How to Support Immune System During Cancer Therapy

For anybody cancer diagnosis comes as a shock. It is a shock to the patient. It is a shock to the patient's relatives. What follows the diagnosis cannot be described in words. No one can understand the fear unless he or she has been diagnosed. 

A cascade of questions follows the diagnosis. What went wrong? How did this happen? What caused it? Could I have done something differently? Is there anything I can do to slow the progress of the disease? What are my chances? How can I mitigate side effects? What can I eat? etc. etc. etc. 

Fear, guilt, uncertainty about the therapy and its outcome follow the patient like a shadow. 

Once the therapy has been chosen by the oncologist, the patient has to deal with horrifying side effects. Depending on the type of therapy or the drugs used, the patient experiences 

• weakened immune system
• high blood pressure
• anemia 
• loss of appetite 
• changes in taste
  
• indigestion
  
• constipation
  
• diarrhea
  
• nausea 
• vomiting
• increased urination 
• kidney dysfunction 
  
• muscle loss
  
• skin and nail changes
• hair loss
• fatigue
• confusion
  
• overall weakness
  

to name the most common and visible ones.

Patients who asked their oncologist for nutritional advice are often told that they can eat anything they want but might have to lose weight if they are obese. The more lucky ones are told to try the Mediterranean diet that is known for its overall health benefits.

Why is food even important? 

We all need nutrients, but people undergoing cancer therapy even more so. They need to build up strength and stamina, strengthen their immune system, and nourish their bodies that are being weakened by cancer and the cancer treatment drugs. Some foods might be better than others, so how do we choose the right ones?

Although the food industry does not want us to know, many of the food items that we consume daily contain unhealthy ingredients, some of them carcinogenic or cancer growth promoting. Some of the worst foods and substances for cancer patients or anyone who wants to stay healthy, for that matter, include:

• sugar and refined carbohydrates such as bread, cornflakes, cakes, cookies, pastry, donuts, ice cream, or pasta
  
• processed meats like hot dogs, corned beef, ham, bacon, or summer sausage
• fried, deep fried and charred foods 
• conventional dairy 
• alcohol. 

Anything processed and packaged is full of added sugar, high fructose syrup, or artificial sweeteners, hydrogenated fats, preserving agents, artificial coloring, and chemical flavors. Just check the list of ingredients. Some ingredients might not even be listed if they are present at an incidental level. Some are listed as "spices," "flavors," "natural" or "artificial flavoring" that can combine countless chemical ingredients and are usually considered to be the manufacturer's protected "secret" formulas. 

Understanding how fast food, junk food, and packaged foods of all kinds, are affecting our bodies, we all shall agree that in order to prevent chronic disease, heal from cancer, or stay healthy for as long as possible, we must eat food that is full of vital nutrients and free from disease- or inflammation-causing chemicals. 

Many nutritionists would suggest that patients eat more fruit and vegetable, preferably organic, add some fish and chicken, beans, whole grains, nuts, and spices to their meal plan, and drink plenty of purified water and organic green tea. But what if the therapy makes it impossible for the patient to even hold the food down? 

I am an advocate of raw food lifestyle that includes foods like raw fruits, vegetables and sprouted nuts that are rich in enzymes, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and various health promoting phytonutrients. I understand that roughage in raw foods might cause some discomfort in patients with compromised digestive tracts due to chemotherapy. However, turning a salad into a juice, healthy smoothie or a nutritious raw soup, would make the raw food more easily digestible and still deliver the nutrients needed for optimal health. Just juice or blend the ingredients in a blender, add a few drops of virgin olive oil, some chopped fresh herbs and organic spices, and voilà! Your raw soup is ready.

Some immune system modulating nutrients, like vitamin C and vitamin D for instance, must be supplemented. Supplements like Pectasol, graviola, curcumin, sulforaphane, medicinal mushrooms, laetrile, hydrogen, probiotics, alapha lipoic acid, or melatonin, are also often included in the protocols since they all support the patient's immune system. 

Fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut can help restore healthy gut microbiome and help with digestion and nutrient absorption.

Natural solutions like ginger tea made of sliced fresh ginger and purified water, might help the patient manage nausea without horrible side effects. 

Patients undergoing cancer therapy may experience severe dehydration. They must replace the lost fluids and electrolytes. Electrolytes are minerals such as sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and magnesium. These minerals are vital for maintaining key bodily functions. The best way to replenish the lost electrolytes naturally is to add a tiny pinch of pink Himalayan salt and some freshly pressed lemon juice into a glass of purified water. Fresh coconut water straight out of a fresh young coconut works as well. By all means avoid sports drinks since they are either loaded with sugar or are full of artificial sweeteners and flavors.

Dr. Lodi, whom I consider to be one of the most interesting personalities in the field of integrative oncology, has a full protocol for cancer patients that involves, among others, raw food, juicing and fasting. The patient must change the "terrain" in which cancer proliferates, and make his own body inhospitable to new cancer cells. 

Oncogenesis is a complex process, but patients can learn new strategies that promote healing and recovery. 

To support the immune system, healthy eating habits are vital for any patient undergoing cancer therapy, but in order to heal, the whole lifestyle must be changed. 

A health coach would suggest

• weight loss (where necessary)
• increased physical activity (wherever possible)
• emotional well being
• stress control
• restorative sleep 
• environment free of toxins and harmful chemicals
• life free of destructive relationship.

If you want to heal, surround yourself with people you can trust. Find a support group. Find a registered nutritionist who understands cancer. Stop watching the news on TV. Resolve your conflicts. De-clutter your house. Find a hobby that would enrich your mind and soul. 

All this might seem overwhelming at first but you can do it gradually, one item at a time. Ask for help. Hire a coach. Hire a personal trainer. Mobilize family members to do the tasks you are unable to do. Create environment in which you can heal.

