A new study confirms what many people with cancer have already discovered for themselves: natural products can ease pain and fatigue.
The study included people with advanced pancreatic cancer. They were being treated with chemotherapy, sometimes along with radiation, and were taking drugs to help control their pain.
36 of the 50 participants got natural products, most frequently green tea extract, melatonin (a hormone that helps normalize sleep cycles) and high-potency multivitamins that had at least 1,000 mg of vitamin C and 400 IU of vitamin E.
Those taking one or more of these natural products reported a significant reduction in pain and fatigue, compared to those not taking any, during the six-month study.
The results are important because “pain and fatigue seriously impair quality of life and can be hard to treat”, says Timothy Birdsall, MD, Cancer Treatment Centers of America’s vice-president for integrative medicine. Natural products can reduce side effects of treatments, improve sleep and reduce levels of biochemicals that produce pain and fatigue. Those biochemicals are at high levels in people with cancer and other chronic diseases, Dr. Birdsall says.
The findings were reported at the annual Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, cosponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology and three other leading cancer care organizations.
The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Unfortunately, almost everyone knows at least one person who is going through cancer treatment. Most people with cancer are open to all options. Spread the word that chronic pain and fatigue can be relieved by natural means. Anyone battling cancer should add green tea extract, melatonin and a multi-vitamin to their pain-relief regimen.
QUICK TIP: Jean Carper reports on another natural product which can alleviate back pain. Learn More
RELATED PRODUCTS: Stop Aging Now's potent Multi Nutrient Formulas all contain 1,000 mg of vitamin C and 400 IU of vitamin E. For the most comprehensive pain-relief supplements regimen, we recommend our Anti-Aging PowerPak. The PowerPak includes any of our Multi Nutrient Formulas, our High Antioxidant Green Tea Extract, made from the purest, most potent standardized green tea extract available, and our molecularly-distilled Omega-T Fish Oil. And available soon, Stop Aging Now's pharmaceutical-grade Melatonin!
Written exclusively for Stop Aging Now, the authority on anti-aging research, anti-aging nutrition, and anti-aging supplements.