Cat's Claw Treats Cancer and Many Other Illnesses

There is much talk about cat's claw and its healing properties used for the treatment of cancer, but cat's claw can be used in the treatment of many illnesses. It is not just for cancer, but it is also used in the treatment of asthma, arthritis, gastritis, hemorrhoids, inflammations of the urinary track, kidney detox, healing deep wounds and bone pain. It is also used since the 1990's for the treatment of cancer, ulcers, chronic inflammations, and viral diseases (such as herpes).

Cat's Claw is a plant of the Amazon rain forest. There are two main species and they are Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis. In the US, you see mainly Uncaria tomentosa and in Europe you will see the Uncaria guianensis. The medicine is derived from the bark and the root of the plant. Several of the Mexican species have toxic properties. Cat's foot is not the same thing as cat's claw.

Cat's Claw and Alzheimer's Disease:

There are new studies being done on rats for the use of cat's claw on Alzheimer's Disease. The plant improves the immune system and prevents the deposit of beta-amyloid plagues on the brain. The tests showed that the mixture of cat's claw, rosemary and gotu kola worked better than cat's claw alone. The researchers are hoping to begin trials on humans in the near future, but the results on rats show promise for the prevention of Alzheimer's Disease.

Dosage for Cat's Claw:

Asthma - You must make a cat's claw tonic. Take 1/2 liter of water and 100 grams of cat's claw roots and bring to boil. Drink this water for one month.

Brain tumors - Place 250 ml of water and 1 tsp of cat's claw powder in a pan and bring to boil. Continue to boil for thirty minutes. Strain this mixture and drink the liquid. You must do this for six months before seeing a considerable improvement. This recipe can also be used for other forms of cancer also, except Leukemia which has reports of complications using Cat's Claw.

Note: It should be noted that it is suggested to use this in conjunction with other remedies, such as Nigella Sativa.

Intestinal disorders such as dysentery, ulcers and diverticulosis - Place one cup of water and 1 tablespoon of cat's claw powder and boil for 10-15 minutes. Strain the tea and drink three times a day.

Mumps - You must take 60mg of the extract, divided in three equal doses for ten days.

Osteoarthritis of the knee - You must take 100mg of cat's claw extract daily.

Rheumatoid arthritis - You must take 60mg per day. Divide the dose into three equal doses. If using the dried herbs, then take 100mg in vegetarian capsules. Expect results after 5 months.

Note: Please make sure the extract you are using contains no extra additives such as tetra cyclic oxindole alkaloids. These chemicals work against the natural compounds of cat's claw in the preventing of pain for rheumatoid arthritis.

Recipes Using Cat's Claw:

Tincture: Place 8 ounces of ground cat's claw along with 5 cups of vodka in a sealed jar and place the jar in a warm place. After three weeks, strain the liquor through some cheesecloth. This recipe may be reduced in half. This tincture is good for allergies and arthritis. Use 5 drops of the tincture, three times a day and increase slowly as needed. Never use more than 15 drops at a time.

Ointment: Take one cup of water and 2 teaspoon of the cat's claw powder. Bring it to boil and keep boiling until it turns brown. Strain the liquid and add an equal amount of coconut oil or virgin olive oil (not extra virgin). Place it back on the stove and heat again over medium heat. Boil it until it quits bubbling rapidly and bubbles no longer appear on the oil. Use this as an ointment for Herpes and any type of viral infections. Also good for pain of arthritis or cancer.

Cream: Use the same recipe above except add in some beeswax. For every cup of oil add in 1/2 ounce of beeswax. Heat over the flame and stir until thick and creamy. You could use cocoa butter instead of beeswax. The cream may be used as the ointment, directly on the skin.

Warnings About Using Cat's Claw:

Taking cat's claw for a short time has shown very little side effects. There could be headaches, dizziness and vomiting in some cases.

People who are pregnant, breast-feeding and have auto-immune diseases (MS, Lupus, HIV, Tuberculosis) should not take cat's claw.

Special Note: Cat's claw might make patients with Leukemia worst. If you have Leukemia, seek an alternative therapy such as Nigella Sativa.

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/crohns-disease-000043.htm
http://www.naturalnews.com/027138_cancer_una_de_gato_cats_claw.html
http://www.rain-tree.com/catclaw.htm
http://enconcerto.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/herb-spotlight-cats-claw/
http://mamaherbs.com
http://webmd.com

Most Recommended Products:

Source Naturals, Cat's Claw Defense Complex, 120 Tablets

Now Foods, Cat's Claw Extract, 120 Vcaps

Yerba Mate: South America's Health Drink

More than a drink, Yerba Mate (pronounced "yerba mahtay") has become a cultural phenomenon throughout South America and its use is rapidly spreading to the United State. Its benefits are obvious. In Buenos Aires, where people carry their Mate with them throughout the day, the sight of an obese person is rare.

Known to South Americans as the "Drink of the Gods", yerba mate is a hot beverage made from the dried leaves of the Ilex Paraguariense bush indigenous to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. And thanks to its caffeine-like content, the drink is a natural stimulant.

Yerba Mate has been used since ancient times as a tea, is recommended throughout South America for its rejuvenating, nutritional, and energizing effects, particularly for mental and physical fatigue. Yerba Mate can be taken as an effective weight-loss aid and scientific research shows Mate to be a powerful antioxidant and that it can protect DNA from double-strand breaks. It also has the ability to inhibit LDL oxidation. Mate naturally contains a wide range of polyphenols, methylxanthines, and chlorogenic acid, which together are responsible for its many health benefits.*

Traditionally steeped and served in a hollowed-out gourd and sipped through a metal straw designed to filter out stems and leaf bits, yerba mate was first consumed by the Guarani Indians centuries ago.

It is the national drink of Argentina, where drinkers of yerba mate (pronounced yair-ba mah-tay) are even more ubiquitous than coffee drinkers in the United States. It is not uncommon to see Argentines walking down the street sipping out of a mate gourd.

In recent years, its popularity has spread to the United States, where countless online vendors and teahouses, coffee shops and restaurants from Boston to Los Angeles are catering to an adapting palate. Those who drink it say they have turned to the beverage as an alternative pick-me-up with less caffeine and acidity than coffee and a host of supposed health benefits.

Many Americans may not like Yerba Mate the way Argentinians drink it - as it has an earthy and somewhat bitter taste. For that reason, many sellers in the U.S. are blending yerba mate with mint, vanilla, orange or other flavorings.

Web vendors claim the beverage, which contains a mix of vitamins and amino acids, can "boost immunity, restore youthful hair color, retard aging, combat fatigue, control the appetite and eliminate insomnia", and more - and research is tending to support many of those claims, such as finding Yerba Mate to have hypocholesteremic (cholesterol lowering), antioxidant, hepato protective (protecting the liver) properties and a bitter taste all of which are attributed to the phenolic constituents of the leaves.

