[EDIT: I'm still getting emails asking how best to consume lemons for their anti-cancer effect here's a disclaimer: Lemons Are NOT A Therapeutic Agent For Cancer Treatment. It Is A Hoax. This Post Is NOT Medical Advice. If you Have Medical Questions Please See A Doctor. Also Please Read the FULL Post Which Continues Past The Green Text]
The surprising benefits of lemon!
Institute of Health Sciences, 819 N. L.L.C. Charles Street Baltimore , MD 1201.
This is the latest in medicine, effective for cancer!
The source of this information is fascinating: it comes from one of the largest drug manufacturers in the world, says that after more than 20 laboratory tests since 1970, the extracts revealed that: It destroys the malignant cells in 12 cancers, including colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreas … The compounds of this tree showed 10,000 times better than the product Adriamycin, a drug normally used chemotherapeutic in the world, slowing the growth of cancer cells. And what is even more astonishing: this type of therapy with lemon extract only destroys malignant cancer cells and it does not affect healthy cells.
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No, I haven’t turned to the dark side, yet. The above was sent to me by a workmate and I have reproduced it here, complete with eye catching colours. Searching the intertubes reveals that many people have perfected the art of the uncritical copy and paste[1]. Not everyone has “drunk the kool-aid” though[2].
Lets deconstruct shall we? This is going to be fun.
Initial reading of this “article” throws up numerous red flags that the claim is either wholly made up or exaggerated. First is the allusion to conspiracy, while drug companies can certainly act in nefarious ways[3] this article implies that scientists in general would close ranks and perpetuate the conspiracy. Otherwise why haven’t government funded scientists or otherwise drug company independent scientists picked this up?
Another is the fact that several authoritative sounding statements are made but there is no detail to back them up
1. lemons kill cancer: Well what part of the lemon? where is it most concentrated? what variety is best? how should it be prepared for maximum benefit? what dose?
2. A laboratory has tested it: Well who? Where? what papers were published? what was the experimental set up? was it in vitro or in vivo? what were the results exactly?
3. Lemons are 10,000 times better than chemotherapy. Really? not 8,000 or 12,000 but exactly 10,000? In all situations?
Many fruits and vegetables have potentially therapeutically beneficial compounds, there are promising anticancer compounds in broccoli[4]. But the levels found in the foods are often too low and too variable to be of therapeutic use. But that’s negative thinking, what matters is that the compounds are there and it’s all natural, practicalities are a downer.
This lack of interest in dose response permeates the altmed/pseudoscientific crowd, both in the positive and negative sense. There is no safe dose of toxic compounds[5] and no lower threshold of benefit for “good” compounds[6]. So questions such as “how many lemons would you have to eat to cure your cancer?” become in this context almost nonsensical. While we in the evidence based camp might ask whether it should be 10 or 100 or 1000 lemons, and is that per day? And for how long? Further, how does the concentration of the anticancer component vary with the nutrition of the plant from year to year, or even within a season? How about between plants? Is the component present in the flesh or the skin? Those in the vague, feel good altmed camp are content with the message “Eat Lemons”.
In a laboratory and medical setting active ingredients aren’t extracted from plants and purified or synthesised solely to generate profits for drug companies (though that’s a motivation don’t get me wrong) but to make it easier to work with and quantify the correct therapeutic doses and optimal delivery methods.
Additionally, labs have to get consent for testing drugs on humans so it’s likely that the tests alluded to, if they occurred at all, were on cell cultures. This method can indicate interesting directions for research but does not guarantee that it will turn into a useful therapy. The body is very complex and things that work in a petri dish do not necessarily work in the body. It could break down too fast, or not reach the right tissues effectively, or be modified by metabolic processes or excreted too efficiently or any number of other things. Basic science research is good at generating these sorts of leads but the journey from bench top to consumer is one fraught with pitfalls. Few drugs that appear promising at the outset make it to market[7].
Another red flag is the number of other conditions it treats. Each of the ailments listed have different causes and treatments, it is highly unlikely that the same thing will combat both high blood pressure and parasites when these have absolutely nothing in common[8].
Also, much of the text is similar to an article about another “miraculous” fruit, Guyabano, fruit of the Graviola tree[9].
Points of similarity:
1. We don’t know about it because the drug companies are trying to make a synthetic version to patent.
2. You can help a friend by telling him to drink the juice, the taste is not bad and has no side effects.
3. A large drug company has conducted 20 tests on it since the 1970s.
3. Kills 12 types of cancer.
4. “The tree compounds proved to be up to 10,000 times stronger in slowing the growth of cancer cells than Adriamycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug!”
5. Only kills cancer cells.
Curiously similar given it is a completely different plant being talked about.
Searching the “Health Sciences Institute” (not the Institute of Health Sciences) I couldn’t find anything about Lemon and cancer but a Graviola and cancer search turned up a similar looking article (requires a subscription[10] to read but I suspect it may well be the source of the information for the one at the address above)
So it looks like this is actually a mash up of at least two different claims. I think we are witnessing the birth of a new altmed mythology, right here.
