Black Salve – Overview
As the world continues to evolve, more people are beginning to embrace alternative treatments for various medical conditions.
When it comes to skin cancer, for instance, one of the commonest alternative therapies has to be the use of Black Salve. If you are wondering if this treatment is worth trying, read on, we have more to tell you.
What is Black Salve?
Usually marketed as Cansema, Black salve is a controversial substitute for skin cancer treatment. It is derived from a flowering plant known as Blood Root. The plant is a concentrated escharotic, and what that simply means is that it is a destructive and caustic material.
Now, the reason why this treatment is popular in the first place is that some alternative medicine specialists claim that Black Salve only destroys damaged skin cells. That said, there is no scientific evidence to back up that claim.
Instead, this therapy extensively destroys all cells whether good or bad and there is evidence to support this. When this happens, the affected area develops scarring and ulcers which can ultimately hinder pathologists from making a solid diagnosis when examining tumors.
Studies into the use of this treatment method have not yielded any positive results so it should be surprising that in 2012, the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) banned the sale of Black Salve in Australia. The reason it gave for that decision is that there is not enough evidence to show that the substance can treat skin cancer.
Rather, it is believed to cause more harm than good.
Does Black Salve Cure Cancer?
Salve is marketed using different names likes Black Ointment and Cansema. It is important to note that its manufacturers do not provide comprehensive information about its specific constituents. That said, there is emerging lab evidence revealing that the product does indeed come with anti-cancer effects.
The studies supporting that were carried out on cells outside the body though. They found useful effects with discriminatory destruction of malignant cells, only at reduced concentrations than in current salve products.
Higher concentrations of the product were found to cause the destruction of cancer cells as well as normal ones.
Thus far, no studies are comparing the efficacy of Black Salve to traditional skin cancer treatment. What’s more, some cancers resist Black Salve. That means that the herbal paste is highly unlikely to cure cancer.
Is Black Salve Safe?
Black Salve causes direct damage to skin cells whether healthy or not and this is quite alarming. That aside, the biggest hazard associated with the therapy is the valuable time that cancer patients lose when trying it.
Ultimately, this can cause serious consequences especially in more aggressive types of cancer. You may also want to note that there have been reported deaths following self-treatment of cancer using Black Salve.
Dangers of Black Salve for Skin Cancer
Now that we have established that Black Salve is not the ideal treatment for skin cancer, why don’t we look at some of the dangers of using it?
The use of Black Salve or other products containing bloodroot or sanguinarine is not only dangerous but life-threatening as well. We are talking about infections, necrosis, and even permanent disfigurement.
If you need more assurance, the FDA has Black Salve listed as a “fake cancer cure” that should be avoided. The belief that the substance can be used to treat cancer cells and leave out healthy cells is outlandish – even laughable.
Black Salve burns away all the tissues it gets into contact with regardless of whether they are cancerous or not. This can lead to tissue death or necrosis. It can also cause other side effects like disfigurement, scarring, and infection.
The therapy is also termed an ineffective cancer treatment because it doesn’t treat metastasized cancer.
What to do with a Cancer Diagnosis
If at any point you suspect that you have skin cancer, the best course of action would be to get checked by a professional as soon as possible. From there, they will be able to diagnose your issue and prescribe a treatment plan.
Final Thoughts
Cancer is a scary reality but the good news is that most types of skin cancer can be cured especially when diagnosed and treated promptly. Time is of the essence here so it is vital not to waste time on alternative therapies like Black Salve.
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I am a dedicated healthcare researcher and an enthusiast specializing in medical grants, medical education and research. Through my articles, I aim to empower healthcare professionals and researchers with valuable insights and resources to navigate these critical aspects effectively.
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