Alpha omega labs amazon salve
Black salve is an alternative topical therapy used to treat skin cancer. It is produced in a variety of formulations; most formulations contain two core ingredients: bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis and zinc chloride. Bloodroot, a North American member of the poppy family, has rhizomes containing a red sap rich in cytotoxic alkaloids, 2 sanguinarine being the alkaloid with the highest concentration. Black salve may also contain several other botanical extracts and synthetic compounds. This lack of standardisation and the phytochemical variation inherent in its botanical constituents 4 make black salve a heterogenous product group with unpredictable clinical effects.
Black salve
This is a case study of a female patient diagnosed with superficial spreading melanoma who decided to treat the lesion by the application of a preparation known as black salve. Persistence of the melanoma was documented five years later with subsequent evidence of metastatic spread to the regional lymph nodes, lungs, liver, subcutaneous tissues and musculature. A literature search has revealed one other case study of the use of black salve for the treatment of melanoma.
In an otherwise healthy year-old woman presented to her general practitioner GP with a pigmented skin lesion on her right calf below the popliteal fossa. The GP took a 5 mm biopsy of this lesion, which was reported as a superficial spreading melanoma with a Breslow thickness of 0. There was a family history of a brother age 80 and a son aged 23 both succumbing to melanoma with cerebral metastases.
The patient was referred to a surgeon and wide margin excision was discussed, but she declined to undergo surgery and subsequently purchased black salve via the Internet, applying it to the melanoma under a closed dressing for 24 hours. This caused localized inflammation and ulceration, and the ulcer reportedly healed over a period of six to eight weeks.
In , five years later, when the patient presented for a routine skin check, a small dark blue firm nodule with surrounding skin discoloration was noticed on her right calf at the site of the biopsied melanoma Figure 1A.
Arrangements were made for an excisional biopsy, but the patient did not attend. A A nodule on the right calf where a biopsy five years earlier discovered thin invasive melanoma; B Image of the site shown in Figure 1A five months later; C Metastatic melanoma skin deposit on the scalp; D Dermatoscopy image of the lesion shown in Figure 1C. Five months later the patient re-presented with a fungating nodular lesion in the right calf Figure 1B.
A provisional diagnosis was made of melanoma with a nodular component and after discussion with the patient she was referred to a surgeon for excision of the lesion and consideration of sentinel node biopsy. The patient did not attend these appointments but purchased black salve via the Internet and applied it to the lesion. Three weeks later the patient re-presented to her GP with a large eschar on her right calf that was removed to reveal an ulcer and a pink nodule with surrounding erythema.
In February i. This surgeon found a hard craggy mass in her right inguinal region and was of the opinion that the mass was responsible for the lower leg edema by virtue of pressure on the inguinal veins and lymphatics. She also agreed to a fine needle aspiration FNA of the mass in her right groin. Histopathology of the mass removed from the right calf revealed ulcerated nodules of metastatic or in-transit malignant melanoma with apparent complete local excision. The FNA of her right groin revealed histological appearances consistent with a melanoma deposit in a lymph node.
The patient agreed to radiotherapy in an attempt to shrink the right inguinal mass to relieve the peripheral edema of her right leg and underwent a course of 10 treatments with subsequent partial resolution of the edema. PET CT scan of the chest showing lesions consistent with metastatic melanoma in the right lung. Evidence of persistent disease has continued with a large mass arising adjacent to the site of the original tumor on the right calf, photographed in November Figure 3. One other case of black salve being used to treat melanoma has been reported in the literature.
The male patient in that case treated a nodule on the right chest wall with the application of black salve. Because the lesion continued to grow and ulcerate, he presented to a hospital emergency department eight months following the initial black salve application. Biopsy of the lesion at that time confirmed melanoma.
A CT scan showed a nodule in the lung, but metastatic melanoma was not confirmed histologically in that case study [ 1 ]. The exact composition of black salve varies but common ingredients are zinc chloride and powdered bloodroot from the bloodroot plant, Sanguinaria canadensis [ 2 ]. Fred Mohs to fix tissue prior to surgical excision but this method has subsequently been replaced by fresh tissue excision [ 2 ]. The ingredient zinc chloride is a strong escharotic and has been used for the debridement of chronic leg ulcers and for chemo-surgical debridement of osteolytic bone [ 4 ].
