Dandelion root

@katieliz, one of my preferred websites for finding evidence-based info about herbs and supplements is Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) complementary therapies database:
– Search About Herbs (cancer specific) https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/symptom-management/integrative-medicine/herbs/search

Here's what it says about dandelion root https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/dandelion
"Dandelion is used to:
- Help with lactation (when your body makes breast milk)
- Treat diabetes
- Build your appetite
- Help increase urination
Dandelion also has other uses that haven’t been studied by doctors to see if they work.

It’s generally safe to use dandelion in food and tea. But talk with your healthcare providers before taking supplements or higher amounts of dandelion. Herbal supplements are stronger than the herbs you would use in cooking. They can also interact with some medications and affect how they work."

Here's a helpful article from Mayo Clinic too:
- Natural vs. safe: Why the two aren't the same https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/complementary-alternative-medicine/in-depth/natural-vs-safe-health-remedies/art-20587690

A laboratory research study published in 2012 showed that dandelion root extract can kill pancreatic cancer cells in a petri dish (in vitro), but there is no definitive clinical proof that it can treat or cure pancreatic cancer in humans.

It's important to keep in mind that success in a petri dish or in mice rarely translates into success directly to humans. There are no large-scale, peer-reviewed clinical trials proving dandelion root cures pancreatic cancer in human patients.

Sometimes information from early lab or mice studies get spread with great hype and hope on social media or by well-meaning family and friends. It's a good idea to talk your doctor like you said just in case there may be unwanted side effects for you.

@colleenyoung Thank you, I’m checking all this out!

I would be cautious about the claims you're reading. There is no good clinical evidence that drinking dandelion root tea prevents cancer recurrence or keeps someone NED, and being NED after drinking it doesn't establish that the tea caused the outcome. The National Cancer Institute says there is currently no proof that an herb or dietary supplement can prevent cancer from returning.

There is a reason dandelion gets attention: laboratory studies have found anticancer effects of dandelion-root extracts against several cancer cell lines, including pancreatic cancer cells. But those are laboratory findings, not evidence that drinking dandelion tea treats or prevents cancer in people. Memorial Sloan Kettering notes that clinical trials are needed before we know whether dandelion is effective for cancer.

Ordinary amounts of dandelion used as food or tea are generally considered reasonably safe, but it can cause heartburn, stomach upset, diarrhea, rash and lower blood sugar, and it may interact with certain medications. Concentrated extracts and supplements are a different matter.

So I think your instinct to talk with your oncologist before starting it is the right one. I wouldn't rely on dandelion root tea to prevent recurrence or substitute it for your established surveillance plan. If your doctor sees no interaction with your medications and you're drinking a normal amount simply because you enjoy it, that's quite different from taking concentrated dandelion products as an anticancer treatment.

I have talked to a lot of people that have heard, read, or talked to someone who knows of some organic remedy. One person mentioned eating 6 kiwis a day. I think if it was that simple the ACS would announce all these breakthrough cures and say cancer has been eradicated from x, y, and z. A kiwi would probably cost $3,000 dollars apiece. Medicine is making strides, and I prefer to listen to the professionals, at least that's where I've seen the most success. Best to you.