Breast Cancer Prevention and Blood Thinners

Since hypercoagulation is linked to breast and a number of other cancers, then one may logically consider the possibility that substances that thin the blood may possibly be linked to a reduction in risk for some cancers. As it turns out, recent medical research may bear this out.

Natural blood thinners such as garlic, aspirin, fish oil, vitamin E and olive oil have all been implicated as potential factors for breast cancer prevention. What do these substances have in common? One common denominator is that they all tend to reduce blood coagulation. Hypercoagulation is linked to breast and other cancers, and perhaps hypocoagulation may be linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer.

Factors that are known to promote blood coagulation, such as alcohol, saturated fats, red meats (which tend to be high in saturated fats), and estrogen therapy, have all been linked to an increased risk of cancer as well as an increased risk of blood clots.

Interestingly, in traditional Chinese medicine, cancer is viewed as a circulation problem. Chinese medicine holds the position that stagnant blood and a blockage of chi, or vital energy, are a cause of tumors. Chinese medicine views tumors as a symptom of the chi blockage, and not the root disorder in and of itself. While traditional Chinese healers of past centuries would most likely not have had specific, text book level knowledge of such things as coagulation factors and vitamins, it is interesting that they did seem to be keenly aware of the link between cancer and circulation issues.

In Ayurvedic, or traditional Indian, medicine tumors are linked to an excess of "kapha" , a term used to describe people who are usually overweight, feel cold, suffer from a poor circulation and a sluggish metabolism. Interestingly, the Ayurvedic treatment for excess kapha is to have people do vigorous exercise and provide them with "warming spices" such as ginger and garlic. Ginger and garlic are both known blood thinners as well as known cancer inhibitors. Exercise also improves circulation and tends to decrease circulation issues by lowering levels of vitamin K. (Perhaps not coincidentally, recent research shows that women who over exercise, such as marathon runners, are often at risk for vitamin K deficiencies.)

The charts below illustrates the commonalties between an Ayurvedic view of breast cancer and recent Western medical findings.

Comparison of Ayurvedic treatment of cancer versus Western medicine findings

I'm sure most Western doctors of today dismiss traditional Eastern medicine as being of dubious value. Yet, I think the links between the ancient treatments to improve circulation and thin the blood as cancer treatments compare favorably to recent medical research linking breast cancer prevention to factors that thin the blood and improve circulation. It's just that the ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese doctors arrived at these similar conclusions through noticing patterns with body types, dietary habits and illnesses, rather than formalized research by people in white lab coats. However, I believe that the recent research from formal medical studies in Western countries may be validating some of the treatments for breast cancer that have been advocated by traditional Eastern healers for centuries.

Next => Breast Cancer and Garlic

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