None of this means that Lemons cannot be used as a basis for anti-cancer drugs, in fact I did actually find that there are at least a couple of citrus derived compounds being investigated for anticancer activity[11&12]. Even so, the likelihood that simply eating lemons will cure you of cancer seems quite low, for all the reasons given above.
Multiple lines of evidence appear to be converging on this being if not a scam then at least a confabulation. Well meaning people will forward items like this to friends and relatives without much thought. I consider this to be irresponsible behaviour. As I have pointed out before in the context of chain emails, if we truly want to help our loved ones it behoves us to investigate these claims before passing them on. Whom do we help by perpetuating falsehoods?
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Footnotes:
1. Here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here- and about a thousand others. I’m so depressed right now.
2. While searching out instances of this rot I found a breast cancer forum that had posted it, as a joke to be ridiculed. Read it now, it shows how these ridiculous items are actually insulting to those affected by cancer.
3. Like ghost-writing research and review articles in their favour. Yes they are profit driven entities, and yes they can go too far to ensure those profits but they do crucial research and development and we need them.
4. Yanyan Li et al (2010), Sulforaphane, a Dietary Component of Broccoli/Broccoli Sprouts, Inhibits Breast Cancer Stem Cells
Clinical Cancer Research May 1, 2010 16; 2580
http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/16/9/2580.abstract
5. For example in the anti-vax movement.
6. Like homeopathy, even ZERO isn’t a small enough amount for there to be no benefit.
7. Shoot, I’ve been archiving wecite versions of pages I link to to make sure the don’t vanish without a trace but was too late for this one. http://brneurosci.org/drug-failures.html
8. Not withstanding that everything in the altmed world is linked, it’s all toxins or vibrations or pH or quantum or something.
9. http://guyabano.com/ [webcite] – with another version containing even closer wording here: http://mybongabon.com/samut-sari/the-sour-sop-miraculous-natural-cancer-cell-killer-by-arlyn-roa/ [webcite].
10. 1-year risk-free membership, Brand-New Encyclopedia of HSI’s 100 Greatest Cures and FREE bonus reports :No More Sick Days: The Immune Discovery of the Decade” and “How to Survive the FDA’s 10 Deadliest Hush-ups” for just US$67. [webcite]. You can’t get more credible than that. [article webcite]
11. Chidambara Murthy K.N., et al(2011), Citrus Limonin and Its Glucoside Inhibit Colon Adenocarcinoma Cell Proliferation through Apoptosis.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21338095
12. Cazal, C.M., et al(2010), Evaluation of effect of triterpenes and limonoids on cell growth, cell cycle and apoptosis in human tumor cell line.
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 10(10):769-76.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21269253
20 Comments
There is also a ‘wonder’ weight loss and slimming technique(s?) going around at the moment highlighting lemons as the prime active agent
edit : The Lemon Detox is just one of many examples. simply google ‘lemon weight loss’ or similar terms and watch the hits flow in
You are behind the times, I wrote about lemon detox almost 2 years ago
i am 71 years old my grandmother gave me book on lemon juice 50 years ag0 that lemon juice cured cancer
ok, so the idea is not new. Do you have anything further to add?
my granmother gave me a book 50years ago that cured cancer with lemon juice
yes i cured my self i had cancer of the tongue with lemon juice and green tea bill volman
I’m glad things worked out for you, but you do see the problem with isolated anecdotal reports don’t you?
Interesting follow up. However if you have trouble proving that lemons are not effective in curing cancers than your words are merely as empty as the statement made that says they can. If someone with cancer is feeling desperate and scared I can only imagine reading how lemons may help them and quite possibly cure them would be worth the trying. Chemotherapy is not full proof either but yet people with cancer are subjecting themselves to those treatments nonetheless. I personally say cheers to lemons! Btw lemons help balance the body’s ph by creating alkelinity and lower acidity in the bloodstream. Many cancer patients find that their blood is highly acidic. This alone speaks volumes of how lemons can be an effective treatment of cancer.
The burden of proof here is not symmetrical. It is the person with the positive claim who must show proof of it. I have provided reasonable doubt that either this claim in particular or the wider claim of lemons being beneficial for cancer is unfounded.
I disagree that an implausible treatment is worth trying especially if it is preference to proven treatments.
Also it is interesting that while I have given the reason I find this implausible you have made several claims for which you have given no evidence. Given lemons are acidic by what mechanism do they promote an alkaline body environment?
This does not speak volumes for lemons to me.
The pH of the blood is not what is so acid. Blood pH is regulated to stay within the narrow range of 7.35 to 7.45; otherwise you DIE. The cells and the intra-cellular spaces which are filled with fluid that exchange nutrients into the cells and transports toxins out, however, can become over acid which dramatically slows the exchange of material into and out of the cells causing a build up of acids.
This article needs much in the way of support. Yes, lemons in moderation are good for most of us. Is it the d-limonene from the skin that kills cancer? Probably, from other research I have seen. We as humans just can’t tolerate too much of this substance at one time. There are many alternative treatments that can help, even cure, many kinds of cancer, but some of them such as the Gerson therapy, are difficult for an ill person to follow without constant help.
