Liver Cancer
Liver cancer is usually an end result of another liver
disorder, such as hepatitis C or
cirrhosis, or the spread of cancer
from another part of the body. Factors that can contribute
to the development of liver cancer include the use of
oral contraceptives, alcohol consumption, exposure to
carcinogens such as aflatoxin, and a history of hepatitis.
Possible symptoms include abdominal pain, a severe form of
abdominal swelling known as ascites, jaundice, weakness,
and loss of both appetite and
weight. However, these
symptoms usually appear only when the disease is advanced.
The liver may be enlarged, and hard masses may be
present. A diagnosis of liver cancer is confirmed by biopsy.
Surgery may be used for localized growths, although
liver cancer often occurs as multiple tumors. A number of
different chemotherapy medications may be used. In addition,
doctors may employ interferon, a chemical produced by
the immune system.
Be aware that some herbs may have a negative impact
on the liver and/or interact negatively with conventional
medicines. When dealing with cancer, you should always
work with a qualified health-care practitioner.
Supplements and herbs
- Astragalus capsules. Take 500-1,000 mg 3 times daily.
Stimulates Iymphokine- activated killer (LAK) cells to attack tumors.
Do not use astragalus if you have a fever or a skin infection.
- Barberry or
coptis or
goldenseal or
Oregon grape root capsules.
Take 500 mg of any of these herbs daily.
Herbs that contain berberine, which stops multiplication of liver cancer cells.
Do not use barberry, coptis, goldenseal, or Oregon grape root if you are pregnant or have
gallbladder disease. Do not take these herbs with supplemental
vitamin B6 or with protein supplements containing the amino acid
histidine. Do not use goldenseal if you have
cardiovascular disease or glaucoma.
- Cinnamon fresh, grated. Eat at least 1 tsp daily, in food.
Deactivates plasmin, a substance that allows cancer cells to invade healthy tissues.
- Lentinan injection, given by health-care practitioner.
Slows the growth of liver tumors.
- Reishi tablets. Take 3 gm daily.
Helps to stop the progression of liver cancer.
- Scutellaria capsules. Take 1-2 gm 3 times daily.
Induces death of liver cancer cells. Stops chemotherapy-caused
immune-system damage.
Do not use scutellaria if you have diarrhea.
- Soy lecithin capsules. Take 3,000 mg daily.
Stops free-radical reactions in cancer development.
Soy lecithin may cause mild diarrhea when you first use it.
Additional things you may do
- Use safflower and perilla oils in salad dressings and for
cooking. These oils are rich in the polyunsaturated
omega 6 fatty acids that suppress the development of liver cancer
in laboratory tests. On the other hand, avoid supplemental
omega-3 fatty acids, such as MaxEPA and fish oil, since
these fatty acids can promote the spread of cancers to the
liver.
- Eat foods rich in the amino acid arginine, such as
chocolate,
coconut, hazelnuts, and
sunflower seeds.
Animal studies show that supplementation with arginine
prevents the growth of liver tumors without depriving the rest
of the body of essential protein.
- Eat Jerusalem artichokes. They contain inulin, which in
laboratory tests slows the growth of liver tumors.
- If you have any chronic liver disease and develop
itching all over, see a physician who will order an
alpha-fetoprotein test. This itching, caused by bile salts accumulating
near the surface of the skin, can be a symptom of the early
stages of liver cancer.
- People who have fevers or are receiving interferon
cannot take Minor Bupleurum Decoction, but they can take
the herb milk thistle. Silybinin, a chemical in milk thistle,
protects the liver's Kuppfer cells from inflammation. These
specialized immune cells engulf foreign matter in the liver,
and also play a role in destroying cancer cells that have
entered the bloodstream. Silybinin acts without
interfering with tumor necrosis factor (TNF), an immune-system
chemical that accelerates the destruction of cancer cells.
This herb is available in a standardized form that delivers
120 milligrams of silymarin in a 500-milligram capsule. It is
also possible to use 500-milligram capsules of milk thistle
seeds themselves. Take either form three times daily. Or
make milk thistle tea by placing 1/3 to 1/2 ounce (12 to 15
grams) of seed in 2 cups (500 milliliters) of boiling water,
and allowing it to steep for forty-five minutes. Strain and
drink one-third of the tea in three doses per day. Since milk
thistle tinctures are made with alcohol, people with liver
cancer must avoid them.
- Several herbs can be used to lower the risk of developing
liver cancer. Bitter orange contains monoterpenes, which stop liver tumors
before they can get started. Take 1 cup of the tea daily; use 1 teaspoon (2 to 3
grams) per cup. Green tea prevents liver cancer
development-as long as viral hepatitis is not present-if soy
lecithin is also taken. Drink 2 to 5 cups of green tea a day, or
take 250 milligrams of green-tea catechins three times daily. Licorice and scutellaria can be used together in tea form to
help prevent hepatitis C from progressing to liver cancer.
Take 1 cup of each (from bags) daily. Avoid licorice in cases
of glaucoma, high blood pressure, or disorders affected by
estrogen, such as diseases of the female reproductive
system. Use for six weeks, then take a two-week break.
Consume a potassium-rich food, such as
bananas or citrus
juices, or take a potassium supplement, daily when taking
this herb. Avoid scutellaria during diarrhea.
- To lower the risk of developing liver cancer, take 150
micrograms of selenium daily on an ongoing basis. A clinical trial in China
involving over 100,000 people found that taking
supplemental selenium reduced the rate of liver cancer by
35 percent over an eight-year period. When the selenium
supplement was discontinued, liver cancer rates began to
rise again. Selenium is especially helpful for people
infected with hepatitis B.
- Smoking, drinking, and inadequate
vitamin A intake
increase the risk of liver cancer in people infected with
hepatitis B. The effect is especially severe for men who
smoke more than ten cigarettes per day. Eating one to three
servings of leafy green, yellow, or orange vegetables per
week provides sufficient A vitamins to reduce the risk of
liver cancer as much as 80 percent among men who have
hepatitis B.
- The grain contaminant aflatoxin greatly increases the
risk of developing liver cancer. It causes mutations in the
p53 gene, which "patrols" for and deactivates developing
cancer cells. Always consume only fresh cereals and flour
products. Also, eat green, leafy vegetables on a daily basis.
Animal studies indicate that chlorophyll reduces the
cancer-causing capacity of aflatoxin.
Other beneficial herbs
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