Our struggle against cancer seems endless and often hopeless. But now and again, we come across stories of hope that point us in the direction of natural substances that seem to hold at least a part of the answer. For its own reasons, science has often turned away from these ‘old wives’ remedies’ and declaimed them as the products of superstition – which of course is often the case. In this article we examine the claim that essential oils stop cancer.
We know that essential oils act on the limbic system, which in turn acts on the brain, causing changes of mood and perception.
I have wondered often about the placebo effect (which is very real) and whether a change in our mindset might trigger the healing effects often seen with this effect. That might explain some of the effects we see in the article below.
Claims that Essential Oils Stop Cancer in its Tracks
Some scientists now claim to recognize the natural anti-cancer agents that exist within some essential oils which stop cancer spreading and which induce cancerous cells to close themselves down i.e. that essential oils stop cancer, – a long-term goal of cancer research. But do the claims stand up to scrutiny?
Studying some of the most popular essential oils in current use, such as mint, ginger, lemon, grapefruit, jasmine, lavender, chamomile, thyme, rose, and cinnamon, researchers sought out to discover how these oils may combat cancer. They did so by testing antibacterial potency as well as in-vitro toxicology against human cancer cell lines.
An absurd claim – essential oils Must Be Therapeutic Grade
The claim is made that to be effective only 100% pure therapeutic grade quality essential oils must be used. And that’s fine, but to use the claim that they must be ‘therapeutic grade’ is nonsense, as there is no such thing. ‘Therapeutic grade’ is nothing more than a marketing scam.
Another dubious claim is that somehow, essential oils have beneficial ‘frequencies’. This is more pseudo-science and nonsense.
In one such spurious claim, Robert O. Becker, M.D., the author of the book, The Body Electric claims that the human body has an electrical frequency and that much about a person’s health can be determined by it – and that’s more nonsense. Some of these people go as far as to quote Nikola Tesla who said that if you could eliminate certain outside frequencies that interfered in our bodies, we would have greater resistance toward disease.
I assure you that unless you put your head in a microwave oven or grab a high power transmitter antenna, this simply is not true. Doing those things will respectively either cook or burn you. the electromagnetic fields around us day to day simply are not strong enough to do us any damage.
Unfortunately there are more of these spurious claims made when discussing whether essential oils stop cancer than almost anywhere else!
Claims that essential oils stop cancer
It is claimed in the reference article (see bottom of page) that breast cancer cells are mostly destroyed by cinnamon, thyme, chamomile and jasmine oils, with chamomile killing up to 93% of them in vitro. Even more effective was thyme oil, which led to a 97% kill rate of the MCF-7 breast cancer cells. However, these tests are done IN A TEST TUBE not in a living organism – i.e. essential oils stop cancer in a test tube or petri-dish.
Another study published in the journal Industrial Crops and Products found that chamomile oil harnesses powerful antioxidant properties. The research, evaluating 11 essential oils including lavender, thyme, winter savory, rosemary, sage, peppermint, French tarragon, bitter, and sweet fennel, found Roman chamomile to have the highest antioxidant activity.
Sorry to debunk this, but a few years ago, antioxidants were one of the great ‘hopes’ in the fight against cancer, but more recent research indicates this to have been a blind alley. Now let’s look at some specific claims for specific essential oils as ‘cancer killers’.
Frankincense Oil – A Cancer Killer?
A claim is that “Frankincense separates the ‘brain’ of the cancerous cell – the nucleus – from the ‘body’ – the cytoplasm, and closes down the nucleus to stop it reproducing corrupted DNA codes,” says researcher Suhail. This is a claim from an accredited scientist, and there is indeed some support for this viewpoint. Frankincense does seem to differentiate between healthy and cancerous cells.
It seems true that frankincense oil is effective because it contains monoterpenes, compounds which have the ability to help eradicate cancerous cells at the onset of their development, as well as their progression stages, making it ideal for those who discover their cancer regardless of when it’s found. Again though no results from tests on humans are available.
