Herbal Treatment for Advanced Prostate Cancer

Treating prostate cancer with herbal medicine is an alternative to chemical and pharmaceutical treatments such as radiation and heavy narcotics. And even when pharmaceutical treatments are in use, herbs may be a valuable accompaniment in efforts to relieve pain--as can changing your diet to include more raw vegetables and fruits and adding supplements such as vitamins A, B, C and E. Adding specific herbs, like the ones below, to your supplement or tea regimen can be highly beneficial.

Tea

• Antioxidants and polyphenols are found naturally in black and green teas. Researchers at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center found that patients with advanced prostate cancer, awaiting surgery, who drank 12 cups of green tea a day showed fewer biomarkers for prostate cancer after 34 days. Some patients even saw their cancer cells shrink with this treatment. Antioxidants and polyphenols can also delay more advanced prostate cancer by preventing cell death.

Saw Palmetto

• Saw palmetto is a low-growing tree originating in the West Indies and the Southeastern United States. The tree's berries can be used to treat the prostate inflammation associated with advanced prostate cancer, increase sexual drive and treat a low thyroid. Saw palmetto can be taken in tea form, capsules, or as extracts. Recommended dosage is roughly 320 milligrams daily. It should be noted that the FDA has not approved this treatment, and studies are still pending on the lasting benefits of Saw Palmetto concerning prostate cancer.

Curcumin

• Curcumin (also known as turmeric) is a natural anti-inflammatory spice that is believed to reduce the swelling of prostate tissues in advanced prostate cancer. Though unproved in human clinical trials, curcumin is thought to cleanse the prostate of toxins and slow the growth of cancer cells when added to the diet. It is believed that curcumin inhibits the forming of new blood vessels that tumors feed upon as they grow in the prostate. Since curcumin acts as an inflammatory, it can also act as a trigger to ramp up the immune system through heat responses, easing the pain associated with advanced prostate cancer.