Home Remedies and Herbs for Liver Cancer

The liver is your body’s largest organ.¹ It’s located behind your ribs and serves several vital functions, including that it produces bile to aid in digestion, stores nutrients, and removes waste from the blood.¹ Patients are said to have liver cancer when cancerous cells originate from or spread to the liver. There are two types of liver cancer: primary and secondary. Primary liver cancer originates in the liver while secondary liver cancer starts elsewhere in the body and spreads to the liver.²

These two types of liver cancer can be further categorized. The most common type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma, which is a form of primary liver cancer that begins in the main liver cells.³ Metastatic liver cancer--which means the cancer spread from another organ--usually occurs due to colorectal cancer.² Liver cancer is highly treatable through liver cancer treatment options like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.⁴ Liver cancer herbal remedies can help prevent the disease, slow the spread, or reduce the symptoms of treatment.

What Causes Liver Cancer?

Like all cancers, liver cancer occurs due to DNA damage in the cells. Though not all liver cancer causes are known, several risk factors include:

• Hepatitis B or C
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Heavy alcohol use¹

Many liver cancer causes can be prevented, such as by getting vaccinated against hepatitis B, getting tested for hepatitis C, and limiting alcohol consumption. Liver cancer natural remedies can also help keep your weight and diabetes under control to help minimize the risk or improve symptoms. Individuals born during the baby boomer generation are at higher risk of liver cancer because they’re more likely to have hepatitis C compared to other adults. Because of this, it’s important that these individuals get tested for hepatitis C.

Liver Cancer Symptoms

Liver cancer symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain
• Enlarged abdomen
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• Easy bleeding or bruising
• Unexplained weight loss⁴

• Bile duct obstruction
• Liver mass²

Natural Remedies and Herbs for Liver Cancer

In addition to liver cancer treatment options and medications your doctor might prescribe, you might also consider taking these liver cancer herbal remedies to help with symptoms.

• Milk Thistle - Milk thistle naturally supports liver function, but it also helps slow the spread of cancer and can reduce tumor size. Take this liver cancer home remedy in tincture, capsule, or liquid extract forms.
• Ginseng, American - American ginseng is a popular liver cancer natural remedy that has been shown to reduce tumor marker levels in patients with liver cancer.⁵
• Turmeric - Turmeric contains anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation associated with liver cancer.
• Garlic - Taken orally--either as straight cloves or cooked into various dishes - garlic can help ease liver cancer symptoms thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Black Cumin Seed - Black cumin seed is another liver cancer herb you can take daily to prevent the spread of liver cancer. It accomplishes this thanks to its antioxidant properties, which help target the causes of liver cancer.

References

1. http://www.cdc.gov/dotw/livercancer/index.html
2. http://www.mcancer.org/liver-cancer/about-liver-cancer
3. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/liver-cancer/home/ovc-20198165
4. http://umm.edu/programs/liver-center/services/treatments-for-liver-cancer
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3446728/