Cancer in the Headlines
If one were to take survey of the largest concerns in modern America, at the top of the list would be the development of cancer. Headlines from magazines, newspapers and websites denote a rise in cancer among young and old alike. Concerns vary from how to escape this seemingly inevitable disease, and how can one pay for this disease if diagnosed, to what is the most effective method or supplement against developing cancer in the first place.
Another shift in headline news is alternative treatments to often expensive and sometimes invasive forms of health care. More and more individuals are seeking ways to gain freedom from dependence upon pharmaceuticals, intensive scans and often impersonal treatments to both body and soul.
Essential oils are a rather gentle yet a highly effective method of treating ailments and supporting overall good health. These plant extractions are low in cost compared to frequently overarching methods of modern medical treatment and can be used safely by all ages.
This paper specifically addresses the rising interest of essential oils in research, specifically on the effectiveness in preventing and treating cancer. It also addresses how essential oils when used in conjunction with conventional cancer treatment can decrease the side effects of these modern methods.
Brief Description of Cancer
Cancer in general terms is growth of abnormal cells. The mechanism (found in the mitochondria of the cell) to stop the growth of the cell is interrupted or turned off. Once this process begins, these abnormal cells either invade or replace normal tissue. Such a process can occur within any parts of the body.
There are two main groupings of cancer cells: solid and non-solid. Cancers that form in solid tissues like the liver, bone or brain are solid, whereas cancers that do not form solid structures and proliferate in the blood and lymph systems, such as leukemia and lymphomas are of course non-solid in nature.
Causes of cancer formation within the body are variable. Most cancers are now attributed an unhealthy lifestyle, dietary choices ? a diet rich in processed foods, genetics and hazardous chemical exposure either though air, water or direct contact.
According to a 2005 paper produced by the American Cancer Society (Cancer Facts and Figures, 2005), over one million new cancer cases were expected to be diagnosed in the United States alone. According to this publication, cancer is the second leading cause of death, taking the lives of 1 in 4 Americans.
Essential Oil Research
Conventional or orthodox medical treatments of cancer currently in use are chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Yet in the last few years, there is a rising interest among American laboratory researchers on the effectiveness of essential oils in preventing as well as treating cancer or combining essential oils with conventional treatments.
European medical practitioners have used essential oils as part of their treatment regime for years, even centuries. Yet, it has only been in the last few years that essential oils have gain recognition and heightened awareness by American medical researchers for their remarkable medicinal properties.
Current Research on the Effectiveness of Essential Oils Against Cancer
Numerous studies looking at various essential oils on the cytotoxic (their ability to kill cancer cells) properties of cancer cells have been conducted. The results are promising and hopeful. In the last three years alone, studies have found isolated compounds in essential oils to have noticeable cyotoxicity on cancer cells.
In 2007, a study published in the September/October Anticancer Research jounal performed at the University of Calabria, Italy, noted that essential oils from the Lauraceae families inhibit human tumor cell growth in vitro (out of living cells, such as in a test tube or Petri dish) environments. In the January 2006 Journal of Ethnopharmacol, University of Quebec, Canada researchers identified compounds in the leaf essential oil of Croton flavens L. that are cytogentic against tumor cells.
A study found in the BioMed Central Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, March 2009, titled: "Frankincense oil derived from Boswellia carteri induces tumor cell specific cytotoxicity" concludes with: "Frankincense oil appears to distinguish cancerous from normal bladder cells and suppress cancer cell viability. Microarray and bioinformatics analysis proposed multiple pathways that can be activated by frankincense oil to induce bladder cancer cell death. Frankincense oil might represent an alternative intravesical agent for bladder cancer treatment."
It is evident that each above study looked at different essential oils and their cytotoxic compounds, yet each study had similar conclusions - compounds found within essential oils have anticancer properties. It is also evident that essential oils can also increase the effectiveness of conventional cancer treatments. Such findings are positive in nature and may drive medicine into another aspect of treating this disease.
