Rung 1 · Unproven
Carctol
Promoted as a cancer cure, but never tested in a clinical trial.
TreatmentWith your doctorUntested claim
What studies found
An eight-herb Ayurvedic powder promoted since 1968. A 2026 CAM-Cancer review found no clinical trials, no published case reports and no published lab results; claimed patient outcomes were never audited.
The catch
Its safety has never been studied. One ingredient, Rheum emodi, can lower potassium with long-term use, and others may interact with heart and diabetes drugs.
What to do
Don't use it in place of treatment. Tell your team before taking it alongside treatment.
Sources
Rung 1 of 5, Unproven: Lab or animal data only, or never directly tested in people. How we score
To take it to your doctor, print this page.
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Every option we rated, or follow one cancer step by step: breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer.