List of unproven and disproven cancer treatments: Difference between revisions
Appearance
Content deleted Content added
fixed editors, according to Google Books page |
removed accessdates w/o date values (they throw errors; see Category:CS1 errors: dates) |
||
Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
|title=Aromatherapy |
|title=Aromatherapy |
||
|date=November 2008 |
|date=November 2008 |
||
|accessdate=September 2013 |
|||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/aromatherapy}}</ref> |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/aromatherapy}}</ref> |
||
* [[Ayurvedic medicine]] – a 5,000-year-old system of traditional medicine which originated on the Indian subcontinent. According to [[Cancer Research UK]], "there is no scientific evidence to prove that Ayurvedic medicine can treat or cure cancer or any other disease".<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Ayurvedic medicine]] – a 5,000-year-old system of traditional medicine which originated on the Indian subcontinent. According to [[Cancer Research UK]], "there is no scientific evidence to prove that Ayurvedic medicine can treat or cure cancer or any other disease".<ref>{{cite web |
||
Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
||
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/ayurvedic-medicine |
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/ayurvedic-medicine |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* German New Medicine – a popular medical system devised by [[Ryke Geerd Hamer]] (1935 – ), in which all disease is seen as deriving from emotional shock, and mainstream medicine is regarded as a [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy]] promulgated by [[Jews]]. There is no evidence to support its claims, and no biological reason why it should work.<ref>{{cite journal|pmid=22957409|year=2012|last1=Cassileth|first1=BR|last2=Yarett|first2=IR|title=Cancer quackery: The persistent popularity of useless, irrational 'alternative' treatments|volume=26|issue=8|pages=754–8|journal=Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.)}}</ref> |
* German New Medicine – a popular medical system devised by [[Ryke Geerd Hamer]] (1935 – ), in which all disease is seen as deriving from emotional shock, and mainstream medicine is regarded as a [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy]] promulgated by [[Jews]]. There is no evidence to support its claims, and no biological reason why it should work.<ref>{{cite journal|pmid=22957409|year=2012|last1=Cassileth|first1=BR|last2=Yarett|first2=IR|title=Cancer quackery: The persistent popularity of useless, irrational 'alternative' treatments|volume=26|issue=8|pages=754–8|journal=Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.)}}</ref> |
||
* [[Herbalism]] – a whole-body approach to promoting health, in which substances are derived from entire plants so as not to disturb what herbalists believe is the delicate chemistry of the plant as a whole.<ref name="cruk-herbs">{{cite web |
* [[Herbalism]] – a whole-body approach to promoting health, in which substances are derived from entire plants so as not to disturb what herbalists believe is the delicate chemistry of the plant as a whole.<ref name="cruk-herbs">{{cite web |
||
Line 20: | Line 20: | ||
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/herbal-medicine |
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/herbal-medicine |
||
|title=Herbal medicine |
|title=Herbal medicine |
||
}}</ref> According to Cancer Research UK, "there is currently no strong evidence from studies in people that herbal remedies can treat, prevent or cure cancer".<ref name="cruk-herbs" /> |
|||
* [[Holistic medicine]] – a general term for an approach to medicine which encompasses mental and spiritual aspects, and which is manifested in sundry complementary and alternative methods. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that these complementary and alternative methods, when used without mainstream or conventional medicine, are effective in treating cancer or any other disease".<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Holistic medicine]] – a general term for an approach to medicine which encompasses mental and spiritual aspects, and which is manifested in sundry complementary and alternative methods. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that these complementary and alternative methods, when used without mainstream or conventional medicine, are effective in treating cancer or any other disease".<ref>{{cite web |
||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/holistic-medicine |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/holistic-medicine |
||
Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
|title=Homeopathy |
|title=Homeopathy |
||
|date=12 February 2013 |
|date=12 February 2013 |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* [[Native American healing]] – [[shamanistic]] forms of medicine traditionally practiced by some indigenous American peoples and which have been claimed as being capable of curing human diseases, including cancer.<ref name=acs-nam/> The American Cancer Society say that while its supportive, community aspects might improve general well-being, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that Native American healing can cure cancer or any other disease".<ref name=acs-nam>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/native-american-healing|title=Native American healing|date=November 2008|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|accessdate=22 September 2013}}</ref> |
* [[Native American healing]] – [[shamanistic]] forms of medicine traditionally practiced by some indigenous American peoples and which have been claimed as being capable of curing human diseases, including cancer.<ref name=acs-nam/> The American Cancer Society say that while its supportive, community aspects might improve general well-being, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that Native American healing can cure cancer or any other disease".<ref name=acs-nam>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/native-american-healing|title=Native American healing|date=November 2008|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|accessdate=22 September 2013}}</ref> |
||
* [[Naturopathy]] – a system of alternative medicine based on a belief in energy forces in the body, and an avoidance of conventional medicine; it is promoted as a treatment for cancer and other ailments. According to the American Cancer Society, "scientific evidence does not support claims that naturopathic medicine can cure cancer or any other disease".<ref>{{cite web| title =Naturopathic Medicine | publisher =[[American Cancer Society]] | date =November 2008 | url =http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/MindBodyandSpirit/naturopathic-medicine |
* [[Naturopathy]] – a system of alternative medicine based on a belief in energy forces in the body, and an avoidance of conventional medicine; it is promoted as a treatment for cancer and other ailments. According to the American Cancer Society, "scientific evidence does not support claims that naturopathic medicine can cure cancer or any other disease".<ref>{{cite web| title =Naturopathic Medicine | publisher =[[American Cancer Society]] | date =November 2008 | url =http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/MindBodyandSpirit/naturopathic-medicine }}</ref> |
||
== Diet-based == |
== Diet-based == |
||
[[File:Johanna Budwig.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Johanna Budwig]] – inventor of a [[flaxseed]]-based diet|alt=photo portrait of Johanna Budwig, an elderly lady with gray hair and a floral dress]] |
[[File:Johanna Budwig.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Johanna Budwig]] – inventor of a [[flaxseed]]-based diet|alt=photo portrait of Johanna Budwig, an elderly lady with gray hair and a floral dress]] |
||
* [[Alkaline diet]] – a restrictive diet of non-acid foods, such as that proposed by [[Edgar Cayce]] (1877–1945),<ref>{{cite book|last1=Aletheia|first1=T.R.|title=Cancer : an American con$piracy|date=2010|isbn=9781936400553|page=43|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pBr9KDr8cOwC&pg=PA43&dq=edgar+cayce|quote=In the long run, the best diet to follow is one that promotes an alkaline pH using the 80/20 rule. The diet that best epitomizes this rule is the Edgar Cayce diet.}}</ref> based on the claim this will affect the [[pH]] of the body generally, so reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer. According to the [[Canadian Cancer Society]], "there is no evidence to support any of these claims."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.ca/en/prevention-and-screening/be-aware/cancer-myths-and-controversies/an-alkaline-diet-and-cancer|title=An alkaline diet and cancer|publisher=[[Canadian Cancer Society]] |
* [[Alkaline diet]] – a restrictive diet of non-acid foods, such as that proposed by [[Edgar Cayce]] (1877–1945),<ref>{{cite book|last1=Aletheia|first1=T.R.|title=Cancer : an American con$piracy|date=2010|isbn=9781936400553|page=43|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pBr9KDr8cOwC&pg=PA43&dq=edgar+cayce|quote=In the long run, the best diet to follow is one that promotes an alkaline pH using the 80/20 rule. The diet that best epitomizes this rule is the Edgar Cayce diet.}}</ref> based on the claim this will affect the [[pH]] of the body generally, so reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer. According to the [[Canadian Cancer Society]], "there is no evidence to support any of these claims."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.ca/en/prevention-and-screening/be-aware/cancer-myths-and-controversies/an-alkaline-diet-and-cancer|title=An alkaline diet and cancer|publisher=[[Canadian Cancer Society]]}}</ref> |
||
* [[Breuss diet]] – a diet based on vegetable juice and tea devised by [[Rudolf Breuss]] (1899–1990), who claimed it could cure cancer. Physicians have said that, in common with other "cancer diets", there is no evidence of effectiveness and some risk of harm.<ref>{{cite journal|pmid=23152069|year=2012|last1=Hübner|first1=J|last2=Marienfeld|first2=S|last3=Abbenhardt|first3=C|last4=Ulrich|first4=CM|last5=Löser|first5=C|title=How useful are diets against cancer?|volume=137|issue=47|pages=2417–22|doi=10.1055/s-0032-1327276|journal=Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift |
* [[Breuss diet]] – a diet based on vegetable juice and tea devised by [[Rudolf Breuss]] (1899–1990), who claimed it could cure cancer. Physicians have said that, in common with other "cancer diets", there is no evidence of effectiveness and some risk of harm.<ref>{{cite journal|pmid=23152069|year=2012|last1=Hübner|first1=J|last2=Marienfeld|first2=S|last3=Abbenhardt|first3=C|last4=Ulrich|first4=CM|last5=Löser|first5=C|title=How useful are diets against cancer?|volume=137|issue=47|pages=2417–22|doi=10.1055/s-0032-1327276|journal=Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift |
||
}}</ref> |
}}</ref> |
||
* [[Budwig protocol]] (or Budwig diet) – an anti-cancer diet developed in the 1950s by [[Johanna Budwig]] (1908–2003). The diet is rich in [[flaxseed oil]] mixed with cottage cheese, and emphasizes meals high in fruits, vegetables, and fiber; it avoids sugar, animal fats, salad oil, meats, butter, and especially margarine. Cancer Research UK say, "there is no reliable evidence to show that the Budwig diet [...] helps people with cancer".<ref>{{cite web| title = What is the Budwig diet?| publisher = [[Cancer Research UK]]| url = http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/cancer-questions/what-is-the-budwig-diet |
* [[Budwig protocol]] (or Budwig diet) – an anti-cancer diet developed in the 1950s by [[Johanna Budwig]] (1908–2003). The diet is rich in [[flaxseed oil]] mixed with cottage cheese, and emphasizes meals high in fruits, vegetables, and fiber; it avoids sugar, animal fats, salad oil, meats, butter, and especially margarine. Cancer Research UK say, "there is no reliable evidence to show that the Budwig diet [...] helps people with cancer".<ref>{{cite web| title = What is the Budwig diet?| publisher = [[Cancer Research UK]]| url = http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/cancer-questions/what-is-the-budwig-diet}}</ref> |
||
* [[Fasting]] – not eating or drinking for a period – a practice which has been claimed by some alternative medicine practitioners to help fight cancer, perhaps by "starving" tumors. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that fasting is effective for preventing or treating cancer in humans".{{Citation needed|reason=Unsourced quote|date=February 2016}} |
* [[Fasting]] – not eating or drinking for a period – a practice which has been claimed by some alternative medicine practitioners to help fight cancer, perhaps by "starving" tumors. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that fasting is effective for preventing or treating cancer in humans".{{Citation needed|reason=Unsourced quote|date=February 2016}} |
||
* Hallelujah diet – a restrictive "biblical" diet based on raw food, claimed by its inventor to have cured his cancer. [[Stephen Barrett]] has written on Quackwatch: "Although low-fat, high-fiber diets can be healthful, the Hallelujah Diet is unbalanced and can lead to serious deficiencies."<ref>{{cite web|title=Rev. George M. Malkmus and his Hallelujah Diet|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/malkmus.html|date=29 May 2003 |
* Hallelujah diet – a restrictive "biblical" diet based on raw food, claimed by its inventor to have cured his cancer. [[Stephen Barrett]] has written on Quackwatch: "Although low-fat, high-fiber diets can be healthful, the Hallelujah Diet is unbalanced and can lead to serious deficiencies."<ref>{{cite web|title=Rev. George M. Malkmus and his Hallelujah Diet|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/malkmus.html|date=29 May 2003|author=Stephen Barrett, M.D.}}</ref> |
||
* Kousmine diet – a restrictive diet devised by [[Catherine Kousmine]] (1904–1992) which emphasized fruit, vegetables, grains, pulses and the use of vitamin supplements. There is no evidence that the diet is an effective cancer treatment.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jean-Marie Abgrall|title=Healing Or Stealing?: Medical Charlatans in the New Age|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kel6_1aN5JwC&pg=PA83|date=1 January 2000|publisher=Algora Publishing|isbn=978-1-892941-28-2|pages=82–83}}</ref> |
* Kousmine diet – a restrictive diet devised by [[Catherine Kousmine]] (1904–1992) which emphasized fruit, vegetables, grains, pulses and the use of vitamin supplements. There is no evidence that the diet is an effective cancer treatment.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jean-Marie Abgrall|title=Healing Or Stealing?: Medical Charlatans in the New Age|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kel6_1aN5JwC&pg=PA83|date=1 January 2000|publisher=Algora Publishing|isbn=978-1-892941-28-2|pages=82–83}}</ref> |
||
* [[Macrobiotic diet]] – a restrictive diet based on grains and unrefined foods, and promoted by some as a preventative and cure for cancer.<ref name="isbn0-89529-486-9">{{cite book |author1=Esko, Edward |author2=Kushi, Michio |title=The macrobiotic approach to cancer: towards preventing and controlling cancer with diet and lifestyle |publisher=Avery Pub. Group |location=Wayne, N.J |year=1991 |isbn=0-89529-486-9}}</ref> Cancer Research UK states "we don't support the use of macrobiotic diets for people with cancer".<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Macrobiotic diet]] – a restrictive diet based on grains and unrefined foods, and promoted by some as a preventative and cure for cancer.<ref name="isbn0-89529-486-9">{{cite book |author1=Esko, Edward |author2=Kushi, Michio |title=The macrobiotic approach to cancer: towards preventing and controlling cancer with diet and lifestyle |publisher=Avery Pub. Group |location=Wayne, N.J |year=1991 |isbn=0-89529-486-9}}</ref> Cancer Research UK states "we don't support the use of macrobiotic diets for people with cancer".<ref>{{cite web |
||
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/macrobiotic-diet?script=true|title=Macrobiotic diet|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/macrobiotic-diet?script=true|title=Macrobiotic diet|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]]}}</ref> |
||
* [[Moerman Therapy]] – a highly restrictive diet devised by Cornelis Moerman (1893–1988). Its effectiveness is supported by anecdote only – there is no evidence of its worth as a cancer treatment.<ref name="qw-moerman">{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Cancer/moerman.html|author=Stephen Barrett, M.D.|date=11 December 2001 |
* [[Moerman Therapy]] – a highly restrictive diet devised by Cornelis Moerman (1893–1988). Its effectiveness is supported by anecdote only – there is no evidence of its worth as a cancer treatment.<ref name="qw-moerman">{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Cancer/moerman.html|author=Stephen Barrett, M.D.|date=11 December 2001|title=The Moerman Diet|publisher=[[Quackwatch]]}}</ref> |
||
* [[Superfood]] – a marketing term applied to certain foods with supposed health-giving properties. Cancer Research UK note that superfoods are often promoted as having an ability to prevent or cure diseases, including cancer; they caution, "you shouldn't rely on so-called 'superfoods' to reduce the risk of cancer. They cannot substitute for a generally healthy and balanced diet".<ref>{{cite web|title='Superfoods' and cancer|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/healthyliving/cancercontroversies/superfoods/|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
* [[Superfood]] – a marketing term applied to certain foods with supposed health-giving properties. Cancer Research UK note that superfoods are often promoted as having an ability to prevent or cure diseases, including cancer; they caution, "you shouldn't rely on so-called 'superfoods' to reduce the risk of cancer. They cannot substitute for a generally healthy and balanced diet".<ref>{{cite web|title='Superfoods' and cancer|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/healthyliving/cancercontroversies/superfoods/|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]]}}</ref> |
||
== Electromagnetic and energy-based == |
== Electromagnetic and energy-based == |
||
Line 55: | Line 55: | ||
[[File:Orgone Energy Accumulator (right-angle, open).JPG|left|thumb|upright|An orgone accumulator – a subject sitting in one is meant to experience the effects of [[orgone]], an energy force proposed by [[Wilhelm Reich]]]] |
[[File:Orgone Energy Accumulator (right-angle, open).JPG|left|thumb|upright|An orgone accumulator – a subject sitting in one is meant to experience the effects of [[orgone]], an energy force proposed by [[Wilhelm Reich]]]] |
||
* [[Bioresonance therapy]] – diagnosis and therapy delivered by attaching an electrical device to the patient, on the basis that cancer cells emit certain electromagnetic oscillations. The [[Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center]] says that such claims are not supported by any evidence and note that the US [[Food and Drug Administration]] has prosecuted many sellers of such devices.<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Bioresonance therapy]] – diagnosis and therapy delivered by attaching an electrical device to the patient, on the basis that cancer cells emit certain electromagnetic oscillations. The [[Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center]] says that such claims are not supported by any evidence and note that the US [[Food and Drug Administration]] has prosecuted many sellers of such devices.<ref>{{cite web |
||
|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/bioresonance-therapy|title=BioResonance Therapy|publisher=[[Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]] |
|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/bioresonance-therapy|title=BioResonance Therapy|publisher=[[Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]]|date=29 May 2012}}</ref> |
||
* [[Electrohomeopathy]] (or Mattei cancer cure) – a treatment devised by Count Cesare Mattei (1809–1896), who proposed that different "colors" of electricity could be used to treat cancer. Popular in the late nineteenth century, electrohomeopathy has been described as "utter idiocy".<ref>{{cite journal|pmc=1692368|year=1906|last1=Kempf|first1=EJ|title=European Medicine: A Résumé of Medical Progress During the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries|volume=4|issue=1|page=238|journal=Journal of the Medical Library Association|quote=The electrohomeopathic system is an invention of Count Mattei who prates of 'red,' 'blue,' and 'green' electricity, a theory that, in spite of its utter idiocy, has attracted a considerable following and earned a large fortune for its chief promoter.|pmid=18340885}}</ref> |
* [[Electrohomeopathy]] (or Mattei cancer cure) – a treatment devised by Count Cesare Mattei (1809–1896), who proposed that different "colors" of electricity could be used to treat cancer. Popular in the late nineteenth century, electrohomeopathy has been described as "utter idiocy".<ref>{{cite journal|pmc=1692368|year=1906|last1=Kempf|first1=EJ|title=European Medicine: A Résumé of Medical Progress During the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries|volume=4|issue=1|page=238|journal=Journal of the Medical Library Association|quote=The electrohomeopathic system is an invention of Count Mattei who prates of 'red,' 'blue,' and 'green' electricity, a theory that, in spite of its utter idiocy, has attracted a considerable following and earned a large fortune for its chief promoter.|pmid=18340885}}</ref> |
||
* [[Electro Physiological Feedback Xrroid]] – an electronic device promoted as being capable of diagnosing and treating cancer and a host of other ailments. However, according to Quackwatch: "The Quantum Xrroid device is claimed to balance 'bio-energetic' forces that the scientific community does not recognize as real. It mainly reflects skin resistance (how easily low-voltage electric currents from the device pass through the skin), which is not related to the body's health."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Tests/xrroid.html|first=Stephen | last = Barrett | authorlink = Stephen Barrett|title=Some Notes on the Quantum Xrroid (QXCI) and William C. Nelson |
* [[Electro Physiological Feedback Xrroid]] – an electronic device promoted as being capable of diagnosing and treating cancer and a host of other ailments. However, according to Quackwatch: "The Quantum Xrroid device is claimed to balance 'bio-energetic' forces that the scientific community does not recognize as real. It mainly reflects skin resistance (how easily low-voltage electric currents from the device pass through the skin), which is not related to the body's health."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Tests/xrroid.html|first=Stephen | last = Barrett | authorlink = Stephen Barrett|title=Some Notes on the Quantum Xrroid (QXCI) and William C. Nelson|date=July 2009|publisher=[[Quackwatch]]}}</ref> |
||
* [[Light therapy]] – the use of light to treat medical conditions. According to the American Cancer Society, alternative approaches – such as [[chromotherapy]] or the use of [[Light therapy#Light boxes|light boxes]] – have not been shown to be effective for cancer treatment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/light-therapy|title=Light Therapy|date=14 April 2011|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
* [[Light therapy]] – the use of light to treat medical conditions. According to the American Cancer Society, alternative approaches – such as [[chromotherapy]] or the use of [[Light therapy#Light boxes|light boxes]] – have not been shown to be effective for cancer treatment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/light-therapy|title=Light Therapy|date=14 April 2011|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]}}</ref> |
