Colon & rectal (colorectal) cancer herbal remedies

Colorectal cancer or cancer that attacks the colon and rectum can be cured with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical removal of cancer cells. Although the three of them are quite effective in treating cancer, scientists are still researching treatments that can be used as alternatives to cure colon cancer. Some of them find the potential of certain plants for herbal medicine (traditional) cancer of the colon (colon) and rectum. Anything, huh?

Herbal remedies for colon and rectal (colorectal) cancer

Cancer can be treated by removing these cells from the body through surgery or killing them with drugs.

Until now, scientists are still conducting research to find effective drugs and kill cancer cells and reduce symptoms of colorectal cancer, namely by testing some of the active ingredients in herbs and spices.

The following is a list of plants, spices, and supplements that studies have reported as having potential as herbal remedies for cancer.

1. Red ginseng

Red ginseng is a spice that is quite well known as a traditional medicine to cure various diseases, one of which is colon cancer.

According to studies in journals Journal of ginseng research the use of red ginseng can reduce the proliferation of SW480 cells after an incubation period of 96 hours. Cell proliferation itself is the phase of a cell when it undergoes repetition of the cell cycle, such as dividing, growing, and dying without a hitch.

In addition, the use of extracts of this medicinal plant can induce apoptosis of colon cancer cells. Apoptosis triggers programmed cell death and is needed to get rid of damaged cells that are no longer needed by the body.

Based on these studies, red ginseng extract can suppress tumor cell growth. That means, the active compounds in red ginseng can prevent cancer metastasis (the spread of cancer cells to the surrounding healthy tissue or organ areas).

Although ginseng shows potential as a herbal remedy for colon cancer, its effects only last no more than 48 hours. In addition, this research is still limited because it is still based on animals.

Even so, cancer patients can get other benefits from red ginseng, which is an antioxidant that can ward off free radicals that damage body cells. You can enjoy ginseng as tea.

You can also take it in supplement form. However, do consult this with your doctor before using it.

2. Cinnamon

The next spice that researchers observe as an herbal remedy for colon and rectal cancer is cinnamon. The plant, which the wood uses as a food flavoring, has potential as a natural cancer drug in research conducted by the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy and UA Cancer Center.

Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde, which is a compound that gives it a characteristic known to protect mice from exposure to carcinogens (cancer triggers) through detoxification and repair.

Despite showing its properties, researchers are still investigating the effectiveness of cinnamon as a traditional medicine for cancer that attacks the colon and rectum. The good news, cinnamon is very easy to process and add to food. You can enjoy it as a tea or as an ingredient in a healthy snack cake mix that you make yourself.

3. Mangosteen

Not only spices, researchers also looked at the potential of mangosteen fruit as a natural remedy for colon and rectal cancer. Study published in the journal Molecules showed that mangosteen has strong antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity.

This sweet tasting fruit contains gamma mangostin compounds that can stimulate apoptosis and cell proliferation in the human intestine. Apart from being an herbal remedy for colon and rectal cancer, mangosteen is also rich in phytochemicals that can help prevent cancer from developing.

These benefits are still being investigated by further research. In order to get the benefits of mangosteen nutrition for the body, you can enjoy this fruit directly.

4. Soursop

The treatment for colorectal cancer (colon and rectum) that gets the spotlight from scientists is soursop fruit. According to studies in journals Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition shows that soursop extract can absorb into the blood and has the possibility to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

In fact, the use of soursop as a traditional cancer medicine is indeed applied by the people of Indonesia. They drink soursop leaf boiled water as part of cancer treatment. Even so, the effectiveness of soursop as an herbal medicine for cancer needs to be tested again. Therefore, do not use this medication without the permission of the doctor who treats your condition.

5. Coffee

Based on a study conducted by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, coffee can be a herbal remedy for colon and rectal cancer. In his study, 1000 patients with stage 3 colorectal cancer who underwent surgery and chemotherapy were given 4 or more cups of coffee per day (about 460 mg of caffeine) for one year.

Patients showed 42% less chance of recurrence than patients who did not drink coffee. After being observed, patients whose cancer cells had spread to the lymph node area near the tumor did not show any further signs of metastasis.

Researchers found that the beneficial effects of coffee as a folk remedy for colon and rectal cancer come from caffeine. Unfortunately, researchers have yet to find out how the mechanism of caffeine against cancer cells.

Some argue that caffeine consumption can increase the body's sensitivity to insulin, thereby reducing inflammation and possibly affecting the development of cancer cells.

If you are used to drinking coffee, it may be beneficial to continue this habit. However, you still have to make a coffee drinking schedule accordingly, so as not to interfere with treatment.

Meanwhile, for those of you who are not accustomed to drinking coffee, you should consult your doctor about this. However, everyone reacts differently to caffeine so consumption of this drink should be monitored by a doctor.