Your disease is not a punishment. It developed over time in an environment that wasn't conducive to health. To get healthy, you have to revise your beliefs and change your habits. Qualified people can show you how to do this but no one can do it for you. You are the master of your own universe.

As Dr. Lodi says, you are not your diagnosis. You can activate your healing potential, but the healing will take time, so be patient. Trust in your body's ability to heal. You are magnificent. Persevere! Don't ever give up.

By Dominique Allmon

Dominique Allmon©2023

This article was first published on my Heaven Can Wait blog

For healthy raw food recipes please visit my Passionately Raw! raw food blog.

For a life saving information please visit Dr. Lodi's website. 

* I am not affiliated with Dr. Lodi.

Information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure a disease. You must consult your oncologist before including any new supplement or food into your daily routine. Some supplements and foods might interact with your medication or cause allergic reactions. Caution is advised.

Do You Actually Know What You Are Eating?

Recent food scandals, disclosures, health food obsession, and curiosity, have brought many horror stories to light. It seems than not a week goes by without a new shocking story. Food sold in supermarkets as natural and healthy often is neither natural nor healthy, and the law seems to protect the food industry but not the hapless consumer, unless, of course, you are an organic farmer and have the burden to prove that your organic heirloom carrot will not kill anybody.

Obesity, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, neurological disorders, food allergies, eating disorders, malnutrition, congenital disorders, to name only a few, are on the rise thanks to foods that have no true nutritional value, but pretend to be healthy, natural, and good for you. 

I am not even venturing here into the vast subject of organic, conventional, or GMO foods, but unless you grow, raise, forage, and produce your own food, you cannot always be sure what's on your plate. 

Inventiveness, progress, and greed are the culprits responsible for the miserable state of affairs. Everybody knows the "ersatz" foods like margarine and saccharine that were invented in times of extreme duress to provide people with substitutes for the most wanted daily staples like butter and sugar. Such fake foods might seem like a necessity during a time of war, but lose their attractiveness in time of peace and abundance, unless... Unless, of course, they are sold as good and even superior to the real stuff: butter will kill you, but margarine is so much better for you; sugar has calories, but saccharine, aspartame & Co are calorie free and even help you to stay skinny or lose weight you put on during holidays. And so on.

The success of science and the rise of chemical industry cannot be underestimated. Much money goes into research, but the profits are exorbitant. Many consumers are willing to accept a wide range of artificial flavors and coloring, often without questioning.

So why the fuss? Well, if it tastes like strawberry, it isn't necessarily a strawberry that you are tasting. A typical strawberry flavoring contains chemicals that have absolutely nothing to do with strawberries: 

• amyl acetate,
• amyl butyrate,
• amyl valerate,
• anethol,
• anisyl formate,
• benzyl acetate,
• benzyl isobutyrate,
• butyric acid,
• cinnamyl isobutyrate,
• cinnamyl valerate,
• cognac essential oil,
• diacetyl,
• dipropyl ketone,
• ethyl acetate,
• ethyl amyl ketone,
• ethyl butyrate,
• ethyl cinnamate,
• ethyl heptanoate,
• ethyl heptylate,
• ethyl lactate,
• ethyl methylphenylglycidate,
• ethyl nitrate,
• ethyl propionate,
• ethyl valerate,
• heliotropin,
• hydroxyphenyl-2-butanone (10 percent solution in alcohol),
• a-ionone,
• isobutyl anthranilate,
• isobutyl butyrate,
• lemon essential oil,
• maltol,
• 4-methylacetophenone,
• methyl anthranilate,
• methyl benzoate,
• methyl cinnamate,
• methyl heptine carbonate,
• methyl naphthyl ketone,
• methyl salicylate,
• mint essential oil,
• neroli essential oil,
• nerolin,
• neryl isobutyrate,
• orris butter,
• phenethyl alcohol,
• rose,
• rum ether,
• g-undecalactone,
• vanillin, and last, but not least,
• solvent. 

Is this all right with you? Wouldn't it be easier to simply use strawberries to flavor a cake or a milkshake, or any product for that matter? No, because strawberries are perishable and expensive, and not flavorful enough in tiny doses. Chemicals, on the other hand, can be standardized and measured out exactly to produce a constant flavor that sells well and lasts till the expiry date of a product, say, three or five years later. 

The same goes for the vanilla, caramel, or chocolate flavorings, and everything else that is manufactured and sold as food.

How about artificial crab meat so popular with sushi lovers? How about gel-injected shrimp from Asia? How about chicken that is only 51% meat? How about vegan sausage? How about sausage?! How about fake apple juice? How about fake honey? Scandal after scandal, disclosures revealed criminal practices. For some people such revelations come too late, others may still reconsider the way they eat and shop for food. 

Some of the food industry practices are criminal and must be prosecuted, but many of the secrets are perfectly legal. They are scandalous only because of the dubious ingredients like wood or human hair used to manufacture products sold as food. 

The food industry can really be proud of its achievements: food preservatives, flavor enhancers, emulsifiers, coloring, bleaches, and other additives that make a bunch of chemicals look and taste like food. That many people get sick or addicted to certain food products has to be proven first. The industry is very strong and has powerful lawyers. Much money goes into research. Much money goes into lobbying. Much money goes into advertisement. Some money probably goes into lawsuits and to hush the plaintiffs.

Ignorance kills, but how can you blame the overwhelmed consumer when the whole industry promotes unhealthy food products that are definitely not good for you, as something you must eat daily in order to look sexy, healthy, beautiful, and fit? 

Education is important, but habits die hard. For as long as a truly organic apple is more expensive than a fake chocolate, sugar loaded bar, the situation will remain unchanged.

