I have been reading a lot about apricot seeds as a possible treatment for multiple myeloma, along with many other cancers and diseases. I am not stating that modern medicine is a lesser form of treatment; this is simple intriguing to me. I wondered if anyone has any information about using apricot seeds as, or along with, treatment for multiple myeloma?
Thanks!
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melissaanne - Name: Melissa
- Who do you know with myeloma?: My Mother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Apricot seeds as a natural multiple myeloma treatment?
Hi Melissa,
I suspect that most of what you have read about the possible anti-myeloma effects of apricot seeds is based on the fact that the seeds are a source of a substance known as amygdalin. The drug laetrile, which has been touted as an anti-cancer therapy since the 1970s, is a modified form of amygdalin. It might be worth reading about amygdalin at Wikipedia, The article notes, for example, that
I checked Pubmed and I was not able to find a single medical journal article that has reported on apricot seeds, amygdalin, or laetrile having any anti-myeloma properties. Here are a few searches you can check yourself:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=amygdalin+myeloma
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=laetrile+myeloma
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=apricot+myeloma
The last search turns up one article about a monoclonal antibody specific to a strain of the plum pox virus (!).
I suspect that most of what you have read about the possible anti-myeloma effects of apricot seeds is based on the fact that the seeds are a source of a substance known as amygdalin. The drug laetrile, which has been touted as an anti-cancer therapy since the 1970s, is a modified form of amygdalin. It might be worth reading about amygdalin at Wikipedia, The article notes, for example, that
The promotion of laetrile to treat cancer has been described in the medical literature as a canonical example of quackery, and as "the slickest, most sophisticated, and certainly the most remunerative cancer quack promotion in medical history."
I checked Pubmed and I was not able to find a single medical journal article that has reported on apricot seeds, amygdalin, or laetrile having any anti-myeloma properties. Here are a few searches you can check yourself:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=amygdalin+myeloma
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=laetrile+myeloma
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=apricot+myeloma
The last search turns up one article about a monoclonal antibody specific to a strain of the plum pox virus (!).
Re: Apricot seeds as a natural multiple myeloma treatment?
Thank you for the reply, TerryH!
I agree the clinical evidence out there is sparse! I do wonder, however, if this is somewhat of a political issue. I know that big pharmaceutical companies want to endorse modern medicine far more than a natural remedy. While my mom is in fact taking part in modern medicine, I just want to make sure she's taking every safe precaution possible to fight her disease.
Thanks!
I agree the clinical evidence out there is sparse! I do wonder, however, if this is somewhat of a political issue. I know that big pharmaceutical companies want to endorse modern medicine far more than a natural remedy. While my mom is in fact taking part in modern medicine, I just want to make sure she's taking every safe precaution possible to fight her disease.
Thanks!
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melissaanne - Name: Melissa
- Who do you know with myeloma?: My Mother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Apricot seeds as a natural multiple myeloma treatment?
Hi Mellissanne,
Many poisons like derivatives of mustard gas, tax tree oil etc are and have been used against cancer. In the case of apricot it is probably cyanide that is interesting. Cyanide will probably kill cancer ... and much more.
I know from many other people here in Denmark that if you are under treatment for a serious condition and have special ideas about supporting therapy, diet or physical activity to fight cancer, the physician and hospitals will in many cases be supportive and tell you to go ahead. Of course in parallel with the "real" treatment.
If you believe that praying in the church, meditation or ayorvedic herbs may help you, you will probably be met with positive response. And they will always be very supportive if your plan include physical activity, healthy food, not smoking and other good things.
My own myeloma specialist specifically recommend a good glass of red wine and living a good life
and to join the most recent trials!
They may or may not believe that the parallel treatment you suggest does actually have an effect, It is my experience and in accordance with what I have heard from others that the general perception is that what make you stronger and make you believe in your recovery may always be of help.
But I would always ask the specialist who is responsible for the treatment whether this or that alternative chemical is contraindicated during your treatment.
I am receiving a trial medicine after successfully going through ASCT and anything containing energy of any kind is contraindicated for hours before taking the trial medication ... and for at least one hour after
Suggestion: get approval from your myeloma specialist before taking supplemental medications.
And I have absolutely no expertise and have never done any research on any medical issue. While being an academic my expertise are within other areas. My wife for more than 25 years was a doctor, and she always encouraged people to be active and motivated in their fight against cancer and other sickness, rather than just passively receive treatment.
Many poisons like derivatives of mustard gas, tax tree oil etc are and have been used against cancer. In the case of apricot it is probably cyanide that is interesting. Cyanide will probably kill cancer ... and much more.
I know from many other people here in Denmark that if you are under treatment for a serious condition and have special ideas about supporting therapy, diet or physical activity to fight cancer, the physician and hospitals will in many cases be supportive and tell you to go ahead. Of course in parallel with the "real" treatment.
If you believe that praying in the church, meditation or ayorvedic herbs may help you, you will probably be met with positive response. And they will always be very supportive if your plan include physical activity, healthy food, not smoking and other good things.
My own myeloma specialist specifically recommend a good glass of red wine and living a good life
and to join the most recent trials!They may or may not believe that the parallel treatment you suggest does actually have an effect, It is my experience and in accordance with what I have heard from others that the general perception is that what make you stronger and make you believe in your recovery may always be of help.
But I would always ask the specialist who is responsible for the treatment whether this or that alternative chemical is contraindicated during your treatment.
I am receiving a trial medicine after successfully going through ASCT and anything containing energy of any kind is contraindicated for hours before taking the trial medication ... and for at least one hour after
Suggestion: get approval from your myeloma specialist before taking supplemental medications.
