African Potato (Hypoxis rooperi) is a plant that is used traditionally in African medicine. There are studies that suggest: African Potato might have some effects to help treat cancer, improve immune system and increase the lifespans of HIV/AIDS patients.
According to a report in 1997, Professor Ben Smith, head of the department of oncology at Cape Town’s Tygerberg Hospital, used the plant sterol to treat patients suffering from advanced cancer and found it increased their life expectancy. Victims of cancer of the pancreas usually die within 4 – 6 months of diagnosis, but after the treatment they lived for a year or longer. Although as there is no scientific evidence yet that Hypoxis rooperi eliminates cancer tumors, it does seem to slow down the growth of certain types of cancer.
Scientists believe that Hypoxis rooperi is an immune enhancer containing sterols and sterolins which have been shown to be beneficial at enhancing an under-active immune system or decreasing an overactive system. Researches on the plant extract have shown that the remedy appears to alert the immune system to produce more C.D4 – T cells, lymphocytes which are then made available to destroy invading viruses and bacteria which cause bodily harm. It is known that when an individual’s immune system is low then this condition allows cancer cells to multiply.
A research team at the University of Stellenbosch’s medical school lead by Professor Patrick Boulc used plant extract of the Hypoxis rooperi to treat AIDS and shown it is effective.
Professor Bouic of the medical school’s department of medical microbiology has been treating about 200 HIV-positive patients with the remedy since 1992. Their CD4-T cells – the cells which keep the immune system alert to invaders in the body – usually drop every year by some 130 cells per 1000. Even though the remedy is not a cure for AIDS, it seems it can increase HIV-positive patients’ lifespans dramatically.
Hypoxis rooperi is sold in forms of powder capsules and extracts on the market.
Please note: People should not take African potato without consulting their doctor.
For more information about natural remedies for cancer, go to Natural Remedies Center: http://www.naturalremediescenter.com/treat/cancer/
