Abstract
Amygdalin is purported to exhibit anti-cancer properties when hydrolyzed to hydrogen cyanide (HCN). However, knowledge about amygdalin efficacy is limited. A questionnaire evaluating the efficacy, treatment, and dosing protocols, reasons for use, HCN levels, and toxicity was distributed to physicians and healers in Germany, providing amygdalin as an anti-cancer drug. Physicians (20) and healers (18) provided amygdalin over 8 (average) years to nearly 80 annually treated patients/providers. Information about amygdalin was predominantly obtained from colleagues (55%). Amygdalin was administered both intravenously (100%) and orally (32%). Intravenous application was considered to maximally delay disease progression (90%) and relieve symptoms (55%). Dosing was based on recommendations from colleagues (71%) or personal experience (47%). If limited success became apparent after an initial 3g/infusion, infusions were increased to 27g/infusion. Treatment response was primarily monitored with established (26%) and non-established tumor markers (19%). 90% did not monitor HCN levels. Negative effects were restricted to a few dizzy spells and nausea. Only 58% were willing to participate in clinical trials or contribute data for analysis (34%). Amygdalin infusions are commonly administered by healers and physicians with few side effects. The absence of standardized treatment calls for guidelines. Since intravenous application bypasses metabolization, re-evaluation of its mode of action is required.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Markowitsch, S.D.; Binali, S.; Rutz, J.; Chun, F.K.-H.; Haferkamp, A.; Tsaur, I.; Juengel, E.; Fischer, N.D.; Thomas, A.; Blaheta, R.A.
Survey of Physicians and Healers Using Amygdalin to Treat Cancer Patients. Nutrients 2024, 16, 2068.
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16132068
AMA Style
Markowitsch SD, Binali S, Rutz J, Chun FK-H, Haferkamp A, Tsaur I, Juengel E, Fischer ND, Thomas A, Blaheta RA.
Survey of Physicians and Healers Using Amygdalin to Treat Cancer Patients. Nutrients. 2024; 16(13):2068.
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16132068
Chicago/Turabian Style
Markowitsch, Sascha D., Sali Binali, Jochen Rutz, Felix K.-H. Chun, Axel Haferkamp, Igor Tsaur, Eva Juengel, Nikita D. Fischer, Anita Thomas, and Roman A. Blaheta.
2024. "Survey of Physicians and Healers Using Amygdalin to Treat Cancer Patients" Nutrients 16, no. 13: 2068.
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16132068
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