According to the Mayo Clinic, chemotherapy refers to the use of drugs to kill fast-growing cells in your body, like the ones responsible for cancer. There are, however, several natural substances, like herbs and mushrooms, that have been found in clinical studies to inhibit the growth of and possibly kill cancer cells as well.
Reishi Mushroom
The reishi mushroom, Ganoderma lucida, has been used for thousands of years in Asia for many different diseases and is one of the best overall tonics for health and longevity. A study published in November 2002 in the journal Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications examined the effects of dried reishi on highly invasive breast and prostate cancer cells. "Highly invasive" is a term used to describe cancer that is spreading to other areas of the body. The researchers found that reishi suppressed the migration of the cancer cells. Reishi can be purchased online, at health food stores or at Chinese herb stores. It is commonly sold in supplement form in standardized doses but can be found in whole dried form, which requires that you prepare a tea by boiling the mushroom for several hours.
Arjuna
Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) is an herb that has also been used for thousands of years, this time in the Indian system of traditional medicine known as Ayurveda. In a study published in February 2006 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, an extract of arjuna was found to kill liver cancer cells by damaging their DNA, which is the same action that many pharmaceutical chemotherapy drugs have on cancer cells. This process of killing cancer cells is called apoptosis, which actually means that the cells destroy themselves or commit suicide, and is thought to be triggered by DNA signaling. Arjuna can be found in capsules or in bulk at many health food stores, online vendors and Indian grocery stores.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a bright orange spice that is a common ingredient in Indian food and has been studied for many health benefits by the scientific community. In a study published in February 2009 in The Journal of Zhejiang University, a compound in turmeric, called curcumin, was examined for its effect on human colon cancer cells. The researchers discovered that curcumin was able to both inhibit the growth and induce apoptosis in the cancer cells. Turmeric is available in the spice section of most grocery stores and can be added to soups, sauces and curries. Turmeric supplements, which contain standardized amounts of curcumin, are also available at many health food stores and online.
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