Table 5 Natural remedies used by cancer patients, reason(s) for use, and adverse effects of treatment
Reason(s) for use (multiple choice) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | Women | Men | p-value | To treat cancer or prevent it from spreading | To treat side effects or late effects of cancer/ cancer treatment | To strengthen the body / immune system | To increase quality of life, for coping, relaxation or well-being | Other reasons | Adverse effects of treatment | |
% (n) | % (n) | % (n) | % (n) | % (n) | % (n) | % (n) | % (n) | % (n) | ||
Omega 3, 6, 9 fatty acids | 31.3 (138) | 31.3 (93) | 31.3 (45) | 0.937* | 8.0 (11) | 18.8 (26) | 90.6 (125) | 26.1 (36) | 2.2 (3) | 4.3 (6) |
Ginger | 19.5 (86) | 23.2 (69) | 11.8 (17) | 0.007* | 16.3 (14) | 20.9 (18) | 80.2 (69) | 34.9 (30) | 12.8 (11) | 1.2 (1) |
Green tea | 16.8 (74) | 19.5 (58) | 11.1 (16) | 0.040* | 17.6 (13) | 13.5 (10) | 79.2 (59) | 51.4 (38) | 4.1 (3) | 4.1 (3) |
Blueberries / blueberry extract | 16.8 (74) | 18.5 (55) | 13.2 (19) | 0.169* | 14.9 (11) | 12.2 (9) | 97.3 (72) | 23.0 (17) | 6.6 (5) | 4.1 (3) |
Garlic | 15.2 (67) | 13.8 (41) | 18.1 (26) | 0.231* | 17.9 (12) | 13.4 (9) | 89.6 (60) | 28.4 (19) | 10.4 (7) | 3.0 (2) |
Turmeric / curcumin | 11.4 (50) | 12.8 (38) | 8.3 (12) | 0.201* | 40.0 (20) | 30.0 (15) | 80.0 (40) | 32.0 (16) | 2.0 (1) | 4.0 (2) |
Aloe vera | 3.9 (17) | 3.7 (11) | 4.2 (6) | 0.807* | 5.9 (1) | 35.3 (6) | 35.3 (6) | 41.2 (7) | 17.6 (3) | 11.8 (2) |
Chaga | 3.2 (14) | 4.4 (13) | 0.7 (1) | 0.043^ | 57.1 (8) | 14.3 (2) | 64.3 (9) | 14.3 (2) | 7.1 (1) | 7.1 (1) |
Echinacea | 1.6 (7) | 2.0 (6) | 0.7 (1) | 0.435* | 14.3 (1) | 14.3 (1) | 85.7 (6) | 14.3 (1) | 0.0 (0) | 14.3 (1) |
Q10 | 1.6 (7) | 2.0 (6) | 0.7 (1) | 0.435* | 0.0 (0) | 42.9 (3) | 85.7 (6) | 28.6 (2) | 14.3 (1) | 14.3 (1) |
Ginseng | 0.9 (4) | 1.0 (3) | 0.7 (1) | 0.605^ | 25.0 (1) | 25.0 (1) | 100 (4) | 50.0 (2) | 0.0 (0) | 25.0 (1) |
Medicinal mushrooms (Reishi, Maitake, Shiitake) | 0.7 (3) | 0.7 (2) | 0.7 (1) | 1.000^ | 66.7 (2) | 33.3 (1) | 100 (3) | 33.3 (1) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) |
Cannabis | 0.7 (3) | 0.3 (1) | 1.4 (2) | 0.250^ | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 33.3 (1) | 33.3 (1) | 33.3 (1) | 0.0 (0) |
Noni-juice | 0.7 (3) | 0.7 (2) | 0.7 (1) | 1.000^ | 33.3 (1) | 66.7 (2) | 100 (3) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) |
Birch sap | 0.5 (2) | 0.3 (1) | 0.7 (1) | 0.545^ | ||||||
Mistletoe/Iscador | 0.5 (2) | 0.7 (2) | 0.0 (0) | 0.455^ | 100 (2) | 0.0 (0) | 50.0 (1) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 50.0 (1) |
Evening primrose oil | 0.5 (2) | 0.7 (2) | 0.0 (0) | 0.455^ | 50.0 (1) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 50.0 (1) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) |
Rosenrot | 0.5 (2) | 0.7 (2) | 0.0 (0) | 0.452^ | 0.0 (0) | 50.0 (1) | 50.0 (1) | 100 (2) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) |
Shark cartilage | 0.2 (1) | 0.3 (1) | 0.0 (0) | 0.673^ | 0.0 (0) | 100 (1) | 100 (1) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) |
Milk thistle | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | 0.0 (0) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Other natural remedies1 | 6.8 (30) | 8.4 (25) | 3.5 (5) | 0.084* | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Use of natural remedies | 52.2 (230) | 53.5 (159) | 49.3 (71) | 0.418 | 20.0 (46) | 23.9 (55) | 90.0 (207) | 39.1 (90) | 12.2 (28) | 6.1 (17) |