months before his death. according to the memorial sloan kettering cancer center, kelley treatment is a type of metabolic therapy that shows "no evidence of efficacy". live blood analysis – in alternative medicine, the practice of examining blood samples under a high-powered microscope, claiming this can detect and predict cancer and other illnesses, so leading to a prescription of dietary supplements that are supposed to function as treatment. the practice has been dismissed as quackery by the medical profession. livingston-wheeler therapy – a therapeutic regime that included a restricted diet, various drugs, therapy and the use of enemas. according to the american cancer society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that livingston-wheeler therapy was effective in treating cancer or any other disease". lorraine day's 10-step program – a regime devised by lorraine day based on a restrictive diet and behavioral changes, such as giving up work and ceasing to watch television. stephen barrett wrote on quackwatch, "in my opinion, her advice is untrustworthy and is particularly dangerous to people with cancer". metabolic therapies – an umbrella term for diet- and enema-based "detoxification" regimes, such as the gerson therapy, promoted to cure cancer and other disease. the memorial sloan kettering cancer center states: "retrospective reviews of the gerson, kelley and contreras therapies show no evidence of efficacy." nieper therapy – a regimen devised by hans alfred nieper (1928–1998) which was based on taking a variety of substances, including amygdalin and vitamins, and which nieper claimed could treat a variety of serious ailments, including cancer. his methods were discredited as both ineffective and unsafe. plant- and fungus-based kombucha – a fermented tea promoted as a "cure all" actaea racemosa (or black cohosh) – a flowering plant from which dietary supplements are made that are promoted for their health-giving properties. according to cancer research uk, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that black cohosh is effective in treating or preventing cancer". aloe – a genus of flowering succulent plants native to africa. according to cancer research uk, a potentially deadly product called t-up is made of concentrated aloe, and promoted as a cancer cure. they say "there is currently no evidence that aloe products can help to prevent or treat cancer in humans". amygdalin (sometimes going by the trade name laetrile) – a glycoside, has been promoted as a cancer cure. however, it has been found to be ineffective and toxic; its promotion has been described as "the slickest, most sophisticated, and certainly the most remunerative cancer quack promotion in medical history." andrographis paniculata – a herb used in ayurvedic medicine, and promoted as a dietary supplement for cancer prevention and cure. the memorial sloan kettering cancer center has stated that there is no evidence that it helps prevent or cure cancer. aveloz (also called firestick plant, pencil tree or euphorbia tirucalli) – a succulent shrub native to parts of africa and south america. its sap is promoted as a cancer treatment; however, according to the american cancer society, studies suggest that "aveloz sap may actually suppress the immune system, promote tumor growth, and lead to the development of certain types of cancer". bach flower remedies – preparations devised by edward bach (1886–1936) in which tiny amounts of plant material are diluted in a mixture of water and brandy. according to cancer research uk, flower remedies are sometimes promoted as being capable of boosting the immune system, but "there is no scientific evidence to prove that flower remedies can control, cure or prevent any type of disease, including cancer". cannabidiol – a phytocannabinoid extracted from the cannabis plant. many claims are made for the therapeutic benefit of cannabidiol that are not backed by sound evidence. some claims—for example that cannabidiol be used to treat cancer—fall into the realm of pseudoscience. cannabis – used as a recreational and medicinal drug. chemicals derived from cannabis have been extensively researched for potential anti-cancer effect and while there has been much laboratory work, claims that cannabis has been proven to cure cancer are—according to cancer research uk—"highly misleading". the u.s. national cancer institute notes "cannabis is not approved by the fda for the treatment of any cancer-related symptom or side effect of cancer therapy." cansema (also called black salve) – a type of paste or poultice often promoted as a cancer cure, especially for skin cancer. according to the american cancer society, there is no evidence that this escharotic is effective in treating cancer, and it can be harmful, causing burns and disfigurement. a cayenne pepper – products based on peppers are promoted as cancer treatments. capsicum – the name given to a group of plants in the nightshade family, well known for producing hot chilli peppers such as the cayenne pepper and the jalapeño. a number of capsicum-based products, including teas and capsules, are promoted for their health benefits, including as a claimed cancer treatment. however, according to the american cancer society, "available scientific research does not support claims for the effectiveness of capsicum or whole pepper supplements in preventing or curing cancer at this time". carctol – a herbal dietary supplement made from ayurvedic herbs. it has been aggressively marketed in the united kingdom as a cancer treatment, but there is no evidence of its effectiveness. cassava – a woody shrub native to south america, the root of which is a carbohydrate-rich foodstuff. cassava root has been promoted as treatment for cancer. however, according to the american cancer society, "there is no convincing scientific evidence that cassava or tapioca is effective in preventing or treating cancer". castor oil – an oil made from the seeds of the castor oil plant. the claim has been made that applying it to the skin can help cure cancer. however, according to the american cancer society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that castor oil on the skin cures cancer or any other disease." chaparral (or larrea tridentata) – a plant used to make a herbal remedy which is sold as cancer treatment. cancer research uk state that: "we don't recommend that you take chaparral to treat or prevent any type of cancer." chlorella – a type of