Dr. Stanislaw R. Burzynski, MD, PhD, an internationally recognized physician and scientist from Texas was persecuted by the FDA for 20 years. His customized protocols have proven VERY successful in treating many forms of cancer. He has pioneered groundbreaking, non-surgical, non or low-toxic cancer treatment regimens; some now available within clinical trials.
I am dealing with a leukemia caused by chromosomes that broke apart and translocated (joined back together with parts mismatched). For over 40 years I have worked with herbs and nutrition. It is amazing the people who, without knowing anything about this kind of illness start offering AUTHORITATIVE advice and asking why I am taking a medication.
Before 2001 most people died from this particular illness, chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), in 3 to 4 yrs. and I was almost one of them because I was diagnosed very late due to the fact that I don’t often go to doctors. My prognosis is now excellent due to research that developed a medication that costs over $4000 per month. There are few herbal/alternative treatments that make ANY DIFFERENCE in CML and NONE are known to cause destruction or apoptosis of the abnormal 47th chromosome known as the Philadelphia chromosome.
SOOOOOOOOO, I have come to find a balance between allopathic medicine and alternatives, both of which have much to offer and both of which can be misused or abused.
Thanks for the comment Charla, I hope everything goes well for you.
I’m also glad that you are taking advantage of modern medical science.
I’m not against finding a balance between modern medicine and other options, so long as it is realized what the limitation of those other modalities is. People have the right of autonomy but I do feel strongly that that autonomy is diminished when they are working under false information regarding the effectiveness of alternative therapies.
Yes , it could be possible that lemon can kill cancer cells. Scientists do not know what tomato is made of. So it could be possible that they do not know what humble bitter lemon is made of, To we have to drink it or soak in it in tha bath or both? laugh.
[Edit - Moved from About page. S]
funny how “skeptics” constantly ridicule those who feel hopeful regarding claims such as this…yet they themselves so often lack curiosity or do the research. How polarized. Lets try to have an open mind people.
Funny how “believers” will accept any rubbish spammy vehicle so long as they agree with the message. The message here being Natural = Good; Doctors = Bad. The fact that there is good evidence to show that the original article isn’t even ABOUT LEMON is irrelevant is it? If that is untrue how much of the rest is untrustworthy? My point here is that there is nothing here that can even be corroborated and the advice is so vague as to be useless. But that doesn’t matter…all we need to know is Lemons are good, right?
As such your follow-up post actually is fine, there are compounds to look at, specific things to investigate. All well and good and what cancer researchers do every day. You are essentially refuting the original claims yourself, showing how easy it is to find REAL information. Why didn’t they do that? Oh right, it’s made up.
Anyone can make up something that is vaguely plausible the devil is in the details,, as it were. show as much skepticism of the vague claims as you do of my investigation and you’re off to a good start
About open minds, I actually link to several studies looking at Lemon compounds in particular as well as vegetable extracts (broccoli) that are showing promise as possible cancer treatments. Read to the end.
2 seconds of research and I found this – for all you stick-in-the-muds. and it has some sophisticated term so you can feel justified in taking
it seriously.
Monoterpenes are found in the essential oils of many plants including fruits, vegetables, and herbs. They prevent the carcinogenesis process at both the initiation and promotion/progression stages. In addition, monoterpenes are effective in treating early and advanced cancers. Monoterpenes such as limonene and perillyl alcohol have been shown to prevent mammary, liver, lung, and’other cancers. These compounds have also been used to treat a variety of rodent cancers, including breast and pancreatic carcinomas. In addition, in vitro data suggest that they may be effective in treating neuroblastomas and leukemias. Both limonene and perillyl alcohol are currently being evaluated in phase I clinical trials in advanced cancer patients. The monoterpenes have several cellular and molecular activities that could potentially underlie their positive therapeutic index. The monoterpenes inhibit the isoprenylation of small G proteins. Such inhibitions could alter signal transduction and result in altered gene expression. The results of a new gene expression screen-subtractive display-have identified or confirmed several up- or downregulated genes in regressing mammary carcinomas. For example, these regressing tumors overexpress the mannose 6-phosphate/IGF II receptor. The product of the gene both degrades the mammary tumor mitogen IGF II and activates the cytostatic factor TGF-beta. These and other alterations in the gene expression of mammary carcinomas lead to a G1 cell cycle block, followed by apoptosis, redifferentiation, and finally complete tumor regression in which tumor parenchyma is replaced by stromal elements. It is likely that monoterpenes prevent mammary cancer during their progression stage by mechanisms similar to those that occur during therapy. In contrast, prevention of mammary cancer by polycyclic hydrocarbons such as 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene occur by the induction of detoxifying phase II hepatic enzymes.
your way of reasoning is a clear explanation for the downfall of humanity,i m sorry to say this..
Yeah, logic reason and evidence is a bummer.
Have you ever thought about what effect a cancer cure would have on the economy? Think about all the money that is made in private sector, drug manufacturers, hospitals, stock markets, etc. The list could go on and on……..Why would the government want to cure cancer????
So all the doctors and researchers in the WORLD are greedy bastards who do exactly what the government tells them? Not at all like those altmed folks who are just trying to make the world a better place and give their cures away for free, right?
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