Yerba Mate is packed with naturally-occurring nutrients and anti-oxidants and there are 196 volatile (or active) chemical compounds found in the Yerba Mate plant. Of those, 144 are also found in green tea. Yerba Mate contains 11 polyphenols. Polyphenols are a group of phytochemicals. Phytochemicals (phyto- meaning plant) are recently-discovered compounds that act as powerful antioxidants and are considered to exhibit anti-cancer effects in mammals by strengthening an organism`s natural defenses and protecting it against cellular destruction (i.e. lycopene in tomatoes, flavonoids in blueberries, and isoflavones in soy).

Yerba Mate has caffeoyl derivatives (caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid) and flavonoids (quercetin, rutin and kaempferol). In addition to polyphenols, Yerba Mate leaves contain saponins (In fact, one recent study yielded 3 new saponins in the Yerba Mate leaf!) Saponins are phytochemicals that have been found to specifically stimulate the immune system and aid the body in protecting against disease.

In 2005, researchers at the University of Illinois studied 25 different types of mate. They found the tea to contain "higher levels of antioxidants than green tea"... and, based on cell studies, "may help prevent oral cancer."

Each infusion of Mate contains:

* Vitamins - A, C, E, B1, B2, Niacin (B3), B5, B Complex

* Minerals - Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus

* Additional Compounds - Fatty Acids, Chlorophyll, Flavonols, Polyphenols, Trace Minerals, Antioxidants, Pantothenic Acid and 15 Amino Acids.

According to Dr. Mowrey, Director of Mountainwest Institute of Herbal Sciences, one group of investigators from the Pasteur Institute and the Paris Scientific Society concluded that Yerba Mate contains "practically all of the vitamins necessary to sustain life". They focused especially on Pantothenic Acid, remarking that it is "rare to find a plant with so much of this significant and vital nutrient... It is indeed difficult to find a plant in any area of the world equal to Mate in nutritional value."

In addition, results from a study done by researchers at the University of Madrid assert a high content of mineral elements, especially K, Mg, and Mn, in Mate. They considered those findings "to be of great relevance" to the nutritional value of Mate infusions.

Yerba Mate Research:

Vascular responses to extractable fractions of Ilex paraguariensis -- yerba mate -- in rats fed standard and high-cholesterol diets.

Biol Res Nurs. 2005 Oct;7(2):146-56.

Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Ciencias Fisiologicas-Fisiologia Animal Comparada, Fundacao Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Brazil.

The authors investigated the vasorelaxant properties of the aqueous and acid n-butanolic extractable fractions from yerba mate leaves. Perfusion pressure was evaluated using isolated and perfused mesenteric arterial beds (MABs) from rats fed hypercholesterolemic and standard diets. Extract-induced vasorelaxation in the presence and absence of various inhibitors was examined. These results suggest that yerba mate induces vasodilation in rats fed a standard diet in a dose-dependent manner and that the hypercholesterolemic diet substantially reduced the effect of yerba mate.

Naturally occurring proteasome inhibitors from mate tea (Ilex paraguayensis) serve as models for topical proteasome inhibitors. - J Invest Dermatol. 2005 Aug;125(2):207-12. Arbiser JL, Li XC,
Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Proteasome inhibitors have emerged as a clinically important therapy for neoplastic disease, with velcade, an organoboron compound used extensively in multiple myeloma. Recently, epigallocatechin gallate has been found to be a potent inhibitor of the proteasomal chymotrypsin-like activity. Other compounds that inhibit angiogenesis and are active as chemopreventive agents, such as curcumin, also inhibit proteasome activity. We have screened natural product extracts and found that extracts of yerba mate tea (Ilex paraguayensis) inhibit the growth of these endothelial cells. The extract was fractionated and found to have novel cinnamate esters that inhibit proteasome activity. Based upon these findings, preclinical and clinical trials of topical cinnamate esters as proteasome inhibitors are warranted for psoriasis and other inflammatory disorders.

Ilex paraguariensis -- Yerba Mate -- extracts inhibit AGE formation more efficiently than green tea. - Fitoterapia. 2005 Jul;76(5):419-27. Lunceford N, Gugliucci A.

Glycation, Oxidation and Disease Laboratory, Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Touro University-California, Mare Island, Vallejo, CA

Glycation, the nonenzymatic adduct formation between sugar dicarbonyls and proteins, is one key molecular basis of diabetic complications due to hyperglycemia. Given the link between glycation and oxidation, we hypothesized that herbal extracts with a high concentration of antioxidant phenolics might possess significant in vitro antiglycation activities as well. The aim of the present study was to address the hypothesis that polyphenol-rich yerba mate extracts are capable of inhibiting advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) formation and to compare the potency of these extracts with green tea and with the standard antiglycation agent aminoguanidine. Taken together our results demonstrate a significant, dose-dependent effect of water extracts of yerba mate on AGE adducts formation on a protein model in vitro, whereas green tea displays no significant effect. The inhibition of AGE formation was comparable to that obtained by using millimolar concentrations of the standard antiglycation agent aminoguanidine.

Cardioprotective effects of Ilex paraguariensis (yerba mate) extract: evidence for a nitric oxide-dependent mechanism. - Clin Nutr. 2005 Jun;24(3):360-6. Schinella G, Fantinelli JC, Mosca SM -- Catedra de Farmacologia, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CIC, La Plata 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

To examine the effects of a yerba mate extract on post-ischemic alterations derived from 20 minutes of global ischemia and 30 minutes of reperfusion. Methods: Isolated rat hearts were treated 10 minutes before ischemia and the first 10 minutes of reperfusion with yerba mate 30 microg/ml. In other hearts, chelerythrine (1 microM), a protein kinase C blocker, or l(G)-nitro l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, were administered prior to yerba mate infusion. Conclusions: These data are the first demonstration that yerba mate extract attenuates the myocardial dysfunction provoked by ischemia and reperfusion and that this cardioprotection involves a diminution of oxidative damage through a nitric oxide-dependent mechanism.

Antioxidant activity of a botanical extract preparation of Ilex paraguariensis (yerba mate): prevention of DNA double-strand breaks in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and human low-density lipoprotein oxidation. - J Altern Complement Med. 2003 Jun;9(3):379-87

We analyzed the antioxidant properties of Ilex paraguariensis infusion popularly known as yerba mate, by using two experimental models: the induction of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) by hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and lethality in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as well as peroxide and lipoxygenase-induced human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. Conclusions: Yerba mate is thus a rich source of polyphenols and has antioxidant properties comparable to those of green tea which merit further in vivo intervention and cross-sectional studies.

Yerba Mate Side Effects

Side effects similar to caffeine excess are possible from drinking too much yerba mate tea or taking too high a dose of yerba mate supplements.

Sources for this article included:

Columbia University
Dr. Ray Sahelian
No Borders
www.Goyerbamate.com
www.Yerbamate.com

Most Recommended Mate Products:

Guayaki, Organic, Loose Yerba Mate Tea, Traditional, 8 oz (227 g)

Wisdom Natural, Yerba Mate, Unsweetened, Instant Tea, 2.82 oz (79.9 g)

Oregano is a healing herb and natural anti-biotic

Oregano is a wonderful, aromatic herb that is native to the Mediterranean. It is thought to have originated in the mountainous regions of Greece, Turkey and Italy. It was named by the Ancient Greeks "Mountain Joy." Oregano is one of the most powerful healing herbs and natural anti-biotics ever studied.