||
* [[Magnetic therapy]] – the practice of placing magnets on and around the body in order to treat illness. Although this has been promoted as a treatment for cancer and other diseases, the American Cancer Society say, "available scientific evidence does not support these claims".<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Magnetic therapy]] – the practice of placing magnets on and around the body in order to treat illness. Although this has been promoted as a treatment for cancer and other diseases, the American Cancer Society say, "available scientific evidence does not support these claims".<ref>{{cite web |
||
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/magnetic-therapy|title=Magnetic Therapy|date=December 2012 |
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/magnetic-therapy|title=Magnetic Therapy|date=December 2012}}</ref> |
||
* [[Orgone]] – a type of life force proposed to exist by [[Wilhelm Reich]] (1897–1957) which he claimed could be harnessed to cure diseases, including cancer, perhaps by sitting inside an "orgone accumulator" – a cupboard-like box with metal and organic linings. Quackwatch comments that scientists investigating Reich's ideas have been "unable to find the slightest evidence in Reich's data or elsewhere that such a thing as orgone exists".<ref>{{cite web|title=Some Notes on Wilhelm Reich, M.D|author=Stephen Barrett, M.D.|publisher=[[Quackwatch]]|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/reich.html|date=15 February 2002 |
* [[Orgone]] – a type of life force proposed to exist by [[Wilhelm Reich]] (1897–1957) which he claimed could be harnessed to cure diseases, including cancer, perhaps by sitting inside an "orgone accumulator" – a cupboard-like box with metal and organic linings. Quackwatch comments that scientists investigating Reich's ideas have been "unable to find the slightest evidence in Reich's data or elsewhere that such a thing as orgone exists".<ref>{{cite web|title=Some Notes on Wilhelm Reich, M.D|author=Stephen Barrett, M.D.|publisher=[[Quackwatch]]|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/reich.html|date=15 February 2002}}</ref> |
||
* [[Polarity therapy]] – a type of [[energy medicine]] based on the idea that the positive or negative charge of a person's electromagnetic field affects their health. Although it is promoted as effective for curing a number of human ailments, including cancer, the American Cancer Society says "available scientific evidence does not support claims that polarity therapy is effective in treating cancer or any other disease".<ref name>{{cite book |publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |title=American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies |edition=2nd |year=2009 |isbn=9780944235713 |editor-first=Terri B. |editor-last=Ades |editor-first2=Jill |editor-last2=Russell |pages=235–237 |chapter=Polarity Therapy}}</ref> |
* [[Polarity therapy]] – a type of [[energy medicine]] based on the idea that the positive or negative charge of a person's electromagnetic field affects their health. Although it is promoted as effective for curing a number of human ailments, including cancer, the American Cancer Society says "available scientific evidence does not support claims that polarity therapy is effective in treating cancer or any other disease".<ref name>{{cite book |publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |title=American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies |edition=2nd |year=2009 |isbn=9780944235713 |editor-first=Terri B. |editor-last=Ades |editor-first2=Jill |editor-last2=Russell |pages=235–237 |chapter=Polarity Therapy}}</ref> |
||
* [[Royal Rife|Rife Frequency Generator]] – an electronic device purported to cure cancer by transmitting radio waves. Cancer Research UK state, "there is no evidence to show that the Rife machine does what its supporters say it does".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/cancer-questions/rife-machine-and-cancer|title=Rife machines and cancer|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
* [[Royal Rife|Rife Frequency Generator]] – an electronic device purported to cure cancer by transmitting radio waves. Cancer Research UK state, "there is no evidence to show that the Rife machine does what its supporters say it does".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/cancer-questions/rife-machine-and-cancer|title=Rife machines and cancer|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]]}}</ref> |
||
* [[Therapeutic Touch]] (or TT) – contrary to its name, a technique that does not usually involve touching; rather, a practitioner holds their hands close to a patient to affect the "energy" in their body. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support any claims that TT can cure cancer or other diseases".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/therapeutic-touch|title=Therapeutic Touch|date=April 2011|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
* [[Therapeutic Touch]] (or TT) – contrary to its name, a technique that does not usually involve touching; rather, a practitioner holds their hands close to a patient to affect the "energy" in their body. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support any claims that TT can cure cancer or other diseases".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/therapeutic-touch|title=Therapeutic Touch|date=April 2011|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]}}</ref> |
||
* [[Zoetron therapy]] – therapy based around a large electromagnetic device that emitted a weak field which, it was claimed, could kill cancer cells. Patients were charged US$15,000 up-front for treatment in Mexican clinics. In 2005 criminal charges were brought against the owners of the company making the device for their claims of its worth.<ref name=bbb>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbb.org/mbc/business-reviews/occupational-health-and-safety/zoetron-cell-specific-cancer-therapy-in-penticton-bc-1143287|title=Zoetron Cell Specific Cancer Therapy|publisher=BBB Business Review|accessdate=14 September 2013}}</ref> Quackwatch says: "there is no scientific evidence or reason to believe that exposure to weak magnetic fields will kill any cells".<ref name=qw-zoetron>{{cite web |
* [[Zoetron therapy]] – therapy based around a large electromagnetic device that emitted a weak field which, it was claimed, could kill cancer cells. Patients were charged US$15,000 up-front for treatment in Mexican clinics. In 2005 criminal charges were brought against the owners of the company making the device for their claims of its worth.<ref name=bbb>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbb.org/mbc/business-reviews/occupational-health-and-safety/zoetron-cell-specific-cancer-therapy-in-penticton-bc-1143287|title=Zoetron Cell Specific Cancer Therapy|publisher=BBB Business Review|accessdate=14 September 2013}}</ref> Quackwatch says: "there is no scientific evidence or reason to believe that exposure to weak magnetic fields will kill any cells".<ref name=qw-zoetron>{{cite web |
||
|title=Zoetron Therapy (Cell Specific Cancer Therapy) |
|title=Zoetron Therapy (Cell Specific Cancer Therapy) |
||
Line 70: | Line 70: | ||
|author=Stephen Barrett, M.D. |
|author=Stephen Barrett, M.D. |
||
|publisher=[[Quackwatch]] |
|publisher=[[Quackwatch]] |
||
|accessdate=September 2013 |
|||
|date=1 March 2004}}</ref> |
|date=1 March 2004}}</ref> |
||
Line 86: | Line 86: | ||
|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/metabolic-therapies |
|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/metabolic-therapies |
||
|publisher=[[Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]] |
|publisher=[[Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]] |
||
|accessdate=September 2013 |
|||
|date=14 February 2013 |
|date=14 February 2013 |
||
|title=Metabolic Therapies}}</ref> |
|title=Metabolic Therapies}}</ref> |
||
* [[Gerson therapy]] – a predominantly diet regime, generally based on: limiting salt, protein and other foods; ingesting large quantities of fruits and vegetables through juicing; augmenting the intake of potassium and iodine; and the use of coffee enemas. According to Cancer Research UK, "available scientific evidence does not support any claims that Gerson therapy can treat cancer [...] Gerson therapy can be very harmful to your health."<ref>{{cite web| publisher = [[Cancer Research UK]] | title = What Gerson therapy is | url = http://cancerhelp.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/gerson-therapy |
* [[Gerson therapy]] – a predominantly diet regime, generally based on: limiting salt, protein and other foods; ingesting large quantities of fruits and vegetables through juicing; augmenting the intake of potassium and iodine; and the use of coffee enemas. According to Cancer Research UK, "available scientific evidence does not support any claims that Gerson therapy can treat cancer [...] Gerson therapy can be very harmful to your health."<ref>{{cite web| publisher = [[Cancer Research UK]] | title = What Gerson therapy is | url = http://cancerhelp.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/gerson-therapy}}</ref> |
||
* [[Nicholas Gonzalez (physician)#Gonzalez protocol|Gonzalez protocol]] – a treatment regime devised by [[Nicholas Gonzalez (physician)|Nicholas Gonzalez]] (1947–2015) based on Gerson therapy. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the treatment is a type of metabolic therapy that shows "no evidence of efficacy".<ref name=mskcc-meta/> |
* [[Nicholas Gonzalez (physician)#Gonzalez protocol|Gonzalez protocol]] – a treatment regime devised by [[Nicholas Gonzalez (physician)|Nicholas Gonzalez]] (1947–2015) based on Gerson therapy. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the treatment is a type of metabolic therapy that shows "no evidence of efficacy".<ref name=mskcc-meta/> |
||
* [[Hoxsey therapy]] – a treatment consisting of a caustic herbal paste for external cancers or a herbal mixture for "internal" cancers, combined with laxatives, douches, vitamin supplements and dietary changes. A review by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center found no evidence that the Hoxsey Therapy was effective as a treatment for cancer.<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Hoxsey therapy]] – a treatment consisting of a caustic herbal paste for external cancers or a herbal mixture for "internal" cancers, combined with laxatives, douches, vitamin supplements and dietary changes. A review by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center found no evidence that the Hoxsey Therapy was effective as a treatment for cancer.<ref>{{cite web |
||
|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/hoxsey-herbal-therapy |
|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/hoxsey-herbal-therapy |
||
|publisher=[[Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]] |
|publisher=[[Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]] |
||
|accessdate=August 2013 |
|||
|date=29 October 2012 |
|date=29 October 2012 |
||
|title=Hoxsey Therapy}}</ref> |
|title=Hoxsey Therapy}}</ref> |
||
Line 101: | Line 101: | ||
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/cancer-questions/issels-treatment |
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/cancer-questions/issels-treatment |
||
|title=Issels Treatment |
|title=Issels Treatment |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* [[William Donald Kelley#Kelley's cancer therapy|Kelley treatment]] – a treatment regime devised by [[William Donald Kelley]] (1925–2005) based on Gerson therapy, with additional features including prayer and [[osteopathy|osteopathic]] manipulation. Famously, [[Steve McQueen]] used it for three months before his death. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Kelley treatment is a type of metabolic therapy that shows "no evidence of efficacy".<ref name=mskcc-meta/> |
* [[William Donald Kelley#Kelley's cancer therapy|Kelley treatment]] – a treatment regime devised by [[William Donald Kelley]] (1925–2005) based on Gerson therapy, with additional features including prayer and [[osteopathy|osteopathic]] manipulation. Famously, [[Steve McQueen]] used it for three months before his death. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Kelley treatment is a type of metabolic therapy that shows "no evidence of efficacy".<ref name=mskcc-meta/> |
||
* [[Live blood analysis]] – in alternative medicine, the practice of examining blood samples under a high-powered microscope, claiming this can detect and predict cancer and other illnesses, so leading to a prescription of [[dietary supplement]]s that are supposed to function as treatment. The practice has been dismissed as quackery by the medical profession.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/10732023/Duped-by-the-blood-analyst-who-says-he-can-cure-cancer.html |title=Duped by the 'blood analyst' who says he can cure cancer |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |date=30 March 2014 |first=Robert |last=Mendick}}</ref> |
* [[Live blood analysis]] – in alternative medicine, the practice of examining blood samples under a high-powered microscope, claiming this can detect and predict cancer and other illnesses, so leading to a prescription of [[dietary supplement]]s that are supposed to function as treatment. The practice has been dismissed as quackery by the medical profession.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/10732023/Duped-by-the-blood-analyst-who-says-he-can-cure-cancer.html |title=Duped by the 'blood analyst' who says he can cure cancer |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |date=30 March 2014 |first=Robert |last=Mendick}}</ref> |
||
Line 109: | Line 109: | ||
|title=Livingston-Wheeler Therapy |
|title=Livingston-Wheeler Therapy |
||
|date=1 November 2008 |
|date=1 November 2008 |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* [[Lorraine Day]]'s 10-step program – a regime devised by [[Lorraine Day]] based on a restrictive diet and behavioral changes, such as giving up work and ceasing to watch television. Stephen Barrett wrote on Quackwatch, "In my opinion, her advice is untrustworthy and is particularly dangerous to people with cancer".<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Lorraine Day]]'s 10-step program – a regime devised by [[Lorraine Day]] based on a restrictive diet and behavioral changes, such as giving up work and ceasing to watch television. Stephen Barrett wrote on Quackwatch, "In my opinion, her advice is untrustworthy and is particularly dangerous to people with cancer".<ref>{{cite web |
||
|publisher=[[Quackwatch]] |
|publisher=[[Quackwatch]] |
||
Line 115: | Line 115: | ||
|url=http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Cancer/day.html |
|url=http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Cancer/day.html |
||
|title=Stay Away from Dr. Lorraine Day |
|title=Stay Away from Dr. Lorraine Day |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* [[Metabolic typing#Metabolic therapies|Metabolic therapies]] – an umbrella term for diet- and enema-based "[[Detoxification (alternative medicine)|detoxification]]" regimes, such as the [[Max Gerson|Gerson therapy]], promoted to cure cancer and other disease. The [[Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]] states: "Retrospective reviews of the Gerson, Kelley, and Contreras therapies show no evidence of efficacy."<ref name=mskcc-meta>{{cite web |
* [[Metabolic typing#Metabolic therapies|Metabolic therapies]] – an umbrella term for diet- and enema-based "[[Detoxification (alternative medicine)|detoxification]]" regimes, such as the [[Max Gerson|Gerson therapy]], promoted to cure cancer and other disease. The [[Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]] states: "Retrospective reviews of the Gerson, Kelley, and Contreras therapies show no evidence of efficacy."<ref name=mskcc-meta>{{cite web |
||
|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/metabolic-therapies |
|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/metabolic-therapies |
||
Line 121: | Line 121: | ||
|publisher=[[Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]] |
|publisher=[[Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]] |
||
|date=14 February 2013 |
|date=14 February 2013 |
||
|accessdate=September 2013 |
|||
}}</ref> |
}}</ref> |
||
* [[Nieper therapy]] – a regimen devised by [[Hans Alfred Nieper]] (1928–1998) which was based on taking a variety of substances, including amygdalin and vitamins, and which Nieper claimed could treat a variety of serious ailments, including cancer. His methods were discredited as both ineffective and unsafe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/nieper.html |publisher=Quackwatch |title=Alert Issued on Nieper Therapies |date=15 August 1986 |author=FDA Press Office |
* [[Nieper therapy]] – a regimen devised by [[Hans Alfred Nieper]] (1928–1998) which was based on taking a variety of substances, including amygdalin and vitamins, and which Nieper claimed could treat a variety of serious ailments, including cancer. His methods were discredited as both ineffective and unsafe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/nieper.html |publisher=Quackwatch |title=Alert Issued on Nieper Therapies |date=15 August 1986 |author=FDA Press Office}}</ref> |
||
== Plant and fungus based == |
== Plant and fungus based == |
||
[[File:Kombucha Mature.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Kombucha – a fermented tea promoted as a "cure all"]] |
[[File:Kombucha Mature.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Kombucha – a fermented tea promoted as a "cure all"]] |
||
* ''[[Actaea racemosa]]'' (or black cohosh) – a flowering plant from which dietary supplements are made that are promoted for their health-giving properties. According to Cancer Research UK, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that black cohosh is effective in treating or preventing cancer".<ref>{{cite web|title=Black Cohosh|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/black-cohosh|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
* ''[[Actaea racemosa]]'' (or black cohosh) – a flowering plant from which dietary supplements are made that are promoted for their health-giving properties. According to Cancer Research UK, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that black cohosh is effective in treating or preventing cancer".<ref>{{cite web|title=Black Cohosh|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/black-cohosh|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]]}}</ref> |
||
* ''[[Aloe]]'' – a genus of flowering succulent plants native to Africa. According to Cancer Research UK, a potentially deadly product called T-UP is made of concentrated aloe, and promoted as a cancer cure. They say "there is currently no evidence that aloe products can help to prevent or treat cancer in humans".<ref>{{cite web |
* ''[[Aloe]]'' – a genus of flowering succulent plants native to Africa. According to Cancer Research UK, a potentially deadly product called T-UP is made of concentrated aloe, and promoted as a cancer cure. They say "there is currently no evidence that aloe products can help to prevent or treat cancer in humans".<ref>{{cite web |
||
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/aloe-vera |
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/aloe-vera |
||
|title=Aloe |
|title=Aloe |
||
|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* [[Amygdalin]] (sometimes going by the trade name Laetrile) – a [[glycoside]], has been promoted as a cancer cure. However, it has been found to be ineffective and [[toxic]]; its promotion has been described as "the slickest, most sophisticated, and certainly the most remunerative cancer quack promotion in medical history."<ref name="CaCancer">{{cite journal|doi=10.3322/canjclin.31.2.91|title=Laetrile: A Lesson in Cancer Quackery|year=1981|last1=Lerner|first1=I. J.|journal=CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians|volume=31|issue=2|pages=91–5|pmid=6781723}}</ref> |
* [[Amygdalin]] (sometimes going by the trade name Laetrile) – a [[glycoside]], has been promoted as a cancer cure. However, it has been found to be ineffective and [[toxic]]; its promotion has been described as "the slickest, most sophisticated, and certainly the most remunerative cancer quack promotion in medical history."<ref name="CaCancer">{{cite journal|doi=10.3322/canjclin.31.2.91|title=Laetrile: A Lesson in Cancer Quackery|year=1981|last1=Lerner|first1=I. J.|journal=CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians|volume=31|issue=2|pages=91–5|pmid=6781723}}</ref> |
||
* ''[[Andrographis paniculata]]'' – a herb used in [[Ayurveda|Ayurvedic medicine]], and promoted as a dietary supplement for cancer prevention and cure. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has stated that there is no evidence that it helps prevent or cure cancer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/andrographis|title=Andrographis|publisher=[[Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]]|date=13 February |
* ''[[Andrographis paniculata]]'' – a herb used in [[Ayurveda|Ayurvedic medicine]], and promoted as a dietary supplement for cancer prevention and cure. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has stated that there is no evidence that it helps prevent or cure cancer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/andrographis|title=Andrographis|publisher=[[Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]]|date=13 February 2013}}</ref> |
||
* [[Aveloz]] (also called firestick plant, pencil tree or ''Euphorbia tirucalli'') – a succulent shrub native to parts of Africa and South America. Its [[sap]] is promoted as a cancer treatment, however, according to the American Cancer Society, studies suggest that "aveloz sap may actually suppress the immune system, promote tumor growth, and lead to the development of certain types of cancer".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/aveloz | publisher = [[American Cancer Society]] | title = Aveloz}}</ref> |
* [[Aveloz]] (also called firestick plant, pencil tree or ''Euphorbia tirucalli'') – a succulent shrub native to parts of Africa and South America. Its [[sap]] is promoted as a cancer treatment, however, according to the American Cancer Society, studies suggest that "aveloz sap may actually suppress the immune system, promote tumor growth, and lead to the development of certain types of cancer".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/aveloz | publisher = [[American Cancer Society]] | title = Aveloz}}</ref> |
||
* [[Bach flower remedies]] – preparations devised by [[Edward Bach]] (1886–1936) in which tiny amounts of plant material are diluted in a mixture of water and [[brandy]]. According to Cancer Research UK, flower remedies are sometimes promoted as being capable of boosting the immune system, but "there is no scientific evidence to prove that flower remedies can control, cure or prevent any type of disease, including cancer".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/flower-remedies|title=Flower remedies|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
* [[Bach flower remedies]] – preparations devised by [[Edward Bach]] (1886–1936) in which tiny amounts of plant material are diluted in a mixture of water and [[brandy]]. According to Cancer Research UK, flower remedies are sometimes promoted as being capable of boosting the immune system, but "there is no scientific evidence to prove that flower remedies can control, cure or prevent any type of disease, including cancer".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/flower-remedies|title=Flower remedies|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]]}}</ref> |
||
{{anchor|Cannabis}} |
{{anchor|Cannabis}} |
||
