-
Asked by to Amelia, Izzy, Sarah on 19 Mar 2014. This question was also asked by .
-
anon answered on 19 Mar 2014:
this is a difficult question to answer, whilst there is some evidence for medicinal plant uses this is not necessarily a one stop cure.
The best and most hopeful example I can give you is that fruits from trees are rich in anti-oxidants which are thought to prevent cancer if included as part of a healthy diet. this could at a stretch class them as having “anti-cancer properties”
For anti-inflammatory properties is a species of tree called Witch Hazel has oils which I used on my spots when I was a teenager, Witch Hazel is thought to have anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties!
There is much work going on to test how effective these plant based cures are!
But trust me on the healthy diet 😀
-
-
Isabel Webb answered on 19 Mar 2014:
There are lots of different trees that provide chemicals that we can use to treat or prevent cancer and inflammation. There isn’t one single tree or plant that we can use. And there may be way more plants out that that we could use!
One really good plant that makes many different anti-cancer chemicals is the madagascan periwinkle. Two of the products from the periwinkle are used in chemotherapy – which is treating cancers using chemicals. Lots of scientists are looking at madagascan periwinkle in the hopes of making even more good chemicals from it!
There are lots of plants that make anti-inflammatories. This includes foods high in anti-oxidants (which are also good for helping prevent cancers!) – like blueberries and cherries. Generally any dark coloured fruits contain these anti-oxidants.
Another plant which can be used is willow bark. Willow bark was discovered to have pain-treating properties hundreds of years ago, and people chewed it to treat headaches. The chemical was identified, and that chemical is now found in aspirin, the headache tablets. Aspirin is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties.
As we discover and research more plants out in the world we find more and more with exciting medical possibilities. Technology like GM also has the possibility of engineering new medicines from existing plants.
-
Amelia Frizell-Armitage answered on 20 Mar 2014:
This is a complicated topic, because cancer is such a variable disease. There are many different factors that cause a person to develop cancer, so there can never be one cure f or preventative drug that everyone can take.
For some people and cancers, lifestyle such as diet, exercise and smoking, can play a big part in causing them to have cancer. In others genetics play a bigger role.
There are however many plants and trees reported to have anti-cancer properties. Eating these may reduce your chance of getting cancer, but even eating these won’t completely stop you getting it.
Any plant that has anti-oxidants in it could have anti cancer properties. Anti-oxidants are chemicals that get rid of chemicals in your body called ROS. ROS have been reported to cause cancer in some people so removing them could help. Plants that contain antioxidants include broccoli and blueberries.
Some research suggests that Tea Tree oil has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties.
Chemicals from the Yew tree called docetaxil and paclitaxil have been used in chemotherapy drugs.
Comments