How to Spot Suspicious Herb and Supplement Claims During Cancer

1. How to Spot Suspicious Herb and Supplement Claims During Cancer Are Herbs and Supplements Safe for Cancer Patients? Cancer is a life-threatening condition that has no permanent cure. Due to this, a number of patients are misguided by alternative methods to treat cancer rather than using the standard and approved treatment options. Such alternatives include herbs and dietary (multivitamins) supplements. Certain supplements and herbs may come with false claims and promises of managing, treating, and even curing the disease without proper medications. Social media and the internet have also boosted this perception among people and have given platforms for such claims. Moreover, the family members of a cancer patient also play a significant role in encouraging such suspicious supplements. Since herbs and many supplements can be bought and consumed without a doctor’s prescription, most patients start high doses to recover soon. Are Herbs and Supplements safe? The safety and efficacy of herbs and supplements that are available without a prescription are not established in science-based clinical trials and research. They remain unproved and hence, may not be as safe as the approved medicines. Claims are even not reliable for use in cancer patients. Due to this, such unproven supplements and herbs can cause side effects in patients

2. and lead to severe conditions. Also, most people delay their treatment because of their misconceptions about treating the disease using easy remedies at home. In simple words, these supplements can give false hopes to patients and lead to delayed treatment. Also, if you consume herbs or supplements during your cancer therapy with medications and infusions, you may have to face the consequences of unwanted interactions. How to spot false claims? To spot false claims, the patient’s caretaker must investigate the supplements and herbs before administering them to the patient. It is important to consult a doctor and discuss the side effects, interactions, and other reactions of the same before consumption. Plus, using any product without the doctor’s recommendation can cause complications later. To spot false claims, be sure to look at the advertisements. Supplements that guarantee “100% results” without any evidence, proven results, trial-based investigation, and others should be verified before implementation. Moreover, false claims can also be identified by phrases like “secret ingredient”. Do not believe in such statements. Ask for the list of ingredients and contact your healthcare team. Try to spot suspicious herbs by asking relevant questions to the person or brand who is offering. Note: Consult your medical practitioner before starting the course of any new herb or supplement during your cancer therapy. Source: http://writeus.me/how-to-spot-suspicious-herb-and-supplement-claims-during-cancer/