The battle against cancer is fraught with challenges. Traditional treatments, while potent, are often expensive and cause side effects that can substantially decrease patients’ quality of life.
For decades, the medical community has looked for alternatives with fewer side effects.
Recent research has explored using molecular hydrogen therapy (MHT) for cancer treatment. And results from early trials have shown promising results from MHT, to treat cancer and radiation and chemotherapy side effects.
How does it work? As a potent antioxidant, molecular hydrogen neutralizes free radicals, which are implicated in the progression of various cancers, as well as in cancer treatment side effects. Therefore, increasing the available hydrogen in the body, MHT can help us reverse and stop the damage caused by free radicals.
In Japan, MHT has long been used as a complementary cancer treatment option, and several studies have shown the therapy to ease chemotherapy side effects and improving patient conditions.
However, researchers continue to explore new ways to use molecular hydrogen therapy for cancer treatment. Numerous studies are currently in progress, and we are only beginning to understand the depth of this emerging field.
Want to learn more? This guide dives into the science of molecular hydrogen therapy, explores its role in cancer treatment, and touches on its potential for the future.
Molecular Hydrogen and Cancer: An Overview
MHT, also known as H2 therapy or molecular hydrogen inhalation therapy, involves breathing in a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gas. The treatment boosts hydrogen availability in the body, a powerful antioxidant.
How does molecular hydrogen work for cancer treatment?
Our bodies produce free radicals naturally, during exercise and from the foods we eat. This is typically balanced by antioxidants, which the body produces and which we consume in the foods we eat. Cancer and cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, however, cause an imbalance, and free radicals proliferate.
This causes a condition known as oxidative stress, which causes inflammation and peroxidation. Both are believed to cause cancers to metastasize, stimulate tumor growth, or worsen cancer treatment side effects.
By increasing hydrogen in the body – a powerful antioxidant – it’s believed that hydrogen fights against and may even reverse oxidative stress. Therefore, MHT as a therapy for cancer helps to prevent the creation of excess free radicals and mitochondrial dysfunction, and as a result, may reduce tumor growth, prevent tumors from forming, or reduce the physical side effects of cancer treatments.
Potential Uses of Molecular Hydrogen in Cancer Treatment
Research continues to explore the efficacy of hydrogen therapy in cancer recovery and treatment. Although more research is needed, there are several methods that are being studied for their potential in treating cancer:
- Reducing Cancer Therapy Side Effects – Normal cells are protected against the negative side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy by hydrogen. When given to the body, hydrogen reacts with a toxic chemical species known as reactive oxygen species (ROS). During chemotherapy and radiation therapy, large amounts of ROS are created, which harms normal cells. This oxidative stress can also cause cancer to metastasize. Hydrogen acts as an agent to neutralize these toxic compounds and shield healthy cells from adverse effects. For example, when used in chemotherapy, molecular hydrogen has been shown to lessen the negative effects of doxorubicin and cisplatin.Hydrogen may also be used to treat common side effects like weight loss, fatigue, liver and kidney damage, inflammatory problems, and more.
- Effects on Tumor Growth – The effect molecular hydrogen therapy has on tumor growth has been widely studied. For example, one in vivo study on ovarian cancer from 2018 concluded that molecular hydrogen may have anti-tumor properties. The researchers suggested that this occurs because molecular hydrogen suppresses the growth of cancer stem cells and angiogenesis.Another in vivo study found evidence that molecular hydrogen may serve as an anti-tumor agent in treating glioblastoma, a common type of malignant brain tumor. There are other studies examining these anti-tumor effects; however, the research is still new, and more research is required.
Cancer Types That Molecular Hydrogen May Help Treat
Most cancer types have responded well to molecular hydrogen therapy, according to a large review of research.
From the analysis, MHT plays a promising therapeutic role as an independent therapy as well as an adjuvant in combination therapy, resulting in an overall improvement in survivability, quality of life, blood parameters, and tumor reduction. MHT research has looked at its effect on these types of cancer:
- Colorectal cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Gallbladder cancer
- Gastric cancer
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Squamous cell lung carcinoma with metastases
- Stage IV adenocarcinoma
- Thymic carcinoma
- Urethral adenocarcinoma
Hydrogen therapy may also help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and slow the aging process, which both may increase the risk for cancer.
Molecular Hydrogen Therapy: A Complementary Cancer Treatment
Molecular hydrogen therapy holds vast potential for further research and understanding of how to treat and support cancer patients. Much research has already been published showing that this therapy has a positive effect on patients with various cancers. The medical community must continue to explore the potential benefits of molecular hydrogen therapy so that the treatment of cancer can better support those suffering from this vicious disease.
Although hydrogen therapy alone may not be enough to completely eradicate cancer, it does provide additional layers in the fight against cancer by achieving well-being while minimizing side effects like chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
At Hue Light USA, our mission is to empower individuals facing personal challenges to discover a renewed sense of wellbeing through a range of cutting-edge devices, such as our hydrogen inhalation machine, the H-1200, or our molecular hydrogen inhaler, the H-2000. You can also increase available hydrogen with a nanobubble generator for hydrogen baths. Discover how we can help you achieve good health, balance, and comfort by exploring our site today.