By Dominique Allmon

Dominique Allmon@2017

Also of interest: 5 Food Industry Secrets They Don’t Want You To Know by Kim Johnson or 6 Food Industry Tricks You Don’t Know About by Dr. Mercola. To read the articles please click here and here.

*This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Health Benefits of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh

Gold, frankincense and myrrh are known since antiquity. They have been used to heal ailments of the body and the mind. All three substances were considered precious because of their relative scarcity. They were often used in religious ceremonies, given as gifts, and of course, used as medicine to cure those who could afford them.

 Gold, frankincense and myrrh

All three substances experience an incredible come-back. There is an ongoing research that is quite promising. Unfortunately, most people in the United States are completely unaware of their health benefits and incredible healing potential.

~ Gold ~

The earliest records of medicinal use of gold date back to Ancient Egypt where people ingested gold for mental, spiritual and bodily purification. As far back as 5,000 years ago Egyptian alchemists used liquid gold to make healing elixirs. They believed that gold could invigorate and rejuvenate the body, cure diseases, and help restore perfect health. Ancient Egyptians were also using gold in dentistry. Archeological finds document use of gold in dentistry as early as 2,500 B.C. 

But Ancient Egyptians were not the only ones who used gold for therapeutic purposes. Gold was used in the Traditional Chinese Medicine to restore health and prolong life. To this day peasants in China cook rice with a golden coin in order to profit from its restorative properties. 

Gold was also used therapeutically by the Indian Ayurvedic doctors, by the ancient Tibetans, by the Maya and the Aztecs, by the Arabs and the Persians. The Persian doctor Avicenna prescribed it to strengthen the heart. 

Medieval alchemists created Aurum potabile, a gold essence that was used as a life-giving, rejuvenating, balancing, heal-all potion throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The process was very laborious and was kept secret. Famous doctors such as Paracelsus and Isaacus Hollandus reported incredibly successful use of Aurum potabile in therapy of many chronic ailments. Medieval doctors also used gold-coated pills to cure arthritis.

Over the ages gold never lost its popularity, but the 19th century brought an entirely different form of gold - the colloidal gold that was first produced in 1857 by British chemist Michael Faraday. Colloidal gold is a suspension of minuscule gold particles (nano-particles) in a fluid, commonly distilled water. In the 19th century colloidal gold was used to improve blood circulation and to cure alcoholism. Today it is often used to reduce dependency on such substances as alcohol, nicotine, caffeine and sugar. 

Colloidal gold seems to have balancing and harmonizing effect on the human body. It can be used to restore libido, enhance the immune function, improve mental focus, and increase overall energy levels. 

Modern cosmetic industry re-discovered the use of gold for beauty. There are records that women in ancient Egypt, China and Rome used gold topically to prevent premature aging and heal skin conditions. Research shows that gold has the capacity to prevent depletion of collagen and the breakdown of elastin, it may help to regenerate healthy skin cells, calm inflammation, and  fight free radicals. 

Gold is non-toxic. It is well tolerated by the body and does not seem to interfere with other medications. 

~ Frankincense ~ 

Frankincense, also known as olibanum, is an aromatic resin obtained from the tree of the genus Boswellia in the family Burseraceae. The tree is native to Oman, Somalia, and Yemen. For ages, the resin was used not only to make perfumes and incense, but also as medicine. 

The use of frankincense dates back to ancient Egypt where it was used in sacred ceremonies. Ancient Egyptians believed that frankincense could dispel demons and used the resin for embalming and mummification. They also mixed the resin with honey and chewed it to cure bad breath. 

In Arabia and in Ancient China the resin was used to heal skin conditions, running nose, nausea, and even leprosy.  

Hippocrates used an ointment made from frankincense that could cure many skin conditions, burns, wounds and skin infections. The resin was also used to alleviate digestive problems, expel parasites, cure bronchitis, sore throat, catarrh, and cough, to mention only a few. 

In the Middle Ages, Hildegard of Bingen believed that the scent of frankincense had the power to stimulate the human brain and improve memory. Paracelsus also used frankincense to cure variety of ailments. Both, Hildegard of Bingen and Paracelsus knew about its capacity to cure skin diseases, respiratory diseases, digestive problems and diarrhea. 

During the Middle Ages frankincense was one of the most important remedies used to cure people. Its popularity as a medicine, however, dwindled at the end of the Middle Ages and people in Europe forgot about it. They could still enjoy the scent, though, since frankincense was burned ceremonially in Catholic churches all over Europe. 

Frankincense became popular again in the West in mid-1980s after a German pharmacologist, prof. Phillip Theodor Ammon of Tübingen, brought it back from India where it was part of the Indian materia medica. 

German researchers have discovered that Indian frankincense (Boswellia serrata) was a very effective analgesic and worked wonders against low-level inflammation in the body. There is hope that chronic diseases and conditions such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, atherosclerosis, asthma, eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, leaky gut syndrome, and maybe even cancer, could be successfully treated with frankincense. More research has to be conducted, but what was published so far is quite promising. 

~ Myrrh ~

Myrrh is the very aromatic resin from small, thorny tree species from the genus Commiphora in the family Burseraceae. Myrrh is native to eastern regions of Africa (Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan), and the Arabian Peninsula, especially Oman and Yemen. Since antiquity myrrh was used to make perfume and incense, and like frankincense, it was also used as medicine. Myrrh was highly valued in Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India, Ancient Greece and Rom. 

Ancient Egyptians used myrrh in religious ceremonies and funerals. The resin was used in embalming and mummification, and to heal wounds. 

In Ancient Greece, Hippocrates used myrrh to heal ulcers and wounds. The Romans believed that the scent of myrrh was an aphrodisiac. Roman ladies wore myrrh perfume to attract lovers. 