* [[Medical cannabis#Cancer|Cannabis]] – Used as a recreational and medicinal drug. Chemicals derived from cannabis have been extensively studied for potential anti-cancer effect and while there has been much laboratory work, claims that cannabis has been proven to cure cancer are – according to [[Cancer Research UK]] – "highly misleading".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2012/07/25/cannabis-cannabinoids-and-cancer-the-evidence-so-far/|title=Cannabis, cannabinoids and cancer – the evidence so far|last=Arney|first=Kat|date=25 July 2012|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
* [[Medical cannabis#Cancer|Cannabis]] – Used as a recreational and medicinal drug. Chemicals derived from cannabis have been extensively studied for potential anti-cancer effect and while there has been much laboratory work, claims that cannabis has been proven to cure cancer are – according to [[Cancer Research UK]] – "highly misleading".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2012/07/25/cannabis-cannabinoids-and-cancer-the-evidence-so-far/|title=Cannabis, cannabinoids and cancer – the evidence so far|last=Arney|first=Kat|date=25 July 2012|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]]}}</ref> The US [[National Cancer Institute]] has concluded, "At this time, there is not enough evidence to recommend that patients inhale or ingest ''Cannabis'' as a treatment for cancer-related symptoms or side effects of cancer therapy."<ref>{{cite web|title=Cannabis and Cannabinoids|url=http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/patient|publisher=National Cancer Institute|accessdate=17 March 2014}}</ref> |
||
* [[Cansema]] (also called black salve) – a type of paste or [[poultice]] often promoted as a cancer cure, especially for skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, there is no evidence that these are effective in treating cancer, and they can be harmful, causing burns and disfigurement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/cancer-salves|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|title=Cancer Salves|date=March 2011 |
* [[Cansema]] (also called black salve) – a type of paste or [[poultice]] often promoted as a cancer cure, especially for skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, there is no evidence that these are effective in treating cancer, and they can be harmful, causing burns and disfigurement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/cancer-salves|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|title=Cancer Salves|date=March 2011}}</ref> |
||
[[File:Large Cayenne.jpg|thumb|right|A cayenne pepper – products based on peppers are promoted as cancer treatments]] |
[[File:Large Cayenne.jpg|thumb|right|A cayenne pepper – products based on peppers are promoted as cancer treatments]] |
||
* [[Capsicum]] – the name given to a group of plants in the [[nightshade]] family, well known for producing hot chilli peppers such as the [[cayenne pepper]] and the [[jalapeño]]. A number of capsicum-based products, including teas and capsules, are promoted for their health benefits, including as a claimed cancer treatment. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific research does not support claims for the effectiveness of capsicum or whole pepper supplements in preventing or curing cancer at this time".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/capsicum |title=Capsicum |date=November 2008 |publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
* [[Capsicum]] – the name given to a group of plants in the [[nightshade]] family, well known for producing hot chilli peppers such as the [[cayenne pepper]] and the [[jalapeño]]. A number of capsicum-based products, including teas and capsules, are promoted for their health benefits, including as a claimed cancer treatment. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific research does not support claims for the effectiveness of capsicum or whole pepper supplements in preventing or curing cancer at this time".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/capsicum |title=Capsicum |date=November 2008 |publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] }}</ref> |
||
* [[Carctol]] – a herbal dietary supplement made from [[ayurvedic]] herbs. It has been aggressively marketed in the [[United Kingdom]] as a cancer treatment, but there is no evidence of its effectiveness.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1159/000193025|title=Carctol: Profit before Patients?|year=2009|last1=Ernst|first1=Edzard|journal=Breast Care|volume=4|pages=31–33|pmid=20877681|issue=1|pmc=2942009}}</ref> |
* [[Carctol]] – a herbal dietary supplement made from [[ayurvedic]] herbs. It has been aggressively marketed in the [[United Kingdom]] as a cancer treatment, but there is no evidence of its effectiveness.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1159/000193025|title=Carctol: Profit before Patients?|year=2009|last1=Ernst|first1=Edzard|journal=Breast Care|volume=4|pages=31–33|pmid=20877681|issue=1|pmc=2942009}}</ref> |
||
* [[Cassava]] – a woody [[shrub]] native to South America, the root of which is a [[carbohydrate]]-rich foodstuff. Cassava root has been promoted as treatment for cancer. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "there is no convincing scientific evidence that cassava or tapioca is effective in preventing or treating cancer".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietandnutrition/cassava|title=Cassava|date=November 2008|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|accessdate=22 September 2013}}</ref> |
* [[Cassava]] – a woody [[shrub]] native to South America, the root of which is a [[carbohydrate]]-rich foodstuff. Cassava root has been promoted as treatment for cancer. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "there is no convincing scientific evidence that cassava or tapioca is effective in preventing or treating cancer".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietandnutrition/cassava|title=Cassava|date=November 2008|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|accessdate=22 September 2013}}</ref> |
||
Line 150: | Line 150: | ||
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/chaparral?script=true |
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/chaparral?script=true |
||
|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* [[Chlorella]] – a type of [[algae]] promoted for its health-giving properties, including a claimed ability to treat cancer. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific studies do not support its effectiveness for preventing or treating cancer or any other disease in humans".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/chlorella|title=Chlorella|date=29 April 2011|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref> |
* [[Chlorella]] – a type of [[algae]] promoted for its health-giving properties, including a claimed ability to treat cancer. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific studies do not support its effectiveness for preventing or treating cancer or any other disease in humans".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/chlorella|title=Chlorella|date=29 April 2011|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref> |
||
[[File:Ingwer 2 fcm.jpg|left|thumb|[[Ginger]] – promoted for halting tumor growth; evidence is lacking|alt=an unpeeled ginger root beside a small knife]] |
[[File:Ingwer 2 fcm.jpg|left|thumb|[[Ginger]] – promoted for halting tumor growth; evidence is lacking|alt=an unpeeled ginger root beside a small knife]] |
||
* [[Echinacea]] – a group of [[Herbaceous plant|herbaceous]] [[flowering plant]]s in the [[Bellis perennis|daisy]] family, marketed as a herbal supplement that can help combat cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, "there is no scientific evidence to show that echinacea can help treat, prevent or cure cancer in any way."<ref>{{cite web| publisher = [[Cancer Research UK]] | title = Echinacea | url = http://cancerhelp.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/echinacea |
* [[Echinacea]] – a group of [[Herbaceous plant|herbaceous]] [[flowering plant]]s in the [[Bellis perennis|daisy]] family, marketed as a herbal supplement that can help combat cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, "there is no scientific evidence to show that echinacea can help treat, prevent or cure cancer in any way."<ref>{{cite web| publisher = [[Cancer Research UK]] | title = Echinacea | url = http://cancerhelp.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/echinacea }}</ref> |
||
* [[Ellagic acid]] – a [[natural phenol]] found in some foods, especially [[berries]], and which has been marketed as having the ability to prevent and treat a number of human maladies, including cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, such claims are not proven.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietandnutrition/ellagic-acid |publisher=American Cancer Society |date=November 2008 |title=Ellagic acid |
* [[Ellagic acid]] – a [[natural phenol]] found in some foods, especially [[berries]], and which has been marketed as having the ability to prevent and treat a number of human maladies, including cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, such claims are not proven.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietandnutrition/ellagic-acid |publisher=American Cancer Society |date=November 2008 |title=Ellagic acid }}</ref> |
||
* [[Essiac]] – a blended herbal tea devised in the early 20th century and promoted as a cancer cure. The [[U.S. Food and Drug Administration]] include Essiac in a list of "Fake Cancer 'Cures' Consumers Should Avoid".<ref name="fda-essiac">{{cite web|title=187 Fake Cancer "Cures" Consumers Should Avoid|url=http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/EnforcementActivitiesbyFDA/ucm171057.htm|work=Guidance, Compliance & Regulatory Information|publisher=USFDA |
* [[Essiac]] – a blended herbal tea devised in the early 20th century and promoted as a cancer cure. The [[U.S. Food and Drug Administration]] include Essiac in a list of "Fake Cancer 'Cures' Consumers Should Avoid".<ref name="fda-essiac">{{cite web|title=187 Fake Cancer "Cures" Consumers Should Avoid|url=http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/EnforcementActivitiesbyFDA/ucm171057.htm|work=Guidance, Compliance & Regulatory Information|publisher=USFDA}}</ref> |
||
* [[Ginger]] – a root of plants of the ''Zingiber'' family, and a popular spice in many types of [[cuisine]]. Ginger has been promoted as a cancer treatment for its supposed ability to halt tumor growth; however, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support this".<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Ginger]] – a root of plants of the ''Zingiber'' family, and a popular spice in many types of [[cuisine]]. Ginger has been promoted as a cancer treatment for its supposed ability to halt tumor growth; however, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support this".<ref>{{cite web |
||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/ginger |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/ginger |
||
Line 172: | Line 172: | ||
|title=Glyconutrients |
|title=Glyconutrients |
||
|date=11 October 2012 |
|date=11 October 2012 |
||
|accessdate=August 2013 |
|||
|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/glyconutrients}}</ref> |
|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/glyconutrients}}</ref> |
||
* [[Goldenseal]] (or ''Hydrastis canadensis'') – a herb from the buttercup family promoted for treating many conditions, including cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, "evidence does not support claims that goldenseal is effective in treating cancer or other diseases. Goldenseal can have toxic side effects, and high doses can cause death."<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Goldenseal]] (or ''Hydrastis canadensis'') – a herb from the buttercup family promoted for treating many conditions, including cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, "evidence does not support claims that goldenseal is effective in treating cancer or other diseases. Goldenseal can have toxic side effects, and high doses can cause death."<ref>{{cite web |
||
Line 178: | Line 178: | ||
|title=Goldenseal |
|title=Goldenseal |
||
|publisher=American Cancer Society |
|publisher=American Cancer Society |
||
|accessdate=August 2013 |
|||
|date=28 November 2008}}</ref> |
|date=28 November 2008}}</ref> |
||
[[File:ConcordGrapes.jpg|right|thumb|Grapes – there is very little evidence that eating them can help prevent or treat cancer.|alt=Purple-colored Concord grapes on the vine with abundant foliage]] |
[[File:ConcordGrapes.jpg|right|thumb|Grapes – there is very little evidence that eating them can help prevent or treat cancer.|alt=Purple-colored Concord grapes on the vine with abundant foliage]] |
||
Line 185: | Line 185: | ||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/gotu-kola |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/gotu-kola |
||
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
||
|accessdate=September 2013 |
|||
|date=28 November 2011}}</ref> |
|date=28 November 2011}}</ref> |
||
* [[Grapes]] – fruit, popularized for supposed anti-cancer effect by [[Johanna Brandt]] (1876–1964) who championed a "[[Grape therapy|grape diet]]", and promoted more recently in the form of [[grape seed extract]] (GSE). According to the American Cancer Society, "there is very little reliable scientific evidence available at this time that drinking red wine, eating grapes, or following the grape diet can prevent or treat cancer in people".<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Grapes]] – fruit, popularized for supposed anti-cancer effect by [[Johanna Brandt]] (1876–1964) who championed a "[[Grape therapy|grape diet]]", and promoted more recently in the form of [[grape seed extract]] (GSE). According to the American Cancer Society, "there is very little reliable scientific evidence available at this time that drinking red wine, eating grapes, or following the grape diet can prevent or treat cancer in people".<ref>{{cite web |
||
Line 192: | Line 192: | ||
|date=1 November 2011 |
|date=1 November 2011 |
||
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* ''[[Inonotus obliquus]]'' – commonly known as chaga mushroom. Chaga has been used as a folk remedy in Russia and Siberia since the 16th century.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.3748/wjg.14.511|title=Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus ) induces G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2 cells|year=2008|last1=Youn|first1=Myung-Ja|journal=World Journal of Gastroenterology|volume=14|issue=4|pages=511–7|pmid=18203281|last2=Kim|first2=JK|last3=Park|first3=SY|last4=Kim|first4=Y|last5=Kim|first5=SJ|last6=Lee|first6=JS|last7=Chai|first7=KY|last8=Kim|first8=HJ|last9=Cui|first9=MX|pmc=2681140|last10=So|first10=HS|last11=Kim|first11=KY|last12=Park|first12=R}}</ref> According to the [[Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center]], "no clinical trials have been conducted to assess chaga's safety and efficacy for disease prevention or for the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes". They caution that the mushroom extract can interact with other drugs.<ref name=msk>{{cite web |
* ''[[Inonotus obliquus]]'' – commonly known as chaga mushroom. Chaga has been used as a folk remedy in Russia and Siberia since the 16th century.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.3748/wjg.14.511|title=Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus ) induces G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2 cells|year=2008|last1=Youn|first1=Myung-Ja|journal=World Journal of Gastroenterology|volume=14|issue=4|pages=511–7|pmid=18203281|last2=Kim|first2=JK|last3=Park|first3=SY|last4=Kim|first4=Y|last5=Kim|first5=SJ|last6=Lee|first6=JS|last7=Chai|first7=KY|last8=Kim|first8=HJ|last9=Cui|first9=MX|pmc=2681140|last10=So|first10=HS|last11=Kim|first11=KY|last12=Park|first12=R}}</ref> According to the [[Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center]], "no clinical trials have been conducted to assess chaga's safety and efficacy for disease prevention or for the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes". They caution that the mushroom extract can interact with other drugs.<ref name=msk>{{cite web |
||
|publisher=[[Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center]] |
|publisher=[[Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center]] |
||
|date=18 July 2011 |
|date=18 July 2011 |
||
|accessdate=August 2013 |
|||
|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/chaga-mushroom |
|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/chaga-mushroom |
||
|title=Chaga Mushroom}}</ref> |
|title=Chaga Mushroom}}</ref> |
||
Line 205: | Line 205: | ||
|publisher=American Cancer Society |
|publisher=American Cancer Society |
||
|date=November 2008 |
|date=November 2008 |
||
|accessdate=August 2013 |
|||
}}</ref> |
}}</ref> |
||
* [[Kombucha]] – A kind of fermented tea claimed to cure a variety of human illnesses including AIDS and cancer; these purported uses are however not backed by evidence.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/kombucha |publisher=[[Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center]] |title=Kombucha |date=22 May 2014 |
* [[Kombucha]] – A kind of fermented tea claimed to cure a variety of human illnesses including AIDS and cancer; these purported uses are however not backed by evidence.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/kombucha |publisher=[[Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center]] |title=Kombucha |date=22 May 2014 }}</ref> The consumption of Kombucha has been associated with [[adverse effect]]s including [[myositis|muscle inflammation]], poisoning, and infection.<ref name=Dasgupta2011>{{cite book |author=Dasgupta A |work=Effects of Herbal Supplements on Clinical Laboratory Test Results |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7bWdexOTAuoC&pg=PA111 |title=Chapter 11: Toxic and Dangerous Herbs |year=2011 |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |isbn=978-3-11-024561-5 |page=111}}</ref> At least one person has died after consuming Kombucha, but the death could not be specifically linked to the drink.<ref name=pfp>{{cite book |author1=Bryant BJ, Knights KM |work=Pharmacology for Health Professionals |title=Chapter 3: Over-the-counter Drugs and Complementary Therapies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TQV6sLzYsOYC&pg=PA78 |year=2011 |publisher=Elsevier Australia|isbn=978-0-7295-3929-6 |page=78 |quote=Kombucha has been associated with illnesses and death. A tea made from Kombucha is said to be a tonic, but several people have been hospitalised and at least one woman died after taking this product. The cause could not be directly linked to Kombucha, but several theories were offered, e.g. The tea might have reacted with other medications that the woman was taking, or bacteria might grow in the Kombucha liquid and, in patients with suppressed immunity, might prove to be fatal. |edition=3rd}}</ref> |
||
* [[Mangosteen]] – a fruit native to Southeast Asia which is promoted as a "[[superfruit]]" and in products such as [[XanGo Juice]] for treating a variety of human ailments. According to the American Cancer Society, "there is no reliable evidence that mangosteen juice, puree, or bark is effective as a treatment for cancer in humans".<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Mangosteen]] – a fruit native to Southeast Asia which is promoted as a "[[superfruit]]" and in products such as [[XanGo Juice]] for treating a variety of human ailments. According to the American Cancer Society, "there is no reliable evidence that mangosteen juice, puree, or bark is effective as a treatment for cancer in humans".<ref>{{cite web |
||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/pharmacologicalandbiologicaltreatment/mangosteen-juice |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/pharmacologicalandbiologicaltreatment/mangosteen-juice |
||
Line 213: | Line 213: | ||
|title=Mangosteen Juice |
|title=Mangosteen Juice |
||
|date=November 2008 |
|date=November 2008 |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* [[Milk thistle]] (''Silybum marianum'') – a [[biennial plant]] that grows in many locations over the word. [[Cancer Research UK]] say that milk thistle is promoted on the internet for its claimed ability to slow certain kinds of cancer, but that there is no good evidence in support of these claims.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Cancer Research UK |
* [[Milk thistle]] (''Silybum marianum'') – a [[biennial plant]] that grows in many locations over the word. [[Cancer Research UK]] say that milk thistle is promoted on the internet for its claimed ability to slow certain kinds of cancer, but that there is no good evidence in support of these claims.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Cancer Research UK |title=Milk thistle and liver cancer |date=8 March 2015 |url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/cancer-questions/milk-thistle-and-liver-cancer}}</ref> |
||
* [[Anthroposophical medicine#Mistletoe treatment for cancer|Mistletoe]] (or Iscador) – a plant used in [[Anthroposophical medicine]], proposed as a cancer cure by [[Rudolf Steiner]] (1861–1925), who believed it needed to be harvested when planetary alignment most influenced its potency. According to the American Cancer Society, "available evidence from well-designed clinical trials does not support claims that mistletoe can improve length or quality of life".<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Anthroposophical medicine#Mistletoe treatment for cancer|Mistletoe]] (or Iscador) – a plant used in [[Anthroposophical medicine]], proposed as a cancer cure by [[Rudolf Steiner]] (1861–1925), who believed it needed to be harvested when planetary alignment most influenced its potency. According to the American Cancer Society, "available evidence from well-designed clinical trials does not support claims that mistletoe can improve length or quality of life".<ref>{{cite web |
||
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
||
|date=January 2013 |
|date=January 2013 |
||
|accessdate=September 2013 |
|||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/mistletoe |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/mistletoe |
||
|title=Mistletoe}}</ref> |
|title=Mistletoe}}</ref> |
||
[[File:Mistletoe Berries Uk.jpg|thumb|left|Mistletoe – [[Anthroposophical medicine]] holds that harvesting it when the planets are aligned will yield a cancer treatment|alt=Mistletoe growing on a tree, showing white berries in medium close-up]] |
[[File:Mistletoe Berries Uk.jpg|thumb|left|Mistletoe – [[Anthroposophical medicine]] holds that harvesting it when the planets are aligned will yield a cancer treatment|alt=Mistletoe growing on a tree, showing white berries in medium close-up]] |
||
* [[Modified citrus pectin]] – a substance chemically extracted from [[citrus fruit]]s and marketed in dietary supplement form as a treatment for [[prostate cancer]] and [[melanoma]]. According to Cancer Research UK, it has "not been shown to have any activity in fighting cancer in people".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/cancer-questions/what-is-modified-citrus-pectin |publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |title=What is modified citrus pectin? |
* [[Modified citrus pectin]] – a substance chemically extracted from [[citrus fruit]]s and marketed in dietary supplement form as a treatment for [[prostate cancer]] and [[melanoma]]. According to Cancer Research UK, it has "not been shown to have any activity in fighting cancer in people".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/cancer-questions/what-is-modified-citrus-pectin |publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |title=What is modified citrus pectin? }}</ref> |