Oregano has a warming and aromatic flavor to it. It can be very hot and bitter at times when it is picked fresh. The bite usually wanes as it is dried. Oregano became a staple of Italian-American foods. American soldiers who were stationed in Europe during World War II brought oregano back as the "pizza herb." It was soon used in more popularity in pastas, grilled/roasted veggies, meat & fish. It is also popularly used in meat marinates and salad dressings.

Oregano Oil is an extraordinarily powerful natural anti-biotic. Oregano has been found in a recent study to be significantly better than all of the 18 currently used anti-biotics in the treatment of MRSA staph infections. The strong phenol anti-oxidants destroy pathogenic bacteria, viruses and yeasts.

Incredible anti-oxidant capacity

This super herb is very rich in anti-oxidant phytochemical flavonoids and phenolic acids. It is the third highest herb in oxygen radical absorbancy capacity (ORAC) with an impressive score of 200,129. Oregano is one of the world's greatest sources of the powerful phenol component thymol. Thymol is great for improving digestive function as well as destroying harmful microbes.

The USDA ranks oregano's antioxidant capacity anywhere from 3 to 20 times higher than any other herb. Oregano has four times the antioxidant power of blueberries, 12 times that of oranges and 42 times greater than apples.

Oregano oil has been classically used as a disinfectant, an aid for ear, nose, & throat/respiratory infections, candida, and any sort of bacterial or viral conditions. Additionally, it works to suppress inflammatory mediators and cancer cell production. Oregano oil is more potent than the dried herb; however, the dried version still contains many powerful health benefits.

Studies have shown that carvacrol, a phenol anti-oxidant within oregano has powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activity when applied to food or taken in supplement form. Oregano also contains rosmarinic acid which has very strong cancer fighting properties.

Use dried oregano on vegetables, meat dishes and salads. Oregano oil can be used as an aromatic essential oil and/or as a medicinal. Simply put a dash behind your ear and a dash on your neck. Strong oregano oil may burn a little but will wear down in a few seconds. One could also ingest oregano oil - 1-5 small drops in a glass of water as it is particularly strong.

Most Recommended Oregano Products:

North American Herb & Spice Co., Oreganol P73, .45 fl oz (13.5 ml)

Now Foods, Oregano Oil, 90 Softgels

Four reasons to add chlorella to your diet today

Chlorella is a green algae that is considered to be one of the most powerful superfoods known to man. Chlorella contains vasts amount of chlorophyll within its cell walls. The cell walls of chlorella are tough and indigestible, so many chlorella producers break the cell walls before selling the product. Broken cell chlorella releases the nutrients inside the cell walls so the human body can use them. Besides being possibly the richest source of chlorophyll on Earth, chlorella is also very high in plant protein. Chlorella contains fifty-eight grams of protein per one hundred grams of weight. By comparison, beef and chicken have twenty-four to twenty-eight grams of protein per one hundred grams of weight. Chlorella is a pain reliever, reduces hypertension, enhances the immune system in some cases, and chelates heavy metals.

Chlorella has been found to reduce pain

In 2000, a pilot study was conducted in which fibromyalgia patients consumed 10g of a commercially available chlorella tablet and 100mL of chlorella in liquid form. Symptoms were measured at the beginning of the trial, and again after one and two months of treatment with chlorella. After two months on chlorella, the fibromyalgia patients reported a significant 22% reduction in pain and tenderness. One-third of the patients believed their health was better after taking chlorella. Scientists involved with this study stated that a full double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was warranted.

Chlorella reduces or stabilizes blood pressure, even when medication is stopped

In another clinical study, patients with hypertension were given 10g chlorella tablets and 100 mL chlorella extract for two months. Patients were taken off all blood pressure medications, then treated with chlorella. One-fourth of the patients saw a decrease in blood pressure after taking chlorella for two months. The other three-fourths did not see a rise in blood pressure, despite being taken off their blood pressure medication.

Chlorella enhances the immune system after flu shots in some adults

In a clinical trial performed in 2003, patients who had received flu shots were given chlorella to see if the algae improved immune system function. The subjects, all over the age of fifty, took either a placebo or chlorella for three weeks before being injected with a flu vaccine. At one week and three weeks after receiving the flu shots, patients between the ages of fifty and fifty-five who had been taking chlorella had two to four times more antibodies than the placebo group. Results were insignificant for older adults in the study.

Chlorella has potential as a heavy metal chelator

A study involving rats showed the potential chlorella has for counteracting heavy metal poisoning in humans. Male rats were given cadmium chloride, a toxic metal compound used in yellow dye and photocopying. Some rats were also fed chlorella powder, while other rats were used as the control group. Cadmium was found in the bloodstream, liver, kidneys, and small intestines of the rats. However, there was a remarkable increase in cadmium in the urine and feces of the chlorella-fed rats. In addition, tissue damage was less in the chlorella group. The research group concluded that chlorella can be considered an appropriate counteragent for heavy metal poisoning.

Sources for this article include:

Pubmed.gov. "Nutritional Supplementation With Chlorella pyrenoidosa for Patients With Fibromyalgia Syndrome: a Pilot Study," R.E. Merchant, et al. Phytotherapy Research: PTR May 2000 14(3); 167-73. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10815009

Pubmed.gov. "Nutritional Supplementation With Chlorella pyrenoidosa for Mild to Moderate Hypertension," R.E. Merchant, et al. Journal of Medicinal Food Fall 2002 5(3); 141-52. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12495586

Pubmed.gov. "Safety and Immunoenhancing Effect of a Chlorella-derived Dietary Supplement in Healthy Adults Undergoing Influenza Vaccination: Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial," S.A. Halperin, et al. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal July 22, 2003 169(2); 111-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12874157

Pubmed.gov. "Effect of Chlorella Intake on Cadmium Metabolism in Rats," J.A. Shim, et al. Nutrition Research and Practice Spring 2009 3(1); 15-22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20016697

Most Recommended Chlorella Products:

Jarrow Formulas, Yaeyama Chlorella, 1 Kilogram Powder (1000 g)

Source Naturals, Yaeyama Chlorella, 200 mg, 600 Tablets

Elderberry Flu Protection

News reports about the H1N1 and seasonal flu rarely mention alternative remedies that may shield one from influenza or possibly hasten recovery from it. The official reason for this is because such natural options rarely have sufficient proof of efficacy and safety data. The trouble with that explanation is that when new studies on alternative remedies are published, they frequently go unnoticed by conventional physicians and media outlets.