algae promoted for its health-giving properties, including a claimed ability to treat cancer. however, according to the american cancer society, "available scientific studies do not support its effectiveness for preventing or treating cancer or any other disease in humans". ginger – promoted for halting tumor growth; evidence is lacking. echinacea – a group of herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family, marketed as a herbal supplement that can help combat cancer. according to cancer research uk, "there is no scientific evidence to show that echinacea can help treat, prevent or cure cancer in any way." ellagic acid – a natural phenol found in some foods, especially berries, and which has been marketed as having the ability to prevent and treat a number of human maladies, including cancer. according to the american cancer society, such claims are not proven. essiac – a blended herbal tea devised in the early 20th century and promoted as a cancer cure. the u.s. food and drug administration include essiac in a list of "fake cancer 'cures' consumers should avoid". fermented wheat germ extract (fwge) – a concentrated extract of wheat germ sold with the brand names avemar and awge. fwge is marketed with a number of misleading medical claims, including that it supports the immune system and is useful in the treatment of cancer. ginger – a root of plants of the zingiber family, and a popular spice in many types of cuisine. ginger has been promoted as a cancer treatment for its supposed ability to halt tumor growth; however, according to the american cancer society, "available scientific evidence does not support this". ginseng – a species of perennial plant, the root of which is promoted for its therapeutic value, including a claimed ability to help fight cancer. however, according to the american cancer society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that ginseng is effective in preventing or treating cancer in humans". glyconutrients – types of sugar extracted from plants; they are mostly marketed in a product with the brand name "ambrotose" by mannatech, inc. according to the memorial sloan kettering cancer center, these products have been "promoted aggressively to cancer patients" on the basis that they can help cellular health and boost the immune system, but "strong scientific evidence to support these claims is lacking". goldenseal (or hydrastis canadensis) – a herb from the buttercup family promoted for treating many conditions, including cancer. according to the american cancer society, "evidence does not support claims that goldenseal is effective in treating cancer or other diseases. goldenseal can have toxic side effects, and high doses can cause death." grapes – there is very little evidence that eating them can help prevent or treat cancer. gotu kola – a swamp plant native to parts of asia and africa. supplements made from it are promoted as cancer treatment; however, according to the american cancer society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims of its effectiveness for treating cancer or any other disease in humans". grapes – fruit, popularized for supposed anti-cancer effect by johanna brandt (1876–1964) who championed a "grape diet", and promoted more recently in the form of grape seed extract (gse). according to the american cancer society, "there is very little reliable scientific evidence available at this time that drinking red wine, eating grapes, or following the grape diet can prevent or treat cancer in people". inonotus obliquus – commonly known as chaga mushroom. chaga has been used as a folk remedy in russia and siberia since the 16th century. according to the memorial sloan kettering cancer center, "no clinical trials have been conducted to assess chaga's safety and efficacy for disease prevention or for the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes". they caution that the mushroom extract can interact with other drugs. juice plus – a branded line of dietary supplements containing concentrated fruit and vegetable juice extract. in october 2009, barrie r. cassileth, chair and chief of integrative medicine at memorial sloan kettering cancer center, cautioned that while juice plus is being "aggressively promoted to cancer patients based on claims of antioxidant effects", the supplement should not be taken by patients because it can interfere with chemotherapy, nor should it be considered a substitute for fruit and vegetables. juicing (or juice therapy) – the practice of consuming juice made from raw fruit and vegetables. this has been claimed to bring many benefits such as slowing aging or curing cancer; however, according to the american cancer society, "there is no convincing scientific evidence that extracted juices are healthier than whole foods". kombucha – a kind of fermented tea claimed to cure a variety of human illnesses including aids and cancer; however, these purported uses are not backed by evidence. the consumption of kombucha has been associated with adverse effects including muscle inflammation, poisoning and infection. at least one person has died after consuming kombucha, but the death could not be specifically linked to the drink. mangosteen – a fruit native to southeast asia which is promoted as a "superfruit" and in products such as xango juice for treating a variety of human ailments. according to the american cancer society, "there is no reliable evidence that mangosteen juice, puree, or bark is effective as a treatment for cancer in humans". milk thistle (silybum marianum) – a biennial plant that grows in many locations over the world. cancer research uk say that milk thistle is promoted on the internet for its claimed ability to slow certain kinds of cancer, but that there is no good evidence in support of these claims. mistletoe (or iscador) – a plant used in anthroposophical medicine, proposed as a cancer cure by rudolf steiner (1861–1925), who believed it needed to be harvested when planetary alignment most influenced its potency. according to the american cancer society, "available evidence from well-designed clinical trials does not support claims that mistletoe can improve length or quality of life". mistletoe – anthroposophical medicine holds that harvesting it when the planets are aligned will yield a cancer treatment. modified citrus pectin – a substance chemically extracted from citrus fruits and marketed in dietary supplement form as a treatment for prostate cancer and