Lower thyroid cancer risk with chamomile tea

(NaturalNews) Chamomile, the attractive, daisy-like flower that is native to many parts of Europe, has a long history of medicinal use that stretches back to the time of ancient Rome. It is most popularly known for its ability to promote relaxation, stress relief and a good night's sleep and even today is used in many natural sleep tonics and teas. Topically, women have long used chamomile tinctures and decoctions to lighten their hair and as a toner for skin to leave it smooth and even. It also has been used for centuries as a tonic to soothe an upset stomach and to improve overall digestion. With all these qualities, then, it should come as no surprise that modern science is unearthing yet more information about the amazing benefits of this plant. One of the latest discoveries is in regards to the treatment of thyroid cancer. Read on to find out more.

Greek study uncovers link between thyroid cancer and chamomile tea consumption

This recent research is coming out of Greece, which is not surprising considering that chamomile tea is an incredibly popular drink there and is consumed in much higher quantities than it is in the United States - or even in other parts of Europe.

Scientists there noticed that there is a big disparity between American and Greek rates of thyroid cancer. In Greece, approximately 1.6 out of every 100,000 people are diagnosed annually with this disease. On the other hand, in the United States, the rate is more like 13.2 out of every 100,000. For Europe as a whole, the rate is approximately 5.2. In other words, rates of thyroid cancer are significantly lower in Greece compared to both the United States and other parts of Europe.

Once this fact was noticed, scientists analyzed the data further and found that there does, in fact, appear to be a link between the low rates of thyroid cancer and the high rates of chamomile tea consumption. It found that those who consumed 2-7 cups of this tea weekly had a whopping 70 percent lower chance of developing thyroid cancer; if this habit of tea consumption had gone one for 30 years or longer, than the cancer risk was reduced by 80 percent.

The healing power of chamomile

Many researchers believe that the reason why chamomile tea consumption lowers the risk of thyroid cancer development is that chamomile is rich in bioactive compounds called flavonoids. The best-studied of these is known as apigenin, which chamomile contains in high amounts. In several studies, apigenin has been found to be able to shrink tumors and stem the growth of cancer cells. It apparently does this through acting on the blood vessels that feed the tumor and shrinking them, thus cutting off the supply of nutrients that the tumors need to grow.

More research is needed to harness the power of apigenin and other flavonoids for use as a natural treatment for cancer development, since it appears that this compound is able to shrink tumors without damaging surrounding healthy tissue, as is the case with many mainstream therapies such as chemo. In the meantime, however, consuming chamomile regularly in the form of tea appears to be an effective way of warding off the developing of thyroid cancer - and possibly other forms of this disease as well.

Sources:

http://www.reuters.com

http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org

http://www.cancernetwork.com

About the author:
Sandeep has written many health field articles for both Internet and print publication. He currently writing for insurancetips4u.co.

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