Vitamin C therapy is a treatment option for some cancers and other illnesses in which high doses of vitamin C are delivered to patients either orally or intravenously. Lesser forms of this therapy can be done at home by patients themselves. The vitamin has been shown to boost immune function and some studies suggest that it is lethal to cancer cells in high enough doses, without causing damage to healthy cells.
The most common form of vitamin C therapy is the oral ingestion of it by individuals at home. Humans can withstand much higher dosages of this vitamin than is recommended by most health organizations. Patients can generally take high doses of the vitamin to help ward off impending colds or other infections and viruses. Whether or not this is effective is still unknown, but many individuals have reported shorter illnesses while taking vitamin C or they have maintained health entirely.
Vitamin C therapy has also been used in the treatment of cancer and other diseases. When given orally, high doses of this vitamin do not seem to be effective at treating terminal illnesses. Intravenous vitamin C therapy, however, has been shown to prolong life in those with cancers deemed incurable. Some patients have even rejected more conventional cancer therapies and opted for a combination of vitamin C and other supplements.
To begin vitamin C therapy, the vitamin is injected in very high doses directly into a vein. This allows greater concentrations of the supplement to enter the bloodstream where it can be used. Oral doses often lose some of their potency during the digestive process. Additionally, there may be a ceiling for how much vitamin C can be absorbed by the body when taken orally.
Whether or not vitamin C therapy should be a standard treatment option for terminally ill patients is still a subject of debate. Some patients use this therapy in combination with other treatments, while others use natural remedies entirely. Both groups have experienced cancer remissions and recurrences. More studies are needed to compare the survival rates of patients undergoing vitamin C therapy without the use of more conventional drugs.
Not all treatment centers offer intravenous vitamin C as an option. It is becoming more popular, however, and many treatment centers are emerging which combine traditional and unconventional options. Patients may choose to use one or both methods of treatment.