Myrrh became popular in Ancient China in the 7th century. It was used to heal wounds, to improve blood circulation, treat uterine tumors and other female health problems. 

During the pestilence pandemics in Medieval Europe doctors gave patients decay preventing pills made of myrrh, saffron and aloe. The Arabs used myrrh to cure contagious diseases. 

In Europe myrrh was used to disinfect wounds, reduce pain, and prevent inflammation. It was a popular remedy that could cure cough, bad breath, headaches, digestive problems, jaundice, gout, syphilis and even leprosy. 

Due to the scientific progress of the 19th century and the emergence of modern chemistry and medicine, myrrh became obsolete. 

Thanks to a growing interest in plant-based medicine during the last few decades, however, we have witnessed a comeback of this ancient remedy. Thanks to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, myrrh is often added to mouthwashes and toothpaste. It is used to disinfect wounds and to reduce inflammation in the mouth, but also to treat asthma, reduce pain, balance blood sugar, balance cholesterol levels, stimulate the immune system, treat systemic candida and fungal infections, improve digestion, and to heal inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract. There is even hope for cancer patients. An ongoing research is being conducted in many parts of the world. 

Both, frankincense and myrrh, are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and in Ayurveda. For centuries these resins have been used in China and in India. They are an important part of many herbal preparations that are used to treat wide variety of ailments and diseases. 

Essential oils of frankincense and myrrh are used to make costly perfumes. They are also used in aromatherapy, but that, by itself, is a vast subject deserving an entirely new article. 

By Dominique Allmon

Dominique Allmon©2015

*This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Can Graviola Cure Cancer?

Graviola (Annona muricata)

I would like to start the New Year with an article that may open your eyes to natural cures as a real alternative to conventional medicine.

About six months ago my Spanish neighbor Miranda told me that she was diagnosed with cancer. Her kidneys were infested with tumors and she had six to nine months to live if she underwent the classical anti-cancer therapy that included chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Her younger brother had the same disease and did not make it.

Miranda is a diminutive, good-natured  lady in her mid-fifties. The diagnosis did not change much of her outlook on life. A Spanish Catholic she decided to put her life into God's hands and was playing with the idea of dying without allowing the horrible chemotherapy to destroy her.

Miranda is a lucky lady. She has at least three natural health "obsessed" neighbors: a therapeutic masseur, and at least two herbal medicine aficionados, one of those using graviola on regular bases as an "insurance" against cancer.

I see Miranda from time to time, but do not have the courage to ask about her disease. She still has her wonderfully thick hair and does not look incredibly sick. In fact, it seems to me that she is somewhat improving. And always smiling!

Another neighbor told me that Miranda decided to change her lifestyle. She decided to detoxify her body and change her nutrition just a bit to begin with. She also works with the masseur next door. She undergoes a massage therapy to calm her nerves and reduce the stress. And, after the herbs-loving neighbor made a suggestion, she is now on graviola for almost five months. The best thing is, her tumors disappeared completely and she is in no need of any conventional anti-cancer treatment!

Each cancer case is individual, each immune system reacts differently to stimulation, but Miranda is the first person I have ever met who recovered from cancer with natural means. 

Graviola fruit also known as soursop or guanabana

For years I kept graviola and few other nature wonders in the back of my mind for the horrible eventuality. If I were ever to be diagnosed with cancer this would be what I would opt for. Knowledge may save your life, I told myself years ago. It can save the lives of others if you share it with them. This is what the other neighbor did and saved Miranda a lot of pain.

I checked the Internet and found that graviola is surrounded by controversy and I advise caution when you decide to use it a s a cure. But one thing must be said, graviola was used by native people of South America to cure many ailments and can be still used to improve one's immune response. Like with any product on the market you must consider the purity of the product and the real content of the herb before you buy a supplement.

~ Health Benefits of Graviola ~ 

Graviola (Annona muricata), also known as soursop, is an evergreen plant native to Central and South America. It grows in Mexico, Cuba, the Caribbean, Colombia, Brazil, and Venezuela, among others. Graviola is also cultivated in parts of Africa and in Southeast Asia.

Graviola plant produces fruits with edible white pulp and indigestible black seeds. The fruit pulp is used to make smoothies, juices and desserts.

The fruit is rich in Vitamin C; B vitamins including B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and folate; minerals including calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc; and choline.

A cup of freshly made graviola (soursop) juice in Singapore

Indigenous natural medicine uses all parts of the graviola plant: fruit, bark, leaves, roots, and seeds, and attributes different healing properties to each.

The fruit, for instance, is used to rid the body of the intestinal parasites and worms. It is also used to bring dawn the fever, increase mother's milk after childbirth, cure diarrhea and dysentery. The bark, leaves and roots are used as infusion that is considered to be anti-spasmodic, hypotensive and sedative. Crushed seeds of the fruit are used against internal and external parasites, including worms and head lice. A tea made of leaves is used to control diabetes, strengthen the liver, and calm the inflammation of the mucosa.

Graviola contains many active compounds that have been studied by scientists since the 1940s. Of great interest to scientists is the group of chemicals called Annonaceous acetogenins. Graviola produces these compounds in its leaves, stem, barks and seeds. Three independently conducted studies demonstrated that these compounds have significant anti-tumor properties and selective toxicity against various cancer cells without harming the healthy cells in the body. Many of these acetogenins were selectively toxic to cancer cells at a very law doses. Studies published in 1998 describe active compounds in graviola as having strong anti-tumor, anti-cancer, anti-viral and anti-parasitic properties.

While ongoing studies produce even more promising results, there are some who dismiss graviola claiming that there is no successful research proving graviola's efficacy against cancer. Moreover, inferior graviola products are being sold all over the Internet and spectacular claims are being made without much justification by people who take advantage of those who suffer from cancer. 

