More and more Americans are becoming aware of just how destructive chemical chemotherapy and radiation are to a body already weakened by cancer. Due to this knowledge, a good number of them are resorting to all natural cures and enjoying miraculous success. Cancer is an extremely invasive disease that can kill very quickly. If alternative medicine is the treatment of choice, a great deal of knowledge must be possessed by the individual/s administering the herbal medicines. The author of this article was personally involved in the all natural cure of breast cancer, a cure that did not involve chemotherapy or radiation.

The routine was extremely rigorous involving a strict diet, avoidance of all harmful chemicals in foods, drinks, and products for cleaning and personal hygiene. All herbal medicines had to be taken on a strict schedule and the patient closely monitored. This is only half of the story. What were some of the herbs employed in the treatment? Why were they chosen?

Chaparral is an herb that is not widely available in health foods stores that do not promote bulk herbs. However, it is a most powerful medicinal plant with properties known to attack tumors without harming healthy cells. Chaparral naturally contains a substance called NDGA. This substance is largely responsible for the anti-tumor properties of the herb. NDGA is also an effective antioxidant (Michael Tierra, C.A.,N.D., The Way of Herbs [New York, NY: Pocket Books, 1989], 117). It's wise for Americans who want to turn to God's natural medicines for relief and a cure to distrust medicines manufactured by pharmaceutical companies whose scientists extracted substances from herbs. Studies have proven that vitamins and minerals obtained from man-made pills and extracts are unlike nutrients available in foods. The same should be expected with substances found in medicinal plants in nature.

Chaparral is an extremely strong herb that must be used with skill and caution to avoid damaging the liver. Few amateur herbalists understand that the fact that a substance is natural doesn't mean it is weak. Keeping this in mind, it is always best, whenever possible, to combine chaparral with an herb called Red Clover (Penny C. Royal, Herbally Yours [Provo, UT: Sound Nutrition, 1988], 21). On the contrary, red clover is extremely safe and is also known to have properties that resist the formation of tumors and growths. However, chaparral resists tumors and growths after they have formed.

How are the herbs combined and ingested? One teaspoon of the dried flowers of red clover are combined with one half teaspoon of the dried leaves of chaparral. A cup of boiling water (tap water is okay) is poured over this mixture which is covered and allowed to steep for at least 5 minutes. The infusion (tea) is then strained. It is advisable to drink the tea without any sweetener at all. However, chaparral has an extremely bitter taste and may be difficult for some to consume. The addition of the red clover should aid in weakening the taste of the chaparral and cancer patients should make every attempt to avoid sweetening it with even a natural sugar.

Only one cup of the mixed infusion should be consumed in a day for up to one week while watching for the shrinkage of the tumors. A decision to follow this treatment for another week can be made at that time and depending on whether the patient has liver problems. Nevertheless, the red clover may be used to make tea to freely drink throughout the day. It does not present any danger to the liver or any other organs. The infusion is made with one heaping teaspoon of the flowers. More may be used to make a stronger tea if desired.

The drinking of tea made with these cancer fighting herbs cannot and must not be the only treatment used to completely recover from cancer. However, this "chemotherapy" from nature should be employed where there are tumors of which the body needs to be totally rid.