Black Salve

Before you read this post, please let me emphasize my disclaimer.  I am not a medical professional and this blog is not written to offer any medical advice.  I am simply a guy that shares links, articles, information and occasional opinions as it relates to melanoma and skin cancer awareness, all in honor of my brother who passed away after battling melanoma.  For medical advice, please consult your physician or dermatologist.  With that being said, read on:

One doesn’t often hear the term “surfing the internet” as much anymore.  Most people browse, but I still like to surf.  I might find a neat article which has a link to another article which might connect to a video which might have similar videos listed and so on and so on.  My original search might have been for sunscreen and the next thing you know my mouth is watering over a recipe for lemon broccoli chicken.  “Surfing” is neat that way.  But sometimes, it just pisses me off.

I was searching for a video I recently posted on Facebook.  It was the one about bad golfers and how the most common hazard is sun exposure.  I thought it was one of the more humorous PSAs and I was impressed with its efforts to make us stubborn men more aware of sun safety.  After I watched it on YouTube, I noticed links to other melanoma-related videos.  There was one that caught my attention…the still photo was of an intelligent looking woman with a caption of “Dermatologists Hate This Video (natural skin cancer cure).”  Notice…CURE.  I had to watch.

I won’t get into all the details.  You can find it and watch it if you’d like…I won’t link it here because I simply cannot endorse it.  Of course, those that would support the video would claim that I’m a pawn of “Big Pharma” or perhaps supporting the wallet-wasting world of modern medicine.  I’m not…but I’m sure I couldn’t convince such people otherwise, so I won’t try.  Anyhow, what pissed me off was the statement that “Skin cancer is curable.  100%...whether it’s basal cell or squamous cell or melanoma, it’s curable…naturally.”

The lady goes on to describe the two natural cures, but I was drawn to the first.  It’s called Black Salve.  (The other is called Hemp Oil).  Black Salve is an escharotic which is defined as a corrosive substance that forms a black, dry scab on the skin from burning.  It’s basically a caustic paste consisting of bloodroot, zinc chloride, and other non-regulated ingredients.  The video goes on to explain that after applying this salve onto a cancerous lesion, the paste will “draw the cancer cells out…including the roots.”  You see, if legitimate surgeons try to cut out the cancer, they might miss some of the root.  And besides, “cutting into a cancer only makes it angry.”

Hmm.

I decided to read other articles related to this magic wonder acid.  Not surprisingly, the FDA (aka, “Big Pharma” as the video gal proclaims) has deemed Black Salve as a “fake cancer cure” and has essentially banned it from the US.  Not surprisingly, the people who sold Black Salve under the brand name of Cansema fled to Ecuador to market their product from there.

Hmm.

 So what I found out in a nut shell (nut-case shell?) is that Black Salve CAN be obtained (or made at home…I found a video with the recipe) and in some instances is approved for use on animals (although there is a drive to ban such use). Proponents of Black Salve claim that the caustic paste only attacks the cancerous flesh and leaves the normal skin alone.  Medical personnel would agree with half of this…but the problem is that it’ll eat through pretty much ANY flesh, including healthy skin.  There are documented reports of a woman applying some on her nose to address “a bump”…only to have her nose and much of her cheeks literally fall off her face within a week!  No, I won’t attach the photo, but it ain’t pretty.

I guess the reason I’m posting this is that many folks will try many methods to eradicate their cancer, and my fear is that some folks will become desperate enough to try Black Salve.  Truthfully, the escharotic was used in the past…WAY in the past.  But nowadays, Mohs surgery and other methods are far more regulated and less risky.  I understand that radiation, chemo, and other medical treatments can cause serious side-effects, but at least it’s regulated, monitored and controlled.   If you buy Black Salve or Cansema today, you have no idea what’s really in the paste…it’s not regulated, by anyone!  Some pastes have been found to have sulfuric acid within.  Also, it seems that the concentration of zinc chloride is very important.  A 40% concentration can pretty much guarantee significant disfigurement and burning pain.  A 30% concentration is better controlled but still very risky and painful.  It is simply not worth it…and it’s illegal to use for a reason.

Remember, I’m not a medical professional, so you should seek out your own answers.  To find out more about Black Salve, you can start with our favorite Dr. Mercola watch dog site, Quackwatch.  They have quite the dissertation on the history and evidence against Black Salve.  If you feel their view is slanted too far away, then I suggest you search legitimate medical sites from which you’ve learned to trust information regarding melanoma.

In my unsolicited and unsponsored opinion…stay away from the stuff!