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Herbs and Breast Cancer

By Cathy Wong, About.com

Updated: January 24, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Although there's no direct evidence that the use of herbs can increase or decrease the risk of breast cancer, theoretically, some herbs have estrogen-like actions so they shouldn't be used long-term or by women with a history of breast cancer or those at high risk. Some of these herbs include:
  • black cohosh
  • blue cohosh
  • chasteberry
  • dang gui
  • dong quai
  • ginseng
  • hops
  • licorice
  • motherwort leaf
  • saw palmetto
  • rhodiola rosea
  • red clover
  • soy
  • vitex berry
  • wild yam
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