If one were to take survey of the largest concerns in modern America, at the top of the list would be the development of cancer. Headlines from magazines, newspapers and websites denote a rise in cancer among young and old alike. Concerns vary from how to escape this seemingly inevitable disease, and how can one pay for this disease if diagnosed, to what is the most effective method or supplement against developing cancer in the first place.
Another shift in headline news is alternative treatments to often expensive and sometimes invasive forms of health care. More and more individuals are seeking ways to gain freedom from dependence upon pharmaceuticals, intensive scans and often impersonal treatments to both body and soul.
Essential oils are a rather gentle yet a highly effective method of treating ailments and supporting overall good health. These plant extractions are low in cost compared to frequently overarching methods of modern medical treatment and can be used safely by all ages.
This paper specifically addresses the rising interest of essential oils in research, specifically on the effectiveness in preventing and treating cancer. It also addresses how essential oils when used in conjunction with conventional cancer treatment can decrease the side effects of these modern methods.
Brief Description of Cancer
Cancer in general terms is growth of abnormal cells. The mechanism (found in the mitochondria of the cell) to stop the growth of the cell is interrupted or turned off. Once this process begins, these abnormal cells either invade or replace normal tissue. Such a process can occur within any parts of the body.
There are two main groupings of cancer cells: solid and non-solid. Cancers that form in solid tissues like the liver, bone or brain are solid, whereas cancers that do not form solid structures and proliferate in the blood and lymph systems, such as leukemia and lymphomas are of course non-solid in nature.
Causes of cancer formation within the body are variable. Most cancers are now attributed an unhealthy lifestyle, dietary choices ? a diet rich in processed foods, genetics and hazardous chemical exposure either though air, water or direct contact.
According to a 2005 paper produced by the American Cancer Society (Cancer Facts and Figures, 2005), over one million new cancer cases were expected to be diagnosed in the United States alone. According to this publication, cancer is the second leading cause of death, taking the lives of 1 in 4 Americans.
Essential Oil Research
Conventional or orthodox medical treatments of cancer currently in use are chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Yet in the last few years, there is a rising interest among American laboratory researchers on the effectiveness of essential oils in preventing as well as treating cancer or combining essential oils with conventional treatments.
European medical practitioners have used essential oils as part of their treatment regime for years, even centuries. Yet, it has only been in the last few years that essential oils have gain recognition and heightened awareness by American medical researchers for their remarkable medicinal properties.
Current Research on the Effectiveness of Essential Oils Against Cancer
Numerous studies looking at various essential oils on the cytotoxic (their ability to kill cancer cells) properties of cancer cells have been conducted. The results are promising and hopeful. In the last three years alone, studies have found isolated compounds in essential oils to have noticeable cyotoxicity on cancer cells.
In 2007, a study published in the September/October Anticancer Research jounal performed at the University of Calabria, Italy, noted that essential oils from the Lauraceae families inhibit human tumor cell growth in vitro (out of living cells, such as in a test tube or Petri dish) environments. In the January 2006 Journal of Ethnopharmacol, University of Quebec, Canada researchers identified compounds in the leaf essential oil of Croton flavens L. that are cytogentic against tumor cells.
A study found in the BioMed Central Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, March 2009, titled: "Frankincense oil derived from Boswellia carteri induces tumor cell specific cytotoxicity" concludes with: "Frankincense oil appears to distinguish cancerous from normal bladder cells and suppress cancer cell viability. Microarray and bioinformatics analysis proposed multiple pathways that can be activated by frankincense oil to induce bladder cancer cell death. Frankincense oil might represent an alternative intravesical agent for bladder cancer treatment."
It is evident that each above study looked at different essential oils and their cytotoxic compounds, yet each study had similar conclusions - compounds found within essential oils have anticancer properties. It is also evident that essential oils can also increase the effectiveness of conventional cancer treatments. Such findings are positive in nature and may drive medicine into another aspect of treating this disease.
About the Author:
In addition to aromatherapy, you might consider using flower essences and remedies during this time of year. Yarrow Environmental Solution and the Five Flower Formula make excellent additons to any home care kit.
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