What Does Word Laetrile Mean?

: a drug derived especially from apricot pits that contains amygdalin and has been used in the treatment of cancer although of unproved effectiveness.

What is Laetrile used for?

Laetrile is a compound that has been used as a treatment for people with cancer. Laetrile is another name for amygdalin. Amygdalin is a bitter substance found in fruit pits, such as apricots, raw nuts, lima beans, clover, and sorghum. It makes hydrogen cyanide which is changed into cyanide when taken into the body.

Is Laetrile legal in the US?

During the 1970s, laetrile was a popular alternative treatment for cancer (8). However, it is now banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in many states.