Amygdalin has been used in the treatment of cancer for many years. Usually, amygdalin is a compound present in a specific fruit’s seeds. Russia first extracted this compound and began using it as a treatment for cancer-induced victims. However, The first mixed pills were found to be too toxic And stopped production. It was not later than the 1950s that a more stable and synthetic condition of amygdalin manufacture was known as Laetrile. Laetrile became very popular in America as the only single cancer-curing agent worldwide. However, the medicine was banned by the orders of the U.S. Supreme Court during the 1980s. All other countries still use Laetrile for the treatment of cancer, though.
As said before, amygdalin can be traced back to the pits of various raw nuts and fruits. It has also been found in sorghum and clover plants. Hydrogen cyanide, the main component responsible for treating cancer cells, is formed when Laetrile is broken down in the body. Amygdalin is the unpurified form. Use only after extraction from the compound. There are two versions of amygdalin available in the market. One is a manufactured synthetic version, patented in the United States, and the other is available in Mexico, made from crushed apricot seeds.
Laetrile Under the Scope
The Laetrile, when broken down, can be divided into three components. They are hydrogen cyanide, prunasin, and benzaldehyde. Two of these compounds are said to block the cancer cells: hydrogen cyanide and benzaldehyde. Here are some theories stating how the compound does its job in preventing the cancer cells from spreading further.
- It is believed that the inefficiency of a particular vitamin causes cancer, and amygdalin is a missing link in this chain. It acts as a supplement in place of that disappeared vitamin and helps the body restore itself. However, no proven records or evidence suggest that the body requires Laetrile, or it can act as a suitable substitute for the missing vitamins, both in the case of humans and animals.
- Another theory suggests a specific enzyme composition in the cancer cells. The typical copy of the Laetrile makes it toxic to the cancerous cells. There is proof to support this kind of proposal, as the standard and cancerous tissues have different amounts of these enzymes. Hence, the laetrile cells may target the cancerous cells and will not harm the healthy cells.
- A fourth theory suggests that the toxic effects of the Laetrile ultimately kill the cancer cells and halt their growth. This can prevent the spread of cancer cells and enhance the systemic immune system.
Administration
The Laetrile can be administered to an individual in two ways: by injection or mouth. Some pills have to be orally delivered to the human body. In the case of injection, it is given intravenously over a certain period. As a later stage of the treatment, and to further stress the benefit of the previous therapy, it is sometimes ingested orally as a prolonged stage of treatment.
Reports
Here are a few case studies and reports about patients treated with Laetrile:
- In 1962, ten patients were treated with Laetrile to treat their metastatic cancer. A wide range of doses was delivered to these patients intravenously. Pain relief, lymph node swelling, and tumor size reduction are some reported events of laetrile treatment. However, long-term therapy has not been continued, so it is unknown whether such treatment has any long-term benefits.
- Another form of treatment included the introduction of benzaldehyde. There were standard clinical trials with the Laetrile. When the patients did not respond to the threat, they were treated with benzaldehyde. As long as the treatment continued, patients showed reduced or no signs of cancer.
