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Could Green Tea Ward Off Skin Cancer?
Asian cultures have
always consumed a large amount of Green tea and have revered its
healing properties for centuries. It just so happens that they have a
much lower occurrence of cancer and heart disease. There are thousands
of studies that have shown that Green tea is an excellent good cancer
preventative and could enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatments. |
importance. According to the American
Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most widespread of all cancers.
Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer. While only 4% of skin
cancer cases are melanoma, it causes more deaths than any other type of
skin cancer.
As scientists are researching ways to thwart and treat skin cancer, the
results involving green tea are promising. One particular study
conducted by the Alternative Medicine Review showed exceptional results
in skin cancer prevention and treatment in mice with the use of green
tea both applied topically and given orally.
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In this study, mice
were exposed to about seven different types of carcinogens, all of
which are believed to cause or contribute to skin cancer. The mice were
separated into groups. Some of the groups were treated with green tea
by substituting it for their drinking water. Others were treated
topically with green tea extract. Some of the groups of mice were
already suffering from skin cancer. |
carcinogen were treated with green tea in both forms. For
example, some of the mice being exposed to UVB rays were treated with
only oral Green tea, while others were treated with only topical green
tea extract.
The research concluded that all of the mice benefited from
the green tea treatment, whether it was given orally or applied
topically. In every group, the Green tea was effective at preventing
skin cancer.
The study found that green tea applied topically
annihilates skin cells that are likely to become cancerous before they
can mutate.
The green tea, whether given orally or applied topically, slowed down
the cancer growth in the mice that were already infected. In addition,
green tea given orally seemed to cause some degeneration of existing
skin cancer cells. These results are very exciting.
If this research is
a good sign of how Green tea might work in humans, as well, then
topically applied green tea may become the new trend in skin products.
Moreover, these findings conclude that drinking green tea is successful
in preventing and treating many forms of cancer.
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The most exciting news from this study is the idea that we might all benefit dramatically from the simple step of applying a form of Green tea to our skin. And even for those already suffering with skin cancer, Green tea applied to the skin might prove to be an effective treatment to kill the cancer cells, or at least help to slow down their progression.