Like any herb, graviola does not come without side effects and contra-indications. Graviola should not be taken by pregnant women, people with law blood pressure. Since graviola is a potent anti-microbial agent, it can kill off the friendly bacteria in the gut. Supplementation with probiotics may be necessary with prolonged use of graviola products. 

No interaction with pharmaceutical drugs has been reported so far, but since graviola is a cardio-depressant and vasodilator, it may potentiate anti-hypertensive and cardiac depressant drugs. 

Supplementation with CoQ10 during the graviola therapy may render graviola supplements less effective. CoQ10 increases levels of ATP. Graviola, on the other hand, blocks transfer of ATP to cancer cells. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is a primary source of intracellular energy. In order to survive, reproduce and grow, a cancer cell needs large amounts of energy. When acetogenins in graviola block the energy flow to a cancer cell, it can no longer grow and is destined to die.

Some alkaloids extracted from the seeds and roots of graviola are neurotoxic and may cause neuronal dysfunction and degeneration leading to symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Their use is not recommended.

Many cancer patients and health practitioners using extracts from leaves and stem of graviola as a complimentary therapy in their cancer protocols. The suggested therapeutic use is 2000-3000 mg to be taken three times a day.

Contact certified health care provider, certified herbalist or certified nutritionist before you choose self medication with graviola supplements.

By Dominique Allmon

*This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure a disease.

Selected graviola studies:

• Schultes, R. E. And Raffauf "The Healing Forest: Medicinal and Toxic plants of the Northwest Amazonia." Portand: R. F. Dioscorides Press.1990.
• Branch, L.C. and DaSilva I.M.F. “Folk Medicine of Alter Do Chao, Para, Brazil.” Acta Amazonica 1983; 13 (5/6): 737-797
• Mors, W. B., et. al. "Medicinal plants of Brazil." Algonac, Michigan, Reference Publications, Inc., 2000.
• Morton, J.F. “Caribbean and Latin American Folk Medicine and its Influence in the United States.” Q. J. Crude Drug Res. 1980; 18(2): 57-75.

Health Benefits of Graviola by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Like every year women around the world become a bit more aware of this deadly disease when October comes. Some might have developed the disease over the last twelve months; others may know someone who has.

The statistics are terrifying despite the growing awareness and health information available to us:

• About 1 in 8 U.S. women (just under 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
• In 2011, an estimated 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 57,650 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
• About 2,140 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in men in 2011. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.
• From 1999 to 2005, breast cancer incidence rates in the U.S. decreased by about 2% per year. The decrease was seen only in women aged 50 and older. One theory is that this decrease was partially due to the reduced use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by women after the results of a large study called the Women’s Health Initiative were published in 2002. These results suggested a connection between HRT and increased breast cancer risk.
• About 39,520 women in the U.S. were expected to die in 2011 from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1990 - especially in women under 50. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness.
• For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.
• Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. Just under 30% of cancers in women are breast cancers.
• White women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than African-American women. However, in women under 45, breast cancer is more common in African-American women than white women. Overall, African-American women are more llkely to die of breast cancer. Asian, Hispanic, and Native-American women have a lower risk of developing and dying from breast cancer.
• In 2011, there were more than 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the US.
• A woman’s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 15% of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it.
• In men, about 1 in 10 breast cancers are believed to be due to BRCA2 mutations, and even fewer cases to BRCA1 mutations.
• About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.  

For most people the diagnosis comes as a shock. To many it is a death sentence. And yet, breast cancer, like many other cancers, is a symptom of a life strategies gone wrong. It can be prevented! Prevention means a drastic change of lifestyle - a step that relatively few people want to take. At least not before they are diagnosed with a deadly disease. 

The importance of early detection of breast cancer cannot be stressed enough. It takes only a few minutes a day to perform self-exam. 

Healthy nutrition is vital in prevention of any disease. Just consider that a better health is only a meal away. It really is this simple!

Wishing everyone a magnificent time in October, in radiant health - Dominique Allmon

Dominique Allmon©2013

*This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose or cure a disease.

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

There's no proven prostate cancer prevention strategy. But you may reduce your risk of prostate cancer by making healthy choices, such as exercising and eating a healthy diet.

By Mayo Clinic

If you're concerned about your risk of prostate cancer, you may be interested in prostate cancer prevention. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men. You may have friends or family members who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and this may make you wonder about what you can do for prostate cancer prevention. 

There's no sure way to prevent prostate cancer. Study results often conflict with each other, and no clear ways to prevent prostate cancer have emerged. In general, doctors recommend that men with an average risk of prostate cancer make choices that benefit their overall health if they're interested in prostate cancer prevention. 

Choose a healthy diet  

There is some evidence that choosing a healthy diet that's low in fat and full of fruits and vegetables may reduce your risk of prostate cancer, though study results haven't always agreed. If you want to reduce your risk of prostate cancer, consider trying to:

