melanoma. according to cancer research uk, it has "not been shown to have any activity in fighting cancer in people". moxibustion – the practice, used in conjunction with acupuncture or acupressure, of burning dried-up mugwort near the patient. the american cancer society comments, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that moxibustion is effective in preventing or treating cancer or any other disease". mushrooms – promoted on the internet as useful for cancer treatment. according to cancer research uk, "there is currently no evidence that any type of mushroom or mushroom extract can prevent or cure cancer". nerium oleander (or oleander) – one of the most poisonous of commonly grown garden plants, is the basis of an extract which is promoted to treat cancer and other ailments. according to the american cancer society, "even a small amount of oleander can cause death", and "the effectiveness of oleander has not been proven". noni juice – juice derived from the fruit of the morinda citrifolia tree indigenous to southeast asia, australasia, and the caribbean. noni juice has been promoted as a cure for cancer. however, the american cancer society say "there is no reliable clinical evidence that noni juice is effective in preventing or treating cancer or any other disease in humans". pau d'arco – a large south american rainforest tree whose bark (sometimes brewed into "lapacho" tea) is promoted as a treatment for many ailments, including cancer. according to the american cancer society, "available evidence from well-designed, controlled studies does not support this substance as an effective treatment for cancer in humans". pygeum – an extract made from prunus africana, the african cherry. following excitement at the end of the twentieth century about pygeum's therapeutic potential for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia, subsequent research has found it to have no benefit. rauvolfia serpentina (or snakeroot) – a plant used as the basis of a herbal remedy that some believe may treat cancer. according to the american cancer society: "available scientific evidence does not support claims that indian snakeroot is effective in treating cancer it also has many dangerous side effects and is likely to increase the risk of cancer." red clover (trifolium pratense) – a european species of clover, promoted as a treatment for a variety of health conditions, including cancers. according to the american cancer society, "available clinical evidence does not show that red clover is effective in treating or preventing cancer, menopausal symptoms, or any other medical conditions." saw palmetto (or serenoa repens) – a type of palm tree found growing in the southeastern united states. its extract has been promoted as a prostate cancer medicine; however, according to the american cancer society, "available scientific studies do not support claims that saw palmetto can prevent or treat prostate cancer in humans". seasilver – an expensive dietary supplement made mostly from plant extracts and promoted by two u.s. companies. extravagant claims for its curative powers led to the prosecution and fining of the companies' owners. according to the memorial sloan kettering cancer center, "no studies have shown the efficacy of this costly product". soursop (or graviola) – an ineffective treatment heavily promoted on the internet soursop (or graviola) – according to the u.s. federal trade commission soursop extract is among those products for which there is "no credible scientific evidence" of an ability to "prevent, cure, or treat cancer of any kind". strychnos nux-vomica – a tree native to asia, the bark of which contains toxic strychnine. strychnos is promoted within herbal medicine as being a treatment for a wide range of maladies including cancer and heart disease; there is, however, no evidence it is useful for treating any condition. ukrain – the trademarked name of a drug (sometimes called "celandine") made from chelidonium majus, a plant in the poppy family. the drug is promoted for its health giving powers and its ability to treat cancer; however, according to the american cancer society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that celandine is effective in treating cancer in humans". uncaria tomentosa (or cat's claw) – a woody vine found in the tropical jungles of south and central america, which is promoted as a remedy for cancer and other disease. the american cancer society state: "available scientific evidence also does not support cat's claw's effectiveness in preventing or treating cancer or any other disease. cat's claw is linked to some serious side effects, although the extent of those effects is not known". venus flytrap – its extract has been promoted as a cure for skin cancer. venus flytrap – a carnivorous plant, the extract of which is promoted as a treatment for a variety of human ailments including skin cancer. according to the american cancer society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that extract from the venus flytrap plant is effective in treating skin cancer or any other type of cancer". walnuts – large, hard edible seeds of any tree of the genus juglans. black walnut has been promoted as a cancer cure on the basis it kills a "parasite" responsible for the disease. however, according to the american cancer society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that hulls from black walnuts remove parasites from the intestinal tract or that they are effective in treating cancer or any other disease". wheatgrass – a food made from grains of wheat. according to the american cancer society, although some wheatgrass champions claim it can "shrink" cancer tumors, "available scientific evidence does not support the idea that wheatgrass or the wheatgrass diet can cure or prevent disease". wild yam (or chinese yam) – types of yam, the roots of which are made into creams and dietary supplements that are promoted for a variety of medicinal purposes, including cancer prevention. the american cancer society says of these products, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that they are safe or effective." wilburn ferguson's solution – a mixture of plants that were supposedly used by the shuar people for the purpose of shrinking heads, that he claimed was also effective in treating cancerous tumors. no trials conducted according to modern scientific standards have ever shown that this solution is successful in curing cancer. physical procedures a rectal bulb syringe – enemas