A Facebook page shared an article claiming that elderberry is a wonder plant that treats cancer.
“In 2002, doctors discovered that I had a benign brain tumor. This plant saved me from death: How to use it. “, show the text of the post.
The article on the website Călător în Romania contains the testimony of a man from Bulgaria, who states that a fermented elderberry drink helped him get rid of a benign brain tumor. Both the fragment extracted from the article and posted on the Facebook page, as well as the first paragraph of the text, take the man’s diagnosis out of context. Elderberry is presented as a miracle food that saved his life, with no real evidence of the patient’s existence or diagnosis.
The article to which the post refers has no author, and the name of the healed man does not appear mentioned. The site has no editorial box and was registered by an individual in 2017. All this raises suspicions about the information shared on the Internet.
About benign tumors
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, tumors are of two types: non-cancerous (benign tumors) or cancerous (malignant tumors).
Benign tumors are growths of cells that have multiplied alarmingly but have not spread to other areas of the body and are well defined in shape. These are treated and removed by doctors.
Some tumors, such as benign brain tumors, can be life-threatening because of their size or the pressure they exert inside the skull.
Shock&treatment of tumors with shock
Elderberry is a plant native to Europe. In the people, this plant is most often used in non-medical treatments against colds. Many people turn to traditional medicine and administer the tea, syrup or tinctures to treat headaches, coughs, indigestion and relieve fever. Recent studies have shown that this plant has multiple benefits.
To date, no medical studies have been conducted on humans or animals to discover a link between the consumption of elderberry and the prevention and treatment of certain types of tumors, but they have taken place in vitro.
Two researchers from the Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition in Poland collected and analyzed data from several studies, with the help of which they described the properties of elderberry on the body. According to their documentation, elderberry contains a natural compound called polyphenol, which is found in vegetables and fruits and with which the body can protect itself from certain diseases such as some types of cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis or neurodegenerative diseases.
From the point of view of chemical compounds, elderberry is a good antioxidant. Elderberry consumption improves the function of the nervous system and is recommended to combat oxidative stress, that is, an imbalance between the level of antioxidants and oxidants in the body, which can lead to greater health problems.
A study published in 2012 analyzed the effects of chemical compounds extracted from elder leaves on the development of some tumors. The results showed moderate tumor shrinkage. The most recent study, published in 2023, shows that elderberries contain compounds with anti-carcinogenic properties that can help prevent and treat some types of tumors, thanks to their antioxidant properties.
Thus, specialized literature has shown that elderberry has beneficial properties for the health of consumers. However, no clinical studies have been conducted on human subjects to support a link between elderberry consumption and the treatment and cure of cancerous tumors.
