Tea for Cancer Treatment
Did you know that 90% of cancer patients use complimentary and alternative therapies? While completely alternative therapies are usually not recommended, complimentary therapies are gaining popularity within the medical field. These types of therapies can include (but are not limited to) meditation, massage therapy, and, of course, tea. Today, I’m going to break down some benefits tea may have for cancer patients, mostly through the lens of nutrition.
Nutrition Benefits
First, cancer patients experiencing treatment side effects such as diarrhea and dry mouth may have increased fluid needs. Tea, particularly herbal and decaffeinated teas, can be incredibly hydrating and can therefore help patients meet these needs. Another common side effect is a metallic taste in the mouth. This is often combatted with sugar-free mints or gum, so it is reasonable to believe that mint tea may also help. Peppermint and ginger teas can also help with nausea, another common side effect of cancer treatments.
While antioxidant supplementation has not been proven to help with cancer treatment, early research shows no negative effects on the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Tea is full of antioxidants, and is a much more delicious option that over-the-counter supplements for patients looking to gain the possible benefits of increased antioxidants.
Other Benefits
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, there are some studies which suggest that drinking tea may lower your risk for certain types of cancer. One study shows that rooibos and honeybush teas, as well as green tea, alter cellular growth, primarily targeting the removal of precancerous cells. This suggests that drinking rooibos and green tea, along with a healthy lifestyle, may help with cancer prevention.
Additionally, stress management is extremely important for cancer treatment and survivorship. Avid tea drinkers know that a tea session can be extremely calming and generally good for mental health. My favorite teas to help with relaxation include chamomile, lavender, rose, and tulsi.
Possible Side Effects
Due to many common side effects of cancer treatment, it is often recommended that patients drink calorie dense liquids between meals. Tea itself is not calorie dense, and yet may fill the stomach enough to reduce hunger. Even adding sweetener does not make tea a high calorie drink the way that adding whole milk to smoothies or shakes does, for example.
According to Susan G. Komen, Essiac is a combination of herbs, including burdock root, sheep sorrel, slippery elm bark, and Turkish rhubarb, most often taken as tea. The creator of the original formula administered it to numerous cancer patients during the 1920s and 1930s. Despite the many attempted studies since then, there is currently not enough evidence to recommend (or not recommend) this herbal mixture as cancer therapy. The individual herbs have not been well studied, either. However, high doses of many of them have been associated with toxicity or adverse side effects. It is also important to note that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. This means that even if you are aware of the possible risks of Essiac supplements, you don’t have a guarantee of what is in them.
So What’s the Tea?
Ultimately, tea can be beneficial for cancer patients in many situations, and may also help in cancer prevention and survivorship. However, one must be aware of possible side effects of tea, especially unregulated herbal tea mixtures.
References
“Essiac.” Susan G. Komen®, Susan G. Komen, 2014, ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/Essiac.html.
Gordon, Barbara. “The Health Benefits of Tea.” EatRight, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 21 Jan. 2020, www.eatright.org/health/wellness/preventing-illness/the-health-benefits-of-tea.
Magcwebeba, Tandeka U et al. “In Vitro Chemopreventive Properties of Green Tea, Rooibos and Honeybush Extracts in Skin Cells.” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 21,12 1622. 25 Nov. 2016, doi:10.3390/molecules21121622
“What Kinds of Cancer Treatment Are There?” American Cancer Society, American Cancer Society, 31 Mar. 2015, www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/complementary-and-alternative-methods-and-cancer/kinds-of-treatment.html.
Note:
I am not yet a Registered Dietitian and am therefore not certified to give nutrition counseling. Please consult your doctor or other healthcare provider before following the advice in this article.
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