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Best Black Salve to Use for Skin Cancer

Black salves are an alternative type of treatment for people who are suffering from skin cancer. There is not much known about the effectiveness of black salves as a treatment for skin cancer, but around the world people are experimenting with them. As of summer 2009, the FDA bans this type of treatment in the United States.

  1. Hoxsey Therapy

    • Black salve therapy, or Hoxsey thereapy, was banned as a "worthless and ineffective" treatment. Harry Hoxsey was the chief marketing leader when the treatment was initially developed. The topical ointment treatment is very abrasive and can leave scarring on the affected areas of the skin. The ointment itself is comprised of zinc, antimony paste, bloodroot, sulfur, arsenic, talc and bloodroot. A bio-medical center in Tijuana, Mexico, is where most of the experimentation with the treatment is taking place. The treatment currently costs between $4,000 and $5,000 but that does not include the cost of supplements and follow-up visits.

    Also Recommended with Hoxsey Treatment

    • Physicians in Mexico who are currently treating patients via Hoxsey also recommend you drink a tonic while undergoing Hoxsey treatment. This drink contains licorice, burdock root, barberry, prickly ash bark, potassium iodide, red clover, stillingia root, cascara and buckthorn bark. They also usually recommend cleaning the effected areas of the skin with an antiseptic bath. Along with the tonic, topical ointments and baths, taking the proper supplements is also part of the treatment. Believers in the Hoxsey treatment argue that skin needs all the help it can get to regenerate.

    Risks, Side-Effects and Effectiveness

    • For people who are taking an anticoagulant, this type of treatment may cause severe bleeding. There are a few things that you need to avoid while going through this type of treatment including salt, sugar, white flour products, tomatoes, vinegar, pork and alcohol. These foods can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, anxiety, cramps and diarrhea. If you experience any of these problems, you need to alert a physician immediately.

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