• Choose a low-fat diet. Foods that contain fats include meats, nuts, oils and dairy products, such as milk and cheese. In studies, men who ate the highest amount of fat each day had an increased risk of prostate cancer. While this association doesn't prove that excess fat causes prostate cancer, reducing the amount of fat you eat each day has other proven benefits, such as helping you control your weight and helping your heart. To reduce the amount of fat you eat each day, limit fatty foods or choose low-fat varieties. For instance, reduce the amount of fat you add to foods when cooking, select leaner cuts of meat and choose low-fat or reduced-fat dairy products.
• Eat more fat from plants than from animals. In studies that looked at fat and prostate cancer risk, fats from animals were most likely to be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. Animal products that contain fats include meat, lard and butter. When possible, use plant-based fats in place of animal fats. For instance, cook with olive oil rather than butter. Sprinkle nuts or seeds on your salad rather than cheese.
• Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat each day. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins and nutrients that are thought to reduce the risk of prostate cancer, though research hasn't proved that any particular nutrient is guaranteed to reduce your risk. Eating more fruits and vegetables also tends to make you have less room for other foods, such as high-fat foods. Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat each day by adding an additional serving of a fruit or vegetable to each meal. Eat fruits and vegetables for snacks.
• Eat fish. Fatty fish - such as salmon, sardines, tuna and trout - contain a fatty acid called omega-3 that has been linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. If you don't currently eat fish, try adding it to your diet.
• Reduce the amount of dairy products you eat each day. In studies, men who ate the most dairy products - such as milk, cheese and yogurt - each day had the highest risk of prostate cancer. But study results have been mixed, and the risk associated with dairy products is thought to be small.
• Drink green tea. Studies of men who drink green tea or take green tea extract as a supplement have found a reduced risk of prostate cancer. If you like to drink tea, consider choosing green tea.
• Try adding soy to your diet. Diets that include tofu - a product made from soy beans - have been linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. It's thought that the benefit of soy comes from a specific nutrient called isoflavones. Other sources of isoflavones include kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils and peanuts.
• Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit yourself to no more than a drink or two each day. There's no clear evidence that drinking alcohol can affect your risk of prostate cancer, but one study found men who drank several drinks each day over many years had an increased risk.

Maintain a healthy weight

Men with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher are considered obese. Being obese increases your risk of prostate cancer. If you are overweight or obese, work to lose weight. You can do this by reducing the number of calories you eat each day and increasing the amount of exercise you do. 

If you have a healthy weight, work to maintain it by exercising most days of the week and choosing a healthy diet that's rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. 

Exercise most days of the week

Studies of exercise and prostate cancer risk have mostly shown that men who exercise may have a reduced risk of prostate cancer. But not all studies have agreed. Exercise has many other health benefits and may reduce your risk of heart disease and other cancers. Exercise can help you maintain your weight, or it can help you lose weight. 

If you don't already exercise, make an appointment with your doctor to ensure it's OK for you to get started. When you begin exercising, go slowly. Add physical activity to your day by parking your car farther away from where you're going, and try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. 

Talk to your doctor about your risk

Some men have an increased risk of prostate cancer. For those with a very high risk of prostate cancer, there may be other options for risk reduction, such as medications. If you think you have a high risk of prostate cancer, discuss it with your doctor.

Article source here

For more information please visit Prostate Cancer Foundation and the National Cancer Institute

*This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose or cure a disease.

How to Prevent Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is a cancer that affects the breast tissues. It usually forms in the ducts that carry milk to the nipples and in the glands that make milk (lobules). This life-threatening disease affects mostly women, but also more and more men. Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the world.

There are many factors that lead to cancer and any nutritional and lifestyle approach to prevent it must address them all. Anti-cancer nutritional program has three goals:

• strengthen the immune system
• avoid or neutralize carcinogens
• protect DNA and prevent cellular damage

Even with all the advances in both, the diagnostic medicine and the pharmaceutical technology, the mortality rate for breast cancer remains very high. And while the medical establishment still quarrels about the role of food in the disease genealogy and prevention, the nutritionists are aware of the fact that nutrients have been used to cure and prevent disease since thousands of years. And although nutrition cannot be the sole cure for cancer, healthy nutrition, rich in fresh fruit and vegetable, contributes to a stronger immune system and overall well being.

Food compounds that have very high cancer-preventive potential are investigated in laboratory setting of many serious research institutions.

The anti breast-cancer diet should include high doses of vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin, calcium glucarate, omega-3 fatty acids, and the oleic acid. Power foods such as pomegranate, raspberries, cruciferous vegetables rich in the cancer fighting indole-3-carbinole, curcumin found in curry, green tea, soy isoflavones, flax rich in lingans, and medicinal mushrooms such as shiitake and maitake, all contain compounds that may act synergistically to promote breast health. Although the mechanisms of action are not yet fully understood, most of these compounds are very potent antioxidants and appear to promote apoptosis, or programmed cell death thus "exterminating" cancerous cells in the breast tissue. Some of them also reduce inflammation as well as the proliferation of blood vessels to the tumor, and even stop the metastasis or spread of cancerous cells in the body.

These potent foods act in synergy and prevent the DNA damage, inhibit growth and reproduction of cancerous cells in the body and help reduce inflammation. Consuming them on regular bases and adding more fresh fruit and vegetables to your diet, and removing at the same time all foods that contain preservatives, additives, sugar, hydrogenated and saturated fat, and too much salt, should help your body to detoxify, alkalize and maintain proper pH balance. This is important step in cancer prevention as cancers cannot grow in alkaline condition.

Changes in your diet will also help you to lose weight, if you need to, and keep the weight off. Remember that obesity is one of the greatest risk factors for breast cancer and the lowest survival rate after the cancer have been treated.

If you suffer from hypothyroidism, make sure that you bring your thyroid hormones back to normal levels. Hypothyroidism precedes most breast disease. By taking control of this problem as soon as it appears, you will decrease your risk of developing breast cancer.

Learn how to do your own breast self-examination and perform it on a regular basis. A great majority of lumps are detected by the women themselves!

Advanced breast cancer does not respond well to therapy. This is why prevention is more important than ever. Implementing healthy eating habits and understanding how your nutrition affects your body, reducing saturated fat consumption, avoiding alcohol and cigarettes, and exercising at least three to four times a week, is vital and will help you maintain a strong immune system.

And don't forget that a positive outlook is as important as your nutrition for your immune system to stay strong and your body to heal and repair all the damage that happens on cellular level long before any disease can be diagnosed.

By Dominique Allmon

*This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose or cure a disease.

