In the last several years, as researchers expand their search for novel anticancer plants and compounds, certain essential oils have been repeatedly turning up in published reports as being potential future therapies for cancer treatment. Essential oils are particular kinds of extracts from plants -- they are what give plants their aromas. More alcohol-like than oil-like, these compounds easily evaporate and are readily detected by our olfactory systems. Less known is that these volatile compounds are often highly complex, and can be very unique from plant to plant. A great many of these oils have been the subject of medical research in several fields, and are noted for their anti-viral, anti- bacterial, and inflammation-reducing actions. Now, their anticancer activities are coming to light as well.

Popular Oils Evaluated as Potential Cancer Therapies

Sorting through the available research published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, one finds two particular essential oils most often associated with anticancer activity: Frankincense and Lemongrass. To clarify, Lemongrass is distilled from the grass leaves of Cymbopogon citratus; the name Frankincense actually refers to the resin of Olibanum trees found mostly in Ethiopia, Somalia and India -- the essential oil is distilled from the resin -- or 'sap' -- of these trees. Both Lemongrass and Frankincense have a very long history of medicinal use. Frankincense has been one of the most highly valued medicinal products throughout man's history -- Lemongrass just happens to be very prolific, but its efficacy is no less valuable because of its availability.

From Historically Revered Medicine to Modern Health Miracle

Frankincense essential oil has been noted by leading medical aromatherapists to be most effective immune system modulating aromatic. A review of the research on Frankincense oil is quite amazing, and lives up to this declaration. Using the search term 'frankincense oil cancer' on the National Institute of Health's database produces 34 results (as of this writing). Frankincense oil appears to have the ability to distinguish between healthy and cancerous cells in an organ or tissue, and lead to the death of the cancerous cells while leaving the healthy ones unharmed.

Research is focusing on the chemical components of the essential oil unique to frankincense: the Boswellic acids. These natural compounds have been thoroughly studied for their anti-inflammatory activity, with a significant body of positive results. Boswellic acids can be used to reduce pain and inflammation in arthritic joints, and has even been shown to improve the texture and appearance of skin that may be prematurely aged due to sun overexposure. It is these same Boswellic acids that have been shown to induce natural cell death in cancerous cells -- it is one of the features of cancer that natural cell death does not occur, and the cancerous cells then in essence grow unabated throughout the body.

Impressive Targeting of Cancer Cells

One of the challenges in treating cancer is targeting cancerous cells specifically with any medication or treatment, while leaving normal cells healthy and intact. More than one investigation using Frankincense has reached the same conclusion: that Frankincense oil "appears to distinguish" cancerous from non-cancerous cells, and suppresses the proliferation of the cancerous cells only. And not only does Frankincense have this important action, but it has been shown to reduce viability for cancers in quite a variety of organ system and tissues. It appears it could be a treatment for a wide number of cases and conditions.

Lemongrass: Nature's Tropical Medicine Get's A Deeper Look

In the last two years, Indian researchers published two papers summarizing their investigation into the anticancer actions of Lemongrass. The essential oil was found effective in causing cell death of twelve cancer cell lines typically used in such research. Lemongrass essential oil was noted to show "dose dependent effects against various human cancer cell lines". The greatest efficacy of the oil was against colon cancer cells, with a very low concentration of 4.2 micrograms per milliliter of solution. The essential oil was also found effective in what is known as mouse-model studies, where mice implanted with specific tumor cells are treated with the oil. (Note that while the author does not condone animal studies in any way, the information produced by these studies may in-fact lead to the savings of many lives).

Israeli researchers, publishing their results in the May 2007 Planta Medica, discovered similar results focusing on a primary constituent of Lemongrass essential oil: Citral. This natural constituent adds the 'lemony' aroma to many essential oils, including of course Lemon, Melissa, and Lemon Verbena. Citral was noted to also show cancer cell specificity (liver cancer cells were evaluated in this case), causing only the cancer cells to die off. It appears that lemongrass essential oil, like Frankincense, also induces natural cell death in cancer cells, sparing normal healthy cells in the process.

Looking Forward: Alternative Therapies as Cancer Treatments

Clearly the results of laboratory research thus far is encouraging. It would be exceptionally helpful to have these studies run along side controls using known chemotherapeutic agents. With the state of cancer treatment in conventional medicine being what it is -- a rather closely guarded monopoly involving big pharmaceutical interests -- it is highly unlikely that research of treatments involving essential oils will be funded much further than these low-cost in-vitro investigations. At the same time, there are physicians out there whom are willing to work with these alternative treatments with their patients. If these natural treatment methods are of interest to you -- for yourself or a loved one -- with some effort, you'll be able to find the right health care professional. The information provided in this paper is not meant as substitute for medical advice, it is simply providing one perspective on the current research data available involving cancer and essential oils.