And I have absolutely no expertise and have never done any research on any medical issue. While being an academic my expertise are within other areas. My wife for more than 25 years was a doctor, and she always encouraged people to be active and motivated in their fight against cancer and other sickness, rather than just passively receive treatment.
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Lev - Name: Lev
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Apricot seeds as a natural multiple myeloma treatment?
It may not be a "political" issue.
I searched for scientific and peer-reviewed articles on apricot seeds and myeloma. This is the only one I found:
B. N. Akyildiz, "Cyanide poisoning caused by ingestion of apricot seeds," Annals of Tropical Paediatrics, March 2010 (abstract)
It is possible to remove the cyanide from the seeds. Different kinds of heat treatment. Some countries prohibit the sale of untreated apricot seed and almonds.
I searched for scientific and peer-reviewed articles on apricot seeds and myeloma. This is the only one I found:
B. N. Akyildiz, "Cyanide poisoning caused by ingestion of apricot seeds," Annals of Tropical Paediatrics, March 2010 (abstract)
It is possible to remove the cyanide from the seeds. Different kinds of heat treatment. Some countries prohibit the sale of untreated apricot seed and almonds.
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Lev - Name: Lev
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Apricot seeds as a natural multiple myeloma treatment?
Anything's possible, but I doubt that this therapy has been rejected for political reasons. If it were a potentially valuable way to treat cancer, the drug companies would be much more likely to develop versions of it for use in patients than they would be to try and suppress knowledge of its efficacy. That would be a far more profitable route.
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Mike F - Name: Mike F
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 18, 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Apricot seeds as a natural multiple myeloma treatment?
Absolutely, but a natural substance isn't patentable, and therefore is hard to make money on. Yes, they could make a synthetic version of it, I suppose, but seems unnecessary.
I do think it is political in the sense that politics are tied into large pharmaceutical companies quite closely. I see the article you sent regarding cyanide poisoning, but if you do research on apricot seeds, the cyanide is bound (not free) and is not harmful to healthy cells.
I will certainly check with her doctor before she does any alternative treatments, but as a dietitian, I do believe that food can be medicine.
I do think it is political in the sense that politics are tied into large pharmaceutical companies quite closely. I see the article you sent regarding cyanide poisoning, but if you do research on apricot seeds, the cyanide is bound (not free) and is not harmful to healthy cells.
I will certainly check with her doctor before she does any alternative treatments, but as a dietitian, I do believe that food can be medicine.
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melissaanne - Name: Melissa
- Who do you know with myeloma?: My Mother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Apricot seeds as a natural multiple myeloma treatment?
I do believe apricots produce "pits", not seeds. Regardless of how you crack them / heat treat them / grind them.
Steve McQueen fell for Laetrile in the 70's for his early lung cancer. He lived, what, 9 months after his treatment of coffee enemas and laetrile? Steve Jobs?
I would ask you to "run" from these treatments. I concur with Terry H.
Steve McQueen fell for Laetrile in the 70's for his early lung cancer. He lived, what, 9 months after his treatment of coffee enemas and laetrile? Steve Jobs?
I would ask you to "run" from these treatments. I concur with Terry H.
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Rneb
Re: Apricot seeds as a natural multiple myeloma treatment?
I agree that a company developing and selling medicine will probably not set aside founding for something that can not be capitalized. And then ... Novo and other companies like them are actually founding a lot of parallel and ideal research.
And at our universities and at our large research hospitals a lot of fundamental research is done without thought of whether the outcome is profit: the goals here = scientific progress and the good for the patients.
When people here claim that apricot seed can fight myeloma ... I would like to ask: why?
And when people have read about it and are convinced ... I would like to see the reference to the research, the controlled results.
Please.
And when people claim that it is a conspiracy ("politics") that, in this case apricot seed is not researched as a cure for myeloma, I would like to see some references, indications ...
There are no specific reason why apricot seeds could not contain chemicals that could be active against myeloma. Just as the terrible mustard gas was the opening towards cyclophosphamide and other chemo's, and as the deadly tax tree is used for Taxol against many cancers.
But nobody should experiment with tax tree oil, cyclophosphamide, or cyanide at home.
Best regards lev
And at our universities and at our large research hospitals a lot of fundamental research is done without thought of whether the outcome is profit: the goals here = scientific progress and the good for the patients.
When people here claim that apricot seed can fight myeloma ... I would like to ask: why?
And when people have read about it and are convinced ... I would like to see the reference to the research, the controlled results.
Please.
And when people claim that it is a conspiracy ("politics") that, in this case apricot seed is not researched as a cure for myeloma, I would like to see some references, indications ...
There are no specific reason why apricot seeds could not contain chemicals that could be active against myeloma. Just as the terrible mustard gas was the opening towards cyclophosphamide and other chemo's, and as the deadly tax tree is used for Taxol against many cancers.
But nobody should experiment with tax tree oil, cyclophosphamide, or cyanide at home.
Best regards lev
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Lev - Name: Lev
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Apricot seeds as a natural multiple myeloma treatment?
This was a simple post asking if anyone had information about them. I am not saying I have, will, or will not try them for myself or my mom. The "seed" or "kernel" is found inside the common "pit" inside an apricot. Apricots do in fact produce seeds like many other fruits. There are many articles out there both for and against this type of treatment, as with many alternative therapies. I will leave that research for everyone to do on their own. I was just curious if anyone has additional information about this treatment. It was worth asking.
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melissaanne - Name: Melissa
- Who do you know with myeloma?: My Mother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 49
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