Before anyone gets carried away: a caveat by Dr. Swanepoel

After I posted this article in our Yahoo Oleandersoup group, Naturopathic PhD and cancer authority Marc Swanepoel posted this reply:

The Chinese Herb referred to in the Natural News article, Tripterygium wilfordii or Thunder God Vine, has long been known in Chinese Medicine for its use in certain autoimmune disorders, rheumatoid arthritis and many other problems including cancer. The extract is made from the skinned root of the plant but all the other parts are quite toxic. It has some unwanted side effects including temporary male infertility by decreasing sperm count. The Chinese Baidu Baike web-based encyclopaedia warns against its internal use. It is also important to understand that its anti-cancer activity is derived from its observed ability to disrupt mitochondrial activity in cells thereby interfering with cellular energy production. Just as in the case of certain chemo treatments (Tarceva), graviola, paw-paw extract, Cantron and Protocel, this may bring about cell suicide (apoptosis) of the cancer cells but, as I have explained before, it is unlikely to work for advanced or metastasized cancers. Disruption of mitochondrial activity does not address the root cause of cancer and has the potential to set up other cells to become cancerous at a later stage. So, keep this caveat in mind when using this herb. Pancreatic cancer that has been induced in experimental mice is far removed from the real-life cancer that people experience due to chronic oxidative or nitrosative stress.