feature in a number of ineffective cancer treatments such as gerson therapy and colon cleansing. acupuncture – a mainstay of traditional chinese medicine, acupuncture attempts to regulate the flow of a supposed energy within the body by means of inserting needles through the skin at certain pre-designated points. although there is some evidence that suggests acupuncture may help relieve some symptoms associated with cancer, such as treatment side effects, there is no evidence to support claims that acupuncture is an effective treatment for cancer. applied kinesiology – the practice of diagnosing and treating illness by touching and observing patients to detect meaningful signs in the muscles. claims have been made that in a session, "spontaneous remission" of cancer can be observed. however, according to the american cancer society, "available scientific evidence does not support the claim that applied kinesiology can diagnose or treat cancer or other illness". chiropractic – the practice of manipulating the spine to treat many human ailments. according to the american cancer society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that chiropractic treatment cures cancer or any other life-threatening illness". craniosacral therapy (or cst) – a treatment devised by john upledger in the 1970s. a cst practitioner will massage a patient's scalp in the belief that the precise positioning of their cranial bones can have a profound impact on their health. however, according to the american cancer society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that craniosacral therapy helps in treating cancer or any other disease". colon cleansing – the practice of cleansing the colon using laxatives and enemas to "detoxify" the body. coffee enemas in particular are promoted as a cancer therapy. according to the american cancer society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that colon therapy is effective in treating cancer or any other disease". cupping – a procedure in which cups are used to create areas of suction on the body. although claimed by proponents as an alternative cancer treatment, the american cancer society say "available scientific evidence does not support claims that cupping has any health benefits". dance therapy –the use of dance or physical movement to improve physical or mental well-being. the american cancer society states, "few scientific studies have been done to evaluate the effects of dance therapy on health, prevention and recovery from illness. clinical reports suggest dance therapy may be effective in improving self-esteem and reducing stress. as a form of exercise, dance therapy can be useful for both physical and emotional aspects of quality of life." a cochrane review found too few studies to draw any conclusions about what effects dance therapy has on psychological or physical outcomes in cancer patients. ear candling – an alternative medical technique in which lighted candles are placed in the ears for supposed therapeutic effect. the practice has been promoted with extravagant claims it can "purify the blood" or "cure" cancer, but health canada has found it has no health benefit; it does, however, carry a serious risk of injury. psychic surgery – a sleight-of-hand confidence trick in which the practitioner pretends to remove a lump of tissue (typically raw animal entrails bought from a butcher) from a person. no evidence of objective benefit for any medical condition has been found. reiki – a procedure in which the practitioner might look at, blow on, tap and touch a patient in an attempt to affect the "energy" in their body. although there is some evidence that reiki sessions are relaxing and so might improve general well-being, cancer research uk say that "there is no scientific evidence to prove that reiki can prevent, treat or cure cancer or any other disease". shiatsu – a type of alternative medicine consisting of finger and palm pressure, stretches and other massage techniques. according to cancer research uk, "there is no scientific evidence to prove that shiatsu can cure or prevent any type of disease, including cancer." spiritual and mental healing qigong – a kind of meditation accompanied by gentle movements cancer guided imagery – the practice of attempting to treat cancer in oneself by imagining it away. according to the american cancer society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that imagery can influence the development or progress of cancer". faith healing – the attempt to cure disease by spiritual means, often by prayer or participation in religious ritual. according to the american cancer society, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that faith healing can actually cure physical ailments". hypnosis – the induction of a deeply relaxed and yet alert mental state. some practitioners have claimed hypnosis might help boost the immune system. however, according to the american cancer society, "available scientific evidence does not support the idea that hypnosis can influence the development or progression of cancer.". meditation (also transcendental meditation and mindfulness) – mind-body practices in which patients attempt master their own mental processes. according to the american cancer society while meditation "may help to improve the quality of life for people with cancer", "available scientific evidence does not suggest that meditation is effective in treating cancer or any other disease." neuro-linguistic programming (nlp) – a series of behavioral techniques based on various supposed relationships between language and mental processes. nlp has been promoted as a treatment for hiv/aids and cancer, but such claims have no evidence to support them. anti-cancer psychotherapy – a technique claiming that a "cancer personality" caused cancer, which could be cured through talk therapy (e.g. that of the simonton cancer center, bernie siegel's "exceptional cancer patients" (ecap) or deepak chopra). evidence is lacking that cancer cures sold or promoted by deepak chopra have any value. qigong – the practice of maintaining a meditative state while making gentle and fluid bodily movements, in an attempt to balance internal life energy. a systematic review of the effect of qigong exercises on cancer treatment concluded "the effectiveness of qigong in cancer care is not yet supported by the evidence from rigorous clinical trials." synthetic chemicals and other substances shark cartilage might be thought of as a cancer treatment because of a mistaken belief