A Claim for Terminal liver cancer and frankincense
The claim is that a woman in Long Beach, said her husband was told to put his affairs in order. His liver cancer had progressed so much so that the tumors were far too large for surgical removal. He was given six months to live. She was introduced to the power of 100% pure frankincense oil shortly following the diagnosis. He applied it topically over his liver and under his tongue daily. On their next visit with his physician, they discovered his tumors were miraculously shrinking. They continued using frankincense. In April, his tumors had shrunk so much so that his physician agreed to surgery. The cancer was removed, taking 3/4 of his liver. Today, he is in good health and enjoying life with his beautiful wife and family.
I can find no credible evidence of this claim anywhere on the web from a solid medical or scientific site. However, I did find this from the BBC:
“But immunologist Mahmoud Suhail is hoping to open a new chapter in the history of frankincense.
Scientists have observed that there is some agent within frankincense which stops cancer spreading, and which induces cancerous cells to close themselves down. He is trying to find out what this is.“
Bladder Cancer
The claim is that when Jackie Hogan was diagnosed with a rare bladder cancer, she was informed by doctors that she’d eventually need to have her bladder removed. She discovered the healing abilities of frankincense oil, which University of Oklahoma researchers have found, especially in conjunction with sandalwood oil, has properties that kill off cancer cells. So effective is the frankincense oil that experts say, “Frankincense essential oil may represent a candidate on a growing list of natural compounds selectively eradicating cancer cells.”
Again, I can find no medically based evidence of the existence of ‘Jackie Hogan’. However, the claims for frankincense destroying cancer cells in a test-tube are still valid and good science.
Lung Stage 4 – metastasis to bones, spine, ribs, hips, pelvis
Bebe’s mom had malignant tumors in her lungs, and it spread to her spine, her bones, her ribs, her shoulders, her hips and her pelvis. After starting do the essential oils, four months later, she was thriving and her diseases cells were rapidly dying. She was back home and gardening and planning on going on vacation. Seven months after being told by the doctors that she was would die from her stage 4, the doctors say that she in good health and no more cancer. Bebe recommends: Frankincense : take liberally every 2-3 hours, both topically over affected areas and the bottom of the feet. If you can put numerous drops under the tongue, even better.
Once again – there is no medical evidence I can access on this – it is just a claim floating on the internet with no medical proof.
Breast Cancer
Another claim in the reference article – I used frankincense to shrink a breast tumor. When I went for surgery, they couldn’t find any trace of cancer! I had a breast tumors in Feb. and just had it removed and am doing the oils. I put frankincense and lemongrass on my breast every day and herbal supplements. I had my 6 month check up last month and he said everything looked great. No more cancer! For me I will never do chemo or radiation the side effects are way to bad. He was very surprised I looked so good cause I didn’t have the treatments.
Once again – there is no medical evidence I can access on this – it is just a claim floating on the internet with no medical proof.
Leukemia
Yet another claim – my brother’s son, who had a second reoccurrence of leukemia…was taking essential oils as well as the chemo & went into remission much quicker than the doctor had advised, and didn’t have any of the nasty side-effects.
Once again – there is no medical evidence I can access on this – it is just a claim floating on the internet with no medical proof.
Throat
My mom’s dear friend has been battling throat degeneration that was spreading to other areas of his body. Last October, he started using the oils! Frankincense and natural remedies. Today he went from an MRI and he was given a true miracle.
Guess what – Once again – there is no medical evidence I can access on this – it is just a claim floating on the internet with no medical proof.
Melanoma
Another common claim on the web: “I applied frankincense morning and night and covered with a band aid. In 3 days the mole had shrunk. Day 5 it bled a little and half fell off. Day 7, gone! I had a little bit of pink skin and I worried it was a scar. A few days later, totally gone! My husband had a stage 4 malignant melanoma removed last year from his back…another melanoma came up on his nose…before we started using essential oils we did radiation on that one. It has since grown back…and we have since become educated using essential oils. He started using lavender frankincense, and Immortelle on the melanoma and it is SHRINKING!”
There is no proof for this claim anywhere on any credible website.
There is proof that some essential oils stop cancer, and especially frankincense, which can discern cancerous cells from healthy cells and destroy them. However, all the results so far are in test-tubes and mot on human beings. All of the claims made in the article above are widespread on the net and there is not a shred of evidence for them. This is sad; cancer is too serious a matter and people should not be fed false hope.
