Benefits of Shark Cartilage

A sharks skeleton is made of cartilage, which is a dense form of connective tissue. The cartilage is dried and powdered to create nutritious dietary supplement. It is believed to have health and healing benefits and has been in use since the ancient Roman times. Sharks cartilage is composed of proteins, calcium, collage, sulfur and mucopolysaccharides.

The notion that sharks cartilage aids in curing cancer was widely popularized by a misconception that arose from Dr. William Lane's best-selling book Sharks Don't Get Cancer, in 1992. Lane further promoted his claim on CBS TV's 60 Minutes. The basis of his claim was a televised footage of a Cuban study of allegedly terminal cancer patients, who received shark-cartilage preparations and were shown to feel better.

Scientist world over have contraindicated this myth. According to them, sharks do get cancer, even in the cartilage, but it's a rare occurrence. Dr. Gabriel Feldman, MD, director of prostate and colorectal cancer for the American Cancer Society opines, "Scientists have believed for over 35 years that since sharks do not appear to develop as much cancer as humans, there may be something in their systems that protects them from getting cancer." In 1997, the American Society of Clinical Oncology' reported a study that found shark cartilage ineffective against advanced cancer in adults.

Benefits of Shark Cartilage
Shark cartilage is presumed to be full of health benefits, and a large market has been created for shark cartilage products as a "cancer treatment." The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not support these claims and has listed shark cartilage as a dietary food supplement. Possible benefits from the low-molecular-weight molecules a shark cartilage contains, are currently being researched.

Cancer Fighting Properties
It's believed that shark cartilage has certain substances that inhibit the growth of new blood cells that nurture and encourage cancer growth. In doing so, it cuts of the blood flow to cancerous tumors, and results in its shrinkage, thus protecting the damage of healthy surrounding tissues. It is typically known to control breast, ovarian, cervical, pancreatic or prostate cancers, as they depend on a system of blood vessels to survive.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Shark cartilage helps to decline inflammation and pain in the joints. It is known to reduce severe pain or joint dysfunction. An inflammation of the bowel lining, enteritis is believed to be treated by Dr. Lane and Dr. Prudden, using shark cartilage.

Arthritis Healing Properties
The abnormal growth of tiny capillaries that destroy the cartilage present in joints, and subsequent pain and joint destruction in arthritis, is believed to be controlled by intravenous and oral dosages of shark cartilage. The cartilage works in the same manner it does to fight cancer, i.e. by inhibiting the growth of these blood vessels, and causes the abnormal tiny capillaries to regress.

Psoriasis Healing Properties
It is believed that psoriasis symptoms of skin thickening and shedding depends on the abnormal formation of capillaries. The shark cartilage stalls the growth of these capillaries (blood vessels), and causes the abnormal tiny capillaries to decrease.

Immune Booster
As the shark cartilage is rich in proteins and calcium, it is consumed as a dietary supplement to help boost immunity. Diseases which are related to changes in the large molecule are treated with shark cartilage, as it contains mucopolysaccharides. It helps to heal asthma, poison oak, eczema, emphysema, and hemorrhoids.

Though under research for its healing and medicinal properties, shark cartilage has grown popular over years and believed to help in treating diseases as an alternate medicine.