What Supplements Should Not Be Taken During Chemotherapy?

Echinacea, curcumin, St. John’s wort, valerian root, and allium

(an extract of garlic) — all are examples of herbal supplements that can disrupt the toxicity-efficacy balance of chemotherapy.

Who should not take Essiac tea?

In addition, the tea’s manufacturers also note that

women who are pregnant or breastfeeding

should avoid this product ( 1 ). Some also recommend avoiding Essiac tea if you have breast cancer, as animal and test-tube studies have found that it may stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells ( 12 , 13 ).

Does Essiac tea interfere with chemo?

Essiac tea may also interact negatively with chemotherapy

. One case has been reported where it may have caused increased toxicity in the blood of a chemotherapy patient. Many experts caution against combining essiac tea and chemotherapy.

Can I drink chamomile tea while on chemotherapy?

Potential uses: Chamomile is used as

a mouth rinse

to treat sores that can be caused by chemotherapy. It is also thought to be a sleep aid. Usual dose: For a mouth rinse, 10 to 15 drops of liquid extract in a half cup of warm water are used 3 times per day. Chamomile can also be drunk as tea.

Do herbal supplements interfere with chemotherapy?

Echinacea, curcumin, St. John’s wort, valerian root, and allium (an extract of garlic) — all are examples of herbal supplements that can

disrupt the toxicity-efficacy balance

of chemotherapy. In addition, the doses of herbal supplements are not standardized.

Does vitamin C affect chemotherapy?

Avoid vitamin C if you’re on radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Vitamin C can interfere with these treatments and decrease their effects

.

How can I boost my immune system during chemo?

1. Ask about protective drugs. …
2. Get the flu shot every year. …
3. Eat a nutritious diet. …
4. Wash your hands regularly. …
5. Limit contact with people who are sick. …
6. Avoid touching animal waste. …
7. Report signs of infection immediately. …
8. Ask about specific activities.

Can you drink tea while taking chemo?

Some physicians

limit the amount of green and white tea

consumed by patients who are undergoing chemo. Anselmo advises her patients to limit tea drinking to one or two mugs a day. Green and white teas are packed with antioxidant phytochemicals and may interfere with the desired effect of chemo.

What kind of tea is good for chemo patients?

Green tea

is packed with flavonoids, which are cancer fighters in your brew. They help punch out the cells associated with skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal and bladder cancers.

What tea is good after chemo?

Green tea

is generally considered safe when consumed in usual amounts — one or two cups per day, unless a person is being treated with Velcade (chemical name: bortezomib), which is used to treat certain types of blood cancer. Studies suggest even small amounts of green tea may reduce the effectiveness of Velcade.

Do vitamins interfere with chemotherapy?

The use of dietary supplements is common including after a cancer diagnosis. However, taking dietary supplements before and

during chemotherapy may reduce the ability of chemotherapy to kill cancer cells

.

Can I take vitamin D during chemo?

Study:

Vitamin D can reduce side effects associated with chemotherapy

. As many cancer patients will confirm, the chemotherapy prescribed to kill the disease is often more debilitating than the cancer itself, with a range of horrendous side effects.

Does zinc interfere with chemotherapy?

Zinc may help manage symptoms associated with

cancer

treatments, but the evidence is mixed. Supplementation was reported to reduce the incidence and severity of mucositis in leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy

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; and in patients receiving radiation therapy

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.

What vitamins help with chemo?

Selenium, folic acid and probiotics

have been found to be safe for use during chemotherapy treatment. However, these supplements still have potential side effects.

Is 1000mg of vitamin C too much?

You should be able to get all the vitamin C you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take vitamin C supplements, do not take too much as this could be harmful.

Taking less than 1,000mg of vitamin C supplements a day is unlikely to cause any harm

.

What should you eat after chemo?

• Apple and grape juice.
• Fruit nectars.
• Low-salt broth.
• Clear soups.
• Gatorade.
• Popsicles and sherbert.
• Gelatin.
• Herbal teas, such as ginger and mint.