Herbs for Treating Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is one of the most common of the urinary tract cancers. It can occur as a result of smoking, overuse of acetaminophen pain killers (Tylenol), exposure to industrial carcinogens, and several other potential risk factors. Surgery, chemotherapy or immunotherapy may be recommended, though some herbal remedies can help speed along the process of healing as well.

Warning

• Some herbs can cause negative reactions with certain medications and other herbal remedies. Consult your doctor or an integrated medication practitioner to make sure the dosages and types of herbs you are taking are safe in your particular condition.

Herbs to Avoid

• Several herbs can aggravate bladder cancer. If you are taking any of these for other conditions already, and you have just been diagnosed with the disease, stop taking them immediately. These include raw shiitake mushrooms, cordyceps, dan shen, fennel seeds, licorice and peony. Many of these remedies stimulate estrogen production, which can lead to quicker multiplication of bladder cancer cells.

Astragalus

• There are two walls of defense against bladder cancer: gene p16 and gene p53. When gene p16 is damaged in the DNA of a cell, it begins to rapidly multiply. Gene p53 sends signals to the immune system if that sort of multiplication begins to happen. Astragalus is an herb that has been connected to the activation of the p53 gene. This can stimulate lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) immune cells that fight cancer cells. Take 750 mg of Astralagus capsules three times a day unless you are experiencing a fever or a skin infection.

Garlic, Green Tea and Ginseng

• These three herbal remedies have the ability to fight different aspects of bladder cancer. Garlic can be complementary to your immunotherapy, along with having potential tumor reducing abilities. Garlic can be taken in 900 mg doses daily, but you should consult with your doctor if you are taking anticoagulant medication or if considering surgery. Green tea has the ability to fight cancer, and it may also stop blood vessels that feed tumors. Drink a few cups of the tea per day or follow the dosage instructions on a bottle of green tea capsules. Siberian ginseng can slow bladder cancer cell growth and stimulate the immune system. Take 300 mg per day in capsule form, but make sure to talk to a doctor if you have an autoimmune disease or prostate cancer before taking it.

Red Clover and Maitake

• Red clover and maitake may make a powerful combination when trying to prevent bladder cancer from returning. Red clover is a powerful herb that may help to prevent cancer in the first place. If you have fought off the disease, and you are trying to keep it in remission, try red clover as a tea with 3 teaspoons of the flowers in a single cup of boiling water, steeped, strained and taken three times a day. Maitake-D is an effective herb that can be used after surgery to prevent recurrence. Try taking it three times a day at 2000 mg doses between meals.