A brand new study on a “proprietary elderberry extract” was just published in the Online Journal of Pharmacology and PharmacoKinetics. It involved 64 participants during the spring 2009 flu season. The common link among all of the study volunteers was that they were diagnosed with the flu and began treatment with elderberry (or a placebo) within 24 hours of the illness. The men and women, ages ranging from 16 – 60, exhibited at least three of the following symptoms: coughing, fever, headache, muscle ache, nasal congestion and discharge. Each patient filled out a standardized questionnaire (“Visual Analogue Scale”) that measured the severity of these symptoms.

The flu sufferers were then split into two groups. Half were given 2 lozenges containing 175 mg elderberry extract daily for two days. The remainder were asked to take an identical looking placebo in the exact same manner. Here are the results reported after 48 hours of treatment:

• 28% of the elderberry group was symptom free after two days.
• 60% of those on the elderberry lozenges showed significant symptomatic improvement with only 1-2 mild symptoms remaining.
• 16% demonstrated “symptom improvement to a lesser degree”. No prolongation of disease or worsening of flu characteristics were noted.

None of the patients in the placebo group achieved “complete recovery” during the treatment period. Only 16% of the placebo participants reported reductions in one or more flu symptoms. The majority of those receiving the placebo rated their symptoms as being the same or worse than at the start of the trial. No side effects were found in the elderberry or placebo groups. (1)

Another trial was recently presented in the September 30th issue of the Journal of Nutrition. It addresses the issue of safety in long term elderberry use in humans. 52 women (26 receiving elderberry and 26 given a placebo) took part in the experiment. A relatively high dose of elderberry anthocyanins (500 mg daily) was used to establish any changes in cardiovascular, kidney or liver health over the course of 12 weeks. No significant alterations in heart, kidney or liver function were detected. The authors of the trial concluded that “chronic consumption of 500mg/d of elderberry extract for 12 wk is apparently safe”. (2)

As a side note, it’s recently been established that black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) can bind to and prevent infection from the H1N1 virus in a laboratory setting. It’s important to point out that this is highly preliminary evidence. This experiment was conducted in test tubes and not in the human body. However, it’s still encouraging because the results suggest that “elderberry flavonoids compare favorably to the known anti-influenza activities of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Amantadine“. This leaves the door open to the possibility that elderberry components may day be useful as an alternative to conventional antiviral drugs. (3)

H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Guidelines

The current research on black elderberry was likely prompted by encouraging studies that span over the last 15 years. Some of those pilot trials indicate that S. nigra can reduce the duration of flu symptoms by up to 4 days. The mechanism by which elderberry combats influenza has also been examined. The mode of action appears to be quite complex and involves a selective anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory effect that ultimately stimulates the immune system. In addition, components within elderberry (lectins) seem to directly bind to the surface of virus cells and thereby render them inactive. (4,5,6,7)

Elderberry isn’t so much a natural medicine but, rather, a medicinal food. It’s reputation continues to grow and may one day be associated with flu protection much like cranberry is linked to the management of urinary tract infections. But in order for that to happen, we need to spread the word about these new scientific findings. In most doctors’ offices around the world, food is simply not considered medicine. That’s why at this time, your physician is unlikely to write a prescription for elderberry during the flu season. However, that may change if we take the time to share some of the more obscure studies that our medical team may not even know about. This is one significant way in which we can all contribute to the betterment of modern medicine.

Most Recommended Elderberry Products:

Nature's Way, Sambucus, Black Elderberry, Original Syrup, 8 fl oz (240 ml)

Nature's Way, Sambucus Black Elderberry, Original Lozenges, 30 Lozenges

Aloe Vera and cancer - A Mesopotamian Folk Remedy

Aloe Vera is a natural plant. The form you buy may be nearly 100 per cent natural. This natural compound was used in Egyptian times to fight skin problems and even skin cancer, and one of its major benefits is its ability to soothe. It contains at least 6 natural ingredients which act as ´anti-inflammatory agents´, reducing inflammation, one of the precursors to cancer.

So can Aloe vera can cancer?

Let´s be clear: At CANCERactive we think no single compound is a ´cure´ for cancer.

However, Dr Lawrence Plaskett, vice-chair of the Nutritional Council in the UK has stated that, "It is amazing in view of all the positive indications which exist for all the anti-cancer effects of Aloe Vera that no medical studies have been initiated in human cancer".

The US Department of Agriculture has however approved Aloe for the treatment of soft tissue cancers in animals (1992) as well as feline leukaemia; and Aloe is approved as an important component in European AIDS therapy where it has a powerful effect on the immune system and complements certain drug therapies.

Origins

Aloes first recorded use was in Mesopotamia in about 1500 BC. It was then favoured by both Egyptians and Greeks for the immediate treatment of burns, cuts, wounds, infections and even "parasites".

Aloe is a member of the lily family belonging to the group Xeroids, and grows in dry regions of Africa, Asia, Europe and America. There are 200 varieties of which four have nutritional value, the most common variety being Aloe Barbendis Miller.

It was favoured for the immediate treatment of burns, cuts, wounds, infections and even parasites

The usual debate is about the relative merits of the whole leaf or the gel. Some companies claim the inner leaf has the most benefits whilst others claim the outer leaf and rind are the crucial elements. Whatever the debate, Aloe is very well researched. In fact it has almost so many benefits it is easy to feel many of these are overclaims - but they are not!

People in the West started drinking Aloe gel in the late 70s as brands became available, with claims for nutritional, skin care and even weight loss benefits, It can also alkalise the body. However, recent years have seen biochemistry explain the various benefits of Aloe.

Active Compounds

What doesnt Aloe have? Over 200 active compounds have been recorded including vitamins, amino acids, minerals, enzymes, polysaccharides, fatty acids and more. For example:

Polysaccharides and Glycoproteins - We have covered this group of compounds previously in ICON. In 1994 Gilman and Rodbell won a Nobel Prize for showing how G-proteins help cells send messages inside them. By 1999 Blobel had won one for showing how messages pass round the body and in 2001 Hartwell, Hunt and Nurse won one for showing how cell messages operate in growth, division and mistakes. Such signals can clean membranes and receptor site like the diabetes receptor site whilst others pass across membranes. Of particular importance is the way bacteria and viruses, for example bond to locations on membranes. The latter is inhibited by glycoproteins and polysaccharides.

Aloe vera fights inflammation, and may thus fight cancer

If you are thinking of buying Aloe Vera, you might like to look at the Natural selection Product of Choice. You can do this by clicking here

The most potent potysaccharide in Aloe is Acetylated Mannose or Acemannan, which is used in European AIDS treatment, Dr Akira Yagi and team at Fukuyama have isolated a number of these polysaccharide, phenolic and chromone compounds and these are at the core of Aloes anti-viral, anti-bacterial and immune boosting powers. Large polysaccharide molecules from Aloe have been shown to produce Tumour Necrosis Factor in the body, shutting off the blood supply to tumours. Others increase Interferon and macrophage production and T-cell quantity. But in cancer patients T-cells look for clear distinguishing areas on cells to sort the good from the bad and normally only one in a thousand T-cells can actively spot a rogue cell. Aloe polysaccharides also appear to dramatically improve this ratio.

