by Jacki Hart, MD
Q: Last June, I was diagnosed with lung cancer that has now spread to my brain. I have had chemotherapy and I am now receiving radiation. A friend suggested that I take red clover. Should I consider doing this?
A: Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), a member of the legume family that grows wild in meadows throughout Europe and Asia and is now cultivated in North America, has been used in folk medicine for prevention and treatment of cancer. However, there is little to no scientific proof that this is an appropriate use of this herb.
Many naturopathic doctors recommend red clover to support standard medical care for cancer. This is generally based on the beliefs that red clover:
Prostate cancer is the only type of cancer for which red clover has shown some potential benefit. For example, some laboratory studies, although quite preliminary, suggest that isoflavones isolated from red clover may prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells in test tubes. (An isoflavone is a plant-based estrogen or phytoestrogen.) In addition, at least one case has been reported in the medical literature of a man with prostate cancer who showed improvement in his cancer after taking supplemental isoflavones isolated from red clover.
Part of the reason that red clover has received attention for lung cancer is because of a popular web-based story about a man with advanced lung cancer. He reported improvements from drinking essiac tea, which is made with many herbs including red clover, as well as taking several other herbal and nutritional supplements. No conclusions can be drawn from this story about the effects of red clover on lung cancer. This is just one persons experience, and he was taking so many herbal substances that it is impossible to attribute any effects to the red clover.
Cancer is a complicated condition. Sometimes, factors that promote good health and help to prevent cancer (such as taking vitamin C or other antioxidants) have undesirable effects during cancer treatment. For example, the drugs used for chemotherapy are intended to kill cancer cells. If antioxidants are taken during chemotherapy, they may protect cancerous cells as well as healthy ones. Therefore, I would not advise taking antioxidants, such as the vitamin C in red clover, during chemotherapy treatment.
The safety of taking red clover while undergoing radiation is not clear. Therefore, I think it is better not to take red clover while you are being treated with radiation until more research gives us a clearer picture of red clovers effects.
Before trying red clover or any supplement to treat cancer, talk with your doctor and determine what is the best and safest treatment plan for you.
Q: Last June, I was diagnosed with lung cancer that has now spread to my brain. I have had chemotherapy and I am now receiving radiation. A friend suggested that I take red clover. Should I consider doing this?
A: Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), a member of the legume family that grows wild in meadows throughout Europe and Asia and is now cultivated in North America, has been used in folk medicine for prevention and treatment of cancer. However, there is little to no scientific proof that this is an appropriate use of this herb.
Many naturopathic doctors recommend red clover to support standard medical care for cancer. This is generally based on the beliefs that red clover:
- Is cleansing
- Contains many important vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamin C
- Calcium
- Chromium
- Magnesium
- Niacin (vitamin B3)
- Phosphorous
- Potassium
- Thiamin (vitamin B1)
Prostate cancer is the only type of cancer for which red clover has shown some potential benefit. For example, some laboratory studies, although quite preliminary, suggest that isoflavones isolated from red clover may prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells in test tubes. (An isoflavone is a plant-based estrogen or phytoestrogen.) In addition, at least one case has been reported in the medical literature of a man with prostate cancer who showed improvement in his cancer after taking supplemental isoflavones isolated from red clover.
Part of the reason that red clover has received attention for lung cancer is because of a popular web-based story about a man with advanced lung cancer. He reported improvements from drinking essiac tea, which is made with many herbs including red clover, as well as taking several other herbal and nutritional supplements. No conclusions can be drawn from this story about the effects of red clover on lung cancer. This is just one persons experience, and he was taking so many herbal substances that it is impossible to attribute any effects to the red clover.
Cancer is a complicated condition. Sometimes, factors that promote good health and help to prevent cancer (such as taking vitamin C or other antioxidants) have undesirable effects during cancer treatment. For example, the drugs used for chemotherapy are intended to kill cancer cells. If antioxidants are taken during chemotherapy, they may protect cancerous cells as well as healthy ones. Therefore, I would not advise taking antioxidants, such as the vitamin C in red clover, during chemotherapy treatment.
The safety of taking red clover while undergoing radiation is not clear. Therefore, I think it is better not to take red clover while you are being treated with radiation until more research gives us a clearer picture of red clovers effects.
Before trying red clover or any supplement to treat cancer, talk with your doctor and determine what is the best and safest treatment plan for you.