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Natural Remedies for Managing Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (or AML) is a type of cancer that produces mass abnormal cells within bone marrow. Patients are typically prescribed a combination of IDH inhibitors for AML combined with hypomethylating agents or standard chemotherapy. In addition to traditional medical treatments, many doctors also recommend the following natural remedies for managing AML symptoms, slowing cancer growth, and providing relief: 1) Acupuncture Acupuncture has been utilized for thousands of years for managing a variety of diseases, including cancer. However, a 2017 study from China’s Medical University, found that acupuncture treatments on AML patients who underwent stem cell transplants, reduced pain so much that they required lower pain medication dosages during their treatments.  2) Plant-based remedies Naturopaths will often recommend plant remedies to ease the many painful symptoms of cancer and cancer treatment (i.e., chemotherapy). So while natural plant remedies won’t cure AML, they can help increase the success of chemotherapy drugs and even help to slow the progression of leukemia cells. For instance, a 2017 study published by Qatar’s Translational Research Institute, found that parthenolide chemicals in the feverfew plant aids in the destruction of leukemia cells, while preserving healthy blood cells in AML patients.  3) Avoiding raw or undercooked foods As mentioned, treatment for AML often includes immunotherapy via checkpoint and IDH inhibitors.