How to Prevent Breast Cancer? by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Aminocare - Dr. Burzynski's Genetic Solution To Aging

I met Dr. Burzynski on the plane to Houston, TX around Thanksgivings in 2007 and I knew right away that he was a quite remarkable human being. He was traveling back from Thailand together with his wife Barbara.

I must admit that I never heard his name before and I was quite amazed when Mrs. Burzynski, who is also a physician, told me about her husband's research field.

When I finally was able to look at his website and try his products, I was more than amazed. And although I am neither a doctor nor a scientist, I share Dr. Burzynski's passion for progress in the cancer research and the anti-aging technology. And I admire his personal "crusade" against the system.

Dr. Burzynski is a world famous oncologist and biochemist who was born and educated in Poland. He is widely recognized for both, his work as a physician and a scientist with more than 250 publications publications in his field which he authored or co-authored. He received numerous awards from many prestigious institutions. In 1977 he established the Burzynski Clinic in Houston, TX, where more than 8,000 patients with terminal cancer have been treated with remarkable success. 

Dr. Burzynski devotes great part of his time to the research of causes and treatments for cancer. In 1967 he pioneered the development and application of biologically active peptides in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer. This was the time when he identified naturally occurring peptides in the human body which seemed to control the growth of cancer. He realized that cancer patients were deficient in these very peptides. Later in his life, he named these peptides Antineoplastons for their ability to correct and normalize neoplastic, or cancerous cells. His research was based on the discovery of natural bio-active peptides in the late 1800s by the Polish scientist, Stanislaus Bondzynski who at that time did not realize that the bio-active peptides could stop the growth of tumors.

Using his knowledge and experience in the field of oncology and biochemistry, Dr. Burzynski and his team of researchers conceived Aminocare® - the genetic solution to aging. The goal of this latest work is the prevention of the detrimental effects of aging and extension of longevity. His new approach focuses on genetics.

There are approximately 30,000 genes that are active in the human body. A large number of these genes are responsible for the human growth and development at birth. As we age, the amount of active genes diminishes and we observe the slackening of many bodily functions and processes: our metabolism slows dawn, immune system weakens, we lose energy and observe the evident signs of aging. What happens is the gene silencing process due to methylation, in which the good genes that normally promote growth and regeneration are being "switched off" while at the same time genes that are responsible for degeneration and disease are being "switched on". Aging and finally, death are the results of this natural process.

Dr. Burzynski's research shows that the aging process may be reversed and slowed dawn. He developed formulations containing peptides and amino acid derivatives called antineoplastons. Antineoplastons are believed to function as switches that turn on the inactive tumor suppressor genes as well as other genes that are being switched off due to the aging process. Aminocare® products contain components similar to the antineoplastons. They are the active ingredients that work genetically on a molecular level to reverse the signs of aging.

The Aminocare® line includes three different supplements and two formulations for the skin:

• Aminocare® A10 formulated to support body's own defense mechanisms, regulate normal cell division and protect the body from toxin. Aminocare® contains seven amino acids, a derivative of L-glutamin, and Vitamin B2.
• Aminocare® Brain is a unique formulation of amino acids which are key precursors to proteins, including important enzymes, that work in synergy to regulate cellular pathways in the body. The product also includes unique Curcumin C3 Complex® and BioPerine®. Curcumin is known for its anti-inflammatory and immune boosting properties. BioPerine® is an active ingredient derived from black pepper berries. In clinical studies BioPerine®  increased bioavailability of nutrients. 
• Aminocare® Skin Cream formulated to restore proper balance in gene expression which is characteristic to young skin and to stimulate natural cell rejuvenation. The cream contains two main active ingredients: the Tahitian tamanu oil known for its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and two derivatives of L-glutamine discovered by Dr. Burzynski. The anti-aging effect is more profound as these ingredients work on the genetic level. They work as genetic switches by turning on the genes that have been silenced due to the aging process and turning off the genes that have increased activity during the aging process.
• Aminocare® Skin Lotion with identical content to the cream, but different in its consistency.

Regular supplementation with Aminocare® A10 helps to restore and maintain optimal levels of amino acids and riboflavin. The product delivers energy to the muscles, the brain, and to the central nervous system. It helps to regulate blood sugar and facilitates the detoxification process in the body. It helps to improve metabolism and digestion, activates the immune system and stimulates the release of the human growth hormone.

The Aminocare® products are unique in their composition and action in the body. They represent the result of more than thirty years of research by a devoted scientist, a promising breakthrough in the research of disease prevention, aging and longevity.

By Dominique Allmon ©2009

*This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose or cure a disease.

For more information please visit The Burzynski Clinic

To learn more about the Antineoplastons Therapy please click here

Health Benefits of Organic Germanium

The organic germanium compound can be regarded without exaggeration as an effective means of combating almost any disease. Nonetheless, for assuring its efficacy and the health of the body, the following two conditions have to be met. One is to keep a well balanced diet in order to maintain the acid alkali equilibrium of the body fluids. The other is to relieve stress to keep a stable mental state for maintaining the equilibrium of the autonomic nervous system. - Kazuhiko Asai, PhD

Germanium is a trace mineral that exhibits the properties of both, metals and non-metals. It was first discovered in a mine near Freiberg, Germany in 1885.

 Germanium atom

A German chemist, Clemens Alexander Winkler isolated a new element from the ore and named it germanium.  Germanium is a rather abundant element in the earth crust. It can be found in very high levels in the water of Lourdes, France, where people continue to travel to experience "miraculous" healing. Germanium rarely forms it's own deposits, but can be found in small quantities in the ores of lead, zinc and copper, for example. High concentrations were found in certain coal deposits. Most germanium for industrial use is obtained from zinc ores.

