Herbs Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy has become a part of cancer treatment and herbs for radiation therapy side effects can be quite effective. Radiation kills cells by promoting the formation of toxic free radicals. The effects of radiation are most effective in cells that are rapidly reproducting like cancer cells.

Radiation can help with cancers of the oral and nasal cavities, tongue, small cell lung cancer, melanoma, early Hodgkin's Disease, and some early non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It may also be combined with some chemotherapies such as Temodar when treating brain tumors. Radiation may also be used palliatively to prevent pain when some tumors are large and the patient is terminal.

Radiation is targeted precisely by computers now at the exact area of cancer. Side effects include fatigue, nausea, headaches, loss of appetite, diarrhea, colitis, hair loss, dry mouth and rash and even burns to the skin.

Once again, review with your radiation oncologist the use of herbal therapies in cancers. You should start using herbal therapies after the last radiation treament so as to avoid counteracting the radiation's effects.

Beneficial Herbs In Radiation Therapy

Herb	Dosage	Comments
Chaparral	Extract. Take as directed on label.	Helps to protect against harmful radiation.
Ginseng	Panax ginseng tincture. Take as directed on label.	Protects digestive tract from injury.
Green Tea	Catechin extract. 240 mg 3x/day.	Protects against side effects of gamma radiation, including thyroid cancer.
Mistletoe	Loranthus or mulberry mistletoe. Use only under professional supervision.	Reduces risk of low white blood cell counts.
Pollen	Micronized capsules. 3000-4000mg/day.	Protects liver from antioxidant depletion.
Polysaccharid kureha (PSK)	Tablets. 6000mg/day.	Relieves pain, poor appetite, fatigue and dry mouth.
Slippery Elm	Powder. 1-2tsp in 1 cup water as desired.	Relieves dry mouth and sore throat.
Snow fungus	Tablets. 6-12 tabs/day before radiation for breast or uterine cancer.	Increases resistance to side effects.

If you or a loved one are suffering from cancer and also getting chemotherapy, you may want to read about herbs for chemotherapy side effects.



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