What are the side effects of laetrile?
The side effects of laetrile treatment include the following:
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Headache.
- Dizziness.
- Blue color of the skin caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood.
- Liver damage.
- Very low blood pressure.
- Droopy upper eyelid.
- Trouble walking caused by damaged nerves.
Is laetrile still being used?
In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court acted to uphold a federal ban on interstate shipment of laetrile. [2,14] As a result, the use of laetrile has greatly diminished, but the compound continues to be manufactured and administered as an anticancer therapy, primarily in Mexico, and in some clinics in the United States.
What is amygdalin good for?
Amygdalin is a naturally occurring cyanogenic glycoside derived from nuts, plants, and the pits of certain fruits, primarily apricots. Bitter almonds containing amygdalin are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to remove “blood stasis” and to treat abscesses (1).
Is laetrile an effective cancer treatment?
Laetrile was first used as a cancer treatment in Russia in 1845, and in the United States in the 1920s. Laetrile has shown little anticancer activity in animal studies and no anticancer activity in human clinical trials.
What is the main anticancer compound from laetrile?
Hydrogen cyanide is thought to be the main anticancer compound formed from laetrile via in situ release. Laetrile was first used as a cancer treatment in Russia in 1845, and in the United States in the 1920s.
What is laetrile?
Laetrile is a compound that has been used as a treatment for people with cancer. Laetrile is another name for amygdalin. Amygdalin is a bitter substance found in fruit pits, such as apricots, raw nuts, lima beans, clover, and sorghum. It makes hydrogen cyanide which is changed into cyanide when taken into the body.
Does laetrile and amygdalin have anti-cancer effects?
Laetrile and amygdalin are promoted under various names for the treatment of cancer although there is no evidence for its efficacy. Due to possible cyanide poisoning, laetrile can be dangerous. Objectives: To assess the alleged anti-cancer effect and possible adverse effects of laetrile and amygdalin.