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September/October 2007 Alternative Health
Herbal Remedies for Well-Being

Flax and ginseng appear to be useful for some cancer patients.

American ginseng may help fight cancer-related fatigue, which affects 90 percent of patients. Other new research shows that flaxseed may slow the growth of prostate tumors.

According to a study by the Mayo Clinic, participants who took 1,000 mg of ginseng per day had improvements in fatigue: an increase of more than 14 points (on a scale of one to 100 points) in energy level, and more than 12 points in physical well-being. There were no reported problems with side effects like nausea or sleeping problems.

Researchers from Duke University showed that flaxseed may slow the growth of prostate tumors. In the study, men with prostate cancer took 30 grams of flaxseed (about 3 rounded tablespoons) every day before undergoing surgery. After surgery, the researchers examined each man's prostate tumor and found that the cancer cells were dividing more slowly, suggesting slower tumor growth.

Source: American Society of Clinical Oncology at www.asco.org.