So it is quality, not just quantity, that improves!

Anti-inflammatory benefits - There are a number of active compounds which reduce inflammation and can thus help in conditions from arthritis to wound repair, acne and insect bites. Fatty Acids, like gamma-linoleic acid, reduce inflammation, allergic reactions, blood platelet aggregation and improve wound healing. Salicylic acid is commonly found as aspirin and since 1982 Nobel Prize winner Sir John Vanes work on cellular environments we have known this can control excess prostaglandin production along with other negative factors. Gibberlin, sterols and the amino acids phenylalanine and tryptophan are also involved in anti-inflammatory processes and wound healing.

Aloe can help blood and lymph circulation

Other Benefits - Certain enzymes (Bradykininases) break down Bradykinin, which is a peptide substance causing increased vascular permeability. Aloe can help blood and lymph circulation. In wound healing Aloe doesnt just inhibit acute inflammation (like steroids) but stimulates fibroblast growth to improve wound healing and block the spread of infection (Dr Robert Davis, University of Pennsylvania). Its content of vitamin C. E and zinc will help this process. Lignins can help detoxify the blood and intestine by binding chemically to fats, and finally anthraquinones (aloin, aloe-emodin, barbaloin) are cathartic.

Most Recommended Aloe Vera Products:

Nature's Way, Aloe Vera, Whole Leaf Juice, 33.8 fl oz (1 Liter)

New Chapter, Organics, Aloe Vera Force, 60 Veggie Caps

Echinacea Revelations

Echinacea is widely known as an immune boosting herb that is used at the onset of cold and influenza infections. But, if you’re only using it when your nose starts to “run” and throat gets scratchy, you’re missing out. According to a new publication in the Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, in addition to Echinacea’s immune-modulating activity, this traditional Native American treasure also possesses antioxidant and antimicrobial properties which may address conditions ranging from fungal and parasitic infections to poor wound healing.

A current study in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine indicates that Echinacea is, in fact, useful in protecting against upper respiratory infections. In the trial, 175 adult travelers were asked to take an Echinacea root extract (standardized to 4.4 mg alkylamides/day) or a placebo for up to 9 weeks. The study participants were given the respective treatments beginning two-weeks prior to travel and continuing until the end of their flight exposure. They were then surveyed before, immediately after and 4 weeks after their airplane travel. Those receiving the Echinacea extract demonstrated “lower respiratory symptom scores” than the placebo group. The specific findings reveal that, the Echicacea users were approximately 50% less likely to experience severe respiratory symptoms that would necessitate medical treatment. The authors of this double blind, randomized trial concluded that, “Supplementation with standardized Echinacea tablets, if taken before and during travel, may have preventive effects against the development of respiratory symptoms during travel involving long-haul flights”.

Colds and flus aside, the next chapter in the book of echinacea may well focus on a decidedly unexpected bodily organ: the skin. Scientists are particularly interested in the potential of Echinacea for: a) controlling the growth of bacteria associated with acne; b) protecting against nerve damage induced by excessive sun exposure; c) use as an adjunct to the conventional treatment of viral warts. In practical terms, this may mean that you’ll see more products on the market that include Echinacea in creams, lotions and oral supplements directed at consumers with viral conditions such as cutaneous warts.

To learn more about the studies referenced in today’s column, please click on the following links:

Study 1 – Applications of the Phytomedicine Echinacea Purpurea … (link)

Study 2 - Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Echinacea … (link)

Study 3 - The Potential Use of Echinacea in Acne: Control of Propionibacterium … (link)

Study 4 - Neuroprotective Effects of a New Skin Care Formulation Following … (link)

Study 5 - Oral Supplementation with a Nutraceutical Containing Echinacea … (link)

Standardized Echinacea Extract May Reduce Travel-Related Illness

Source: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:417267. (link)

A Mineral to prevent cancer?

The American FDA published an announcement on its web site in early 2009 stating that Selenium may reduce the risk of certain cancers adding that Some scientific evidence suggests consumption of selenium may reduce the risk of certain cancers.

This is indeed a breakthrough for this natural mineral. The conservative FDA supporting a natural compound for cancer prevention?

With some just cause: Also in early 2009 German scientists from St. Josefs Hospital in Wiesbaden presented their findings on selenium, concluding that selenium blood levels were significantly lower in men with benign prostate hypertrophy or prostate cancer. (Acta Oncologica)

In another study (Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, 2009) experts suggest selenoproteins have powerful antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects that could make them important in preventing prostate and colorectal cancers.

Then in the March 2009 edition of Clinical Cancer Research researchers from Penn State College of Medicine showed that isothiocyanates found in cruciferous vegetables (like cabbage, cauliflower and kale) when combined with selenium supplementation became even more potent in treating melanoma.

Selenium deficiency is common in cancer patients, including those diagnosed with metastatic cancer, said lead researcher Professor Gavin Robertson.

Importantly in the prostate cancer studies, as in the melanoma research, a protein Akt3, driven by oestrogen, develops. There are no drugs to stop it, and Akt3 causes the cancer to develop, according to Robertson. Selenium is known to destabilise Akt3, he adds.

This means that selenium doesnt just help prevent cancers, it possesses the ability to fight them too.

The background

Selenium is a mineral we are only just learning about. It was not even discovered as an essential nutrient until 1979 and only in 1990 was an RDA recommended. It is now known to work with vitamin E and Glutathione Peroxidase to help protect the bodys tissues from free radical damage. Selenium and vitamin E seem to have a magnifying effect on each other. Selenium also appears to be anti-viral and anti-bacterial in its actions.

Selenium has two other effects that may well play a role against cancer. Firstly, it protects the body against the increasing problem of toxic metals, e.g. mercury, cadmium and arsenic. This is particularly relevant in the case of mercury, which pollutes our bodies via local coastal fish, fillings in our teeth and vaccines. The FDA in the USA in 2001 identified that 83 of the 100 most common vaccines used mercury as the carrier - by asking nicely they have reduced this to 73!!

Selenium levels affect your hormones

Secondly, selenium levels affect your hormones - in particular, the thyroid hormone, from which it removes the iodine. This has a knock-on effect to all of your hormones.

Various studies have looked at the blood selenium levels of people from different parts of the globe and the conclusion is invariably that low levels are linked to higher cancer rates.

In 1984 researchers at the University of Kuopio in Finland looked at 8,000 women and men who were interviewed and blood samples stored. In the following years 128 men developed cancer. When their blood was compared to those without cancer it was found to be deficient in selenium - in fact those with the lowest levels were three times more likely to develop cancer. This was especially true for cancers of the blood and colon.

A second study by universities all over the USA looked at 11,000 people across 5 years. 111 of the participants developed cancer and again their selenium levels were much lower than healthy people tested. In this research the cancers most noted were again those of the gastrointestinal tract, but also prostate cancer. By contrast selenium does not appear to influence breast cancer rates - the Harvard Medical School study on 62,000 nurses was inconclusive.

