Treating Gorlin Syndrome with Green Tea

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM · July 11, 2012 · Volume 9

4.9/5 - (19 votes)

Gorlin Syndrome, also known as basal cell nevus syndrome, is a rare genetic condition in which one’s body becomes covered in skin cancers. An astounding case is reported of a woman suffering from the syndrome, whose cancer progression was apparently reversed with topical green tea body wraps.

Discuss

Transcript

Gorlin Syndrome, also known as basal cell nevus syndrome, is a genetic condition affecting about one in every 100,000 births, in which you become covered in skin cancers. Tragic disease, but a case report was recently published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, describing the “temporary arrest of basal cell carcinoma formation in a patient” with the syndrome. The poor woman was getting up to 20 new basal cell carcinomas every six months. Then, she started going to a spa and getting green tea body wraps once a month, and for the following year, not a single new carcinoma appeared. Instead of 40, there were zero. But she ended up stopping after a year, and at her next dermatology visit, 15 new lesions had already started appearing.

They assume it was the green tea, but the wrap also contained algae, mustard oil, ginger, calendula; so, who knows? Now the researchers emphasize this is but a single case report, and that it’s not like there’s enough evidence to start clinical treatment of human patients with non-melanoma skin cancer, because we lack the studies—but why not? Obviously, if there were risks, right, you wouldn’t want someone to just start something based on one report. But what’s the downside of giving it a try?

To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by Serena.

Please consider volunteering to help out on the site.

Sources

Acknowledgements

Images thanks to Dr. Nameer Al-Sudany and Touch Beauty.

Topics

Gorlin Syndrome, also known as basal cell nevus syndrome, is a genetic condition affecting about one in every 100,000 births, in which you become covered in skin cancers. Tragic disease, but a case report was recently published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, describing the “temporary arrest of basal cell carcinoma formation in a patient” with the syndrome. The poor woman was getting up to 20 new basal cell carcinomas every six months. Then, she started going to a spa and getting green tea body wraps once a month, and for the following year, not a single new carcinoma appeared. Instead of 40, there were zero. But she ended up stopping after a year, and at her next dermatology visit, 15 new lesions had already started appearing.

They assume it was the green tea, but the wrap also contained algae, mustard oil, ginger, calendula; so, who knows? Now the researchers emphasize this is but a single case report, and that it’s not like there’s enough evidence to start clinical treatment of human patients with non-melanoma skin cancer, because we lack the studies—but why not? Obviously, if there were risks, right, you wouldn’t want someone to just start something based on one report. But what’s the downside of giving it a try?

To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by Serena.

Please consider volunteering to help out on the site.

Images thanks to Dr. Nameer Al-Sudany and Touch Beauty.

Doctor's Note

Though the condition is rare, skin cancer is not. In fact, it’s the most common cancer in the United States. This case report builds on research into reversing other cancers (see Cancer Reversal Through Diet?). The woman’s case described here is a testament to Power Plants. It’s in line with research on things such as cinnamon (The Safer Cinnamon); saffron (Saffron for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s); watermelon (Watermelon as Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction); flax seeds (Just the Flax, Ma’am); and Indian gooseberries (Amla Versus Diabetes). Since there are little or no downsides to plant food remedies–if anything, lots of positive side effects, I rarely hesitate to prescribe such natural products in my own medical practice. This is the third of a four-part video series about the latest discoveries on tea. See Antimutagenic Activity of Green Versus White Tea, and Is Caffeinated Tea Dehydrating? for the first two. I’ll close out with Treating Genital Warts With Green Tea.

For more context, check out my associated blog posts: Is Caffeinated Tea Really Dehydrating?, The Anti-Wrinkle Diet, and Foods That May Block Cancer Formation.

If you haven't yet, you can subscribe to our free newsletter. With your subscription, you'll also get notifications for just-released blogs and videos. Check out our information page about our translated resources.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This