||
* [[Moxibustion]] – the practice, used in conjunction with [[acupuncture]] or [[acupressure]], of burning dried-up [[mugwort]] near the patient. The American Cancer Society comments, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that moxibustion is effective in preventing or treating cancer or any other disease".<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Moxibustion]] – the practice, used in conjunction with [[acupuncture]] or [[acupressure]], of burning dried-up [[mugwort]] near the patient. The American Cancer Society comments, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that moxibustion is effective in preventing or treating cancer or any other disease".<ref>{{cite web |
||
|title=Moxibustion |
|title=Moxibustion |
||
Line 228: | Line 228: | ||
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
||
|date=8 March 2011 |
|date=8 March 2011 |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* [[Medicinal mushrooms|Mushrooms]] – promoted on the internet as useful for cancer treatment. According to Cancer Research UK, "there is currently no evidence that any type of mushroom or mushroom extract can prevent or cure cancer".<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Medicinal mushrooms|Mushrooms]] – promoted on the internet as useful for cancer treatment. According to Cancer Research UK, "there is currently no evidence that any type of mushroom or mushroom extract can prevent or cure cancer".<ref>{{cite web |
||
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/cancer-questions/mushrooms-in-cancer-treatment |
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/cancer-questions/mushrooms-in-cancer-treatment |
||
|title=Mushrooms and cancer |
|title=Mushrooms and cancer |
||
|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* [[Nerium oleander]] (or oleander) – one of the most poisonous of commonly grown garden plants, is the basis of an extract which is promoted to treat cancer and other ailments. According to the American Cancer Society, "even a small amount of oleander can cause death", and "the effectiveness of oleander has not been proven".<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Nerium oleander]] (or oleander) – one of the most poisonous of commonly grown garden plants, is the basis of an extract which is promoted to treat cancer and other ailments. According to the American Cancer Society, "even a small amount of oleander can cause death", and "the effectiveness of oleander has not been proven".<ref>{{cite web |
||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/oleander-leaf |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/oleander-leaf |
||
|title=Oleander Leaf |
|title=Oleander Leaf |
||
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
*[[Noni juice]] – juice derived from the fruit of the ''[[Morinda citrifolia]]'' tree indigenous to [[Southeast Asia]], [[Australasia]], and the [[Caribbean]]. Noni juice has been promoted as a cure for cancer. However, The American Cancer Society say "there is no reliable clinical evidence that noni juice is effective in preventing or treating cancer or any other disease in humans".<ref>{{cite web |
*[[Noni juice]] – juice derived from the fruit of the ''[[Morinda citrifolia]]'' tree indigenous to [[Southeast Asia]], [[Australasia]], and the [[Caribbean]]. Noni juice has been promoted as a cure for cancer. However, The American Cancer Society say "there is no reliable clinical evidence that noni juice is effective in preventing or treating cancer or any other disease in humans".<ref>{{cite web |
||
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
||
|title=Noni Plant |
|title=Noni Plant |
||
|date=November 2008 |
|date=November 2008 |
||
|accessdate=September 2013 |
|||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietandnutrition/noni-plant}}</ref> |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietandnutrition/noni-plant}}</ref> |
||
* [[Tabebuia|Pau d'arco]] – a large South American rainforest tree whose bark (sometimes brewed into "[[lapacho]]" tea) is promoted as a treatment for many ailments, including cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, "available evidence from well-designed, controlled studies does not support this substance as an effective treatment for cancer in humans".<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Tabebuia|Pau d'arco]] – a large South American rainforest tree whose bark (sometimes brewed into "[[lapacho]]" tea) is promoted as a treatment for many ailments, including cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, "available evidence from well-designed, controlled studies does not support this substance as an effective treatment for cancer in humans".<ref>{{cite web |
||
Line 249: | Line 249: | ||
|title=Pau d'arco |
|title=Pau d'arco |
||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/pau-d-arco |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/pau-d-arco |
||
|accessdate=September 2013 |
|||
|date=January 2013}}</ref> |
|date=January 2013}}</ref> |
||
* ''[[Rauvolfia serpentina]]'' (or snakeroot) – a plant used as the basis of a herbal remedy that some believe may treat cancer. According to the American Cancer Society: "Available scientific evidence does not support claims that Indian snakeroot is effective in treating cancer [...] It also has many dangerous side effects and is likely to increase the risk of cancer."<ref>{{cite web |
* ''[[Rauvolfia serpentina]]'' (or snakeroot) – a plant used as the basis of a herbal remedy that some believe may treat cancer. According to the American Cancer Society: "Available scientific evidence does not support claims that Indian snakeroot is effective in treating cancer [...] It also has many dangerous side effects and is likely to increase the risk of cancer."<ref>{{cite web |
||
Line 257: | Line 257: | ||
|archivedate=8 May 2013 |
|archivedate=8 May 2013 |
||
|title=Indian Snakeroot |
|title=Indian Snakeroot |
||
|accessdate=August 2013 |
|||
|date=November 2008}}</ref> |
|date=November 2008}}</ref> |
||
* [[Red clover]] (''Trifolium pratense'') – a European species of [[clover]], promoted as a treatment for a variety of health conditions, including cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, "available clinical evidence does not show that red clover is effective in treating or preventing cancer, menopausal symptoms, or any other medical conditions."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/red-clover|title=Red Clover|date=November 2008|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|accessdate=22 September 2013}}</ref> |
* [[Red clover]] (''Trifolium pratense'') – a European species of [[clover]], promoted as a treatment for a variety of health conditions, including cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, "available clinical evidence does not show that red clover is effective in treating or preventing cancer, menopausal symptoms, or any other medical conditions."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/red-clover|title=Red Clover|date=November 2008|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|accessdate=22 September 2013}}</ref> |
||
Line 270: | Line 270: | ||
|publisher=[[Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]] |
|publisher=[[Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]] |
||
|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/seasilver |
|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/seasilver |
||
|accessdate=August 2013 |
|||
|date=29 September 2012 |
|date=29 September 2012 |
||
|title=Seasilver}}</ref> |
|title=Seasilver}}</ref> |
||
Line 280: | Line 280: | ||
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
||
|date=August 2011 |
|date=August 2011 |
||
|accessdate=September 2013 |
|||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/celandine}}</ref> |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/celandine}}</ref> |
||
* ''[[Uncaria tomentosa]]'' (or cat's claw) – a woody vine found in the tropical jungles of South and Central America, which is promoted as a remedy for cancer and other disease. The American Cancer Society state: "Available scientific evidence also does not support cat's claw's effectiveness in preventing or treating cancer or any other disease. Cat's claw is linked to some serious side effects, although the extent of those effects is not known".<ref>{{cite web |
* ''[[Uncaria tomentosa]]'' (or cat's claw) – a woody vine found in the tropical jungles of South and Central America, which is promoted as a remedy for cancer and other disease. The American Cancer Society state: "Available scientific evidence also does not support cat's claw's effectiveness in preventing or treating cancer or any other disease. Cat's claw is linked to some serious side effects, although the extent of those effects is not known".<ref>{{cite web |
||
Line 287: | Line 287: | ||
|title=Cat's Claw |
|title=Cat's Claw |
||
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
[[File:Venus Flytrap showing trigger hairs.jpg|left|thumb|[[Venus flytrap]] – its extract has been promoted as a cure for skin cancer|alt=Venus flytrap plant]] |
[[File:Venus Flytrap showing trigger hairs.jpg|left|thumb|[[Venus flytrap]] – its extract has been promoted as a cure for skin cancer|alt=Venus flytrap plant]] |
||
* [[Venus flytrap]] – a carnivorous plant, the extract of which is promoted as a treatment for a variety of human ailments including [[skin cancer]]. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that extract from the Venus flytrap plant is effective in treating skin cancer or any other type of cancer".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/venus-flytrap|title=Venus Flytrap|date=November 2008|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|accessdate=22 September 2013}}</ref> |
* [[Venus flytrap]] – a carnivorous plant, the extract of which is promoted as a treatment for a variety of human ailments including [[skin cancer]]. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that extract from the Venus flytrap plant is effective in treating skin cancer or any other type of cancer".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/venus-flytrap|title=Venus Flytrap|date=November 2008|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|accessdate=22 September 2013}}</ref> |
||
Line 295: | Line 295: | ||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/black-walnut |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitaminsandminerals/black-walnut |
||
|title=Black Walnut |
|title=Black Walnut |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* [[Wheatgrass]] – a food made from grains of wheat. According to the American Cancer Society, although some wheatgrass champions claim it can "shrink" cancer tumors, "available scientific evidence does not support the idea that wheatgrass or the wheatgrass diet can cure or prevent disease".<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Wheatgrass]] – a food made from grains of wheat. According to the American Cancer Society, although some wheatgrass champions claim it can "shrink" cancer tumors, "available scientific evidence does not support the idea that wheatgrass or the wheatgrass diet can cure or prevent disease".<ref>{{cite web |
||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietandnutrition/wheatgrass |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietandnutrition/wheatgrass |
||
|title=Wheatgrass |
|title=Wheatgrass |
||
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
||
|accessdate=August 2013 |
|||
|date=November 2008}}</ref> |
|date=November 2008}}</ref> |
||
* [[Wild yam]] (or [[Chinese yam]]) – types of [[yam (vegetable)|yam]], the roots of which are made into creams and dietary supplements that are promoted for a variety of medicinal purposes, including cancer prevention. The American Cancer Society says of these products, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that they are safe or effective."<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Wild yam]] (or [[Chinese yam]]) – types of [[yam (vegetable)|yam]], the roots of which are made into creams and dietary supplements that are promoted for a variety of medicinal purposes, including cancer prevention. The American Cancer Society says of these products, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that they are safe or effective."<ref>{{cite web |
||
Line 318: | Line 318: | ||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/applied-kinesiology |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/applied-kinesiology |
||
|date=November 2008 |
|date=November 2008 |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* [[Chiropractic]] – the practice of manipulating the [[Vertebral column|spine]] to treat many human ailments. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that chiropractic treatment cures cancer or any other life-threatening illness".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/chiropractic |title=Chiropractic | publisher = [[American Cancer Society]] |
* [[Chiropractic]] – the practice of manipulating the [[Vertebral column|spine]] to treat many human ailments. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that chiropractic treatment cures cancer or any other life-threatening illness".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/chiropractic |title=Chiropractic | publisher = [[American Cancer Society]] | date = March 2011}}</ref> |
||
* [[Craniosacral therapy]] (or CST) – a treatment devised by John Upledger in the 1970s. A CST practitioner will massage a patient's scalp in the belief that the precise positioning of their cranial bones can have a profound impact on their health. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that craniosacral therapy helps in treating cancer or any other disease".<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Craniosacral therapy]] (or CST) – a treatment devised by John Upledger in the 1970s. A CST practitioner will massage a patient's scalp in the belief that the precise positioning of their cranial bones can have a profound impact on their health. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that craniosacral therapy helps in treating cancer or any other disease".<ref>{{cite web |
||
|title=Craniosacral therapy |
|title=Craniosacral therapy |
||
Line 325: | Line 325: | ||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/craniosacral-therapy |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/craniosacral-therapy |
||
|date=December 2012 |
|date=December 2012 |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* [[Colon cleansing]] – the practice of cleansing the colon using laxatives and enemas to "detoxify" the body. Coffee enemas in particular are promoted as a cancer therapy. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that colon therapy is effective in treating cancer or any other disease".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/colon-therapy |title=Colon Therapy | publisher = [[American Cancer Society]] |
* [[Colon cleansing]] – the practice of cleansing the colon using laxatives and enemas to "detoxify" the body. Coffee enemas in particular are promoted as a cancer therapy. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that colon therapy is effective in treating cancer or any other disease".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/colon-therapy |title=Colon Therapy | publisher = [[American Cancer Society]] | date = November 2008}}</ref> |
||
* [[Cupping therapy|Cupping]] – a procedure in which cups are used to create areas of suction on the body. Although claimed by proponents as an alternative cancer treatment, the American Cancer Society say "available scientific evidence does not support claims that cupping has any health benefits".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/cupping|title=Cupping|date=November 2008|accessdate=4 October 2013|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]}}</ref> |
* [[Cupping therapy|Cupping]] – a procedure in which cups are used to create areas of suction on the body. Although claimed by proponents as an alternative cancer treatment, the American Cancer Society say "available scientific evidence does not support claims that cupping has any health benefits".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/cupping|title=Cupping|date=November 2008|accessdate=4 October 2013|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]}}</ref> |
||
* [[Dance therapy]] –the use of [[dance]] or physical movement to improve physical or mental well-being. The American Cancer Society states, "Few scientific studies have been done to evaluate the effects of dance therapy on health, prevention, and recovery from illness. Clinical reports suggest dance therapy may be effective in improving self-esteem and reducing stress. As a form of exercise, dance therapy can be useful for both physical and emotional aspects of quality of life."<ref>{{cite web|title=Dance Therapy|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/dance-therapy|publisher=American Cancer Society|accessdate=30 April 2014}}</ref> A Cochrane review found too few studies to draw any conclusions about what effects dance therapy has on psychological or physical outcomes in cancer patients.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Bradt|first=J|author2=Goodill, SW |author3=Dileo, C |title=Dance/movement therapy for improving psychological and physical outcomes in cancer patients.|journal=The Cochrane database of systematic reviews|date=Oct 5, 2011|issue=10|pages=CD007103|pmid=21975762|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD007103.pub2}}</ref> |
* [[Dance therapy]] –the use of [[dance]] or physical movement to improve physical or mental well-being. The American Cancer Society states, "Few scientific studies have been done to evaluate the effects of dance therapy on health, prevention, and recovery from illness. Clinical reports suggest dance therapy may be effective in improving self-esteem and reducing stress. As a form of exercise, dance therapy can be useful for both physical and emotional aspects of quality of life."<ref>{{cite web|title=Dance Therapy|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/dance-therapy|publisher=American Cancer Society|accessdate=30 April 2014}}</ref> A Cochrane review found too few studies to draw any conclusions about what effects dance therapy has on psychological or physical outcomes in cancer patients.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Bradt|first=J|author2=Goodill, SW |author3=Dileo, C |title=Dance/movement therapy for improving psychological and physical outcomes in cancer patients.|journal=The Cochrane database of systematic reviews|date=Oct 5, 2011|issue=10|pages=CD007103|pmid=21975762|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD007103.pub2}}</ref> |
||
* [[Ear candling]] – an alternative medical technique in which lighted candles are placed in the ears for supposed therapeutic effect. The practice has been promoted with extravagant claims it can "purify the blood" or "cure" cancer, but [[Health Canada]] has found it has no health benefit; it does however carry a serious risk of injury.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.webmd.com/fda/stay-away-ear-candles |publisher=[[WebMD]] |editor=[[Food and Drug Administration]] |title=Don't Get Burned: Stay Away From Ear Candles |date= |
* [[Ear candling]] – an alternative medical technique in which lighted candles are placed in the ears for supposed therapeutic effect. The practice has been promoted with extravagant claims it can "purify the blood" or "cure" cancer, but [[Health Canada]] has found it has no health benefit; it does however carry a serious risk of injury.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.webmd.com/fda/stay-away-ear-candles |publisher=[[WebMD]] |editor=[[Food and Drug Administration]] |title=Don't Get Burned: Stay Away From Ear Candles |date= }}</ref> |
||
* [[Psychic surgery]] – a [[sleight-of-hand]] [[confidence trick]] in which the practitioner pretends to remove a lump of tissue (typically raw animal entrails bought from a butcher) from a person. No change occurs, so no effect is possible.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} |
* [[Psychic surgery]] – a [[sleight-of-hand]] [[confidence trick]] in which the practitioner pretends to remove a lump of tissue (typically raw animal entrails bought from a butcher) from a person. No change occurs, so no effect is possible.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} |
||
* [[Reiki]] – a procedure in which the practitioner might look at, blow on, tap and touch a patient in an attempt to affect the "energy" in their body. Although there is some evidence that reiki sessions are relaxing and so might improve general well-being, Cancer Research UK say that "there is no scientific evidence to prove that Reiki can prevent, treat or cure cancer or any other disease".<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Reiki]] – a procedure in which the practitioner might look at, blow on, tap and touch a patient in an attempt to affect the "energy" in their body. Although there is some evidence that reiki sessions are relaxing and so might improve general well-being, Cancer Research UK say that "there is no scientific evidence to prove that Reiki can prevent, treat or cure cancer or any other disease".<ref>{{cite web |
||
Line 335: | Line 335: | ||
|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
||
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/reiki |
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/reiki |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* [[Shiatsu]] – a type of alternative medicine consisting of finger and palm pressure, stretches, and other massage techniques. According to Cancer Research UK, "there is no scientific evidence to prove that shiatsu can cure or prevent any type of disease, including cancer."<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Shiatsu]] – a type of alternative medicine consisting of finger and palm pressure, stretches, and other massage techniques. According to Cancer Research UK, "there is no scientific evidence to prove that shiatsu can cure or prevent any type of disease, including cancer."<ref>{{cite web |
||
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/shiatsu |
|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/shiatsu |
||
|title=Shiatsu |
|title=Shiatsu |
||
|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]] |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
== Spiritual and mental healing == |
== Spiritual and mental healing == |
||
Line 350: | Line 350: | ||
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
||
|date=January 2013 |
|date=January 2013 |
||
|accessdate=August 2013 |
|||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/faith-healing}}</ref> |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/faith-healing}}</ref> |
||
* [[Hypnosis]] – the induction of a deeply relaxed and yet alert mental state. Some practitioners have claimed hypnosis might help boost the immune system. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support the idea that hypnosis can influence the development or progression of cancer.".<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Hypnosis]] – the induction of a deeply relaxed and yet alert mental state. Some practitioners have claimed hypnosis might help boost the immune system. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support the idea that hypnosis can influence the development or progression of cancer.".<ref>{{cite web |
||
Line 363: | Line 363: | ||
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
||
|date=November 2008 |
|date=November 2008 |
||
}} |
|||
|accessdate=August 2013}} |
|||
</ref> |
</ref> |
||