Males appear to have a slightly greater selenium requirement. It is lost in the semen and concentrates in the testes and seminal ducts.

There was a 52 per cent reduction in total cancer mortality

One of the most important cancer trials was undertaken by the Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Study Group, (Effects of Selenium Supplementation for Cancer Prevention in Patients with Carcinoma of the Skin, Larry Clark et al - JAMA,1996) and utilised a 0.5gm high-selenium brewers yeast tablet providing 200 mcg of selenium per day. 1312 patients participated. This study showed that there was no effect on skin cancers in the group taking selenium, but a 52 per cent reduction in total cancer mortality, a 17 per cent reduction in all cause mortality, a 37 per cent reduction in total cancer incidence, a 46 per cent reduction in lung cancer incidence, a 58 per cent reduction in colon cancer incidence and a 63 per cent reduction in prostate cancer incidence. And this is in a group of patients in the United States where selenium intake from the diet is approximately 2-3 times higher than that in the UK and Europe in general.

Much work has also been done with the population of China where there are both selenium rich areas and selenium deficient areas. Research there suggests that selenium has a 20 per cent positive effect on cancer risk.

In the USA 1993 China study, the group taking vitamin E, beta-carotene and selenium showed more than 30 per cent less cancers. In the French seven year SUVi Max study with 17,000 participants the male group taking vitamins C, E and beta-carotene, plus zinc and selenuium reported 37 per cent less deaths from cancer.

Currently Dr. Margaret Rayman, from Surrey University, a world expert in selenium is involved in the Precise study. Given a 5 star rating by the Medical Research Council, this is a major European trial (involving 35,000 participants Europe-wide) investigating the effect of supplementation on cancer at different doses. Funding is an issue at 2 million but hopefully will be sorted out one day.

Recommended Daily Levels And Supplementation

The official RDA is around 55 micrograms. It is felt that levels around 200 micrograms are probably beneficial but above that there is concern. At 900 micrograms there is proven toxicity, which manifests itself in dermatitis, hair loss and diseased nails.

Selenium yeast is the form of selenium used in the recent and most encouraging cancer trials, although usually this is not a live yeast. Someone who has a massive yeast overgrowth problem might need to stay away from yeast for a while, but this should not affect everyone.

The inorganic forms of selenium are less bioavailable than organic forms

Selenium yeast provides selenium compounds similar to those found in cereals, so closely resembles a food, which is ideal for a food supplementation (approx. 50% of the selenium compounds found in yeast comprise of selenomethionine). Seleno-methionine is another organic form and, whilst inorganic forms such as selenite and selenate are not naturally found in foods, they have been found to produce higher levels of glutathione peroxidase quicker. This is only one selenium dependant enzyme in the body and there are 35 or more selenoproteins that have been identified to date which all rely on selenium for their function. Bioavailability studies have shown that the inorganic forms of selenium are less bioavailable than organic forms.

Eating The Vitamins

Try Brazil nuts, wholemeal bread, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, free-range eggs, skinless chicken breast, tuna fish, onions, wheat germ, tomatoes and broccoli. There is even a selenium-enriched form of garlic, which is giving strong anti-cancer results.

Most Recommended Selenium Supplement:

New Chapter, Organics, Selenium Food Complex, 90 Tablets

Life Extension, Super Selenium Complex, 100 Veggie Caps

Astragalus - The immune booster that may help fight cancer two ways

Astragalus boosts the immune system; but at the same time it seems to possess the ability to ´light up´ the rogue cells so that the immune system can ´see´ them better and attack more of them. Possibly for this reason, MD Anderson concluded in research with patients on radiotherapy treatment, that it could double survival rates. It may also benefit liver function, seems to reduce side-effects of chemotherapy, reduces metastic spread and increases survival times.

Astragalus membranaceous has been around in Chinese medicine for two thousand years. It is known as haung qi, or chi, because it boosts natural body energy levels. Astragalus is taken from the root of a perennial plant (Astragalus membranaceous) needing four to seven years to mature before the root is harvested in early spring. The root is not unlike a garlic bulb. Traditionally, this herb is known to boost the immune system and has benefits in cases of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and respiratory infections. It is also used as a general tonic and to treat burns, abscesses and for hepatitis.

Do we think it is a cancer ´cure´? No. At CANCERactive we think no single compound (Drug or natural) is likely to be a cure for cancer. However it may be useful as art of your overall programme. Here´s why.

An excellent Immune system booster

Its wide usage in China as an immune system booster brought interest from Europe, Japan and America. Original Chinese studies dated back to 1981, when a study by Hou et al showed that Astragalus taken orally induced greater quantities of interferon and leukocytes in the blood stream.

A common misconception is that merely stimulating the immune system will be enough to kick out a cancer. Maybe, in a few cases it will. But, by and large, the problem with cancer is two-fold true, the immune system is weak, BUT .......the cancer evades the immune system because of the low immune system response capacity. (In English the bad guys cant be seen, no matter how many good guys you produce. The issue is to make lots of good guys AND stimulate the bad guys in such a way that they appear on the radar screens).

So, Medical Herbalists rightly point out that two therapeutic requirements are essential when treating cancer Immuno-modulating action, and Adaptogenic action, and BOTH are required to work synergistically.

If you are already thinking of buying Astragalus, you might like to look at the Natural Selection, Product of Choice. You can do this by clicking here.

Astragalus seems to be able to do both jobs. Firstly, it has phenomenal immune system modulating effects. In tests at the Hiroshima School of Medicine in Japan, it was shown to directly increase B-lymphocyte and T-lymphocyte levels, interleukin and antibody production.

But, not only does it increase the number of various white cells and in particular the hunter T-cells it also helps identify the viruses, bacteria and other rogue cells. The University of Texas has shown that Astragalus seems to be an adaptogenic herb offering up viruses, bacteria and even cancer cells to be seen by the immune system.

Astragalus contains bioflavonoids, choline and a polysaccharide, astragalan B, amongst other active ingredients. Astragalan B controls bacterial infection, viruses and other such rogue bodies by binding to their outer membranes. This has two effects it weakens their internal systems, and by sitting on the membrane it thus helps the T-cells identify rogue cells.

All this also makes its use as an adjunct to fight AIDS increasingly important.

FDA to approve role in cancer?

A considerable amount of detailed German and American research has confirmed the herbs powers, and identified an important potential role in cancer treatment. For example:

• Researchers from the University of Texas, Houston, have reported that cancer patients receiving Astragalus have twice the survival rate of those only receiving placebos.
•  It is often used in conjunction with other herbs. In a 1994 Italian study (Morazzoni, Bombardelli) breast cancer patients were given a combination of Iigustrum and Astragalus. Patients given this mix showed a decline in mortality from 50% to 10%.
• In another study of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer all undergoing chemotherapy, the group taking the dual herb mix showed an average life span increase of 130%.
• Astragalus doesnt merely enhance interferon levels; there is strong scientific evidence that it benefits liver function (often impaired in the cancer sufferer). In China, Astragalus is widely used in the treatment of hepatitis. It seems to reduce toxin levels significantly, boost interferon levels and inhibit viral protein expression whilst having little or no effect on normal DNA. (Zhang 1995, Fan 1996)
  
  

The FDA is currently considering it for approval as an anti-cancer agent, although you shouldn´t hold your breath as they have never given approval to a herb in their history!

