Herbal Cures for Nuclear Radiation (Fallout)

*Note: Please see this discussion of what is meant by “herbal-cure.” Also note that when we claim “herbal” cures in a headline, we’re also usually including nutritional and other food supplements.

Yes, of course there are herbal helpers (and foods and other supplements) for radiation. (I’ve told you there are herbs for EVERYTHING, remember??)  Quite a good number, actually.

Several that I’d turn to immediately include alpha-lipoic acid (a wonderful supplement, good for dozens of different things, including being a powerful antioxidant), and also NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine), both of which help the liver build the glutathione the body creates on its own which is so necessary for detoxing the specific type of free radicals which radioactivity creates. This both helps protect the liver and also protects against cellular damage from radiation.

Chlorella and apple pectin are both known detoxifiers of heavy metals, including radioactive heavy metals.

Strontium has an affinity for calcium, so will head for the bones, promoting bone cancer and leukemia, so it’s important to make sure to get enough calcium – the highly absorbable forms as found in the diet, preferably mineral-rich green leafy vegetables rather than dairy, or supplements made from mineral-rich herbs such as nettles, alfalfa, horsetail, etc. And by all means avoid soda, which takes a terrible toll on the minerals in our bones.

Some of our other chief protectors against cancer continue to be those luscious brassicae – broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage. (Note: NSP offers Ultimate Green Zone which is loaded with green veggies as a drink, but you could also add it to your smoothies or bowl of soup.)

The Japanese know that miso soup helps protect the body from radiation, and that chlorella, spirulina, kelp and other seaweed also help. If one doesn’t care for miso as soup, it’s easy to add it in small doses to other preparations such as salad dressings.

Be sure to see Susun S. Weed’s wonderful guest article (link below)

Finally. a list of herbs proven to help against radiation, some of which aren’t well-known and may not be available here in the U.S. because they are from the other side of the world (India, etc.). I’ve provided the common names, where available:

Radioprotective Potential of Plants and Herbs against the Effects of Ionizing Radiation
“The results obtained from in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that several botanicals such as (those listed below) protect against radiation-induced lethality, lipid peroxidation and DNA damage.”
Centella asiatica -  gotu kola
Gingko biloba  or combo Gingo/Gotu
Hippophae rhamnoides – sea buckthorn
Ocimum sanctum – holy basil
Panax ginseng
Podophyllum hexandrum  -  Himalayan May apple
Amaranthus paniculatus  – Red Amaranth
Emblica officinalis  – Indian gooseberry
Phyllanthus amarus
Piper longum – Pippali or Indian Long Pepper
Tinospora cordifoila – Guduchi
Mentha arvensis – Field Mint, Wild Mint, American Wild Mint, Marsh Mint
Mentha piperita – Peppermint
Syzygium cumini – Java plum
Zingiber officinale – Ginger
Ageratum conyzoides – Billy Goat Weed, Goatweed or tropical whiteweed
Aegle marmelos   – Bengal quince, wood apple, stone apple
Aphanamixis polystachya – Pasak Lingga, Amoora, Pithraj tree

One thing to bear in mind, if you choose to use any seaweeds as a protection against radiation, be sure that they’re not from Japan or were harvested prior to their March earthquake. One of the dozens of tests that Nature’s Sunshine does on its raw materials is for radiation, so you can feel safer with their products than with most others.

Please don’t miss this wonderful GUEST ARTICLE:  Surviving Radiation the Wise Woman Way by Susun S. Weed

And for those who have not been keeping abreast of the news on this hot topic (sad little pun intended), here is a small collection of news items, to which I may add as time goes on, if warranted, and a couple of good resources.

FUKUSHIMA NEWS ITEMS and  RESOURCES