Home Remedies and Herbs for Leukemia

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the body’s blood-forming tissues, which includes the lymphatic system and bone marrow.1 Bone marrow is soft tissue in the middle of bones that produces new blood cells.² There are several types of leukemia, including acute leukemia, where the cancer progresses quickly, and chronic leukemia, where it progresses slowly.² In most cases, leukemia affects the white blood cells, which are an important part of your body’s immune system. Normally, they help fight off infection. In leukemia patients, however, the white blood cells don’t function properly.¹

As healthy blood cells decline, leukemia patients can develop life-threatening symptoms.² Leukemia treatment usually involves chemotherapy. This may also be used in combination with radiation therapy, bone marrow transplants, removal of the spleen, and interferon therapy.³ Most types of leukemia are unpreventable, but you can take leukemia herbal remedies to slow the disease progression and help ease symptoms associated with the condition and leukemia treatment.

What Causes Leukemia?

Scientists can’t say for sure what leukemia causes are, but it’s thought to develop due to a variety of environmental and genetic factors.⁴ Risk factors include:

• Family history of leukemia
• Previous cancer treatment
• Smoking
• Genetic disorders
• Exposure to chemicals like benzene³

Leukemia Symptoms

Early leukemia symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
• Frequent infections
• Fever or chills
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Enlarged spleen or liver
• Excessive sweating
• Anemia
• Small red spots on the skin
• Bone tenderness or pain⁵

Natural Remedies and Herbs for Leukemia

If you’ve been diagnosed with leukemia, you may undergo chemotherapy or other leukemia treatment options. To aid with treatment and help ease symptoms, consider taking the following leukemia natural remedies.

• Grape Seed Extract - Grape seed extract comes from the seeds of red wine grapes. It’s packed with nutrients and antioxidants, which help fight cancer by both preventing it and slowing its progression. Grape seed extract in a liquid or capsule form acts as a leukemia natural remedy by targeting leukemia cells.
• Green Tea - Green tea is brewed from the Camellia sinensis plant. It includes a high level of antioxidants. It also includes an ingredient called catechin. These ingredients help prevent the spread of cancer cells, making green tea a viable leukemia herbal remedy. To enjoy these benefits, drink one cup of green tea per day.
• Astragalus - This leukemia home remedy is a Chinese root herb that helps boost the immune system. It’s also high in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Astragalus can help fight cancer as well as ease the side effects of chemotherapy.
• Olive Leaf Extract - Olive leaf extract is another leukemia herb effective in fighting cancer cells and boosting the immune system. You can take it in a capsule or in tea.

References

1. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/leukemia/basics/definition/con-20024914
2. http://umm.edu/health/medical/ency/articles/leukemia
3. http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/phase2/mleukemi.pdf
4. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/leukemia/basics/causes/con-20024914
5. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/leukemia/basics/risk-factors/con-20024914