The other major ingredient Sanguinaria canadensis is a perennial flowering plant native to North Eastern America and the ingredient is known colloquially as bloodroot, Indian Paint and redroot [ 2 ]. When the root is harvested and cut, a red liquid drains which thickens to a paste.
This paste is also a strong escharotic and has been used by indigenous Americans to treat warts, polyps and moles [ 2 ]. The active ingredient in the bloodroot rhizome is a benzyl isoquinolone alkaloid [BIA]. Sanguinarine contains antimicrobial properties [ 5 ], and invitro studies show that it also contains potent anti-cancer properties [ 6 ]. A recently published research article has shown that sanguinariine is a rapid inducer of melanoma caspase-dependent cell death that is mediated by oxidative stress [ 7 ].
Despite arguable molecular rationale for the topical application of these natural compounds, preclinical and clinical data in this field are still scant and no controlled clinical trial has yet been published demonstrating any relevant clinical efficacy.
Many testimonials praising the results of Cansema are also listed on the Internet [ 9 ]. It is likely that some patients researching cancer treatments on the Internet might not be aware that testimonials are not valid scientific proof. The case presented here involves a patient who, having had an initial diagnosis of thin invasive melanoma, decided to follow the option of an alternative cancer treatment rather than conventional evidence based treatment.
The reason the patient gave for seeking alternative treatment in was the cost of immediate surgical management in the Australian private health system.
When she failed to attend this private appointment, her GP contacted her. The GP then arranged for her to be seen in the local public hospital at no cost, though there was going to be a delay of a couple of weeks for the appointment. Once again the patient did not attend this appointment. At that time the patient was reportedly also encouraged by an acquaintance to use black salve.
It is speculation, but perhaps having witnessed the death of her brother at age 80 and her own son at age 23 from cerebral metastatic melanoma, the patient was in denial of her own disease. As it turned out, there was a time delay of seven years before she agreed to conventional management of her melanoma. During this time there were consultations with three GPs, three surgeons, one dermatologist, one radiologist and an oncologist. The patient exercised the undisputed right to follow the treatment regimen of personal choice.
Over a period of seven years the disease progressed both locally and systemically. It is not known whether distant metastases were already present at the time of original diagnosis, but based on the staging of the tumor Stage 1 , the prognosis for year disease-free survival was Ten-year survival prognosis for Stage 4 melanoma lung metastases is 2. We believe it is essential that patients are adequately informed about evidence-based treatment and warned about the potential adverse consequences associated with an alternative treatment regimen but we also believe that support should continue to be provided regardless of choices made.
Funding: None. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. Journal List Dermatol Pract Concept v. Dermatol Pract Concept. Published online Jul Graham W. Sivyer 1 and Cliff Rosendahl 1. Author information Article notes Copyright and License information Disclaimer.
Competing interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Received Nov 25; Accepted Dec This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. Abstract This is a case study of a female patient diagnosed with superficial spreading melanoma who decided to treat the lesion by the application of a preparation known as black salve. Keywords: black salve, melanoma, metastatic. Case report In an otherwise healthy year-old woman presented to her general practitioner GP with a pigmented skin lesion on her right calf below the popliteal fossa.
Open in a separate window. Figure 1. Figure 2. Figure 3. Conclusions One other case of black salve being used to treat melanoma has been reported in the literature. A recently published research article has shown that sanguinariine is a rapid inducer of melanoma caspase-dependent cell death that is mediated by oxidative stress [ 7 ] Despite arguable molecular rationale for the topical application of these natural compounds, preclinical and clinical data in this field are still scant and no controlled clinical trial has yet been published demonstrating any relevant clinical efficacy.
Footnotes Funding: None. References 1. Cienki JJ, Zaret L. An Internet misadventure: bloodroot salve toxicity. J Altern Complement Med. Mohs FE. Mikhail GR. Mohs Micrographic Surgery. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; Origins and progress of Mohs micrographic surgery; pp. Elston DM. Escharotic agents, Fred Mohs, and Harry Hoxsey. J Am Acad Dermatol. Jellinek N. Escharotic and other botanical agents for the treatment of skin cancer: A review.
