Why are natural products considered safe over conventional chemotherapy

  • Thread starter Thread starter TytoAlba95
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Natural
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Traditional natural products are often perceived as safer than conventional chemotherapy drugs due to their multi-targeting effects and lower side effects. However, this perception is largely influenced by marketing rather than scientific evidence. Chemotherapy drugs undergo rigorous FDA testing for safety and efficacy, while many herbal remedies lack such regulation and clinical trials. The belief in the safety of natural products can lead to dangerous misconceptions, particularly regarding untested treatments like homeopathy.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of chemotherapy drug mechanisms and FDA regulations
  • Knowledge of herbal medicine and its regulatory status
  • Familiarity with the placebo effect and its implications in treatment
  • Awareness of marketing strategies in health products
NEXT STEPS
  • Research FDA regulations on chemotherapy drugs and clinical trial requirements
  • Investigate the efficacy and safety of specific herbal remedies
  • Explore the psychological aspects of the placebo effect in medical treatments
  • Analyze marketing tactics used in promoting natural health products
USEFUL FOR

Healthcare professionals, researchers in pharmacology, patients considering alternative treatments, and anyone interested in the safety and efficacy of natural versus synthetic medications.

Biology news on Phys.org
  • #32
Care: Anecdotal.
I've heard of rare cases of unexpected remission after immune system 'just perked up'. Several such were folk who'd planned a 'final wondrous fling' of a foreign holiday, got umpteen vaccinations. Getting a 'BCG' booster against TB to assist 'Community Immunity' may help, too.
But, no money back, no guarantees, and beware those circling woosters...

That said, unless medically unwise, please get your seasonal 'flu & decadal pneumonia vaccinations: silly to squander remaining time due complications from potentially avertable hazards...

Against those, I'd set the vast majority of cases where, despite heroic medical efforts, the 'Big C' just progressed, or returned after scant few years of remission. 'Tis a complex business and, the closer you study each case, the more an individual's genetics & epigenetics seem involved.

IMHO, we're still several decades from sufficiently personalised treatment...
 
  • #33
I really have misgivings about Herbal Medications for Cancer. The reason they are safe is they don't kill any cells and probably don't make you feel like your being poisoned. Many people decide to quit and die unfortunately because they cannot handle how chemo makes them feel. With current pain meds for ANYONE being raked over the coals I find it hard for people to even put up with doctors saying they don't want them to be addicted during their cancer treatment. I have a few words for those people and they are not nice. My father died of cancer 6 months after the mass in his intestines leading to his stomach was cut out. Just like the doctor said he would. I would hate to think my father to have to pass screaming in pain. It is ignorant, irresponsible and reprehensible.
 
  • #34
We are getting into anecdotal stories and "what if". Time for the thread to take a trip to General Discussion.
Thread moved.
 
  • #35
Nik_2213 said:
"The ultimate example is homeopathy, which is perfectly safe because it contains nothing at all and therefore does nothing; good or bad."

I'd beg to differ: homeopathy is potentially lethal because it promises benefit beyond placebo, may prevent timely medical intervention.
( And, yes, given cash flow constraints, purchase of expensive homeopathic 'remedies' may preclude purchase of functional medication / treatment... )

FWIW, a 'friend of friend' made the mistake of praising her favourite homeopathic remedy's benefits within my hearing. Given the non-trivial cost, and the belief that such serial dilution (*) unto nowt wondrously enhanced its powers, I suggested it should work even better if not ingested, if simply left in bottle and carefully observed.
Then I suggested it should work if left in shop window and observed there, no purchase required.
Then I suggested it should work if imagined as seen in shop window, so available 'out of hours'...
She thought this was a wonderful wheeze.
By which time she realized what I'd done, I'd left...
;-)

*) Watching typical homeopath do serial dilutions is a singular torture for any-one who's done proper analytical pipetting...
Homeopathic healing is at the same level as faith-based healing to me. Neither of them cure anyting and only offer false hope.

Regarding the OP. One of the natural alternatives to chemo is CBD oil. The CBD oil movement claims that it not only can it prevent cancer but is able to cure it. There has been no evidence, at least that I found, that it's able to do any of this. I've only found one proven medical study regarding CBD or marijuana and cancer. Smoking marijuana while on chemo brings your appetite back.
 
Last edited:
  • #36
KALIGA said:
I guess that herbal medicines cause fewer side-effects than allopathic medicines and hence are considered safer. However, both herbal medicines and chemotherapeutic drugs have a similar chemical composition for the medicine to work, but still, herbal meds show fewer side effects, why?
Do they? Citations please.
 
  • Like
Likes Laroxe and jim mcnamara
  • #37
@KALIGA - this looks like personal theory. Please provide citations - that means show us where you got the idea. It should be from places like NIH alternative medicine section, which deals with herbal medicines. Not some internet site that peddles herbals.

PF does not allow personal theory.
 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970 and berkeman

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
5K
  • · Replies 72 ·
3
Replies
72
Views
10K
Replies
1
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
8K
  • · Replies 39 ·
2
Replies
39
Views
6K