Pawpaw as Cancer Treatment
Before going any further, it’s important to state that Gardening Know How cannot offer any medical advice. This is not an endorsement of a certain medical treatment, but rather a laying out of the facts of one side of the story. If you’re looking for practicable advice on treatment, you should always speak with a doctor.
Fighting Cancer Cells with Pawpaws
How does pawpaw fight cancer? In order to understand how pawpaws can be used to fight cancer cells, it’s necessary to understand how cancer cells work. According to an article from Purdue University, the reason anti-cancer drugs can sometimes fail is because a small portion (only about 2%) of cancer cells develop a kind of “pump” that flushes out the drugs before they can take effect. Since these cells are the ones most likely to survive treatment, they are able to multiply and establish a resistant force. However, there are compounds being discovered in pawpaw trees that are, it seems, able to kill these cancer cells in spite of the pumps.
Using Pawpaws for Cancer
So will eating a few pawpaws cure cancer? No. The studies that have been conducted use a particular pawpaw extract. The anti-cancer compounds in it are used in such a high concentration that they can actually be somewhat dangerous. If taken on an empty stomach, it can cause vomiting and nausea. If taken when no cancer cells are present, it may attack similar “high energy” cells, like those found in the digestive system. This is just another reason why it’s important to speak with a doctor before undergoing this, or any other, medical treatment. Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for educational and gardening purposes only. Before using or ingesting ANY herb or plant for medicinal purposes or otherwise, please consult a physician or a medical herbalist for advice. Resources: http://www.uky.edu/hort/Pawpaw https://news.uns.purdue.edu/html4ever/1997/9709.McLaughlin.pawpaw.html https://www.uky.edu/Ag/CCD/introsheets/pawpaw.pdf
