| The search for a cure for Cancer has been in | | | | one of the characteristics of all cancers. |
| full-swing for many years. Scientists around the globe | | | | The Unique Ability to specifically Target Cancerous |
| are investigating every possible substance and | | | | Cells |
| protocol that they can dream up to offer mankind | | | | The conclusion of a study published in the journal of |
| relief from this often terminal illness. Included in this | | | | Complementary and Alternative Medicine, March |
| research are many plants and plant extracts that | | | | 2009, by researchers at the University of Oklahoma |
| have played significant roles in traditional medicine | | | | was "Frankincense oil appears to distinguish cancerous |
| systems throughout history. In the last few years, | | | | from normal bladder cells, and suppress cancer cell |
| interest and research into the potential of essential | | | | viability". This is truly a profound result, when |
| oils as anticancer agents has grown tremendously. | | | | considering what modern chemotherapy does -- |
| (For those new to essential oils, they are simply the | | | | reduces the viability of all cells in and surrounding a |
| volatile aromatic constituents of plants -- for | | | | tumor, with the hope that healthy cells live through |
| example, the chemicals that make up the scent of a | | | | the process in significant enough numbers that the |
| Rose or the pungency of fresh Basil. They are | | | | patient recovers. Similar results have been published |
| complex compounds, very compatible with human | | | | for a great many kinds of cancer: melanoma, |
| physiology, with a host of research-supported health | | | | leukemia, liver, colon and prostate, and anecdotal |
| benefits.) | | | | reports have supported its use in the treatment of |
| Research of Frankincense and Lemongrass Essential | | | | breast cancer as well. |
| Oils | | | | Lemongrass Herb and Oil: Modern Research Uncovers |
| The essential oils distilled from Frankincense resin and | | | | Potential Anticancer Activity |
| from the leaves of Lemongrass have been the | | | | The first result of a search for 'lemongrass' and |
| subject of more scientific inquiry regarding their | | | | 'cancer' is a paper titled "Anticancer activity of an |
| efficacy as cancer treatments than any other oils. | | | | essential oil from Cymbopogon flexuosus" (Cf is a |
| Why this is so is somewhat uncertain, though both | | | | popular species of Lemongrass, though other |
| these plants have a long history of use as medicines. | | | | research also shows similar effects from |
| The term Frankincense refers specifically to the resin | | | | Cymbopogon citratus). This study published in the |
| or sap of one of several species of Olibanum tree, | | | | May 2009 'Chemico-biological Interactions', performed |
| native to east Africa and India. The resin even has | | | | at the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, |
| biblical significance, being one of the gifts of the Magi | | | | examined both in-vitro (essentially "in the test |
| to the newly-born Jesus -- it was at that time a very | | | | tube")and in-vivo (in the body) anticancer activity of |
| costly medicine, incense and perfume. Lemongrass | | | | Lemongrass essential oil. The oil was actually |
| has been used in more tropical environs for its | | | | evaluated for efficacy against 12 cancer cell lines |
| anti-infectious properties, with detoxifying effects | | | | in-vitro, and 2 in-vivo. The results were no less than |
| several bodily systems. It is said to aid in digestion, | | | | astounding. Lemongrass was effective at inhibiting |
| circulation, and in clearing the skin. | | | | proliferation of all the cell lines, though with significant |
| Research Reveals Frankincense's Important | | | | variation in the concentrations required for this effect. |
| Anticancer Activity | | | | The lowest concentrations of Lemongrass were |
| Frankincense essential oil has been noted by leading | | | | needed to inhibit growth of colon cancer and |
| medical aromatherapists to be most effective | | | | neuroblastoma cells in-vitro (a type of cancer of the |
| immune system modulating aromatic. A review of the | | | | nerve cells occurring in children and infants). Using |
| research on Frankincense oil is quite amazing, and | | | | mouse models, lemongrass essential oil was effective |
| lives up to this declaration. Using the search term | | | | at limiting proliferation of a type of breast cancer and |
| 'frankincense oil cancer' on the National Institute of | | | | a connective-tissue cancer. |
| Health's database produces 34 results (as of this | | | | Future Perspectives on Essential Oils and Cancer |
| writing). Frankincense oil appears to have the ability | | | | Clearly the results of laboratory research thus far is |
| to distinguish between healthy and cancerous cells in | | | | encouraging. It would be exceptionally helpful to have |
| an organ or tissue, and lead to the death of the | | | | these studies run along side controls using known |
| cancerous cells while leaving the healthy ones | | | | chemotherapeutic agents. With the state of cancer |
| unharmed. | | | | treatment in conventional medicine being what it is -- |
| Frankincense essential oil is very unique in its chemical | | | | a rather closely guarded monopoly involving big |
| makeup, unlike virtually anything else in the plant | | | | pharmaceutical interests -- it is highly unlikely that |
| kingdom. It is only in Frankincense that Boswellic acids | | | | research of treatments involving essential oils will be |
| are found in significant quantity. Boswellic acids first | | | | funded much further than these low-cost in-vitro |
| became popular in the West around 20 years ago, | | | | investigations. At the same time, there are physicians |
| when it found its way into anti-inflammatory | | | | out there whom are willing to work with these |
| preparations for sore muscles and arthritic joints. | | | | alternative treatments with their patients. If these |
| Boswellic acids seem to not only have the ability to | | | | natural treatment methods are of interest to you -- |
| reduce inflammation but to stimulate regeneration as | | | | for yourself or a loved one -- with some effort, you'll |
| well -- one high-end skin care company has started | | | | be able to find the right health care professional. The |
| including them in their anti-aging line, as these | | | | information provided in this paper is not meant as |
| compounds have been show to reduce the | | | | substitute for medical advice, it is simply providing |
| appearance of wrinkles and improve skin texture. It is | | | | one perspective on the current research data |
| these compounds that are able to initiate apoptosis, | | | | available involving cancer and essential oils. |
| or natural programmed cell death, the lack of which is | | | | |