Herbs to Cure Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate mutate and replicate to form tumors. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration forbids any herbal remedy from claiming to cure an illness or disease, but there are several herbs that will help in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Sulforaphane

• Sulforaphane, which is available as a supplement, is a compound found in broccoli. A University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute study discovered that sulforaphane seems to disrupt the oxygenation needed for cancer cells to reproduce, causing them to die instead of replicate.

Soy Protein

• Soy protein contains genistein and daidzein, which are isoflavones that inhibit the growth of cancer cells. They have androgenic properties and likely work by disrupting the amount of testosterone released, which prostate cancer needs to reproduce. You can add it to your diet by taking a supplement or by eating soy-rich products, such as tofu or edamame.

Shark Cartilage

• In order to grow, tumors need a good blood supply. Shark cartilage is antiangiogenic, meaning it disrupts the flow of blood supply to new tumors, though it doesn't interfere with blood supply to existing organs and blood vessels. Shark cartilage is available as a supplement, which is the simplest method of ingestion.

Saw Palmetto

• Saw palmetto is thought to reduce prostate cancer risks for those who don't yet have the disease, though patients already diagnosed with prostate cancer might wish to avoid it because it can cause an artificially low reading on a PSA test, which measures how quickly the disease is growing. The more cancer cells present, the higher the PSA reading.