Spirulina (blue-green algae)

By the CAM Cancer Collaboration | 28. Apr 2023

Spirulina refers to various species of blue-green algae found naturally in lakes and grown commercially. It is used as a food colouring and is taken orally as a nutritional supplement in tablet, capsule or dried powder form. It is claimed to have immune-stimulating effects and to be beneficial in a wide range of diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, viral infections and cancer.

Colostrum

By the CAM Cancer Collaboration | 28. Feb 2023

Colostrum is the milk secreted by mammals within the first few days after giving birth. Colostrum preparations used in CAM most often stem from cows and are marketed as powder or capsules for oral intake as dietary products. Colostrum contains high concentrations of immunoglobulins (particularly IgG), cytokines, growth factors, lactoferrin and other proteins, which play an important role for passive immunity of the offspring and act as immunomodulators. Intake of bovine colostrum products are claimed to modulate the human immune system, alleviate inflammatory diseases and their symptoms and act against cancer cells in humans.

Vitamin C (intravenous high-dose)

By the CAM Cancer Collaboration | 28. Feb 2023

Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin. Through intravenous high-dose application of vitamin C, plasma concentrations of up to 25mM can be achieved. At these concentrations, high-dose intravenous vitamin C (HDIVC) promotes the formation of free radicals and has a pro-oxidant effect. These concentrations cannot be reached with oral intake due to the tightly regulated bioavailability of vitamin C.

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum)

By the CAM Cancer Collaboration | 19. Dec 2022

Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort) is a perennial flowering plant, preparations of which are popular as an anti-depressant and are also being promoted as an alternative cancer therapy. Even though some preliminary pre-clinical investigations have generated encouraging findings, very little clinical evidence related to St. John’s wort in cancer has so far emerged.

Homeopathy

By the CAM Cancer Collaboration | 13. Dec 2022

Homeopathy is a system of medicine based on the similia (‘treating like with like’) principle. It usually entails taking highly diluted remedies by mouth. Homeopaths aim to treat the individual patient holistically such that the body is stimulated to heal itself. Homeopathy is thus advocated for all human conditions; in oncology, this is mostly for palliative and supportive care. A systematic review of eight controlled clinical trials of homeopathy for the prevention or treatment of adverse effects of cancer treatments concluded that the evidence is not convincing. Results from seven more recent trials and a systematic review including 18 trials fail to demonstrate that homeopathy is an effective therapy for cancer.

About CAM Cancer

| 12. Dec 2022

CAM Cancer provides health professionals with high-quality, evidence-based information about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the supportive/palliative care, treatment or prevention of cancer. CAM Cancer is managed by NAFKAM who coordinates the worldwide network of experts in CAM and/or cancer care producing and disseminating reliable information.

CAM Cancer provides health professionals with high-quality, evidence-based information about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the supportive/palliative care, treatment or prevention of cancer. CAM Cancer is managed by NAFKAM who coordinates the worldwide network of experts in CAM and/or cancer care producing and disseminating reliable information.

The CAM Cancer database

| 07. Dec 2022

CAM Cancer's database contains the CAM Cancer summaries presenting the best available evidence regarding safety and efficacy of CAM in cancer care. It can be accessed by searching for treatments, symptoms and cancer type. The database is open-access, non-profit and complies with the last-published Health On the Net’s standards for health online information (HONcode).

CAM Cancer's database contains the CAM Cancer summaries presenting the best available evidence regarding safety and efficacy of CAM in cancer care. It can be accessed by searching for treatments, symptoms and cancer type. The database is open-access, non-profit and complies with the last-published Health On the Net’s standards for health online information (HONcode).

Artemisia absinthium

By the CAM Cancer Collaboration | 22. Aug 2022

Artemisia absinthium, also known as wormwood, is a plant from the Asteraceae/Compositae family which has been used medicinally since Roman times. It has been used orally and topically and small quantities are found in some foods and alcoholic drinks. Traditional use is based on wormwood as a bitter tonic for digestive disorders and loss of appetite.

Artemisia annua

By the CAM Cancer Collaboration | 30. Jun 2022

Artemisia annua L. is a common type of wormwood that belongs to the family of the Asteraceae. It is native to temperate Asia but naturalized throughout the world. Artemisinin is an ingredient of A. annua. Artemesin and its semi-synthetic artemisinin derivatives (including dihydroartemisinin, artesunate, artemether and arteether) are used for the production of combination therapies for treatment of malaria (ACTs = Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy).

Qigong

By the CAM Cancer Collaboration | 03. Jun 2022

Qigong is an ancient Chinese therapy aimed at regulating the flow of “vital energy” in the body. It is mainly used as a symptomatic treatment for various types of complaints including those caused by cancer or cancer treatments.
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