Ralph Moss: What really works agains cancer? (Part one)

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What Really Works? Part One

Sunday, 09 January 2011  

[Photo: Coriolus versicolor (Turkey tail) mushroom]

One of the hardest questions to answer is which, out of the many

supplements really benefits cancer patients? There are many

self-interested statements of benefit, but an inadequate amount of

objective research on what is effective and what is not.

I therefore want to call your attention to an interesting article from

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). It compared the

following seven botanical extracts and fractions:

(1) H-48 (a Chinese mixture of herbs)

(2) Coriolus vesicolor [mushroom], or its derivatives: purified

polysaccharide-K (PSK) or purified polysaccharide-peptide (PSP)

(3) Maitake mushroom extract

(4) Echinacea

(5) Astragalus root

(6) The yellow spice turmeric; and

(7) beta-glucan derived from yeast.

All of these are popular supplements used by cancer patients. The MSKCC

authors looked at the ability of these substances to induce immune

reactions in laboratory mice. Specifics on these products, and how they

were tested, are given in the reference below. (The full paper is

available for free, and readers should consult that text for details).

The bottom line of the study was this:

Consistently significant activity was seen with four of the

preparations:

(1) Coriolus mushroom extracts

(especially PSK);

(2) Alcohol extract of astragalus;

(3) yeast beta-glucan; and (to a lesser extent)

(4) Maitake mushrooms.

Little or no adjuvant activity was demonstrated with H48, Echinacea

extracts or a water-based extract of astragalus. The results with

turmeric were mixed (but the New Chapter brand of turmeric was active.)

Coriolus versicolor (also called Trametes versicolor or Turkey tail

mushroom) is available from a number of sources. I will have more to say

about Astragalus in a future blog entry.

Join the Discussion!

Please feel free to add your own comments to share with other readers by

visiting my blog at:

http://www.ralphmossblog.com/

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email address at the bottom right-hand sidebar of the blog page. Hope to

see you there!

--Ralph W. Moss, PhD

References and Resources:

The MSKCC article on supplements can be found at:

http://tinyurl.com/2b788ns

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