Oleander Soup = Unproven Chemotherapy at Cancer Debate Forum

There is no question that oleander has poisons that attack cancer cells but they also attacks other body functions as well. Ingesting any form or extract of oleander is a form of chemotherapy. Though there have been some tests regarding oleander extracts there have not been any clinical testing on either oleander tea or oleander soup. In fact, anvirzel (an oleander extract) has been banned in the United States and is known to have killed people. Oleander tea is also known to have killed people.

In other words, chemotherapy is "selective" poison which is what oleander is, except that oleander isn't very selective.

Chemicals in Oleander

Oleander contains several chemicals, as well as up to 50 toxins that might affect your heart. The poisonous family of chemicals in oleander are cardiac glycosides, found in every part of the plant, as well as any smoke produced by burning the plant. The four main toxins in oleander are called oleondroside, oleandrin, digitoxigenin and nerioside.

Effect of Cardiac Glycosides

The cardiac glycosides in oleander prove toxic to your heart by affecting proteins called sodium-potassium pumps. Under normal circumstances, these pumps maintain an electrochemical gradient that your nerves use to control the contraction of your heart muscle, regulating your heartbeat. Without the proper functioning of the sodium-potassium pump, your nerves cannot control your heart beat, your heart muscle no longer receives fresh oxygen-rich blood, and you might suffer heart failure. In addition, oleander poisoning can also cause an abnormally fast, slow or irregular heartbeat. Though these conditions can occur in combination with a heart attack, oleander poisoning does not directly cause myocardial infarction.

Effect of Honey

In some cases, honey might harm your heart if it is made using the pollen of the oleander plant. Because cardiac glycosides are potent poisons, and must be present in only small amounts to prove toxic, even trace amounts of oleander pollen or nectar in honey can prove harmful and induce oleander poisoning.
However, oleander honey is rare and most honey is not harmful. In fact, honey contains beneficial chemicals, called antioxidants, that might protect your cardiovascular system, according to the University of Delaware, reducing your risk of heart disease or a heart attack. However, the efficacy of honey for preventing heart attacks is not yet well understood.

Considerations

Due to its toxic properties, you should never consume the oleander plant, any supplements that contain oleander, or any food that has come into contact with the plant. If you or your child come into contact with oleander and develop the symptoms of oleander poisoning -- such as blurred vision, dizziness, stomach pain or diarrhea -- seek immediate medical attention. Disclose any honey consumption to your doctor, to help identify the source of exposure to oleander.