When we hear the word cancer, we all get a little scared. At the same time, we are always looking for new treatments and new hopes for this disease. Sometimes, we can get such hope even from a small plant. Today we are going to talk about something like that. You may have heard of 'Sweet Wormwood'. Our ancestors, especially in China, used a tea made from this plant for fever and malaria. This plant (scientific name `Artemisia annua`) contains a special compound. That is what we call Artemisinin . Even today, the medicine `(Artesunate)` that doctors recommend for malaria is made based on this compound.
The latest buzz is whether this artemisinin could be an alternative treatment for cancer. Because some cancer cells become resistant to conventional cancer treatments (`chemotherapy`) over time. But artemisinin does not seem to be resistant to it. Another reason is that, unlike many cancer drugs, it is not toxic to the body. Also, it is cheap and can be easily administered. So, what is the truth in this story? Let's see.
What does this actually do to cancer cells?
This is very simple to understand. Think of cancer cells as a very voracious enemy that eats iron. Cancer cells need a lot of iron to grow and spread. Much more than our healthy cells.
This is where the hero artemisinin comes in. When artemisinin and iron come together inside a cancer cell, a chemical reaction occurs between the two. This creates highly reactive particles that we call free radicals . These particles are like bombs. But these bombs only explode inside the cancer cell. This means that this process destroys the cancer cells, but our healthy cells are not harmed. This is what researchers see as the biggest and most important advantage of this treatment method.
Research has shown that artemisinin can do several other things to cancer cells.
- It forces cancer cells to commit suicide: Sometimes this signals cancer cells to self-destruct.
- Stops division and spread: This can stop cancer cells from dividing and spreading rapidly.
- Cuts off blood supply: A tumor needs blood vessels to grow. This medicine can cut off that blood supply. Then the cancer is deprived of the nutrients it needs.
Is this really successful? What is research?
This is the most important thing we all need to know. There have been very few studies done on this so far. Also, in all of these studies, artemisinin has been used in conjunction with standard cancer treatments. It has never been used as an alternative to cancer treatment. So a lot more research needs to be done to say for sure how effective it is.
However, some experts are a bit optimistic after looking at the results of these small studies. Let's see what these few studies have found.
| Cancer Type | Research Findings |
|---|---|
| Colorectal Cancer | In a study of 20 patients, it was found that cancer cells in those given the artemisinin form called artesunate died 12% more than those in those who did not take the drug. |
| Melanoma | Artesunate has shown good results when given in combination with other drugs for patients with advanced melanoma, a skin cancer that affects the eye. One patient lived for 47 months after being diagnosed with the cancer. The average survival time in this condition is 2-5 months. |
| Lung Cancer | In a study involving 120 patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, it was observed that the rate of cancer spread in those who received artesunate and standard chemotherapy was lower than in those who did not. |
| Cervical Cancer | Ten women with advanced cervical cancer were given artemisinin for 28 days. All 10 reported a resolution of symptoms (pain, vaginal discharge) and remission of the disease. |
While these results are promising, remember that these are still in the research stage. They are by no means proven to be permanent treatments.
Are there no risks and side effects?
Like any medicine, this one can have some side effects. However, research on this is still lacking. Here are the ones that have been reported so far:
- Skin rash
- Hearing loss
- Ringing in the ears
- Dizziness
We still know very little about this. There is still a lot to be discovered. So if you are considering this type of alternative treatment, you should definitely talk to your doctor or medical team about it. Never make decisions alone. They can advise you on how well it is suitable for your condition, or whether you can join a clinical trial somewhere in the world.
Take-Home Message
- Artemisinin is a compound extracted from a plant and used to treat malaria.
- Preliminary research has shown some potential to kill cancer cells, but this is not yet a proven cancer treatment.
- It is believed to react with the iron in cancer cells and kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells.
- Do not stop cancer treatment recommended by a doctor for any reason and use alternative treatments like these.
- If you are interested in this, be sure to discuss it with your doctor and seek his or her advice.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න