretic potential against brain tumors and brain cancer.

 

 

 

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) – Not your common walnut, the black walnut is an anti-inflammatory powerhouse when it comes to natural support. It is the green hull surrounding the under ripe fruit of the black walnut tree that has great value. It is also what makes this support herb a “tough nut to crack”.

 

The green fresh hull loses its medicinal value as it dries, meaning this herbal support ally needs to be harvested and tinctured from fresh components which is likely why a potent and clean extract can sometimes be hard to source.

 

As we know, cancer is considered an inflammatory disease, and chronic

inflammation leads to chronic inflammatory disease (sometimes this means cancer, but not always). Because of this, I list black walnut as one of my favorite holistic cancer support herbs.

 

Research now reveals that black walnut contains at least 26 substances

known to be anti-inflammatory in nature. These include flavanols,

hydroxybenzoic acids, and ellagitannins.

Black walnut possesses compounds that exert an inhibitory effect on the

secretion of six measured cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and MCP-1). Cytokines play vital roles in mediating pathological responses. TNF, IL-1, and IL-6 are pivotal cytokines in regulating innate and adaptive immune responses associated with disease onset and persistence, and TNF and IL-1 are signature innate cytokines in a variety of inflammatory diseases.

 

Green walnut and its extracts have shown antitumor activity against

glioblastoma and gastric cancer cells, among other types of cancer cells. The extract from walnut possesses high potential for anti-inflammatory and

anticancer qualities.

 

 

 

American Paw-paw (Asimina triloba)- Some of us have heard of this herb, but most of us likely have not. Asimina triloba, or American Paw-paw is North America’s only native soft fruit. Native to the East Coast, it is a tree which bears a fruit resembling a mango in appearance. In herbal medicine, it is not commonly the fruit that is used, but rather the young sprouted green twigs which are harvested in the spring. This powerful herbal ally holds

tremendous potential (in my opinion) in our continued fight against cancer

and is one that I have enjoyed working with. This plant is for the most part a

mystery when it comes to allopathic clinical research, but we have quite a bit of traditional knowledge on its uses.

 

The pawpaw tree has several beneficial effects. However, no official clinical

studies have been conducted to address the mechanisms underlying the

cytotoxic effects of pawpaw extracts against cancer cells, and no study has

investigated the anti-inflammatory effects.

 

Despite this, some recent research shows us that findings indicate that pawpaw extracts are natural therapeutic agents that may be used for the prevention and treatment of gastric and cervical cancers and encourage further studies on the anti-inflammatory potential of the pawpaw tree.

 

Products that contain twig extracts of pawpaw (Asimina triloba) are widely

consumed anticancer alternative medicines.

 

Pawpaw crude extract and purified acetogenins (from Asimina triloba) inhibited hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1)-mediated hypoxic signaling pathways in tumor cells. In a recent study, both the extract and the purified acetogenins (from Asimina triloba)

blocked the angiogenesis-stimulating activity of hypoxic T47D cells

in vitro.

 

Pawpaw extract and acetogenins inhibited HIF-1 activation by blocking the

hypoxic induction of nuclear HIF-1α protein. The inhibition of HIF-1 activation was associated with the suppression of mitochondrial respiration. 

 

Thus, the inhibition of HIF-1 activation and hypoxic tumor angiogenesis constitutes a novel mechanism of action for these anticancer alternative medicines. Indigenous healers, traditional herbalists, and many associated with holistic healing are well informed of Paw-paw and many have used it to support their clients.

 

Pawpaw fruit contains high concentrations of annonacin, which may be toxic

to nerve cells. Therefore, chronic high dosage use should be avoided without the guidance of a trained professional, this reasoning can be applied to many of our stronger herbal allies. It is always best to work with a trained

practitioner.

 

 

 

Though we visited five herbal allies associated with natural cancer support,

there are many more herbs at our disposal. The beautiful thing about herbal

medicine is that plants have primary and secondary actions, allowing a well-

versed herbal practitioner to be as specific and individual as their client

when it comes to herbal formulation.

 

Unlike many umbrella products and protocols, formulations from a trained

clinical herbalist/natural medicine practitioner allow for the full holistic

support of the individual – as each client is not their disease, but an

individual who deserves to be heard, validated, and supported in the full

scope of mind, body, and spirit.

 

 

With love and healing from the plant world,

 

 

Clinical Herbal Practitioner

Doctorate of Natural Medicine

 

 

 

 

 

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