Home Remedies and Herbs for Brain Cancer

Brain cancer is the medical term given to malignant growths that can form on the brain. These growths can occur at any time in life and to anyone no matter what race, gender or family history. It forms primarily in the tissue of the brain but it can also form as a secondary cancer if other cancer is present. Brain cancer can be difficult to diagnose, has a variety of symptoms, and can usually be treated with a variety of different protocols.¹

What Causes Brain Cancer?

There are many theories as to the cause of brain cancer. Some of them are relatively well known while others are still a mystery. Some causes of brain cancer are:

• Radiation
• Genetic risks
• Environmental toxins such as chemicals in factories
• HIV Infection
• Smoking²

What are the Symptoms of Brain Cancer?

As with many diseases, the symptoms of brain cancer can vary from patient to patient. Not every patient will experience the same symptoms as another person with brain cancer. This list is not a complete list however; these tend to be the most common symptoms of brain cancer:

• Unexplained headaches that persist despite treatment
• Unexplained nausea/vomiting
• Personality/behavioral changes
• Problems concentrating
• Loss of balance
• Unexplained seizures³

How is Brain Cancer Diagnosed?

Diagnosing brain cancer is done through a series of medical tests. A doctor will incorporate these tests together in order to gain a clear picture of what is happening and obtain an accurate diagnosis. Some of the basic tests that are done to detect brain cancer are:

• Blood tests
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans
• Cat scans
• Spinal tap
• Vision tests
• Hearing tests
• Neurological exams
• PET Scan
• Biopsy of the brain tissue thought to be cancerous⁴

How is Brain Cancer Treated?

Brain cancer is frequently treated with what is referred to as combination therapy. That is to say doctors will take a variety of medical options to treat brain cancer. Some common treatments for brain cancer can include:

• Anti-seizure drugs
• Steroids
• Surgery
• Radiation treatment
• Chemotherapy treatment
• Targeted therapy⁵

Natural Medicinal Options for Brain Cancer

In addition to the traditional options for treating brain cancer, there are a great many natural treatments that can be used in addition. They are meant to help the body heal and fight the brain cancer while hopefully giving the patient the best quality of life possible. Some of the more common natural treatments for brain cancer are:

• Hemp - Hemp can be beneficial to patients with brain cancer because there have been numerous studies that show the effect of hemp/cannabis on cancer cells. In some studies it has been shown to drastically reduce the spread of brain cancer.
• Fish Oil - Fish oil supplements can be used to give the patient an added bit of essential fatty acids that are good for the brain. The cancer is not treated with the fish oil but it can help the patient to take on the brain cancer treatment a bit better by incorporating the fatty acids into the healthy brain tissue.
• Cat's Claw - This herb may be taken a few times a day for the treatment of brain cancer. The anti-tumor properties in the herb may be beneficial to the patient.

Conclusion

Brain cancer is a common yet treatable disease. It can affect anyone at any time in their lives. As with many diseases it is advised to notice any strange symptoms and report them to your doctor. This is especially true if the symptoms last for a long period of time despite efforts to treat them. Brain cancer can be a scary diagnosis to receive but with proper monitoring and treatment it can be overcome.

References

1. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=10026
2. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/brain_cancer/page3_em.htm#brain_cancer_causes
3. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/brain-tumor/symptoms-causes/dxc-20117134
4. http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/brain-tumor/diagnosis
5. http://braintumor.org/brain-tumor-information/treatment-options/