Improves the effectiveness of Radio- and Chemotherapy

One extremely important conclusion from several US studies is that Astragalus seems to help the immune system differentiate between healthy cells and rogue cells, thereby boosting the bodys total cancer fighting system. One effect of this is the added benefit of improving the effectiveness of radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments.

•  In Chinese hospitals Astragalus is now routinely used to help people recover from the negative effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
• MD Anderson Cancer Center (Texas) researchers reported that cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy had twice the survival rates if they took astragalus during the treatment.
• In the West some herbalists routinely provide chemotherapy and radiotherapy patients with Astragalus, and apart from boosting the immune system (which of course both orthodox treatments damage) it also seems to stop the spread of malignant cancer cells to secondary healthy tissues.
  
  

There are no known conflicting effects with drugs. Astragalus should be taken with meals at a total intake of 2,000 to 3,000 mgs per day.

A Strong Combination

If you are thinking of buying Astragalus, you might like to look at the Natural Selection Product of Choice. You can do this by  clicking here.

On a personal note, I should tell you that I am a great fan of astragalus. I have short periods when I take it along with my other natural supplements simply to boost my immune response system.

There is a very good reason for my appreciation of astragalus. I saw its strength first hand. I found that Cats claw, astragalus, turmeric (curcumin) and echinacea  can be an excellent immune system re-booting combination for cancer patients, and especially after treatment with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. We gave this combination to Catherine when the chemotherapy drugs had reduced her white cells to desperately low levels, and the standard immune-stimulating drugs and injections on offer simply would not work even though she tried them daily for weeks. On taking the four herbs her white cell levels recovered in less than two weeks! She was also taking aloe vera  which most probably helped further.

Recommended Astragalus Products: 

Planetary Herbals, Full Spectrum, Astragalus Extract, 500 mg, 120 Tablets

Now Foods, Astragalus Extract, 500 mg, 90 Vcaps

Garlic Supplements

The issue of garlic supplementation is clouded by seemingly contradictory research. For instance, a current summary article in the esteemed Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews concluded that “evidence currently available is insufficient to determine whether garlic provides a therapeutic advantage versus placebo in terms of reducing the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality”. A separate meta-analysis in the journal Science of Food and Agriculture notes that, in general, garlic consumption reduces total cholesterol and triglycerides. However, differences may be apparent based on the form of garlic used: aged garlic, garlic oil or powdered garlic. Nevertheless, the concluding remark of the latter review states that these effects “should benefit patients with risk of cardiovascular diseases”.

On occasion, I recommend garlic supplements to my clients. In the majority of instances, I opt for aged garlic extracts (AGE). In recent years the preponderance of positive research on garlic has been based on AGE. In fact, several studies published within the last year alone reveal that AGE: a) possesses potent antioxidant activity which may “reduce the risk of stroke and neurodegenerative damage”; b) reduces cold and flu incidence and severity by enhancing immune cell function; c) lowers cardiovascular risk factors (decreased arterial calcium build up, systemic inflammation and improved vascular elasticity) when combined with CoEnzyme Q10 (120 mg/day) and/or exercise. The dosage of aged garlic extract used in most of the research ranged from 1,200 mg to 2,560 mg daily.

Of late, three other studies have employed un-aged garlic supplements with notable results. The first reports that the use of twice daily garlic tablets modulate a pro-inflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor alpha or TNF-a) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. This may be of importance because excess inflammation can contribute to the loss of bone density. The second trial utilized a popular garlic supplement known as KWAI. The findings of that intervention indicate that using KWAI alongside a conventional diabetic medication (Metformin) improves various markers of cardiometabolic health including: a greater reduction in fasting blood sugar, LDL (“bad”) and total cholesterol while markedly increasing HDL (“good”) cholesterol. However, it’s important to note that not all garlic research turns up smelling like a rose. The third and final study involved an analysis of garlic supplementation in female patients living with HIV. Combining garlic with standard care failed to produce beneficial effects in relation to immune function (CD4+ cell counts) or HIV viral load.

Click on the following links to learn more about the studies referenced in today’s column:

Study 1 - Garlic for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality … (link)

Study 2 - A Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials … (link)

Study 3 - The Antioxidant Mechanisms Underlying the Aged Garlic Extract … (link)

Study 4 - Supplementation w/ Aged Garlic Extract Improves Both NK and γδ-T Cell … (link)

Study 5 - Aged Garlic Extract and Coenzyme Q10 Have Favorable Effect on … (link)

Study 6 – Beneficial Effects of Aged Garlic Extract and Coenzyme Q10 on Vascular … (link)

Study 7 – Independent Beneficial Effects of Aged Garlic Extract Intake w/ Regular … (link)

Study 8 - The Effect of Garlic Tablet on Pro-inflammatory Cytokines in … (link)

Study 9 - Garlic (Allium sativum) Supplementation w/ Standard Antidiabetic Agent … (link)

Study 10 - Short-term Garlic Supplementation and Highly Active Antiretroviral … (link)

Aged Garlic Extract (AGE) May Protect Against Degenerative Diseases

Source: Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity Volume 2012 (link)

Recommended Garlic Supplement：

Source Naturals, Garlic & Parsley, 250 Softgels

Wakunaga - Kyolic, Aged Garlic Extract, Cardiovascular, Formula 100, 300 Capsules

Cat's Claw Boosts the Attack and Treats Cancer

Alkaloids are very powerful natural plant compounds and there are six oxindole alkaloids in Uno de Gato bark. This natural compound is found in the Peruvian rain forest and China. It is known to be anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant and an immune stimulator.

An excellent Immune System booster

A common misconception is that merely stimulating the immune system will be enough to kick out a cancer. Maybe, in a few cases it will. But, by and large, the problem with cancer is two-fold true, the immune system is weak, BUT .......the cancer evades the immune system because of the low immune system response capacity. (In English the bad guys cant be seen, no matter how many good guys you produce. The issue is to make lots of good guys AND stimulate the bad guys in such a way that they appear on the radar screens).

So, in Herbal Medicine two therapeutic requirements are essential when treating cancer Immuno-modulating herbs, and Adaptogenic herbs, and BOTH are required to work synergistically

If you are thinking of buying Cats Claw, you might like to look at the Natural Selection Product of Choice. You can do this by clicking this link.

Cats Claw is an immuno-modulating herb - it is known to increase various white cell levels stimulating the production of Natural Killer Cells. Four alkaloids in particular boost phagocytosis where the white cells attack, wrap up and carry off the rogue cells in the body be they microbes, viruses, antigens and even cancer cells.

