Sometimes we hear about amazing treatments for cancer on the internet or from friends. You must have heard stories like "Eating the seeds of this fruit cures cancer." So, one of the names that is often mentioned in such stories is Amygdalin. Some people also call it "Vitamin B17." Is this really good for cancer, or is there a dangerous side to it? Let's find out more about it today.
What exactly is Amygdalin?
Simply put, amygdalin is a chemical compound that is naturally found in the seeds of fruits. You may have eaten fruits like apricots, apples, peaches, plums, and red cherries. The seeds of those fruits contain this compound. It is also found in bitter almonds.
In the past, in the 1950s, a purified form of this amygdalin was extracted and artificially made and given the name Laetrile. It then became very popular as an alternative treatment for cancer. However, later, due to its dangers, it was banned by institutions such as the FDA in the United States.
Even today, many websites and social media are heavily promoting Amygdalin as a cure for cancer. They even publish stories of people saying, "My cancer was cured by using this." But the most important thing we need to understand is that there is no scientific evidence for these stories .
Is it true that this kills cancer cells?
Those who say this is good for cancer mainly say two things.
1. Cyanide kills cancer cells: When amygdalin is digested in our intestines, a very dangerous poison called cyanide is formed. So these people say that the cyanide that is formed kills cancer cells.
2. Vitamin B17 Deficiency: Some people say that cancer occurs when there is not enough "vitamin B17" in the body. But the truth is, there is no such thing as vitamin B17 anywhere in the world. Amygdalin is not something our body needs at all. The name "vitamin" is just a marketing ploy to avoid the laws and regulations governing drugs and to make it easier to sell to people.
In fact, neither of these stories has any scientific basis. They have not been proven through research.
What does the scientific research say? Animal and laboratory studies have yielded conflicting results. While some studies have found no effect, others have suggested that it may have a small effect on some types of cancer cells. Some even suggest that it may help reduce pain to some extent.
But the most important thing is that so far, no "controlled clinical trial" has been conducted on Amygdalin. That is, no research has been done to compare a group of patients who receive this treatment and a group of patients who do not, to see if it really works. Therefore, we cannot have any confidence in its results.
Why is this so dangerous? The main risk!
The biggest and most obvious danger is cyanide poisoning . As I mentioned before, amygdalin is converted to cyanide in our bodies. Cyanide is a powerful poison that prevents our body's cells from using oxygen.
If ingested, this toxin can cause your blood pressure to drop dangerously low, damage your liver, and even cause you to lose consciousness and go into a coma. In the worst case, if you take a large dose (for example, 50-60 apricot kernels or 50 grams of Laetrile), it can even cause death.
What are the symptoms of cyanide poisoning?
The symptoms are more severe when these are ingested orally than when injected. Be very careful of the following symptoms.
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Dizziness | A sudden feeling of dizziness. |
| Nausea and vomiting | Nausea and vomiting. |
| Headache | Severe headache. |
| Blue skin | Bluish discoloration of the skin due to lack of oxygen in the body. |
| Drooping eyelid | Uncontrollable drooping of the upper eyelid. |
| Difficulty walking | Such as unsteady walking, loss of body balance. |
| Confusion | Inability to concentrate, desperation. |
| Fever | Increased body temperature. |
If you experience any of these symptoms, it is an emergency. Go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. If necessary, you can also call the National Poison Information Center at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
Other things that increase risk
If you take amygdalin while taking high doses of vitamin C, the risk of cyanide poisoning increases. Also, this risk increases if you take amygdalin with the following foods:
- Raw almonds
- Fruit seeds ground into a paste
- Peach
- Beans like butter beans and lima beans
- Bean sprouts
- Carrot
- Celery
- Flaxseeds
Another thing is that these amygdalin products are manufactured in unapproved places without any quality control. Therefore , there is a high chance that they contain other dangerous germs like bacteria and impurities.
Take-Home Message
- Amygdalin, also known as Laetrile, is a very dangerous substance that has not been scientifically proven as a cancer treatment.
- "Vitamin B17" is a marketing ploy, not a real vitamin.
- The main danger here is cyanide poisoning, which can be fatal.
- Don't believe every "miracle" cure you hear about on the internet or from friends. Cancer is a condition that should be diagnosed accurately and treated under the supervision of a qualified doctor.
- If you are considering alternative treatments for cancer, talk openly with your doctor before doing anything about it. He or she will give you the best guidance.
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