Anticancer Herbs

Anticancer herbs are herbs that are used to fight off cancer once a person develops it within their body.  These are considered to be a type of antineoplastic drug (medications that inhibit and combat the development of cancer) that have been proven beneficial through clinical trials.  Of course, the used of plant-based medicine dates back to prehistoric time but some of the herbs that are being used in this fashion today include: 

1. The Reishi Mushroom (a.k.a. Lingzhi Mushroom) is most commonly found in East Asia.  It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years now.  As such, it is one of the oldest known medicinal mushrooms.  There are definite anticancer benefits with this herb but the really nice thing is that there are also no side effects whenever it is used.  For this reason, it is known throughout the East as the ultimate herbal substance.  It is even listed within both The American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and The Therapeutic Compendium.
2. Cat’s Claw (a.k.a. Acacia Greggii) is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.  This is actually a tree with numerous hooked thorns on it that are similar in both shape and size to a cat’s claw.  These “claws” will often hook those who walk by it causing them to have to wait a minute to remove these thorns in order to avoid being injured or tearing their clothes.  As such, it is oftentimes referred to as the “wait a minute” or “wait a bit” tree.
3. Saffron is a spiced that comes from the Saffron Crocus flower which is native to southwest Asia.  The stigmas and stalks of this plant are dried and used cooking as either a seasoning or a coloring agent.  This will give the food a bitter taste.  Sometimes it is used as a fragrance too, which has the smell of hay.  Regardless of how it is used, it will give the product a rich golden yellow hue.  It is also interesting to note that for years now Saffron has been the world’s most expensive spice. 
4. Oldenlandia is a type of flowering plant that was first discovered in 1753.  It is a threatened species (with one variety already extinct) that was named in honor of the Danish botanist Henrik Bernard Oldenland.  Some of this plant’s species are important in traditional medicine.
5. Artemisia contains as many as 400 different species including Mugwort, Sagebrush and Wormwood.  All of these species belong to the daisy family and have white hair covering their leaves.  There are many herbs and shrubs here that are made into oils.  They all grow in the temperate climates that are found throughout both the Northern and the Southern Hemisphere.  Whenever they are harvested you will notice their strong aroma and bitter taste.
6. Scutellaria is found within temperate regions, as well as on tropical mountains.  This is an annual plant with four angled stems and opposite leaves.  The flowers have both upper and lower lips.  Sometimes this herb is smoked recreationally. 
7. Curcumin is made into the popular Indian spice that is known as turmeric and is known to give it the yellow coloring.  Sometimes it is also used as a food additive.  It is actually a member of the ginger family.