Unusual Anti-Cancer/Anti-Tumor Properties
Allopathic chemotherapy regimens use highly cytotoxic (cell-killing) drugs that target reproducing cells. Unfortunately, these drugs are non-discriminatory in their action which leads to severe side effects among normal cells that reproduce rapidly, such as those in the intestines, bone marrow and hair.1
The complexity of essential oils has led many to the conclusion that, unlike classic chemotherapy drugs, their natural constituents—primarily monoterpenes—are capable of working through multiple pathways to act on cancer cells bringing about apoptosis (spontaneous cell death), without causing harm to normal cells.
Dozens of laboratory studies investigating the effects of essential oils on various cancers have been conducted since the early 1990’s. These have consistently confirmed the fact that essential oils are indeed selective in their action on cancer cells.2,3 Further, essential oil compounds, particularly monoterpenes, have regularly been shown both (1) to protect cell DNA against carcinogens and oxidation, preventing the initial development of cancer cells (chemoprevention),4 and (2) to retard or stop cancer growth, once started, by stimulating apoptosis and inhibiting cancer cell proliferation.5 Studies done at Purdue University in Indiana concluded that essential oil monoterpenes “are effective, nontoxic, dietary antitumor agents which act through a variety of mechanisms”6 . . . “in the chemoprevention and chemotherapy of cancer.”7
Monoterpenes which have shown remarkable results in preventing cancer in laboratory experiments include:
- citral (EO of lemongrass) tested on liver, skin and colon cancers 8,9,10
- d-limonene (EOs of orange, lemon, mandarin) tested on liver and skin cancer 11,12 and
- allicin (EO of garlic) tested on ovarian and rectal cancer13,14.
Monoterpenes which have demonstrated their ability to retard and suppress tumor growth include:
- geraniol (EOs of palmarosa, geranium) tested on colon cancer15
- α-bisabolol (EO of German chamomile) tested on glioma (brain cancer)16
- d-limonene (EOs of orange, lemon, mandarin) tested on stomach cancer, liver cancer and lymphoma 17,18,19
- perillyl alcohol (EOs of lavender, peppermint) tested on prostate, breast and colon cancers 20
- eucalyptol (EOs of eucalyptus, cardamom) tested on leukemia 21
In addition to monoterpenes, phenols—particularly carvacrol and thymol (EOs of oregano and thyme)—have been shown to have both preventive and therapeutic anticancer properties.22,23,24,25
Other essential oils which have shown promise in lab tests on a variety of cancers include frankincense26, myrrh27, mellissa28, ginger29, 30, pine31, sandalwood32 and rosemary33.
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