Do Porcupine flowers treat cancer? No, that's not true: Thailand's National Cancer Institute has officially stated on its Facebook page that Porcupine flowers are not associated with cancer treatment and should not be relied upon as a cure for any form of cancer in humans.
The claim reappeared in a video (archived here) published on TikTok on January 15, 2024. In the video, the person speaking states (translated from Thai to English by Lead Stories staff):
The benefits [of Porcupine flowers] are cleansing the lymphatic system and curing all kinds of cancers.
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Wed Jan 17 16:22:21 2024 UTC)
In a Facebook post (archived here) on the National Cancer Institute's page, Dr. Somsak Akksilp (archived here), former director general of the Department of Medical Services, discussed the historical use of Porcupine flowers in traditional herbal remedies. He highlighted the presence of antioxidants and phytoconstituents, such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and terpenoids, in Porcupine flowers. Dr. Akksilp also mentioned that laboratory-based cell biological research suggested these antioxidants might have the potential to stop the spread of cancer in test tubes. However, there is no clinical study confirming their effectiveness in treating cancer in humans.
On January 19, 2024, the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (archived here) told Lead Stories that Porcupine flowers were historically used as herbal medicine to address certain dermatitis issues. The department also said that some individuals mistakenly believe that boiling Porcupine flowers and leaves to make tea can cure cancer -- a belief that lacks factual basis. On the contrary, the department warned that consuming Porcupine water, or tea, consistently over several days could pose health risks and become toxic to one's health.
