Rhus Tox

[G DA SILVA-HILL]

Found on the NHS CAM review site:
http://www.library.nhs.uk/cam/ViewResou ... sID=317091
Please pass it on and we can all benefit from the knowlege:
Homeopathic Rhus toxicodendron as an adjuvant in tumour therapy

Heine H. Are homeopathic preparations of Rhus toxicodendron L. (Toxicodendron quercifolium Greene) suitable for adjuvant tumor therapy? A systematic review. Schweizerische Zeitschrift Fur Ganzheitsmedizin. 2008, 20(1):35-40. [Abstract ]

Historically plants of the Rhus (sumach) family have been used in the treatment of tumours. Currently homeopathic preparations of Rhus toxicodendron are used only in the treatment of inflammation. This systematic review of in vitro and animal studies from 1966-2007 aimed to assess whether homeopathic preparations of Rhus toxicodendron are suitable for adjuvant tumour therapy. It examined antitumour activity and inhibition of proinflammatory tumour metalloproteinases by various Rhus species especially Rhus toxicodendron.
Antineoplastic effects have been found in numerous tumour cell lines treated with diluted preparations of Rhus species. In a metabolic competent tumour cell line (Hep G2) as well as in animal experiments a statistically significant effect of homeopathically diluted Rhus toxicodendron was demonstrated. In vitro experiments showed inhibitory effects on tumour metalloproteinases. The review concluded that the literature shows that homeopathic preparations of Rhus toxicodendron have antineoplastic effects, and might be considered as an adjuvant in the treatment of tumours. One problem with this study concerns the name of the plant. According to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, the plant traditionally known as Rhus toxicodendron in homeopathy should be known as Toxicodendron pubescens, not Toxicodendron quercifolium as in this paper. Its common name is poison ivy, and it is toxic.
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