Carctol
Carctol is an ineffective cancer treatment made by mixing eight Indian herbs.[1]
Carctol has been aggressively marketed as being able to treat cancer and reduce the side-effects of chemotherapy. However, there is no medical evidence that it has any benefits whatsoever for people with cancer.[1]
Background and promotion
Carctol is a herbal dietary supplement marketed with claims it is based on traditional ayurvedic medicine.[1] Its ingredients include Hemidesmus indicus, Tribulus terrestris, Piper cubeba, Ammani vesicatoria, Lepidium sativum, Blepharis edulis, Smilax china, and Rheum emodi.[1]
It was first promoted in 1968 by Nandlal Tiwari.[1] In 2009, Edzard Ernst wrote that it was still promoted in the United Kingdom; public relations companies hired by its sellers had garnered it wide coverage on the web and,[2] according to the British Medical Journal, in the media generally.[3]
Effectiveness and response
Cancer Research UK say of Carctol, "available scientific evidence does not support its use for the treatment of cancer in humans".[1] Edzard Ernst has written "the claim that Carctol is of any benefit to cancer patients is not supported by scientific evidence".[2]
Harriet A. Hall includes Carctol among the biologically-based remedies promoted by naturopaths. Hall laments that frauds and quacks persistently try to take advantage of the vulnerability of cancer patients.[4]
See also
References
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