Research studies have shown the herb to be very powerful in its use with AIDS and cancer therapies. Research shows an action in decreasing the size of some tumours.

Do we think it is a cancer ´cure´? No. At CANCERactive we think no single compound (Drug or natural) is likely to be a cure for cancer. However it may be useful as part of your overall programme.

Cat´s Claw seems to protect healthy cells during radio- and chemotherapy

Research shows that Cat´s Claw may reduce the damaging side effects from radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as it seems to offer protection to healthy cells and enhances the attacking and removal of cancer cells.

It may also be combined with wild yam and aloe vera forming a very strong anti-viral, anti-bacterial, immune boosting force.

It has also been shown to boost the bodys natural energy levels. You should take one gram a day on an empty stomach.

First Hand experience

If you are thinking of buying Cats Claw, you might like to look at the Natural Selection Product of Choice. You can do this by clicking this link.

I witnessed personally that Cats claw, astragalus, turmeric (curcumin) and echinacea can be an excellent immune system re-booting combination for cancer patients, and especially after treatment with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. We gave this combination to Catherine when the chemotherapy drugs had reduced her white cells to desperately low levels, and the standard immune-stimulating drugs and injections on offer simply would not work even though she tried them daily for weeks. On taking the four herbs her white cell levels recovered in less than two weeks! She was also taking aloe vera which most probably helped further.

Glycoproteins in mushrooms - the coming cancer treatment

Readers may have seen the front page news in the UKs Daily Express (November 2009). A page and a half was devoted to US research that showedmedicinal mushrooms (in this case shitake, Japanese mushrooms) not onlyboosted the immune systems of people trying to fight cancer, but actuallyhelped increase survival times for 70 per cent of cancer patients when used as a complementary therapy.

We are not surprised. This is not the first time medicinal mushrooms have appeared to help fight cancer.

Medicinal mushrooms have a number of actions and are covered more fully if you follow this link (click here).

Here in this article we focus on glycoproteins:

Glycoproteins are sugars, and based on polysaccharide chains of glucose. But glucose is the favourite food of a cancer cell, I hear you scream. Well, polysaccharides can neither be broken nor built in the human body. You have to ingest them in their unique configurations, and then off they go to do their work.

And when you look below at the list of top foods containing them, you will realise why junk food really is junk food.

Research on glycoproteins

Four Nobel Prizes for Medicine in recent years (1994, 1999, 2000 and 2001) have been won with research on how cells communicate, and its importance to our health & wellbeing.

Whilst one of them was specifically concerned with the brain and how nerve cells communicate through chemicals with each other (Arvid Carlsson et al 2000), the other three were concerned with communications to cells around the body and all had implications for cancer prevention and treatment.

In 1994 Gilman and Rodbell won for their discovery of "G - proteins and their role in signal transduction in cells". Basically they investigated how Iocalised cells handle signal substances from glands, nerves and other tissues to make changes.

In 1999 Gunter Blobel and his team looked at how proteins have specific protein signals built into them so that they reach the correct destinations.

And by 2001 Hartwell, Hunt and Nurse had won for showing an understanding of the cellular messages involved in the cell cycle -its growth and division into two identical daughter cells - and how mistakes might result in a cancer development.

These protein messages often involve carbohydrate molecules, or sugars, and so a generic term glycoproteins is the word coined for this hot topic.

A Simple Explanation

Several aspects of glycoproteins are important.

Blobel sought to understand a genetic mystery. When your DNA string is read and the code says you should have blue eyes or blond hair, how does the message get to the right place?

As a foetus in the womb, each of us started out with a fused cell from our parents that multiplied at an incredibly rapid rate. But around day 42-46 something (largely thought to be a message from the pancreas) tells these cells, called stem cells, to turn into eye cells or hair cells, and to stop dividing so rapidly and instead to adopt a normal cell cycle.

Cancer cells resemble stem cells and do not seem to have received the signal to differentiate

The interest for cancer scientists is that cancer cells resemble stem cells and do not seem to have received the signal to differentiate. Blobel found that the messages sent out contained little "postcodes" directing the message to the intended cells. Furthermore he discovered that these signals contain the ability to go through the cell membrane and so influence the mechanism of the cell inside

Cell Membranes - Barriers To Health

Cell membranes, like all tissue, are largely made up of fats or lipids, protein and carbohydrate. If you think of each molecule as a pin, with a pinhead, alternately pointing in opposite directions but in a neat line, you will have a picture of a healthy membrane. Messages can thus slip in between the pins. It is the role of glycoproteins to encourage this "neatness" and thus allow the messages through.

The problem comes when the pins are not in this neat format and are fused or at various angles, not allowing anything through. Worse sometimes modest amounts of carbohydrate are bonded to the membranes. Where tumour cells have this carbohydrate, it is used to bind to other cells and cause them to turn rogue too, hence causing metastasis. Killer cells in your immune system look out for these carbohydrate-bonded sites.

Blobels work focused on what happens when there are errors in the signals, while Hartwell et al focused on what happens when the cell cycle goes haywire.

What This Means To You And Me

The need for healthy signalling and message flow has led to a focus on glycoproteins. Professor Gilbon-Garber has shown, for example, that the invasive process of bacteria, viruses and indeed cancer cells which involves the above "bonding" process to membranes, can be inhibited by glycoproteins in mothers milk.

Because these molecules used in her experiments are all-natural, no side effects occurred

Because these molecules (from mothers milk, saliva and semen) used in her experiments are all-natural, no side effects occurred.

This has important implications. "Drugs" could be built on natural substances, with no side effects.

So Where Can I Get Them?

A number of naturally occurring substances have already been identified as having high glycoprotein content. Not surprisingly one was medicinal mushrooms.

Reishi, maitake, cordyceps, shiitake and oyster mushrooms all have beta-glucan polysaccharide. There have been a number of well documented studies on these medicinal mushrooms, which boost the immune system, aid communication between immune cells and rogue cells, and help considerably in the anti-cancer fight. One fun story Cancer Research UK reported was that Japanese mushroom pickers have half the cancer rates of the rest of the population. (They obviously scrump!).

Other natural sources of these essential sugars are:

Aloe vera, brans - slow cooked oatmeal, whole barley, brown rice, pectins - apples and citrus fruit eaten whole, breast milk, arabinogalactins - found in wheat, leeks, carrots, radishes, pears, red wine, coconut, meat, tomatoes, curcumin and echinacea, corn, psyllium, garlic.

The interesting factor is the universality of the discovery. All cells seem to positively respond to glycoproteins, whether they are human, yeast, plants or animals.

Even tiny amounts of these sugars - or lack of them - have a profound effect.

One integrated cancer expert we spoke to said that glycoproteins would be more important than all discoveries like vitamin C, B17 and genistein added together!

However, it is worth noting that you should ensure you incorporate the above foods into your diet. Despite all the Nobel Prizes, any supplements for glycoproteins are unlikely to be on the new EU approved lists, as the directive now stands!

To read all about the benefits of medicinal mushrooms click here.