Carctol is an ineffective cancer treatment made by mixing eight Indian herbs.[1] First promoted in 1968 by Nandlal Tiwari,[1] it gained widespread popularity in United Kingdom.[2]
Carctol has been aggressively marketed as being able to treat cancer and reduce the side-effects of chemotherapy. However, there is no medical evidence that it has any benefits whatsoever for people with cancer.[1]
It was In 2009, Edzard Ernst wrote that it was still promoted in the United Kingdom; public relations companies hired by its sellers had garnered it wide coverage on the web and,[2] according to the British Medical Journal, in the media generally.[3]
Criticism
Edzard Ernst has noted a complete absence of any form of scientific evidence to assert that carctol is any beneficial to cancer patients.[2] A few studies about the chemical composition of carctol along with inconclusive surveys of patients who used it were noted to be published in non-peer reviewed journals.[2]
Cancer Research UK say of carctol, "available scientific evidence does not support its use for the treatment of cancer in humans".[1]
Harriet A. Hall includes carctol among the biologically-based remedies promoted by naturopaths. Hall laments that frauds and quacks persistently try to take advantage of the vulnerability of cancer patients.[4]
^ abcdef"About Cancer". Cancer Research UK. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2018. there isn't any scientific evidence to prove that it is safe or works as a treatment for any type of illness
