The following article covers ten Holistic Treatments for Oral Cancer.
Oral cancer isn’t one of the most common types of cancer – it accounts for about 3% of new cancer cases in the United States each year [1]. But it can be just as difficult to treat as some of the more deadly cancers, and the side effects of treatment can be extremely painful.
The good news is that there are evidence-based natural therapies available that can help you fight oral cancer without causing harm.
Holistic treatments for oral cancer support physical, mental, and emotional well-being without having a toxic effect on the body. A holistic approach can also be used to reduce the adverse side effects of chemotherapy drugs, radiation, and other conventional treatments.
Holistic Treatments for Oral Cancer
Here are ten holistic treatment options worth exploring.
1. Saffron-Cinnamon Oral Rinse
Most cases of oral cancer (also known as mouth cancer) are squamous cell carcinomas. They start in the squamous cells – the thin, flat cells lining the lips and inside of the mouth. Researchers have found that an herbal rinse containing saffron and cinnamon has an anti-cancer effect on oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, offering patients a safe, non-toxic option to use alongside other treatments for mouth cancer [2].
2. Photo Biomodulation Therapy
Photo biomodulation therapy (PBMT) – an integrative medicine therapy that uses a non-ionizing light source to impact the molecular and cellular activity of tissue – is another promising natural treatment for oral cancer.
Studies show that PBMT can minimize the negative effects of conventional treatments and help with the management of cancerous lesions when administered properly [3]. It promotes wound healing after surgery and induces cancer cell death when administered in the correct dose.
3. Ozone Therapy
Oral cancer treatments can lead to chronic complications. For example, radiation therapy can cause issues ranging from tooth decay to problems with the mouth and jaw, and surgery can cause loss of functionality [2]. That’s why it’s essential to support the body’s natural healing processes when fighting mouth cancer.
One of the most useful natural therapies for strengthening the immune system and speeding healing is ozone therapy. Ozone consists of three oxygen atoms. In a therapeutic setting such as an ozone sauna, it’s used to introduce more oxygen to the bloodstream and help detox the body. Ozone therapy also improves blood circulation, has antimicrobial activity, and supports wound healing [4].
4. Little Ironweed
A tropical herb in the sunflower family, Little Ironweed (Vernonia cinerea) is a medicinal plant used to treat intestinal issues and skin conditions, but it’s also known to have anti-cancer benefits. One study shows that some of the compounds in this plant inhibit the proliferation of oral cancer cells by shutting down biological pathways [5].
Keep in mind when asking your holistic medical practitioner about little ironweed that this plant goes by different names. The original scientific name for Little Ironweed was Vernonia cinerea, although it’s been updated to Cynathillium cinereum.
5. Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves the use of hair-thin needles to stimulate acupuncture points along the body. It’s widely accepted as an alternative cancer therapy because of its ability to improve quality of life and help patients safely manage cancer-related pain [6]. There are also studies showing it can help to prevent xerostomia (dry mouth), a common side effect of radiation therapy for cancers impacting the head and neck [7].
6. Kochia Scoparia Fruit
Kochia scoparia fruit is used in China and Korea to treat a range of inflammatory-related health ailments, such as inflammatory skin conditions and rheumatoid arthritis [8]. But reducing inflammation isn’t the only potential medicinal benefit of this fruit.
Researchers have also discovered a link between Kochia scoparia and oral cancer. When evaluating the effect of Kochia scoparia extract on oral squamous cell carcinoma cells, they found that cell death increased, indicating that this plant could be helpful in preventing tumor growth in individuals with mouth cancer [9].
7. Curcumin IV Therapy
Curcumin, which is naturally found in turmeric, is well-known for its anti-cancer activity and is often used in integrative oncology treatment plans. Studies show it’s particularly effective for treating oral cancer holistically – curcumin inhibits the spread and invasion of squamous cell carcinoma [10].
During a curcumin IV therapy treatment, a qualified medical professional administers a curcumin infusion intravenously. The curcumin then is readily absorbed into the bloodstream where it can travel through the body and offer its anti-cancer, antioxidant, and detoxifying benefits.
8. Low-Level-Laser Therapy
Another important aspect of treating oral cancer holistically is promoting regeneration. A medical laser using soft lasers, such as the Weber Laser, stimulates healthy cell regeneration and accelerates healing. Low-level-laser therapy has also been shown to reduce oral mucositis – a painful side effect of conventional cancer treatment [11].
9. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Research shows that hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a safe treatment method for healing tissue. It also might slow tumor growth [12]. These benefits make it a worthwhile holistic treatment for patients that want a safe, non-toxic therapy to speed healing after surgery. By increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can also improve sleep quality and energy levels.
10. Vitamin C Therapy
Vitamin C is well-known for its immune-boosting and antioxidant benefits. But, while there are many vitamin C-rich foods – citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, berries, and bell peppers are all high in this nutrient – the body doesn’t absorb enough of it from the diet alone to experience all the cancer-fighting benefits.
That’s where intravenous high-dose vitamin C can serve as an invaluable alternative cancer treatment for oral cancer. Studies show that vitamin C has an anti-cancer effect on squamous cell carcinoma cell lines and induces cell death [13]. Basically, it halts the cell cycle, stopping the cancer from growing.
With IV vitamin C therapy, the body safely receives enough of this nutrient to help fight cancer without interfering with other medications.
Learn More About Treating Oral Cancer Holistically
Even with advancements in conventional medicine, the eight-year survival rate for oral squamous cell carcinoma is 50 to 60% [13]. Also, with mouth cancer, the negative effects of chemo drugs, radiation therapy, and other traditional treatments can be extremely painful and challenging to deal with.
Fortunately, there are many non-toxic, safe holistic therapies that can increase vitality, support healing, and relieve cancer-related symptoms. Learn more about your options – contact the experienced team at Brio-Medical today.
References for holistic oral cancer treatments:
[1] NIH Staff. “Oral Cancer.” NIH, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, last reviewed July 2018, https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/oral-cancer.
[2] Dehghani Nazhvani, Ali et al. “Anti-Cancer Effects of Traditional Medicinal Herbs on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.” Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP vol. 21,2 479-484. 1 Feb. 2020, doi:10.31557/APJCP.2020.21.2.479
[3] Hanna, Reem et al. “Photobiomodulation Therapy in Oral Mucositis and Potentially Malignant Oral Lesions: A Therapy Towards the Future.” Cancers vol. 12,7 1949. 18 Jul. 2020, doi:10.3390/cancers12071949
[4] Scassellati, Catia et al. “Ozone: a natural bioactive molecule with antioxidant property as potential new strategy in aging and in neurodegenerative disorders.” Ageing research reviews vol. 63 (2020): 101138. doi:10.1016/j.arr.2020.101138
[5] Pouyfung, Phisit et al. “Anti-proliferative effect of 8α-tigloyloxyhirsutinolide-13-O-acetate (8αTGH) isolated from Vernonia cinerea on oral squamous cell carcinoma through inhibition of STAT3 and STAT2 phosphorylation.” Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology vol. 52 (2019): 238-246. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2018.09.211
[6] Vinjamury, Sivarama Prasad et al. “Effects of acupuncture for cancer pain and quality of life – a case series.” Chinese medicine vol. 8,1 15. 30 Jul. 2013, doi:10.1186/1749-8546-8-15
[7] O’Sullivan, E M, and I J Higginson. “Clinical effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of irradiation-induced xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review.” Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society vol. 28,4 (2010): 191-9. doi:10.1136/aim.2010.002733
[8] Jo, Suzy et al. “Anti-inflammatory activity of Kochia scoparia fruit on contact dermatitis in mice.” Molecular medicine reports vol. 13,2 (2016): 1695-700. doi:10.3892/mmr.2015.4698
[9] Han, Hye-Yeon et al. “Kochia scoparia induces apoptosis of oral cancer cells in vitro and in heterotopic tumors.” Journal of ethnopharmacology vol. 192 (2016): 431-441. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2016.09.019
[10] Zhen, Lei et al. “Curcumin inhibits oral squamous cell carcinoma proliferation and invasion via EGFR signaling pathways.” International journal of clinical and experimental pathology vol. 7,10 6438-46. 15 Sep. 2014
[11] Legouté, Florence et al. “Low-level laser therapy in treatment of chemoradiotherapy-induced mucositis in head and neck cancer: results of a randomised, triple blind, multicentre phase III trial.” Radiation oncology (London, England) vol. 14,1 83. 22 May. 2019, doi:10.1186/s13014-019-1292-2
[12] Moen, Ingrid, and Linda E B Stuhr. “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and cancer–a review.” Targeted oncology vol. 7,4 (2012): 233-42. doi:10.1007/s11523-012-0233-x
[13] Zhou, Jianjun et al. “Vitamin C Promotes Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.” Frontiers in oncology vol. 10 976. 10 Jun. 2020, doi:10.3389/fonc.2020.00976