* [[Neuro-linguistic programming]] (NLP) – a series of behavioral techniques based on various supposed relationships between language and mental processes. NLP has been promoted as a treatment for [[HIV/AIDS]] and [[cancer]], but such claims have no evidence to support them.<ref>{{cite book |publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |title=American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies |edition=2nd |year=2009 |isbn=9780944235713 |editor-first=Terri B. |editor-last=Ades |editor-first2=Jill |editor-last2=Russell |pages=120-122 |chapter=Neuro-linguistic programming}}</ref> |
* [[Neuro-linguistic programming]] (NLP) – a series of behavioral techniques based on various supposed relationships between language and mental processes. NLP has been promoted as a treatment for [[HIV/AIDS]] and [[cancer]], but such claims have no evidence to support them.<ref>{{cite book |publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |title=American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies |edition=2nd |year=2009 |isbn=9780944235713 |editor-first=Terri B. |editor-last=Ades |editor-first2=Jill |editor-last2=Russell |pages=120-122 |chapter=Neuro-linguistic programming}}</ref> |
||
Line 372: | Line 372: | ||
[[File:Tiburón.jpg|right|thumb|[[Shark cartilage]] might be thought of as a cancer treatment because of a mistaken belief that sharks do not get cancer.|alt=A shark swimming underwater in a bright blue sea]] |
[[File:Tiburón.jpg|right|thumb|[[Shark cartilage]] might be thought of as a cancer treatment because of a mistaken belief that sharks do not get cancer.|alt=A shark swimming underwater in a bright blue sea]] |
||
* [[714-X]] – sometimes called "trimethylbicyclonitramineoheptane chloride", is a mixture of chemicals marketed commercially as a cure for many human ailments, including cancer. There is however no scientific evidence for any anti-cancer effect from 714-X.<ref>{{cite web| publisher = [[American Cancer Society]] | url = http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/pharmacologicalandbiologicaltreatment/714-x | title = 714-X | date= 1 November 2008 |
* [[714-X]] – sometimes called "trimethylbicyclonitramineoheptane chloride", is a mixture of chemicals marketed commercially as a cure for many human ailments, including cancer. There is however no scientific evidence for any anti-cancer effect from 714-X.<ref>{{cite web| publisher = [[American Cancer Society]] | url = http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/pharmacologicalandbiologicaltreatment/714-x | title = 714-X | date= 1 November 2008 }}</ref> |
||
* [[Burzynski Clinic#Antineoplaston therapy|Antineoplaston therapy]] – a form of chemotherapy promoted by the [[Burzynski Clinic]] in [[Texas]], [[United States]]. The American Cancer Society has found no evidence that antineoplastons have any beneficial effects in cancer, and it has recommended that people do not spend money on antineoplaston treatments.<ref name="Antineoplastic1983">{{cite journal |title=Antineoplastons |journal=CA |volume=33 |issue=1 |pages=57–9 |year=1983 |pmid=6401577 |doi=10.3322/canjclin.33.1.57}}</ref> |
* [[Burzynski Clinic#Antineoplaston therapy|Antineoplaston therapy]] – a form of chemotherapy promoted by the [[Burzynski Clinic]] in [[Texas]], [[United States]]. The American Cancer Society has found no evidence that antineoplastons have any beneficial effects in cancer, and it has recommended that people do not spend money on antineoplaston treatments.<ref name="Antineoplastic1983">{{cite journal |title=Antineoplastons |journal=CA |volume=33 |issue=1 |pages=57–9 |year=1983 |pmid=6401577 |doi=10.3322/canjclin.33.1.57}}</ref> |
||
* [[Apitherapy]] – the use of products derived from [[bee]]s, such as [[honey]] and [[bee venom]], as a therapy. Apitherapy has been promoted for its anti-cancer effects; however according to the American Cancer Society, "there have been no clinical studies in humans showing that bee venom or other honeybee products are effective in preventing or treating cancer."<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Apitherapy]] – the use of products derived from [[bee]]s, such as [[honey]] and [[bee venom]], as a therapy. Apitherapy has been promoted for its anti-cancer effects; however according to the American Cancer Society, "there have been no clinical studies in humans showing that bee venom or other honeybee products are effective in preventing or treating cancer."<ref>{{cite web |
||
Line 386: | Line 386: | ||
|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/cesium-chloride |
|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/cesium-chloride |
||
|publisher=[[Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]] |
|publisher=[[Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center]] |
||
|accessdate=August 2013 |
|||
|date=3 May 2012 |
|date=3 May 2012 |
||
|title=Cesium Chloride}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Melnikov|first1=P|last2=Zanoni|first2=LZ|title=Clinical effects of cesium intake.|journal=Biological trace element research|date=June 2010|volume=135|issue=1-3|pages=1–9|pmid=19655100|doi=10.1007/s12011-009-8486-7}}</ref> |
|title=Cesium Chloride}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Melnikov|first1=P|last2=Zanoni|first2=LZ|title=Clinical effects of cesium intake.|journal=Biological trace element research|date=June 2010|volume=135|issue=1-3|pages=1–9|pmid=19655100|doi=10.1007/s12011-009-8486-7}}</ref> |
||
Line 409: | Line 409: | ||
|author=Edward McSweegan |
|author=Edward McSweegan |
||
|publisher=[[Quackwatch]] |
|publisher=[[Quackwatch]] |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* [[Coral calcium]] – a dietary supplement supposedly made from crushed coral and promoted with claims it could treat a number of diseases including cancer. A consumer advisory issued by the [[National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine]] stated "Consumers should be aware that claims that coral calcium can treat or cure cancer, multiple sclerosis, lupus, heart disease, or high blood pressure are not supported by existing scientific evidence".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nccam.nih.gov/news/alerts/coral/coral.htm|title=Consumer Advisory: Coral Calcium|publisher=[[National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine]]|date=November 2004 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127103623/http://www.nccam.nih.gov/news/alerts/coral/coral.htm |archivedate=27 Jan 2012}}</ref> |
* [[Coral calcium]] – a dietary supplement supposedly made from crushed coral and promoted with claims it could treat a number of diseases including cancer. A consumer advisory issued by the [[National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine]] stated "Consumers should be aware that claims that coral calcium can treat or cure cancer, multiple sclerosis, lupus, heart disease, or high blood pressure are not supported by existing scientific evidence".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nccam.nih.gov/news/alerts/coral/coral.htm|title=Consumer Advisory: Coral Calcium|publisher=[[National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine]]|date=November 2004 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127103623/http://www.nccam.nih.gov/news/alerts/coral/coral.htm |archivedate=27 Jan 2012}}</ref> |
||
* [[Luigi di Bella|Di Bella Therapy]] – a cocktail of vitamins, drugs and hormones devised by [[Luigi di Bella]] (1912–2003) and promoted as a cancer treatment. According to the American Cancer Society: "Available scientific evidence does not support claims that Di Bella therapy is effective in treating cancer. It can cause serious and harmful side effects. ... [These] may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increased blood sugar levels, low blood pressure, sleepiness, and neurological symptoms."<ref>{{cite web|title=Di Bella Therapy|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/pharmacologicalandbiologicaltreatment/di-bella-therapy|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
* [[Luigi di Bella|Di Bella Therapy]] – a cocktail of vitamins, drugs and hormones devised by [[Luigi di Bella]] (1912–2003) and promoted as a cancer treatment. According to the American Cancer Society: "Available scientific evidence does not support claims that Di Bella therapy is effective in treating cancer. It can cause serious and harmful side effects. ... [These] may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increased blood sugar levels, low blood pressure, sleepiness, and neurological symptoms."<ref>{{cite web|title=Di Bella Therapy|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/pharmacologicalandbiologicaltreatment/di-bella-therapy|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]}}</ref> |
||
* [[Dimethyl sulfoxide]] (or DMSO) – an [[organosulfur compound]] that has been promoted as a treatment for cancer since the 1960s. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not suggest that DMSO is effective in treating cancer in humans".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/pharmacologicalandbiologicaltreatment/dmso|title=DMSO|date=November 2008|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|accessdate=5 October 2013}}</ref> |
* [[Dimethyl sulfoxide]] (or DMSO) – an [[organosulfur compound]] that has been promoted as a treatment for cancer since the 1960s. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not suggest that DMSO is effective in treating cancer in humans".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/pharmacologicalandbiologicaltreatment/dmso|title=DMSO|date=November 2008|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|accessdate=5 October 2013}}</ref> |
||
* [[Emu oil]] – an oil derived from adipose tissue of the [[emu]], and promoted in dietary supplement form with the claimed ability to treat a wide range of diseases, including cancer. These products have been cited by the US Food and Drug Administration as a prime example of a "rip-off".<ref>{{cite web | publisher = [[U.S. Food and Drug Administration]] | url = http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/ucm137284.htm | title = How to Spot Health Fraud | date = 30 April 2009 |
* [[Emu oil]] – an oil derived from adipose tissue of the [[emu]], and promoted in dietary supplement form with the claimed ability to treat a wide range of diseases, including cancer. These products have been cited by the US Food and Drug Administration as a prime example of a "rip-off".<ref>{{cite web | publisher = [[U.S. Food and Drug Administration]] | url = http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/ucm137284.htm | title = How to Spot Health Fraud | date = 30 April 2009 | author=Kurtzweil P}}</ref> |
||
* [[Gc-MAF]] (Gc protein-derived macrophage activating factor) – a type of protein that affects the immune system, and which has been promoted as a "miracle cure" for cancer and HIV. According to Cancer Research UK, "there is no solid scientific evidence to show that the treatment is safe or effective".<ref>{{cite web| last=Arney | first=Kat | url=http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2008/12/03/cancer-cured-for-good-gc-maf-and-the-miracle-cure/ |title='Cancer cured for good?' – Gc-MAF and the miracle cure | publisher= [[Cancer Research UK]] |date=25 July 2014 |
* [[Gc-MAF]] (Gc protein-derived macrophage activating factor) – a type of protein that affects the immune system, and which has been promoted as a "miracle cure" for cancer and HIV. According to Cancer Research UK, "there is no solid scientific evidence to show that the treatment is safe or effective".<ref>{{cite web| last=Arney | first=Kat | url=http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2008/12/03/cancer-cured-for-good-gc-maf-and-the-miracle-cure/ |title='Cancer cured for good?' – Gc-MAF and the miracle cure | publisher= [[Cancer Research UK]] |date=25 July 2014 }}</ref> |
||
* [[Germanium]] – a mineral which has been sold in supplement form with the claim that it is capable of treating leukemia and lung cancer. There is however no evidence of benefit, and instead some evidence that such supplements are actively harmful.<ref>{{cite book |publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |title=American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies |edition=2nd |year=2009 |isbn=9780944235713 |editor-first=Terri B. |editor-last=Ades |editor-first2=Jill |editor-last2=Russell |pages=360–363 |chapter=Germanium}}</ref> |
* [[Germanium]] – a mineral which has been sold in supplement form with the claim that it is capable of treating leukemia and lung cancer. There is however no evidence of benefit, and instead some evidence that such supplements are actively harmful.<ref>{{cite book |publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |title=American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies |edition=2nd |year=2009 |isbn=9780944235713 |editor-first=Terri B. |editor-last=Ades |editor-first2=Jill |editor-last2=Russell |pages=360–363 |chapter=Germanium}}</ref> |
||
* [[Hydrazine sulfate]] – a chemical compound promoted (sometimes as "rocket fuel treatment") for its supposed ability to treat cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, although there is some evidence Hydrazine sulfate might help some people with cancer gain weight, "there is no evidence that it helps to treat cancer".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/cancer-questions/what-is-rocket-fuel-treatment|title=What is rocket fuel treatment?|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]]|accessdate=8 September 2013}}</ref> |
* [[Hydrazine sulfate]] – a chemical compound promoted (sometimes as "rocket fuel treatment") for its supposed ability to treat cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, although there is some evidence Hydrazine sulfate might help some people with cancer gain weight, "there is no evidence that it helps to treat cancer".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/cancer-questions/what-is-rocket-fuel-treatment|title=What is rocket fuel treatment?|publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]]|accessdate=8 September 2013}}</ref> |
||
Line 424: | Line 424: | ||
|title=Krebiozen |
|title=Krebiozen |
||
|date=1 November 2008 |
|date=1 November 2008 |
||
|accessdate=August 2013 |
|||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/pharmacologicalandbiologicaltreatment/krebiozen}}</ref> |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/pharmacologicalandbiologicaltreatment/krebiozen}}</ref> |
||
* [[Lipoic acid]] – an [[antioxidant]] available as a dietary supplement and claimed by proponents to be capable of slowing cancer progression. According to the American Cancer Society, "there is no reliable scientific evidence at this time that lipoic acid prevents the development or spread of cancer".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/pharmacologicalandbiologicaltreatment/lipoic-acid|title=Lipoic Acid|date=November 2008|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|accessdate=5 October 2013}}</ref> |
* [[Lipoic acid]] – an [[antioxidant]] available as a dietary supplement and claimed by proponents to be capable of slowing cancer progression. According to the American Cancer Society, "there is no reliable scientific evidence at this time that lipoic acid prevents the development or spread of cancer".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/pharmacologicalandbiologicaltreatment/lipoic-acid|title=Lipoic Acid|date=November 2008|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]]|accessdate=5 October 2013}}</ref> |
||
Line 432: | Line 432: | ||
|title=FDA Warns Consumers of Serious Harm from Drinking Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) |
|title=FDA Warns Consumers of Serious Harm from Drinking Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) |
||
|date=1 August 2010 |
|date=1 August 2010 |
||
|accessdate=August 2013 |
|||
}}</ref> |
}}</ref> |
||
* [[Orthomolecular medicine]] (or [[Megavitamin therapy]]) – the use of high doses of [[vitamins]], claimed by proponents to help cure cancer. The view of the medical community is that there is no evidence that these therapies are effective for treating ''any'' disease.<ref name="Aaronson2003">{{cite book |
* [[Orthomolecular medicine]] (or [[Megavitamin therapy]]) – the use of high doses of [[vitamins]], claimed by proponents to help cure cancer. The view of the medical community is that there is no evidence that these therapies are effective for treating ''any'' disease.<ref name="Aaronson2003">{{cite book |
||
Line 458: | Line 458: | ||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietandnutrition/quercetin |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietandnutrition/quercetin |
||
|date=November 2008 |
|date=November 2008 |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* [[Revici's Guided Chemotherapy]] – a practice in which a chemical mixture (usually including [[lipid]] alcohol and various metals) is given by mouth or injection, supposedly to cure cancer. The practice was devised by Emanuel Revici (1896–1997) and differs from modern chemotherapy despite being named with the same term. According to the American Cancer Society: "Available scientific evidence does not support claims that Revici's guided chemotherapy is effective in treating cancer or any other disease. It may also cause potentially serious side effects."<ref>{{cite web |
* [[Revici's Guided Chemotherapy]] – a practice in which a chemical mixture (usually including [[lipid]] alcohol and various metals) is given by mouth or injection, supposedly to cure cancer. The practice was devised by Emanuel Revici (1896–1997) and differs from modern chemotherapy despite being named with the same term. According to the American Cancer Society: "Available scientific evidence does not support claims that Revici's guided chemotherapy is effective in treating cancer or any other disease. It may also cause potentially serious side effects."<ref>{{cite web |
||
|title=Revici's Guided Chemotherapy |
|title=Revici's Guided Chemotherapy |
||
Line 464: | Line 464: | ||
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/pharmacologicalandbiologicaltreatment/revicis-guided-chemotherapy |
|url=http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/pharmacologicalandbiologicaltreatment/revicis-guided-chemotherapy |
||
|date=November 2008 |
|date=November 2008 |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
[[File:Urine sample.JPG|thumb|upright|left|In [[urine therapy]] patients attempt to treat cancer by ingesting their own urine.|alt=sample of human urine in plastic vessel with white screw-top]] |
[[File:Urine sample.JPG|thumb|upright|left|In [[urine therapy]] patients attempt to treat cancer by ingesting their own urine.|alt=sample of human urine in plastic vessel with white screw-top]] |
||
* [[Shark cartilage]] – a dietary supplement made from ground shark skeleton, and promoted as a cancer treatment perhaps because of the mistaken notion that sharks do not get cancer. The [[Mayo Clinic]] conducted research and were "unable to demonstrate any suggestion of efficacy for this shark cartilage product in patients with advanced cancer".<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1002/cncr.21107|title=Evaluation of shark cartilage in patients with advanced cancer|year=2005|last1=Loprinzi|first1=Charles L.|last2=Levitt|first2=Ralph|last3=Barton|first3=Debra L.|last4=Sloan|first4=Jeff A.|last5=Atherton|first5=Pam J.|last6=Smith|first6=Denise J.|last7=Dakhil|first7=Shaker R.|last8=Moore Jr|first8=Dennis F.|last9=Krook|first9=James E.|last10=Rowland Jr|first10=Kendrith M.|last11=Mazurczak|first11=Miroslaw A.|last12=Berg|first12=Alan R.|last13=Kim|first13=George P.|journal=Cancer|volume=104|pages=176–82|pmid=15912493|author14=North Central Cancer Treatment Group|issue=1 }}</ref> |
* [[Shark cartilage]] – a dietary supplement made from ground shark skeleton, and promoted as a cancer treatment perhaps because of the mistaken notion that sharks do not get cancer. The [[Mayo Clinic]] conducted research and were "unable to demonstrate any suggestion of efficacy for this shark cartilage product in patients with advanced cancer".<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1002/cncr.21107|title=Evaluation of shark cartilage in patients with advanced cancer|year=2005|last1=Loprinzi|first1=Charles L.|last2=Levitt|first2=Ralph|last3=Barton|first3=Debra L.|last4=Sloan|first4=Jeff A.|last5=Atherton|first5=Pam J.|last6=Smith|first6=Denise J.|last7=Dakhil|first7=Shaker R.|last8=Moore Jr|first8=Dennis F.|last9=Krook|first9=James E.|last10=Rowland Jr|first10=Kendrith M.|last11=Mazurczak|first11=Miroslaw A.|last12=Berg|first12=Alan R.|last13=Kim|first13=George P.|journal=Cancer|volume=104|pages=176–82|pmid=15912493|author14=North Central Cancer Treatment Group|issue=1 }}</ref> |
||
Line 473: | Line 473: | ||
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
|publisher=[[American Cancer Society]] |
||
|date=November 2008 |
|date=November 2008 |
||
}}</ref> |
|||
* Vitacor – a type of vitamin supplement devised by [[Matthias Rath]] and heavily promoted on the internet, alongside other products from Rath's company under the "Cellular Health" brand, as a claimed treatment for cancer and other human disease; these claims have led to Rath's prosecution.<ref name=rath>''[[Hamburger Morgenpost]]'', 10 October 2006, [http://www.mopo.de/news/vor-gericht-vitamin-arzt-rath-muss-33000-euro-zahlen,5066732,5730210.html Vitamin-Arzt Rath muss 33000 Euro zahlen]</ref> According to Cancer Research UK, "there is no scientific evidence at all to back up the claims that these products work".<ref>{{cite web |
* Vitacor – a type of vitamin supplement devised by [[Matthias Rath]] and heavily promoted on the internet, alongside other products from Rath's company under the "Cellular Health" brand, as a claimed treatment for cancer and other human disease; these claims have led to Rath's prosecution.<ref name=rath>''[[Hamburger Morgenpost]]'', 10 October 2006, [http://www.mopo.de/news/vor-gericht-vitamin-arzt-rath-muss-33000-euro-zahlen,5066732,5730210.html Vitamin-Arzt Rath muss 33000 Euro zahlen]</ref> According to Cancer Research UK, "there is no scientific evidence at all to back up the claims that these products work".<ref>{{cite web |
||
|title=Vitacor |
|title=Vitacor |
Revision as of 04:04, 13 October 2016
This is a list of alternative treatments that have been promoted to treat or prevent cancer in humans but which lack good scientific and medical evidence of effectiveness. In many cases, there is good scientific evidence that the alleged treatments do not work. Unlike accepted cancer treatments, unproven and disproven treatments are generally ignored or avoided by the medical community, and are often pseudoscientific.[1]
Alternative health systems
![Homeopathic medicine bottle and box, marked 'RHUS TOX'](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Rhustox.jpg/170px-Rhustox.jpg)
- Aromatherapy – the use of fragrant substances, such as essential oils, in the belief that smelling them will positively affect health. There is some evidence that aromatherapy improves general well-being, but it has also been promoted for its ability to fight diseases, including cancer. The American Cancer Society states, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that aromatherapy is effective in preventing or treating cancer".[2]
- Ayurvedic medicine – a 5,000-year-old system of traditional medicine which originated on the Indian subcontinent. According to Cancer Research UK, "there is no scientific evidence to prove that Ayurvedic medicine can treat or cure cancer or any other disease".[3]
- German New Medicine – a popular medical system devised by Ryke Geerd Hamer (1935 – ), in which all disease is seen as deriving from emotional shock, and mainstream medicine is regarded as a conspiracy promulgated by Jews. There is no evidence to support its claims, and no biological reason why it should work.[4]
- Herbalism – a whole-body approach to promoting health, in which substances are derived from entire plants so as not to disturb what herbalists believe is the delicate chemistry of the plant as a whole.[5] According to Cancer Research UK, "there is currently no strong evidence from studies in people that herbal remedies can treat, prevent or cure cancer".[5]
