Molecular hydrogen (H2) is a promising addition in cancer treatment, having the capability to induce anti-proliferative, anti-oxidative, pro-apoptotic and anti-tumoural effects; it also reduces the side-effects of conventional cancer treatment.
It may come as a shock but Hydrogen inhalation therapy has been the subject of over 2,500 research publications and clinical experiments. Hydrogen inhalation treatment has been approved in Japan since December 2016. The Japanese Ministry of Health not only approved the treatment, but it is used in more than 500 hospitals in Japan. It is carried in Japanese Ambulances as a preferred treatment for heart attacks as Oxygen inhalation can save the day but also causes free radicals to be produced, hydrogen doesn’t.
Hospitals in the USA are exploring the use of hydrogen as potential medical treatments and for energy generation. Yes, Hydrogen gas is an energy source and potentially highly inflammable. One incident in 2020, where a hydrogen tank exploded in a Detroit hospital parking lot, caused injuries. So, care is of the essence.
Hydrogen - independent therapy or adjuvant therapy?
It’s both. In a meta-analysis of 27 studies (1) using Hydrogen in various ways hydrogen played a promising role as both an independent therapy or an adjuvant therapy H2 plays a promising therapeutic role as an independent therapy as well as a member of a combination therapy, resulting in an overall improvement in survival, quality of life, blood parameters, and tumour reduction.
Hydrogen's therapeutic effects are attributed to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties.
Hydrogen inhalation can limit cancer progression
Hydrogen inhalation therapy is considered safe, non-toxic, and well-tolerated, with minimal side effects.
In an in vivo mouse study (2), hydrogen inhalation showed potential to inhibit tumor growth and progression. A study on colorectal cancer demonstrated that inhaling 67% hydrogen gas reduced tumour volume and weight in mice by targeting the pAKT/SCD1 signaling pathway.
Another study, this time with 82 advanced cancer patients reported significant improvements in pain, fatigue, and appetite after four just weeks of hydrogen inhalation, along with a 57.5% disease control rate and decreased tumor markers, particularly in lung cancer patients (3). Complete or partial remission in these patients was observed on average on the 55th day after the beginning of hydrogen inhalation. Disease control was significantly higher in stage 3 cancer patients – at 83%, compared to 36% in stage 4 patients.
Hydrogen inhalation is a relatively inexpensive and simple, supportive therapy with no or minimal side effects. Among the 29 patients treated with hydrogen inhalation alone, no hematological toxicity was observed.
Hydrogen reduces side-effects of conventional cancer treatment
Hydrogen therapy can reduce the adverse side-effects of conventional cancer treatments. The meta-analysis (1) also showed that hydrogen can act as an antioxidant by neutralising harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during chemotherapy and radiation, thereby protecting normal cells. It has been shown to prevent side effects like weight loss, liver and kidney damage, and inflammatory disorders.
Hydrogen improves conventional cancer treatments
The same meta-review also concluded that hydrogen therapy can enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation while alleviating their side effects without interfering with the primary treatment. Clinical studies have reported improvements in blood parameters and patient survival when hydrogen is used alongside chemotherapy.
How can you obtain Hydrogen therapy?
Hydrogen can be administered via inhalation, drinking hydrogen-rich water, or hydrogen-rich saline injection, with inhalation considered the most effective for rapid delivery to tumor sites. The gas's small size allows it to diffuse easily into cells, mitochondria, and the nucleus.
Inhalation is the better method. Hydrogen is difficult to absorb in water.
Drinking Hydrogen water does not find hydrogen detected in the blood stream, whereas inhaling it results in it remaining in the blood stream for over 2 hours. 100 times more hydrogen can be absorbed by inhalation.
You can actually buy a home Hydrogen system on Amazon. A code machine will allow inhalation, and make hydrogen water.
Can Hydrogen do anything else for your health?
There is a little evidence that it can clear secondary brain mets in lung cancer patients; It migh reduce the severity of Alzheimer’s; it can treat diabetes, and it is anti-aging. Of course these claims could just be a load of hot air.
References
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A Systematic Review of Molecular Hydrogen Therapy in Cancer Management; Muhammad Nooraiman Zufayri Mohd Noor et al; Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2023;24(1):37–47.
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Molecular Hydrogen Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Growth via the AKT/SCD1 Signaling Pathway; Xiangyan Zhang et al; Biomed Research International 26 April 2022
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“Real world survey” of hydrogen-controlled cancer: a follow-up report of 82 advanced cancer patients; Ji-bing Chen et al; Med Gas Res. 2019 Sep 23;9(3):115–121