Antimicrobial agents from higher plants. An investigation of Hunnemannia fumariaefolia. Pseudoalcoholates of sanguinarine and chelerythrine. Apoptosis induction of human bladder cancer cells by Sanguinarine through reactive oxygen species-mediated up-regulation of early growth response Gene Rapid human melanoma cell death induced by sanguinarine through oxidative stress.
Eur J Pharmacol. Cansema www. Accessed October 20, Black and red salves in treating cancer.
SALVES, CREAMS, & TONICS: The products below represent our 'off-the-shelf' versions of Amazon Black Topical Salve "The Original Formula: ". If you have questions after a thorough reading, please call Alpha Omega for any clarification. (1) PREPARATION CAUTION: Healthy skin tissue may redden.
This is a case study of a female patient diagnosed with superficial spreading melanoma who decided to treat the lesion by the application of a preparation known as black salve. Persistence of the melanoma was documented five years later with subsequent evidence of metastatic spread to the regional lymph nodes, lungs, liver, subcutaneous tissues and musculature. A literature search has revealed one other case study of the use of black salve for the treatment of melanoma.
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Cliff Rosendahl , The University of Queensland. But a quick google of the term will find just as many glowing reviews of miracle cancer cures.
Science or Snake Oil: what is black salve?
Tumours have a coating that prevents the body from seeing them. The same coating as a fetus. Pets can also use amazon tonic 3 and black salve. We have an MD and an ND on board to assist you. Feel free to email us or arrange a call. Jump to.
Black salve in a nutshell
Black salve , also known by the brand name Cansema , is pseudoscientific alternative cancer treatment. The product is commonly classified as an escharotic—a topical paste which destroys skin tissue and leaves behind a scar called an eschar. The U. Food and Drug Administration has listed Cansema as a "fake cancer cure" and warns consumers to avoid it. Cancer salves were first utilized during the Victorian period. As the medical profession started to gain better understanding, many home remedies, black salve as one example started to be criticized by medical professionals. An example of this is documented and labeled as a form of quackery in a Time article:. A year-old housewife had a skin condition that later at Duke proved not to be a cancer. Convinced that it was, she had gone to a backwoods healer, who applied a salve.
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Many salves, pastes, poultices, and plasters have been applied directly to tumors with the hope of burning them away. Zinc oxide, bloodroot, and several other herbs are common ingredients. In recent years, scientists have found chemicals that can destroy certain superficial skin cancers. Except for these, however, corrosive agents are worthless against cancer and cannot be legally marketed for that purpose in the United States.
He is also a published author and as such receives royalties and payments from proceeds of sales. He also lectures on skin cancer subjects for multiple academic and private commercial organisations in various countries for which he from time to time receives payment with respect to travel costs, accommodation and honorariums. View current jobs from University of Queensland. But a quick google of the term will find just as many glowing reviews of miracle cancer cures. Black salve is a product derived from the plant Sanguinaria canadensis , a perennial flowering plant native to northeastern America. The specific ingredients vary but commonly include zinc chloride a destructive agent, which is corrosive to metals as well as sanguinarine a toxic plant extract. Blood root was used by the American Indians, who harvested the plant from which they drained a red liquid. They thickened this into a paste, which they used to treat infected wounds. Early European settlers in America also used blood root to treat a variety of skin conditions including warts and moles. Blood root is a strong escharotic, meaning it is a caustic and destructive material. This can reasonably be compared to the result that would be expected from burning tissue by applying a strong caustic substance such as hydrochloric acid. Its use in contemporary society dates back to the s when researcher Fred Mohs used a preparation containing a low concentration of blood root to stabilise a tumour so he was able to examine it under a microscope. This historical use has been used to give credibility to the use of black salve to treat skin malignancies, despite the fact Mohs publicly renounced its use for this purpose. Read more: Science or Snake Oil: can a detox actually cleanse your liver?
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