- Holistic medicine – a general term for an approach to medicine which encompasses mental and spiritual aspects, and which is manifested in sundry complementary and alternative methods. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that these complementary and alternative methods, when used without mainstream or conventional medicine, are effective in treating cancer or any other disease".[6]
- Homeopathy – a pseudoscientific system of medicine based on ultra-diluted substances. Some proponents promote homeopathy as a cancer cure; however, according to the American Cancer Society, "there is no reliable evidence showing that homeopathic remedies can treat cancer in humans".[7]
- Native American healing – shamanistic forms of medicine traditionally practiced by some indigenous American peoples and which have been claimed as being capable of curing human diseases, including cancer.[8] The American Cancer Society say that while its supportive, community aspects might improve general well-being, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that Native American healing can cure cancer or any other disease".[8]
- Naturopathy – a system of alternative medicine based on a belief in energy forces in the body, and an avoidance of conventional medicine; it is promoted as a treatment for cancer and other ailments. According to the American Cancer Society, "scientific evidence does not support claims that naturopathic medicine can cure cancer or any other disease".[9]
Diet-based
- Alkaline diet – a restrictive diet of non-acid foods, such as that proposed by Edgar Cayce (1877–1945),[10] based on the claim this will affect the pH of the body generally, so reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, "there is no evidence to support any of these claims."[11]
- Breuss diet – a diet based on vegetable juice and tea devised by Rudolf Breuss (1899–1990), who claimed it could cure cancer. Physicians have said that, in common with other "cancer diets", there is no evidence of effectiveness and some risk of harm.[12]
- Budwig protocol (or Budwig diet) – an anti-cancer diet developed in the 1950s by Johanna Budwig (1908–2003). The diet is rich in flaxseed oil mixed with cottage cheese, and emphasizes meals high in fruits, vegetables, and fiber; it avoids sugar, animal fats, salad oil, meats, butter, and especially margarine. Cancer Research UK say, "there is no reliable evidence to show that the Budwig diet [...] helps people with cancer".[13]
- Fasting – not eating or drinking for a period – a practice which has been claimed by some alternative medicine practitioners to help fight cancer, perhaps by "starving" tumors. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that fasting is effective for preventing or treating cancer in humans".[citation needed]
- Hallelujah diet – a restrictive "biblical" diet based on raw food, claimed by its inventor to have cured his cancer. Stephen Barrett has written on Quackwatch: "Although low-fat, high-fiber diets can be healthful, the Hallelujah Diet is unbalanced and can lead to serious deficiencies."[14]
- Kousmine diet – a restrictive diet devised by Catherine Kousmine (1904–1992) which emphasized fruit, vegetables, grains, pulses and the use of vitamin supplements. There is no evidence that the diet is an effective cancer treatment.[15]
- Macrobiotic diet – a restrictive diet based on grains and unrefined foods, and promoted by some as a preventative and cure for cancer.[16] Cancer Research UK states "we don't support the use of macrobiotic diets for people with cancer".[17]
- Moerman Therapy – a highly restrictive diet devised by Cornelis Moerman (1893–1988). Its effectiveness is supported by anecdote only – there is no evidence of its worth as a cancer treatment.[18]
- Superfood – a marketing term applied to certain foods with supposed health-giving properties. Cancer Research UK note that superfoods are often promoted as having an ability to prevent or cure diseases, including cancer; they caution, "you shouldn't rely on so-called 'superfoods' to reduce the risk of cancer. They cannot substitute for a generally healthy and balanced diet".[19]
Electromagnetic and energy-based
- Bioresonance therapy – diagnosis and therapy delivered by attaching an electrical device to the patient, on the basis that cancer cells emit certain electromagnetic oscillations. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center says that such claims are not supported by any evidence and note that the US Food and Drug Administration has prosecuted many sellers of such devices.[20]
- Electrohomeopathy (or Mattei cancer cure) – a treatment devised by Count Cesare Mattei (1809–1896), who proposed that different "colors" of electricity could be used to treat cancer. Popular in the late nineteenth century, electrohomeopathy has been described as "utter idiocy".[21]
- Electro Physiological Feedback Xrroid – an electronic device promoted as being capable of diagnosing and treating cancer and a host of other ailments. However, according to Quackwatch: "The Quantum Xrroid device is claimed to balance 'bio-energetic' forces that the scientific community does not recognize as real. It mainly reflects skin resistance (how easily low-voltage electric currents from the device pass through the skin), which is not related to the body's health."[22]
- Light therapy – the use of light to treat medical conditions. According to the American Cancer Society, alternative approaches – such as chromotherapy or the use of light boxes – have not been shown to be effective for cancer treatment.[23]
- Magnetic therapy – the practice of placing magnets on and around the body in order to treat illness. Although this has been promoted as a treatment for cancer and other diseases, the American Cancer Society say, "available scientific evidence does not support these claims".[24]
- Orgone – a type of life force proposed to exist by Wilhelm Reich (1897–1957) which he claimed could be harnessed to cure diseases, including cancer, perhaps by sitting inside an "orgone accumulator" – a cupboard-like box with metal and organic linings. Quackwatch comments that scientists investigating Reich's ideas have been "unable to find the slightest evidence in Reich's data or elsewhere that such a thing as orgone exists".[25]
- Polarity therapy – a type of energy medicine based on the idea that the positive or negative charge of a person's electromagnetic field affects their health. Although it is promoted as effective for curing a number of human ailments, including cancer, the American Cancer Society says "available scientific evidence does not support claims that polarity therapy is effective in treating cancer or any other disease".[26]
- Rife Frequency Generator – an electronic device purported to cure cancer by transmitting radio waves. Cancer Research UK state, "there is no evidence to show that the Rife machine does what its supporters say it does".[27]
- Therapeutic Touch (or TT) – contrary to its name, a technique that does not usually involve touching; rather, a practitioner holds their hands close to a patient to affect the "energy" in their body. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support any claims that TT can cure cancer or other diseases".[28]
- Zoetron therapy – therapy based around a large electromagnetic device that emitted a weak field which, it was claimed, could kill cancer cells. Patients were charged US$15,000 up-front for treatment in Mexican clinics. In 2005 criminal charges were brought against the owners of the company making the device for their claims of its worth.[29] Quackwatch says: "there is no scientific evidence or reason to believe that exposure to weak magnetic fields will kill any cells".[30]
Hybrid
![human teeth filled with shiny dental amalgam](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Human_teeth_with_metal_fillings.jpg/220px-Human_teeth_with_metal_fillings.jpg)
- Clark's "Cure for All Cancers" – an alternative medicine regime promoted by Hulda Regehr Clark (1928–2009), who (before her death from cancer) claimed it could cure all human diseases, including all cancers. The regime was based on the belief that disease was caused by "parasites", and included herbal remedies, chelation therapy, and the use of electronic devices. Quackwatch describes her notions as "absurd".[31]
- Contreras therapy – treatment offered at the Oasis of Hope Hospital in Tijuana, Mexico which includes a number of ineffective treatments including the use of amygdalin and metabolic therapy. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center lists "Contreras Therapy" alongside others which "show no evidence of efficacy".[32]
- Gerson therapy – a predominantly diet regime, generally based on: limiting salt, protein and other foods; ingesting large quantities of fruits and vegetables through juicing; augmenting the intake of potassium and iodine; and the use of coffee enemas. According to Cancer Research UK, "available scientific evidence does not support any claims that Gerson therapy can treat cancer [...] Gerson therapy can be very harmful to your health."[33]
- Gonzalez protocol – a treatment regime devised by Nicholas Gonzalez (1947–2015) based on Gerson therapy. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the treatment is a type of metabolic therapy that shows "no evidence of efficacy".[34]
- Hoxsey therapy – a treatment consisting of a caustic herbal paste for external cancers or a herbal mixture for "internal" cancers, combined with laxatives, douches, vitamin supplements and dietary changes. A review by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center found no evidence that the Hoxsey Therapy was effective as a treatment for cancer.[35]
- Issels treatment – a regime recommended to be used alongside conventional treatment. It requires removal of metal fillings from the patient's mouth, and adherence to a restrictive diet. Cancer Research UK state: "There is no scientific or medical evidence to back up the claims made by the Issels website".[36]
- Kelley treatment – a treatment regime devised by William Donald Kelley (1925–2005) based on Gerson therapy, with additional features including prayer and osteopathic manipulation. Famously, Steve McQueen used it for three months before his death. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Kelley treatment is a type of metabolic therapy that shows "no evidence of efficacy".[34]
- Live blood analysis – in alternative medicine, the practice of examining blood samples under a high-powered microscope, claiming this can detect and predict cancer and other illnesses, so leading to a prescription of dietary supplements that are supposed to function as treatment. The practice has been dismissed as quackery by the medical profession.[37]
- Livingston-Wheeler Therapy – a therapeutic regime that included a restricted diet, various drugs, therapy and the use of enemas. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that Livingston-Wheeler therapy was effective in treating cancer or any other disease".[38]
- Lorraine Day's 10-step program – a regime devised by Lorraine Day based on a restrictive diet and behavioral changes, such as giving up work and ceasing to watch television. Stephen Barrett wrote on Quackwatch, "In my opinion, her advice is untrustworthy and is particularly dangerous to people with cancer".[39]
- Metabolic therapies – an umbrella term for diet- and enema-based "detoxification" regimes, such as the Gerson therapy, promoted to cure cancer and other disease. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center states: "Retrospective reviews of the Gerson, Kelley, and Contreras therapies show no evidence of efficacy."[34]
- Nieper therapy – a regimen devised by Hans Alfred Nieper (1928–1998) which was based on taking a variety of substances, including amygdalin and vitamins, and which Nieper claimed could treat a variety of serious ailments, including cancer. His methods were discredited as both ineffective and unsafe.[40]
Plant and fungus based
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Kombucha_Mature.jpg/170px-Kombucha_Mature.jpg)
- Actaea racemosa (or black cohosh) – a flowering plant from which dietary supplements are made that are promoted for their health-giving properties. According to Cancer Research UK, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that black cohosh is effective in treating or preventing cancer".[41]
- Aloe – a genus of flowering succulent plants native to Africa. According to Cancer Research UK, a potentially deadly product called T-UP is made of concentrated aloe, and promoted as a cancer cure. They say "there is currently no evidence that aloe products can help to prevent or treat cancer in humans".[42]
- Amygdalin (sometimes going by the trade name Laetrile) – a glycoside, has been promoted as a cancer cure. However, it has been found to be ineffective and toxic; its promotion has been described as "the slickest, most sophisticated, and certainly the most remunerative cancer quack promotion in medical history."[43]
- Andrographis paniculata – a herb used in Ayurvedic medicine, and promoted as a dietary supplement for cancer prevention and cure. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has stated that there is no evidence that it helps prevent or cure cancer.[44]
- Aveloz (also called firestick plant, pencil tree or Euphorbia tirucalli) – a succulent shrub native to parts of Africa and South America. Its sap is promoted as a cancer treatment, however, according to the American Cancer Society, studies suggest that "aveloz sap may actually suppress the immune system, promote tumor growth, and lead to the development of certain types of cancer".[45]
- Bach flower remedies – preparations devised by Edward Bach (1886–1936) in which tiny amounts of plant material are diluted in a mixture of water and brandy. According to Cancer Research UK, flower remedies are sometimes promoted as being capable of boosting the immune system, but "there is no scientific evidence to prove that flower remedies can control, cure or prevent any type of disease, including cancer".[46]
- Cannabis – Used as a recreational and medicinal drug. Chemicals derived from cannabis have been extensively studied for potential anti-cancer effect and while there has been much laboratory work, claims that cannabis has been proven to cure cancer are – according to Cancer Research UK – "highly misleading".[47] The US National Cancer Institute has concluded, "At this time, there is not enough evidence to recommend that patients inhale or ingest Cannabis as a treatment for cancer-related symptoms or side effects of cancer therapy."[48]
- Cansema (also called black salve) – a type of paste or poultice often promoted as a cancer cure, especially for skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, there is no evidence that these are effective in treating cancer, and they can be harmful, causing burns and disfigurement.[49]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Large_Cayenne.jpg/220px-Large_Cayenne.jpg)
- Capsicum – the name given to a group of plants in the nightshade family, well known for producing hot chilli peppers such as the cayenne pepper and the jalapeño. A number of capsicum-based products, including teas and capsules, are promoted for their health benefits, including as a claimed cancer treatment. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific research does not support claims for the effectiveness of capsicum or whole pepper supplements in preventing or curing cancer at this time".[50]
- Carctol – a herbal dietary supplement made from ayurvedic herbs. It has been aggressively marketed in the United Kingdom as a cancer treatment, but there is no evidence of its effectiveness.[51]
- Cassava – a woody shrub native to South America, the root of which is a carbohydrate-rich foodstuff. Cassava root has been promoted as treatment for cancer. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "there is no convincing scientific evidence that cassava or tapioca is effective in preventing or treating cancer".[52]
- Castor oil – an oil made from the seeds of the castor oil plant. The claim has been made that applying it to the skin can help cure cancer. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that castor oil on the skin cures cancer or any other disease."[53]
- Chaparral (or Larrea tridentata) – a plant used to make a herbal remedy which is sold as cancer treatment. Cancer Research UK state that: "We don't recommend that you take chaparral to treat or prevent any type of cancer."[54]
- Chlorella – a type of algae promoted for its health-giving properties, including a claimed ability to treat cancer. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific studies do not support its effectiveness for preventing or treating cancer or any other disease in humans".[55]
![an unpeeled ginger root beside a small knife](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Ingwer_2_%28fcm%29.jpg/220px-Ingwer_2_%28fcm%29.jpg)
- Echinacea – a group of herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family, marketed as a herbal supplement that can help combat cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, "there is no scientific evidence to show that echinacea can help treat, prevent or cure cancer in any way."[56]
- Ellagic acid – a natural phenol found in some foods, especially berries, and which has been marketed as having the ability to prevent and treat a number of human maladies, including cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, such claims are not proven.[57]
- Essiac – a blended herbal tea devised in the early 20th century and promoted as a cancer cure. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration include Essiac in a list of "Fake Cancer 'Cures' Consumers Should Avoid".[58]
- Ginger – a root of plants of the Zingiber family, and a popular spice in many types of cuisine. Ginger has been promoted as a cancer treatment for its supposed ability to halt tumor growth; however, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support this".[59]
- Ginseng – a species of perennial plant, the root of which is promoted for its therapeutic value, including a claimed ability to help fight cancer. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that ginseng is effective in preventing or treating cancer in humans".[60]
- Glyconutrients – are types of sugar extracted from plants; they are mostly marketed in a product with the brand name "Ambrotose" by Mannatech, Inc. According to the Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center these products have been "promoted aggressively to cancer patients" on the basis they can help cellular health and boost the immune system, but that "strong scientific evidence to support these claims is lacking".[61]
- Goldenseal (or Hydrastis canadensis) – a herb from the buttercup family promoted for treating many conditions, including cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, "evidence does not support claims that goldenseal is effective in treating cancer or other diseases. Goldenseal can have toxic side effects, and high doses can cause death."[62]
![Purple-colored Concord grapes on the vine with abundant foliage](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/ConcordGrapes.jpg/220px-ConcordGrapes.jpg)
- Gotu kola – a swamp plant native to parts of Asia and Africa. Supplements made from it are promoted as cancer treatment; however according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims of its effectiveness for treating cancer or any other disease in humans".[63]
- Grapes – fruit, popularized for supposed anti-cancer effect by Johanna Brandt (1876–1964) who championed a "grape diet", and promoted more recently in the form of grape seed extract (GSE). According to the American Cancer Society, "there is very little reliable scientific evidence available at this time that drinking red wine, eating grapes, or following the grape diet can prevent or treat cancer in people".[64]
- Inonotus obliquus – commonly known as chaga mushroom. Chaga has been used as a folk remedy in Russia and Siberia since the 16th century.[65] According to the Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center, "no clinical trials have been conducted to assess chaga's safety and efficacy for disease prevention or for the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes". They caution that the mushroom extract can interact with other drugs.[66]
- Juice Plus – a branded line of dietary supplements containing concentrated fruit and vegetable juice extract. In October 2009, Barrie R. Cassileth, Chair and Chief of Integrative Medicine at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, cautioned that while Juice Plus is being "aggressively promoted to cancer patients based on claims of antioxidant effects", the supplement should not be taken by patients because it can interfere with chemotherapy, nor should it be considered a substitute for fruits and vegetables.[67]
- Juicing (or Juice Therapy) – the practice of consuming juice made from raw fruit and vegetables. This has been claimed to bring many benefits such as slowing aging or curing cancer; however, according to the American Cancer Society, "there is no convincing scientific evidence that extracted juices are healthier than whole foods".[68]
- Kombucha – A kind of fermented tea claimed to cure a variety of human illnesses including AIDS and cancer; these purported uses are however not backed by evidence.[69] The consumption of Kombucha has been associated with adverse effects including muscle inflammation, poisoning, and infection.[70] At least one person has died after consuming Kombucha, but the death could not be specifically linked to the drink.[71]
- Mangosteen – a fruit native to Southeast Asia which is promoted as a "superfruit" and in products such as XanGo Juice for treating a variety of human ailments. According to the American Cancer Society, "there is no reliable evidence that mangosteen juice, puree, or bark is effective as a treatment for cancer in humans".[72]
- Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) – a biennial plant that grows in many locations over the word. Cancer Research UK say that milk thistle is promoted on the internet for its claimed ability to slow certain kinds of cancer, but that there is no good evidence in support of these claims.[73]
- Mistletoe (or Iscador) – a plant used in Anthroposophical medicine, proposed as a cancer cure by Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925), who believed it needed to be harvested when planetary alignment most influenced its potency. According to the American Cancer Society, "available evidence from well-designed clinical trials does not support claims that mistletoe can improve length or quality of life".[74]
![Mistletoe growing on a tree, showing white berries in medium close-up](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Mistletoe_Berries_Uk.jpg/220px-Mistletoe_Berries_Uk.jpg)
- Modified citrus pectin – a substance chemically extracted from citrus fruits and marketed in dietary supplement form as a treatment for prostate cancer and melanoma. According to Cancer Research UK, it has "not been shown to have any activity in fighting cancer in people".[75]
- Moxibustion – the practice, used in conjunction with acupuncture or acupressure, of burning dried-up mugwort near the patient. The American Cancer Society comments, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that moxibustion is effective in preventing or treating cancer or any other disease".[76]
- Mushrooms – promoted on the internet as useful for cancer treatment. According to Cancer Research UK, "there is currently no evidence that any type of mushroom or mushroom extract can prevent or cure cancer".[77]
