Last month I discussed plants with cancer-preventive properties. In this month's column, I would like for us to look at some plants that have cancer-fighting or anti-cancer properties. Please remember that the scope of this article is purely informational, and not meant to take the place of conventional therapies. Before considering the use of any of the plants that are covered in this article, be sure to consult with your physician first.
Black currant, a relative of the grape that grows wild in northern Europe and in the Himalayas, contains 10 chemicals with anti-cancer activity. It is cultivated in cooler climates as well, but our South Texas heat is just too inhospitable for it to survive down here. If you can't find it at local grocery stores, you can find dried currants or currant juice at health food and specialty stores in San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and other larger cities.
If you are like me, you enjoy eating aguacates or avocados. Eaten by themselves they have many benefits. For one, they help reduce cholesterol, due to their healthy fats content. They are actually first on the list in good fat content, even higher than olive oil. Even though aguacates will help lower your cholesterol, since they are so high in oils, they will increase your waistline, if you eat too many too often! Additionally, avocados contain several compounds that help to prevent cancer, fight cancer and certain types of tumors, and are anti-carcinogenic. If you make them into guacamole, adding tomatoes, which contain seven anti-cancer compounds, onions with six anti-cancer chemicals, cilantro with eight compounds, and oregano with another eight compounds, you end up with a pretty healthy anti-cancer dish!
This time of the year one of our native species out in the brush, tomatillo, or wolfberry, (Lycium berlandieri) is in fruit. This tiny berry has anti-cancer properties. Unless you are absolutely sure you can recognize or identify it in the brush, I do not recommend you start browsing the brush berries, because there are also berries out there that can be very toxic or even lethal. Another powerful anti-cancer brush species is gobernadora (Larrea tridentate), which has anti-tumor, anti-cancer, cancer-preventive, and anti-mutagenic properties. This is a very powerful medicinal plant, which can hurt you if taken improperly. Once again, unless you can properly identify it and know how to take it, do not risk ingesting something you are not familiar with. Our native species of oregano (Lippia graveolens), is not only anti-cancer, but also a powerful anti-oxidant and useful in preventing Alzheimer's disease. If you can identify it, it can be used as a seasoning in cooking. If you are not sure you can identify it, do not take a chance in collecting a potentially toxic plant that may hurt you.
Fennel seed, which tastes very similar to anis, has nine anti-cancer compounds. Thyme, another spice, also has nine compounds. Basil or albahacar, as we call it around here, has six anti-cancer chemicals. Last month we saw that carrots have 40 compounds that help prevent cancer. Carrots also have eight chemicals that are anti-cancer. Another vegetable that contains seven anti-cancer compounds is the leaf of the cauliflower. Some people have cut back on their consumption of meat or milk by substituting with soy. Aside from the many health benefits of eating soy, there are also eight anti-cancer chemicals found in this Asian legume.
Oranges and grapefruit, which are still in season, have six anti-cancer compounds each, in addition to the many cancer-preventive chemicals they each contain. Many of us have citrus trees in our yards, and enjoy the fruit almost year-round, depending on varieties. Citrus is so good for us. I encourage everyone to enjoy some everyday. Cherries are only available fresh in the grocery stores for a very short period, but you can find them frozen or in juice form year around. These little fruits have six anti-cancer compounds.
Now here is an irony -- tobacco, a sacred medicine to Native American peoples, is a leading cause of lung and mouth cancers, when abused like it is on a daily basis by millions of people worldwide. Interestingly enough, this same plant that has become the curse of many, also contains eight anti-cancer chemicals! This is one case in which the risks far outweigh the benefits. In other words, do not take up tobacco use to fight cancer.
Cola de caballo (Equisetum arvense), an herb commonly used for its diuretic properties and to treat urinary tract problems, has six cancer-fighting compounds. Mil-en-rama (Achillea millefolium), an herb used to treat stomach cramps, gastritis, flatulence, as well as gall bladder and liver problems, also contains six anti-cancer chemicals. A popular South American tea, Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis), likewise has six anti-cancer compounds.
The overall message here is that fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices are generally good for us. We probably do not consume enough in our daily diets. It might be a good New Year's resolution to try to increase our intake of these beneficial foods and hopefully experience a healthier new year.
That will cover it for this month. As I have already mentioned, always consult with your physician before using any herbal remedies. Until next time, take care, and have a wonderful New Year! I can be reached via e-mail at glorioso@netscorp.net for comments on this column.