Actual documented independent clinical research has indicated that the sap of Aveloz has weak tumor-PROMOTING properties. There is absolutely no evidence or research supporting that taking the sap internally will impact a cancerous tumor inside the body. The only thing that could be possibly misconstrued through documented indigenous or folklore use of the sap is POSSIBLY for skin cancers. The sap is very caustic and irritating and has been used to "burn" off warts and POSSIBLY skin cancers from the skin. BUT, I disagree that taking it internally for a tumor elsewhere in the body is beneficial, indicated or prudent. The sap and the entire plant has been shown clinically to be immunosuppressive, and as such I do not recommend it's use to cancer patients. It has also demonstrated in several clinical studies over the last ten years to be a possible link in causing cancer in Africa - Burkitt's lymphoma. Burkitt's lymphoma is an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma which is widespread in Africa where Aveloz is a very common house/garden plant and used as natural barrier fences. Please follow the link below to the clinical abstracts at Medline to read for yourself what has been clinically documented about the plant, sap and it's tested constituents.

Having cured myself of leukemia with alternative medicine and herbs makes me a strong advocate of cancer patients seeking alternative and complementary therapies in their battle with cancer. Unlike what some angry SpotLight readers think, my goal is to provide accurate information on benefical natural remedies without any sensationalized marketing hype and inaccurate information. If you are researching natural remedies and complementary herbs for cancer, see the database file and published clinical documentation for Graviola. It's a great place to start.

From the Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System
General poisoning notes for Euphorbia tirucalli
"Penciltree (Euphorbia tirucalli) is an attractive indoor ornamental tree. The plant contains caustic and irritant chemicals in the latex which cause reactions with the skin, mucous membranes, and the eyes. Severe burning and inflammation result after the latex comes into contact with the skin. Ingestion causes burning and irritation of the mouth and stomach, accompanied by pain and perhaps diarrhea. Apparently, injudicious medicinal use of the latex of this plant has caused fatalities in East Africa (Fuller and McClintock 1986). Family pets should not be allowed to ingest the plant."

Purdue University
Folk Medicine
Recently (SPOTLIGHT July 14, 1980) Alec de Montmorency kindled long-sleeping interests in aveloz (Euphorbia spp. including tirucalli) inferring that it "seems to literally tear cancer tissue apart." Several Brazilian Euphorbias, E. anomala, E. gymnoclada, E. heterodoxa, E. insulana, E. tirucalli, known as aveloz, have local notoriety as cancer "cures," and often find their way into the U.S. press as cancer cures. I fear they are more liable to cause than cure cancer. Still the following types of cancer are popularly believed in Brazil to be alleviated by aveloz: cancer, cancroids, epitheliomas, sarcomas, tumors, and warts. Hartwell (1969) mentions E. tirucalli as a "folk remedy" for cancers, excrescences, tumors, and warts in such diverse places as Brazil, India, Indonesia, Malabar and Malaya. The rubefacient, vesicant latex is used as an application for asthma, cough, earache, neuralgia, rheumatism, toothache, and warts in India. In small doses it is purgative, but in large doses it is an acrid irritant, and emetic. A decoction of the tender branches as also that of the root is administered in colic and gastralgia. The ashes are applied as caustic to open abscesses. In Tanganyika, the latex is used for sexual impotence (but users should recall "the latex produces so intense a reaction ... as to produce temporary blindness lasting for several days." In Zimbabwe, one African male is said to have died of hemorrhagic gastroenteritis after swallowing the latex to cure sterility.) The root is used as an emetic for snakebite. In Malabar and the Moluccas, the latex is used as an emetic and antisyphilitic. In Malaya, the stems are boiled for fomenting painful places. The pounded stem is applied to scurf and swelling. In the Dutch Indies, pounded stems are used as a poultice for extracting thorns. The root infusion is used for aching bones, a poultice of the root or leaves for nose ulcers and hemorrhoids. The wood decoction is used for leprosy and for paralysis of the hands and feet following childbirth. Javanese use the latex for skin complaints and rub the latex over the skin for bone fractures.

1. Sugiura M, Cryptic dysfunction of cellular immunity in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) carriers and its actualization by an environmental immunosuppressive factor. In Vivo8(6), 1019-1022 (1994)
2. Imai S, African Burkitt's lymphoma: a plant, Euphorbia tirucalli, reduces Epstein-Barr virus-specific cellular immunity. Anticancer Res 14(3A), 933-936 (1994)
3. van den Bosch C, Are plant factors a missing link in the evolution of endemic Burkitt's lymphoma? Br J Cancer 68(6), 1232-1235 (1993)
4. Aya T, Chromosome translocation and c-MYC activation by Epstein-Barr virus and Euphorbia tirucalli in B lymphocytes Lancet 337(8751), 1190 (1991)
5. Osato T, African Burkitt's lymphoma and an Epstein-Barr virus-enhancing plant Euphorbia tirucalli Lancet 1(8544), 1257-1258 (1987
6. Mizuno F, Epstein-Barr virus-enhancing plant promoters in east Africa. AIDS Res 2, S151-S155 (1986)
7. Furstenberger G, On the active principles of the Euphorbiaceae, XII. Highly unsaturated irritant diterpene esters from Euphorbia tirucalli originating from Madagascar. J Nat Prod 49(3), 386-397 (1986)
8. Jurberg P, Molluscicide activity of the "avelos" plant (Euphorbia tirucalli, L.) on Biomphalaria glabrata, the mollusc vector of schistosomiasis. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 80(4), 423-427 (1985)
9. Furstenberger G, On the active principles of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). XI. [1] The skin irritant and tumor promoting diterpene esters of Euphorbia tirucalli L. originating from South Africa. Z Naturforsch [C] 40(9-10), 631-646 (1985)
10. Ito Y, 1981 Combined effect of the extracts from Croton tiglium, Euphorbia lathyris or Euphorbia tirucalli and n-butyrate on Epstein-Barr virus expression in human lymphoblastoid P3HR-1 and Raji cells. Cancer Lett 12(3), 175-180 (1981)
11. Kinghorn AD, Characterization of an irritant 4-deoxyphorbol diester from Euphorbia tirucalli. J Nat Prod 42(1), 112-115 (1979)
12. Furstenberger G, New highly irritant euphorbia factors from latex of Euphorbia tirucalli L. Experientia 33(8), 986-988 (1977)