Lung Cancer

PHFs have been indicated to have some similarities with existing cancer treatments, acting on similar biological factors and metabolic pathways – for example nuclear factor kB, which has been identified as playing a role in tumorigenesis, is targeted by many polyherbal remedies and their components.

On the other hand, PHFs have been demonstrated to have significantly less – if any – side effects than their synthetic counterparts. Each herbal formulation contains multiple active ingredients that in combination may provide a holistic, therapeutic benefit while lowering the risk of adverse effects.¹

Our research is underway to understand the impact of PHF on cancerous tissues:

• Given the encouraging results of PHFs on respiratory illnesses as well as inflammation (and other metabolic stressors linked to cancer) – even for fragile patients due to age or comorbidities -- there are investigational studies underway to understand the impact of PHFs on cancers such as lung cancer.
• Initial findings suggest that PHFs target cancer cell lines effectively (e.g. A549), while “normal” cell lines (e.g. I929) are significantly less impacted by the same PHF – the PHF does not indiscriminately induce cell death, but rather targets action towards the rapidly replicating cells. Further investigation is needed to map out the consistency of results and mechanism of action.
• PHFs may potentially treat cancerous cells, as well as boost immune response in patients taking immune-suppressing cancer treatments
• Organizations such as the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine recommend conducting additional case studies and randomized clinical trials, to determine efficacy of PHFs with a broader patient population. ²

References:

• 1 - Prachi, Garodia, et al. “From Ancient Medicine to Modern Medicine: Ayurvedic Concepts of Health and Their Role in Inflammation and Cancer.” Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology, 2007, jivaresearch.org/research/curcumin/From_ancient_medicine_to_modern_medicine-_Ayurvedic_concepts_of_health_and_their_role_in_inflamma.pdf.
• 2 - Ranga RS, Girija R, Nur-e-Alam M, et al. Rasagenthi lehyam (RL): a novel complementary and alternative medicine for prostate cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2004;54:7–15