- Nerium oleander (or oleander) – one of the most poisonous of commonly grown garden plants, is the basis of an extract which is promoted to treat cancer and other ailments. According to the American Cancer Society, "even a small amount of oleander can cause death", and "the effectiveness of oleander has not been proven".[78]
- Noni juice – juice derived from the fruit of the Morinda citrifolia tree indigenous to Southeast Asia, Australasia, and the Caribbean. Noni juice has been promoted as a cure for cancer. However, The American Cancer Society say "there is no reliable clinical evidence that noni juice is effective in preventing or treating cancer or any other disease in humans".[79]
- Pau d'arco – a large South American rainforest tree whose bark (sometimes brewed into "lapacho" tea) is promoted as a treatment for many ailments, including cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, "available evidence from well-designed, controlled studies does not support this substance as an effective treatment for cancer in humans".[80]
- Rauvolfia serpentina (or snakeroot) – a plant used as the basis of a herbal remedy that some believe may treat cancer. According to the American Cancer Society: "Available scientific evidence does not support claims that Indian snakeroot is effective in treating cancer [...] It also has many dangerous side effects and is likely to increase the risk of cancer."[81]
- Red clover (Trifolium pratense) – a European species of clover, promoted as a treatment for a variety of health conditions, including cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, "available clinical evidence does not show that red clover is effective in treating or preventing cancer, menopausal symptoms, or any other medical conditions."[82]
- Saw palmetto (or Serenoa repens) – a type of palm tree found growing in the southeastern United States. Its extract has been promoted as a prostate cancer medicine; however, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific studies do not support claims that saw palmetto can prevent or treat prostate cancer in humans".[83]
- Seasilver – an expensive dietary supplement made mostly from plant extracts and promoted by two US companies. Extravagant claims for its curative powers led to the prosecution and fining of the companies' owners.[84] According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, "no studies have shown the efficacy of this costly product".[85]
![soursop fruit, whole and in section. It is green with scales has white flesh and black seeds](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Soursop%2C_Annona_muricata.jpg/220px-Soursop%2C_Annona_muricata.jpg)
- Soursop (or Graviola) – widely promoted on the internet as a cancer cure. According to the US Federal Trade Commission soursop extract is among those products for which there is "no credible scientific evidence" of an ability to "prevent, cure, or treat cancer of any kind".[86]
- Strychnos nux-vomica – a tree native to Asia, the bark of which contains strychnine. Strychnos is promoted within herbal medicine as being a treatment for a wide range of maladies including cancer and heart disease; there is however no evidence it is useful for treating any condition.[87]
- Ukrain – the trademarked name of a drug (sometimes called "celandine") made from Chelidonium majus, a plant in the poppy family. The drug is promoted for its health giving powers and its ability to treat cancer; however according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that celandine is effective in treating cancer in humans".[88]
- Uncaria tomentosa (or cat's claw) – a woody vine found in the tropical jungles of South and Central America, which is promoted as a remedy for cancer and other disease. The American Cancer Society state: "Available scientific evidence also does not support cat's claw's effectiveness in preventing or treating cancer or any other disease. Cat's claw is linked to some serious side effects, although the extent of those effects is not known".[89]
![Venus flytrap plant](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Venus_Flytrap_showing_trigger_hairs.jpg/220px-Venus_Flytrap_showing_trigger_hairs.jpg)
- Venus flytrap – a carnivorous plant, the extract of which is promoted as a treatment for a variety of human ailments including skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that extract from the Venus flytrap plant is effective in treating skin cancer or any other type of cancer".[90]
- Walnuts – large, hard edible seeds of any tree of the genus Juglans. Black walnut has been promoted as a cancer cure on the basis it kills a "parasite" responsible for the disease. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that hulls from black walnuts remove parasites from the intestinal tract or that they are effective in treating cancer or any other disease".[91]
- Wheatgrass – a food made from grains of wheat. According to the American Cancer Society, although some wheatgrass champions claim it can "shrink" cancer tumors, "available scientific evidence does not support the idea that wheatgrass or the wheatgrass diet can cure or prevent disease".[92]
- Wild yam (or Chinese yam) – types of yam, the roots of which are made into creams and dietary supplements that are promoted for a variety of medicinal purposes, including cancer prevention. The American Cancer Society says of these products, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that they are safe or effective."[93]
Physical procedures
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Rectal_bulb_syringe.jpg/220px-Rectal_bulb_syringe.jpg)
- Acupuncture – a mainstay of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture attempts to regulate the flow of a supposed energy within the body by means of inserting needles through the skin at certain pre-designated points. Although there is some evidence that suggests acupuncture may help relieve some symptoms associated with cancer, such as treatment side-effects, there is no evidence to support claims that acupuncture is an effective treatment for cancer.[94]
- Applied kinesiology – the practice of diagnosing and treating illness by touching and observing patients to detect meaningful signs in the muscles. Claims have been made that in a session, "spontaneous remission" of cancer can be observed. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support the claim that applied kinesiology can diagnose or treat cancer or other illness".[95]
- Chiropractic – the practice of manipulating the spine to treat many human ailments. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that chiropractic treatment cures cancer or any other life-threatening illness".[96]
- Craniosacral therapy (or CST) – a treatment devised by John Upledger in the 1970s. A CST practitioner will massage a patient's scalp in the belief that the precise positioning of their cranial bones can have a profound impact on their health. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that craniosacral therapy helps in treating cancer or any other disease".[97]
- Colon cleansing – the practice of cleansing the colon using laxatives and enemas to "detoxify" the body. Coffee enemas in particular are promoted as a cancer therapy. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that colon therapy is effective in treating cancer or any other disease".[98]
- Cupping – a procedure in which cups are used to create areas of suction on the body. Although claimed by proponents as an alternative cancer treatment, the American Cancer Society say "available scientific evidence does not support claims that cupping has any health benefits".[99]
- Dance therapy –the use of dance or physical movement to improve physical or mental well-being. The American Cancer Society states, "Few scientific studies have been done to evaluate the effects of dance therapy on health, prevention, and recovery from illness. Clinical reports suggest dance therapy may be effective in improving self-esteem and reducing stress. As a form of exercise, dance therapy can be useful for both physical and emotional aspects of quality of life."[100] A Cochrane review found too few studies to draw any conclusions about what effects dance therapy has on psychological or physical outcomes in cancer patients.[101]
- Ear candling – an alternative medical technique in which lighted candles are placed in the ears for supposed therapeutic effect. The practice has been promoted with extravagant claims it can "purify the blood" or "cure" cancer, but Health Canada has found it has no health benefit; it does however carry a serious risk of injury.[102]
- Psychic surgery – a sleight-of-hand confidence trick in which the practitioner pretends to remove a lump of tissue (typically raw animal entrails bought from a butcher) from a person. No change occurs, so no effect is possible.[citation needed]
- Reiki – a procedure in which the practitioner might look at, blow on, tap and touch a patient in an attempt to affect the "energy" in their body. Although there is some evidence that reiki sessions are relaxing and so might improve general well-being, Cancer Research UK say that "there is no scientific evidence to prove that Reiki can prevent, treat or cure cancer or any other disease".[103]
- Shiatsu – a type of alternative medicine consisting of finger and palm pressure, stretches, and other massage techniques. According to Cancer Research UK, "there is no scientific evidence to prove that shiatsu can cure or prevent any type of disease, including cancer."[104]
Spiritual and mental healing
![Old ink oriental drawing of a man performing qigong, kneeling cross-legged with an arm extended in the air](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Baduanjin_qigong_edit1.jpg/170px-Baduanjin_qigong_edit1.jpg)
- Cancer guided imagery – the practice of attempting to treat cancer in oneself by imagining it away. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that imagery can influence the development or progress of cancer".[105]
- Faith healing – the attempt to cure disease by spiritual means, often by prayer or participation in religious ritual. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that faith healing can actually cure physical ailments".[106]
- Hypnosis – the induction of a deeply relaxed and yet alert mental state. Some practitioners have claimed hypnosis might help boost the immune system. However, according to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support the idea that hypnosis can influence the development or progression of cancer.".[107]
- Meditation (also Transcendental Meditation and Mindfulness) – mind-body practices in which patients attempt master their own mental processes. According to the American Cancer Society while meditation "may help to improve the quality of life for people with cancer", "available scientific evidence does not suggest that meditation is effective in treating cancer or any other disease."[108]
- Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) – a series of behavioral techniques based on various supposed relationships between language and mental processes. NLP has been promoted as a treatment for HIV/AIDS and cancer, but such claims have no evidence to support them.[109]
- Anti-cancer psychotherapy – a technique[110] claiming that a "cancer personality" caused cancer, which could be cured through talk therapy (e.g. that of the Simonton Cancer Center,[111] Bernie Siegel's "Exceptional Cancer Patients" (ECaP) or Deepak Chopra). There is no evidence whatsoever that anything sold or promoted by Deepak Chopra is of any value whatsoever.[112]
- Qigong – the practice of maintaining a meditative state while making gentle and fluid bodily movements, in an attempt to balance internal life energy. A systematic review of the effect of qigong exercises on cancer treatment concluded "the effectiveness of qigong in cancer care is not yet supported by the evidence from rigorous clinical trials."[113]
Synthetic chemicals and other substances
![A shark swimming underwater in a bright blue sea](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Tibur%C3%B3n.jpg/220px-Tibur%C3%B3n.jpg)
- 714-X – sometimes called "trimethylbicyclonitramineoheptane chloride", is a mixture of chemicals marketed commercially as a cure for many human ailments, including cancer. There is however no scientific evidence for any anti-cancer effect from 714-X.[114]
- Antineoplaston therapy – a form of chemotherapy promoted by the Burzynski Clinic in Texas, United States. The American Cancer Society has found no evidence that antineoplastons have any beneficial effects in cancer, and it has recommended that people do not spend money on antineoplaston treatments.[115]
- Apitherapy – the use of products derived from bees, such as honey and bee venom, as a therapy. Apitherapy has been promoted for its anti-cancer effects; however according to the American Cancer Society, "there have been no clinical studies in humans showing that bee venom or other honeybee products are effective in preventing or treating cancer."[116]
- Cancer Cell Treatment – a patented cream-based formula. Per their own page The CC Formula has not been approved by the FDA. Claims to disrupt the Krebs cycle.[117]
- Cancell (also called Protocel, Sheridan's Formula, Jim's Juice, Crocinic Acid, JS–114, JS–101, 126–F, and Entelev) – a formula that has been promoted as a treatment for a wide range of diseases, including cancer. The American Cancer Society and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center recommend against the use of CanCell, as there is no evidence that it is effective in treating any disease, and its proposed method of action is not consistent with modern science.[118][119]
- Cell therapy – the practice of injecting cellular material from animals in an attempt to prevent or treat cancer. Although the use of human-to-human cell therapy has some established medical uses, the injection of animal material is, according to the American Cancer Society, not backed by any evidence of effectiveness, and "may in fact be lethal".[120]
- Caesium chloride – a toxic salt, promoted as a cancer cure (sometimes as "high pH therapy"), on the basis that it targets cancer cells. However, there is no evidence to support these claims, while serious adverse reactions have been reported. These include hypokalemia, arrythmia, and acute cardiac arrest.[121][122]
- Chelation therapy – removal of metals from the body by administering chelating agents. Chelation therapy is a legitimate therapy for heavy metal poisoning, but it has also been promoted as an alternative treatment for diseases including cancer. The American Cancer Society says: "Available scientific evidence does not support claims that it is effective for treating other conditions such as cancer. Chelation therapy can be toxic and has the potential to cause kidney damage, irregular heartbeat, and even death."[123]
- Cytokine therapy (or Klehr's autologous tumor therapy) – a so-called immunotherapy with a therapeutic substrate made of cytokines from the cancer patients' blood.[124][125] The inventor of this method is Nikolaus Walther Klehr, a dermatologist, who practiced it in his private clinics in Salzburg and Munich.[126] The patients were mainly from Slovenia, Poland and other Eastern European countries. Klehr is reported as claiming that his treatment leads to extended lifespan.[127] According to German Cancer Aid, the mechanism of action is unclear and the method's clinical effectiveness unproven.[128]
![An emu's head and neck](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Dromaius_novaehollandiae_%28head%29_Battersea_Park_Children%27s_Zoo.jpg/170px-Dromaius_novaehollandiae_%28head%29_Battersea_Park_Children%27s_Zoo.jpg)
- Colloidal silver – liquid containing a suspension of silver particles, marketed as a treatment for cancer and other ailments. Quackwatch states that colloidal silver dietary supplements have not been found safe or effective for the treatment of any condition.[129]
- Coral calcium – a dietary supplement supposedly made from crushed coral and promoted with claims it could treat a number of diseases including cancer. A consumer advisory issued by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine stated "Consumers should be aware that claims that coral calcium can treat or cure cancer, multiple sclerosis, lupus, heart disease, or high blood pressure are not supported by existing scientific evidence".[130]
- Di Bella Therapy – a cocktail of vitamins, drugs and hormones devised by Luigi di Bella (1912–2003) and promoted as a cancer treatment. According to the American Cancer Society: "Available scientific evidence does not support claims that Di Bella therapy is effective in treating cancer. It can cause serious and harmful side effects. ... [These] may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increased blood sugar levels, low blood pressure, sleepiness, and neurological symptoms."[131]
- Dimethyl sulfoxide (or DMSO) – an organosulfur compound that has been promoted as a treatment for cancer since the 1960s. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not suggest that DMSO is effective in treating cancer in humans".[132]
- Emu oil – an oil derived from adipose tissue of the emu, and promoted in dietary supplement form with the claimed ability to treat a wide range of diseases, including cancer. These products have been cited by the US Food and Drug Administration as a prime example of a "rip-off".[133]
- Gc-MAF (Gc protein-derived macrophage activating factor) – a type of protein that affects the immune system, and which has been promoted as a "miracle cure" for cancer and HIV. According to Cancer Research UK, "there is no solid scientific evidence to show that the treatment is safe or effective".[134]
- Germanium – a mineral which has been sold in supplement form with the claim that it is capable of treating leukemia and lung cancer. There is however no evidence of benefit, and instead some evidence that such supplements are actively harmful.[135]
- Hydrazine sulfate – a chemical compound promoted (sometimes as "rocket fuel treatment") for its supposed ability to treat cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, although there is some evidence Hydrazine sulfate might help some people with cancer gain weight, "there is no evidence that it helps to treat cancer".[136]
![A syringe being held upright; the plunger is being depressed and liqud droplets debouching from the needle tip](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Injection_Syringe_01.jpg/170px-Injection_Syringe_01.jpg)
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy – the use of a pressurized oxygen environment as therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has a number of accepted uses – for example hyperbaric chambers are used for treating decompression sickness. The therapy has also been promoted as a cure-all for a wide range of conditions, including cancer, for which there is no evidence of effectiveness.[137]
- Insulin potentiation therapy – the practice of injecting insulin, usually alongside a low dose of conventional chemotherapy drugs, in the belief that this improves the overall effect of the treatment. Although it may cause a temporary reduction in tumor size for some patients, there is no evidence that it improves survival time or any other main outcomes.[138][139]
- Krebiozen (also known as Carcalon, creatine, substance X, or drug X) – a mineral oil-based liquid sold as an alternative cancer treatment. According to the American Cancer Society: "Available scientific evidence does not support claims that Krebiozen is effective in treating cancer or any other disease. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), creatine has been linked to several dangerous side effects."[140]
- Lipoic acid – an antioxidant available as a dietary supplement and claimed by proponents to be capable of slowing cancer progression. According to the American Cancer Society, "there is no reliable scientific evidence at this time that lipoic acid prevents the development or spread of cancer".[141]
- Miracle Mineral Supplement (or MMS) – a toxic solution of 28% sodium chlorite in distilled water, is promoted for treating cancer and other ailments. Quackwatch states, "the product, when used as directed, produces an industrial bleach that can cause serious harm to health".[142]
- Orthomolecular medicine (or Megavitamin therapy) – the use of high doses of vitamins, claimed by proponents to help cure cancer. The view of the medical community is that there is no evidence that these therapies are effective for treating any disease.[143]
- Oxygen therapy – in alternative medicine, the practice of injecting hydrogen peroxide, oxygenating blood, or administering oxygen under pressure to the rectum, vagina, or other bodily opening. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that putting oxygen-releasing chemicals into a person's body is effective in treating cancer", and some of these treatments can be dangerous.[144]
- Poly-MVA – a dietary supplement created by Merrill Garnett (1931–), a former dentist turned biochemist. Poly-MVA is promoted as a treatment for a number of diseases including HIV/AIDS and cancer, but there is no medical evidence to support such claims and some concern that the use of Poly-MVA can interfere with the functioning of conventional cancer treatments.[145]
- Quercetin – a plant pigment used in dietary supplements that have been promoted for their ability to prevent and treat cancer; however, according to the American Cancer society, "there is no reliable clinical evidence that quercetin can prevent or treat cancer in humans".[146]
- Revici's Guided Chemotherapy – a practice in which a chemical mixture (usually including lipid alcohol and various metals) is given by mouth or injection, supposedly to cure cancer. The practice was devised by Emanuel Revici (1896–1997) and differs from modern chemotherapy despite being named with the same term. According to the American Cancer Society: "Available scientific evidence does not support claims that Revici's guided chemotherapy is effective in treating cancer or any other disease. It may also cause potentially serious side effects."[147]
- Shark cartilage – a dietary supplement made from ground shark skeleton, and promoted as a cancer treatment perhaps because of the mistaken notion that sharks do not get cancer. The Mayo Clinic conducted research and were "unable to demonstrate any suggestion of efficacy for this shark cartilage product in patients with advanced cancer".[148]
- Sodium bicarbonate (or baking soda) – the chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3, sometimes promoted as cure for cancer by alternative medical practitioners such as Tullio Simoncini. According to the American Cancer Society: "evidence also does not support the idea that sodium bicarbonate works as a treatment for any form of cancer or that it cures yeast or fungal infections. There is substantial evidence, however, that these claims are false."[149]
- Urine therapy (or urotherapy) – the practice of attempting to treat cancer – or other illnesses – by drinking, injecting or taking an enema of one's own urine, or by making and taking some derivative substance from it. According to the American Cancer Society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that urine or urea given in any form is helpful for cancer patients".[150]
- Vitacor – a type of vitamin supplement devised by Matthias Rath and heavily promoted on the internet, alongside other products from Rath's company under the "Cellular Health" brand, as a claimed treatment for cancer and other human disease; these claims have led to Rath's prosecution.[151] According to Cancer Research UK, "there is no scientific evidence at all to back up the claims that these products work".[152]
References
- ^ Green S (1997). "Pseudoscience in Alternative Medicine: Chelation Therapy, Antineoplastons, The Gerson Diet and Coffee Enemas". Skeptical Inquirer. 21 (5): 39.
