Black salve is an escharotic alternative cancer treatment. The treatment is applied topically and is supposed to destroy the malignant skin cells, leaving behind a black scar, also known as an eschar. The treatment is used in alternative medicine and its effectiveness is still under debate. There are safer treatments such as surgery that may leave less visible scars.
Black Salve for Cancer
Black salve, marketed as cansema is a topical treatment that may be used to treat skin lesions and may also be employed in pets affected by skin cancer. The ointment contains Sanguinaria candensis, also known as bloodroot, which is a plant that contains alkanoids. The alkanoids have potent cancer cell killer capabilities.
The ointment is classified in the group of escharotic treatments, which involves damaging skin tissue and causing the formation of an eschar, which is a scab that will eventually heal. However, the purpose of the ointment is to destroy the malignant cancerous cells. The treatment may destroy healthy neighboring tissue as well, but this is unavoidable in this type of treatment.
Black Salve Effectiveness
The effectiveness of black salve is still under debate. The ointment may be used only in pets with skin cancer and won’t be effective in other types of cancer.
Also, when used, the cancer has to be in the first or second stage, so that the cancerous cells affect only the skin and are not spread to different areas of the body.
In some dogs, the condition can be fully treated with black salve and the skin tumors are removed. However, other dogs may not respond well to the treatment. The way the dog reacts depends greatly on his immune system and the response of the immune system to the black salve treatment.
In any case, when used, the black salve ointment may leave ugly scars behind and there will be permanent scars. When used under veterinarian supervision, the scarring can be diminished, but there will still be scars left.
Black Salve vs. Other Cancer Treatments
Cancer treatment may consist of surgery, when this is possible and chemotherapy drugs and radiotherapy. Other herbal remedies are also used in pets.
Given that black salve is only recommended during the first stages of cancer, when the skin tumors may still be operable, most vets will prefer surgery, as this is a treatment that is sure to remove all cancerous cells in a short amount of time. In addition, the surgery will leave a less noticeable scar when compared to the scars that the black salve treatment may cause.
However, some owners may opt for alternative treatments with black salve, as surgery may have some risks such as infection, excessive bleeding or embolisms. In addition, the dog will have to get chemo drugs after the surgery and these drugs contain some toxins, which will be difficult to assimilate by the pet’s body.
You should consider all cancer treatment options and choose the one that you consider will help your pet.