Pineapple Says
Text | Sun Lingxia
US registered dietitian
Former Clinical Dietitian, Johns Hopps Hospital, USA
Formerly Research Associate in Nutrition at Harvard University
Ginseng, Ganoderma lucidum, Cordyceps sinensis, these valuable supplements are on the way to fight cancer, and many patients and their families have placed high hopes on them. As long as they can afford it at home, they can’t lose the patient.
Are these expensive supplements worth buying?
The answer is: not worth buying!
These precious supplements are not only expensive, but may even interfere with the smooth progress of treatment and surgery; even if they are eaten during non-surgical periods, there are potential safety hazards; even if the product quality is guaranteed, these precious supplements are cost-effective Low, lack of definitive clinical data to aid in cancer treatment and recovery. If you blindly eat these supplements, it will affect the normal diet, but will increase malnutrition, which is not conducive to treatment and recovery.
Interference with treatment and surgery
Studies have shown that Cordyceps sinensis increases the proliferation of red blood cell precursor cells, which are homologous (that is, from the same family) as the cells that produce myeloid leukemia, so for acute Cordyceps is not currently recommended for patients with myeloid leukemia or chronic myeloid leukemia.
Ganoderma lucidum has a certain impact on immune regulation. During cancer treatment, immunosuppressive agents are required, such as bone marrow transplantation. Eating ganoderma lucidum is likely to increase the risk of rejection, so it is not It is recommended to eat Lingzhi freely.
Ginseng interacts with some anticancer drugs, such as imatinib, which may increase the toxicity of the drug to the liver.
Ginseng, Ganoderma lucidum, and Cordyceps sinensis have a certain degree of anticoagulant effect. Eating them before surgery may increase the risk of blood loss during surgery. Especially ginseng, there are clear clinical recommendations not to eat ginseng at least one week before surgery.
Ginseng and Cordyceps sinensis have certain effects on blood sugar control. If insulin or blood sugar lowering drugs are used, especially sulfonylurea drugs (such as glimepiride, gliclazide, During the period of glipizide, glipizide, glyburide), it is not recommended to eat ginseng and cordyceps indiscriminately, which will increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Low blood sugar can be life-threatening.
Security implications
The wound has healed after the operation. Can I take some of these supplements?
Not necessary.
Many of these supplements have been reported to detect excessive heavy metals, and they have indeed caused harm to the human body. A doctor from a tumor hospital in Beijing once shared the real experience of a patient. This patient’s family is in the business of Cordyceps sinensis. After he got cancer, he ate a lot of Cordyceps sinensis every day, and he was admitted to the hospital because of heavy metal poisoning.
Picture from the Internet
Inexpensive
Although there are studies suggesting that ginseng, Ganoderma lucidum, and Cordyceps sinensis are beneficial to the treatment or rehabilitation of some cancers, most of them are extracellular or animal studies, and there are real clinical applications in humans. Actual benefits are rarely supported by high-quality clinical research.
The functions in the human body are very delicate and complex, and the in vitro environment is completely incomparable. It is easy to kill and inhibit cancer cells in vitro, but most methods fail completely in vivo; Animal studies also have major limitations. Tumors in animal models grow very differently from tumors in humans.
Research in any form is building a stage for the eventual clinical fight against cancer. In vitro research is usually the first step, animal research is the second step, and human clinical research is the third step. Only when all three steps are stable and well, can you straighten your back and finally board the clinical treatment to help patients. stage.
Only after a rigorous patient-focused, scientifically designed clinical study can we know whether a certain supplement is really useful, whether it is harmful, who it is useful for, and how. It is beneficial to use the treatment, and how much dose is required to have an effect.
What I worry most about is that I spend my time and money, pick up sesame seeds and lose watermelon, which may be harmful in the end.
Blind use of these precious supplements is not only likely to be a waste of money, but also has a negative impact on the treatment of drugs and surgery, and is more likely to be ignored because only these precious supplements are valued The basic dietary nutrition that is really effective and should be paid attention to.
The treatment of cancer is like taking a major exam. We all know that if you do well in the exam, you must not lose points on the basic questions. A nutritionally balanced and comprehensive diet is the basic question in the battle against cancer.
Don’t underestimate daily food. The nutrients they provide are the basis for ensuring bodily functions. Whether it is fighting disease or healing, these nutrients are indispensable. Only by preparing these basic meals can we better empower the body and strengthen the army to win the “battle” of cancer.
If you can make basic meals well and practice them in your daily meals, I firmly believe that this will definitely be more helpful to the treatment than eating a few Cordyceps sinensis, a few ginseng, and a few pieces of Ganoderma lucidum Much, much more.
References:
[1]BILGI N, BELLK, ANANTHAKRISHNAN AN, et al. Imatinib and Panax ginseng: a potentialinteraction resulting in liver toxicity[J]. Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 2010, 44(5): 926-8
[2]MemorialSloan Kettering Cancer Center. Integrative Medicine.[EB/OL].[2020-03-25].https:https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care /integrative-medicine/herbs/cordyceps#references-16
[3]GAO Y, ZHOU S, JIANG W, et al.Effects of ganopoly (a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract) on the immunefunctions in advanced-stage cancer patients[J]. Immunological Investigations , 2003, 32(3):201-215
[4]ANG-LEE MK, MOSS J, YUAN CS.Herbal medicines and perioperative care[J]. JAMA, 2001;286:208-216.
[5] MemorialSloan Kettering Cancer Center. Integrative Medicine. [EB/OL]. [2020-03-25]. https:https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care /integrative-medicine/herbs/ginseng-asian#msk_professional
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