- ^ "Aromatherapy". American Cancer Society. November 2008.
- ^ "Ayurvedic medicine". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ Cassileth, BR; Yarett, IR (2012). "Cancer quackery: The persistent popularity of useless, irrational 'alternative' treatments". Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.). 26 (8): 754–8. PMID 22957409.
- ^ a b "Herbal medicine". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ "Holistic Medicine". American Cancer Society. January 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ "Homeopathy". American Cancer Society. 12 February 2013.
- ^ a b "Native American healing". American Cancer Society. November 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ "Naturopathic Medicine". American Cancer Society. November 2008.
- ^ Aletheia, T.R. (2010). Cancer : an American con$piracy. p. 43. ISBN 9781936400553.
In the long run, the best diet to follow is one that promotes an alkaline pH using the 80/20 rule. The diet that best epitomizes this rule is the Edgar Cayce diet.
- ^ "An alkaline diet and cancer". Canadian Cancer Society.
- ^ Hübner, J; Marienfeld, S; Abbenhardt, C; Ulrich, CM; Löser, C (2012). "How useful are diets against cancer?". Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift. 137 (47): 2417–22. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1327276. PMID 23152069.
- ^ "What is the Budwig diet?". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ Stephen Barrett, M.D. (29 May 2003). "Rev. George M. Malkmus and his Hallelujah Diet".
- ^ Jean-Marie Abgrall (1 January 2000). Healing Or Stealing?: Medical Charlatans in the New Age. Algora Publishing. pp. 82–83. ISBN 978-1-892941-28-2.
- ^ Esko, Edward; Kushi, Michio (1991). The macrobiotic approach to cancer: towards preventing and controlling cancer with diet and lifestyle. Wayne, N.J: Avery Pub. Group. ISBN 0-89529-486-9.
- ^ "Macrobiotic diet". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ Stephen Barrett, M.D. (11 December 2001). "The Moerman Diet". Quackwatch.
- ^ "'Superfoods' and cancer". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ "BioResonance Therapy". Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. 29 May 2012.
- ^ Kempf, EJ (1906). "European Medicine: A Résumé of Medical Progress During the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries". Journal of the Medical Library Association. 4 (1): 238. PMC 1692368. PMID 18340885.
The electrohomeopathic system is an invention of Count Mattei who prates of 'red,' 'blue,' and 'green' electricity, a theory that, in spite of its utter idiocy, has attracted a considerable following and earned a large fortune for its chief promoter.
- ^ Barrett, Stephen (July 2009). "Some Notes on the Quantum Xrroid (QXCI) and William C. Nelson". Quackwatch.
- ^ "Light Therapy". American Cancer Society. 14 April 2011.
- ^ "Magnetic Therapy". American Cancer Society. December 2012.
- ^ Stephen Barrett, M.D. (15 February 2002). "Some Notes on Wilhelm Reich, M.D". Quackwatch.
- ^ Ades, Terri B.; Russell, Jill, eds. (2009). "Polarity Therapy". American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies (2nd ed.). American Cancer Society. pp. 235–237. ISBN 9780944235713.
- ^ "Rife machines and cancer". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ "Therapeutic Touch". American Cancer Society. April 2011.
- ^ "Zoetron Cell Specific Cancer Therapy". BBB Business Review. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ^ Stephen Barrett, M.D. (1 March 2004). "Zoetron Therapy (Cell Specific Cancer Therapy)". Quackwatch.
- ^ Stephen Barrett, M.D. (23 October 2009). "The Bizarre Claims of Hulda Clark". Quackwatch.
- ^ "Metabolic Therapies". Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. 14 February 2013.
- ^ "What Gerson therapy is". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ a b c "Metabolic Therapies". Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. 14 February 2013.
- ^ "Hoxsey Therapy". Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. 29 October 2012.
- ^ "Issels Treatment". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ Mendick, Robert (30 March 2014). "Duped by the 'blood analyst' who says he can cure cancer". Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "Livingston-Wheeler Therapy". American Cancer Society. 1 November 2008.
- ^ "Stay Away from Dr. Lorraine Day". Quackwatch. 16 March 2013.
- ^ FDA Press Office (15 August 1986). "Alert Issued on Nieper Therapies". Quackwatch.
- ^ "Black Cohosh". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ "Aloe". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ Lerner, I. J. (1981). "Laetrile: A Lesson in Cancer Quackery". CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 31 (2): 91–5. doi:10.3322/canjclin.31.2.91. PMID 6781723.
- ^ "Andrographis". Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. 13 February 2013.
- ^ "Aveloz". American Cancer Society.
- ^ "Flower remedies". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ Arney, Kat (25 July 2012). "Cannabis, cannabinoids and cancer – the evidence so far". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ "Cannabis and Cannabinoids". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
- ^ "Cancer Salves". American Cancer Society. March 2011.
- ^ "Capsicum". American Cancer Society. November 2008.
- ^ Ernst, Edzard (2009). "Carctol: Profit before Patients?". Breast Care. 4 (1): 31–33. doi:10.1159/000193025. PMC 2942009. PMID 20877681.
- ^ "Cassava". American Cancer Society. November 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ "Castor Oil". American Cancer Society. March 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ "Chaparral". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ "Chlorella". American Cancer Society. 29 April 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
- ^ "Echinacea". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ "Ellagic acid". American Cancer Society. November 2008.
- ^ "187 Fake Cancer "Cures" Consumers Should Avoid". Guidance, Compliance & Regulatory Information. USFDA.
- ^ "Ginger". American Cancer Society. May 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ "Ginseng". American Cancer Society. November 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ "Glyconutrients". Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center. 11 October 2012.
- ^ "Goldenseal". American Cancer Society. 28 November 2008.
- ^ "Gotu Kola". American Cancer Society. 28 November 2011.
- ^ "Grapes". American Cancer Society. 1 November 2011.
- ^ Youn, Myung-Ja; Kim, JK; Park, SY; Kim, Y; Kim, SJ; Lee, JS; Chai, KY; Kim, HJ; Cui, MX; So, HS; Kim, KY; Park, R (2008). "Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus ) induces G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2 cells". World Journal of Gastroenterology. 14 (4): 511–7. doi:10.3748/wjg.14.511. PMC 2681140. PMID 18203281.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ "Chaga Mushroom". Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center. 18 July 2011.
- ^ Cassileth, B (2009). "Juice Plus". Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.). 23 (11): 987. PMID 19947351.
- ^ "Juicing". American Cancer Society. November 2008.
- ^ "Kombucha". Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 22 May 2014.
- ^ Dasgupta A (2011). Chapter 11: Toxic and Dangerous Herbs. Walter de Gruyter. p. 111. ISBN 978-3-11-024561-5.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ Bryant BJ, Knights KM (2011). Chapter 3: Over-the-counter Drugs and Complementary Therapies (3rd ed.). Elsevier Australia. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-7295-3929-6.
Kombucha has been associated with illnesses and death. A tea made from Kombucha is said to be a tonic, but several people have been hospitalised and at least one woman died after taking this product. The cause could not be directly linked to Kombucha, but several theories were offered, e.g. The tea might have reacted with other medications that the woman was taking, or bacteria might grow in the Kombucha liquid and, in patients with suppressed immunity, might prove to be fatal.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ "Mangosteen Juice". American Cancer Society. November 2008.
- ^ "Milk thistle and liver cancer". Cancer Research UK. 8 March 2015.
- ^ "Mistletoe". American Cancer Society. January 2013.
- ^ "What is modified citrus pectin?". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ "Moxibustion". American Cancer Society. 8 March 2011.
- ^ "Mushrooms and cancer". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ "Oleander Leaf". American Cancer Society.
- ^ "Noni Plant". American Cancer Society. November 2008.
- ^ "Pau d'arco". American Cancer Society. January 2013.
- ^ "Indian Snakeroot". American Cancer Society. November 2008. Archived from the original on 8 May 2013.
- ^ "Red Clover". American Cancer Society. November 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ "Saw Palmetto". American Cancer Society. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
- ^ "Court orders Seasilver defendants to pay $120 million". Nutraceuticals World. 11 (6): 14. 2008.
- ^ "Seasilver". Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. 29 September 2012.
- ^ "FTC Sweep Stops Peddlers of Bogus Cancer Cures". FTC. 18 September 2008.
- ^ Ades, Terri B.; Russell, Jill, eds. (2009). Strychnos nux-vomica (2nd ed.). American Cancer Society. pp. 504–507. ISBN 9780944235713.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ "Celandine". American Cancer Society. August 2011.
- ^ "Cat's Claw". American Cancer Society. 12 September 2011.
- ^ "Venus Flytrap". American Cancer Society. November 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ "Black Walnut". American Cancer Society. April 2011.
- ^ "Wheatgrass". American Cancer Society. November 2008.
- ^ "Wild Yam". American Cancer Society. November 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- ^ Ades, Terri B.; Russell, Jill, eds. (2009). "Acupuncture". American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies (2nd ed.). American Cancer Society. pp. 156–159. ISBN 9780944235713.
- ^ "Applied Kinesiology". American Cancer Society. November 2008.
- ^ "Chiropractic". American Cancer Society. March 2011.
- ^ "Craniosacral therapy". American Cancer Society. December 2012.
- ^ "Colon Therapy". American Cancer Society. November 2008.
- ^ "Cupping". American Cancer Society. November 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ "Dance Therapy". American Cancer Society. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ^ Bradt, J; Goodill, SW; Dileo, C (Oct 5, 2011). "Dance/movement therapy for improving psychological and physical outcomes in cancer patients". The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (10): CD007103. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007103.pub2. PMID 21975762.
- ^ Food and Drug Administration (ed.). "Don't Get Burned: Stay Away From Ear Candles". WebMD.
- ^ "Reiki". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ "Shiatsu". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ "Imagery". American Cancer Society. 1 November 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
- ^ "Faith Healing". American Cancer Society. January 2013.
- ^ "Hypnosis". American Cancer Society. November 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ "Meditation". American Cancer Society. November 2008.
- ^ Ades, Terri B.; Russell, Jill, eds. (2009). "Neuro-linguistic programming". American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies (2nd ed.). American Cancer Society. pp. 120–122. ISBN 9780944235713.
- ^ Cassileth BR (July 1995). "History of psychotherapeutic intervention in cancer patients". Support Care Cancer. 3 (4): 264–6. PMID 7551631.
- ^ Olson, 2002. p. 161
- ^ Vickers AJ, Kuo J, Cassileth BR (January 2006). "Unconventional anticancer agents: a systematic review of clinical trials". Journal of Clinical Oncology. 24 (1): 136–40. doi:10.1200/JCO.2005.03.8406. PMC 1472241. PMID 16382123.
- ^ Soo Lee, Myeong; Chen, Kevin W; Sancier, Kenneth M; Ernst, Edzard (2007). "Qigong for cancer treatment: A systematic review of controlled clinical trials". Acta Oncologica. 46 (6): 717–22. doi:10.1080/02841860701261584. PMID 17653892.
- ^ "714-X". American Cancer Society. 1 November 2008.
- ^ "Antineoplastons". CA. 33 (1): 57–9. 1983. doi:10.3322/canjclin.33.1.57. PMID 6401577.
- ^ "Apitherapy". American Cancer Society. November 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- ^ "Cancer Cell Treatment and The CC Formula | The CC Treatment". www.cancer-cell-treatment.com. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
- ^ "Questionable methods of cancer management: Cancell/Entelev". CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 43 (1): 57–62. 1993. doi:10.3322/canjclin.43.1.57. PMID 8422607.
- ^ "Cancell". Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
- ^ "Cell Therapy". American Cancer Society. 1 November 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ "Cesium Chloride". Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. 3 May 2012.
- ^ Melnikov, P; Zanoni, LZ (June 2010). "Clinical effects of cesium intake". Biological trace element research. 135 (1–3): 1–9. doi:10.1007/s12011-009-8486-7. PMID 19655100.
- ^ "Chelation Therapy". American Cancer Society. 1 November 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ^ "Dr. Klehr nima referenc v Berlinu" (in Slovenian). 24ur.com. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Salzburški zdravilec zavajal paciente?" (in Slovenian). 24ur.com. 27 August 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Dr. Klehr – Institut für Immunologie und Zellbiologie" (in German). Europe Health GmbH. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Suspicious Austrian Healer Conning Slovenes". dalje.com. 27 August 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
- ^ Brustkrebs, Ein Ratgeber für Betroffene, Angehörige und Interessierte (pdf) (in German), German Cancer Aid, January 2005, ISSN 0946-4816
- ^ Edward McSweegan. "Lyme Disease: Questionable Diagnosis and Treatment". Quackwatch.
- ^ "Consumer Advisory: Coral Calcium". National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. November 2004. Archived from the original on 27 Jan 2012.
- ^ "Di Bella Therapy". American Cancer Society.
- ^ "DMSO". American Cancer Society. November 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ Kurtzweil P (30 April 2009). "How to Spot Health Fraud". U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
- ^ Arney, Kat (25 July 2014). "'Cancer cured for good?' – Gc-MAF and the miracle cure". Cancer Research UK.
- ^ Ades, Terri B.; Russell, Jill, eds. (2009). "Germanium". American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies (2nd ed.). American Cancer Society. pp. 360–363. ISBN 9780944235713.
- ^ "What is rocket fuel treatment?". Cancer Research UK. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ "Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Don't Be Misled". Food and Drug Administration. August 22, 2013.
- ^ "Insulin potentiation therapy". CAM-Cancer. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
- ^ Wider, Barbara (17 May 2013). "What cancer care providers need to know about CAM: the CAM-Cancer project". Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies. 18. Wiley: 95–100. doi:10.1111/fct.12017. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
- ^ "Krebiozen". American Cancer Society. 1 November 2008.
- ^ "Lipoic Acid". American Cancer Society. November 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ "FDA Warns Consumers of Serious Harm from Drinking Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS)". Quackwatch. 1 August 2010.
- ^ Aaronson S; et al. (2003). "Cancer medicine". In Frei Emil; Kufe Donald W; Holland James F (eds.). Cancer medicine 6. Hamilton, Ontario: BC Decker. p. 76. ISBN 1-55009-213-8.
There is no evidence that megavitamin or orthomolecular therapy is effective in treating any disease.
- ^ "Oxygen Therapy". American Cancer Society. 26 December 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ^ Ades, Terri B.; Russell, Jill, eds. (2009). "Poly-MVA". American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies (2nd ed.). American Cancer Society. pp. 804–807. ISBN 9780944235713.
- ^ "Quercetin". American Cancer Society. November 2008.
- ^ "Revici's Guided Chemotherapy". American Cancer Society. November 2008.
- ^ Loprinzi, Charles L.; Levitt, Ralph; Barton, Debra L.; Sloan, Jeff A.; Atherton, Pam J.; Smith, Denise J.; Dakhil, Shaker R.; Moore Jr, Dennis F.; Krook, James E.; Rowland Jr, Kendrith M.; Mazurczak, Miroslaw A.; Berg, Alan R.; Kim, George P.; North Central Cancer Treatment Group (2005). "Evaluation of shark cartilage in patients with advanced cancer". Cancer. 104 (1): 176–82. doi:10.1002/cncr.21107. PMID 15912493.
- ^ "Sodium Bicarbonate". American Cancer Society. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
- ^ "Urotherapy". American Cancer Society. November 2008.
- ^ Hamburger Morgenpost, 10 October 2006, Vitamin-Arzt Rath muss 33000 Euro zahlen
- ^ "Vitacor". Cancer Research UK. Retrieved 14 September 2013.