The germanium atom is structured in such a way that it accepts and transmits electrons, giving it a highly valued semiconductor capability. In its inorganic, metallic form, germanium has no therapeutic value whatsoever, but it is widely used in the electronics industry for transistors, fiber-optics, and other diverse applications. On the other hand, organic germanium effectively stimulates electrical impulses on a cellular level and plays an important role as an "oxygen catalyst" within the human body.

Germanium was found in fossilized plants as well as in some foods, certain mineral waters, and in healing plants and herbs. However, it took many decades of persistent research to identify and confirm the healing properties of this mineral.

Japanese researcher, Dr. Asai who dedicated more than thirty years to the investigation of germanium, found out that some plants and mineral waters that are well known for their therapeutic properties also contain relatively high concentrations of germanium. The list includes garlic, broccoli, celery, aloe vera, comfrey, chlorella algae, ginseng, watercress, pearl barley, and shiitake mushrooms. The content of germanium in these plants depends on the soil in which they were grown.

In 1967 Dr. Asai synthesized a new compound that received the name "organic germanium" or germanium-132 (bis-carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide). Although this compound was created in the laboratory, it is called organic because it contains carbon atoms just like any other organic substance.

Unlike its non-organic counterpart which causes serious damage to kidneys, organic germanium is well known for its health benefits. 

The research shows that organic germanium

• stimulates immune system and activates body's own defense mechanisms
• normalizes many physiological imbalances including blood pressure and serum cholesterol
• fights free radicals
• helps detoxify the body 
• chelates heavy metals
• protects against radiation
• rejuvenates blood vessels 
• improves blood circulation
• improves vision
• relieves chronic pain and inflammation
• increases the flow of oxygen in the body
• improves skin conditions if applied topically as an ointment

Verified clinical research confirms both the safety and the efficacy of organic germanium.

Regular intake of organic germanium may alleviate many health concerns and slow the aging process. In Japan and in Russia organic germanium is used in alternative cancer therapies because of its ability to modify the body's biological response to tumors.

Most chronic diseases start quietly on a cellular level. Cellular injury affects the cell's ability to maintain a steady, normal, or adaptive homeostasis. Homeostasis is the ability to compensate for any changes caused by physical, emotional, or environmental stress. Homeostasis is the necessary condition for optimal health. Lack of sufficient oxygen supply to the cells is considered to be the primary cause of cellular injury. Cells die when they do not have sufficient oxygen supply. The only cells that thrive without cellular oxygen are the cancer cells.

"Cancer, above all other diseases, has countless secondary causes. But even for cancer, there is only one prime cause. Summarized in a few words, the prime cause of cancer is the replacement of the respiration of oxygen in normal body cells by the abnormal process of the cancer cell." - Otto Warburg

Since organic germanium is known to enhance the oxygen supply to the cells, it may be considered the supplement of choice in cancer prevention and in cancer therapy.

Researchers also confirmed that organic germanium increased production of the interferon in the body. Interferon is produced by the leukocytes in the presence of pathogens. This probably is the reason why germanium is so effective in fighting off viruses as well as the tumor cells. A study published in the Journal of Interferon Research* concluded that "Organic germanium restores the normal function of T-cells, B-lymphocytes, natural killer cell activity, and the numbers of antibody-forming cells. Organic germanium has unique physiological activities without any significant side effects."

Dosage

Suggested preventive daily dose of organic germanium is 100 mg. If needed the dose can be increased gradually to 1000mg per day. Dr. Asai administered a daily dose of 1000-2500 mg daily to seriously ill patients. Organic germanium is considered to be non-toxic and can be taken over a longer period of time. It is normally dispelled from the body via the digestive and the urinary tracts within twenty to thirty hours after ingestion.

It is important to remember, however, that organic germanium accelerates the detoxification processes and may cause Herxhaimer** reaction in sensitive individuals if taken in very high doses.

By Dominique Allmon

This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose or cure a disease. Please, consult a certified health care provider before commencing supplementation.

* Journal of Interferon Research Vol. 7, Issue 1. February 1987

**Herxheimer reaction or a healing crisis is an immune system reaction which occurs when the body is unable to quickly eliminate the large amount of toxins that are released during a detoxification program. The most common symptoms are headache, nausea, flue-like symptoms, and skin rush. These symptoms go away as soon as the daily dose is reduced and the body regains its detoxifying capacity.

Health Benefits of Organic Germanium by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Health Benefits of Common Mistletoe

Common Mistletoe - Viscum Album

Common or Eurasian Mistletoe (Viscum album) is one of the many species of a hemiparasitic plant that grows on a variety of trees, especially apple trees, poplars, willows and linden. It forms a drooping, evergreen bush on branches of a host tree from which it obtains some its nutrients. The fact that it contains chlorophyll enables it to synthesize its own nutrition as well.

Mistletoe was believed to have magical properties and was used in medicine since ancient times. The Druids held mistletoe in great reverence as a sacred plant that could cure any illness. It was harvested in a great ceremony and cut from the trees with a golden sickle. Mistletoe that grew on oak trees had the highest value because of its rarity.

In the beginning of the twenty century Rudolf Steiner, who initiated the Anthroposophic Society, proposed the use of mistletoe in the cancer therapy. A wide research of the plant was conducted by anthroposophic researchers. They came up with homeopathic preparations that combined the summer and winter extracts of the plant harvested from different trees. These preparations are still successfully used in anthroposophic medicine to treat cancer patients in Europe.

It is assumed that the host tree influences the healing characteristics of mistletoe. Rudolf Steiner observed that to heal some of the female conditions, extracts from the mistletoe that grew on apple trees was the most effective. Extracts derived from the plant that grew on oak trees was considered to be the best to correct male health problems. Different extracts were used to heal different organs or systems of the body.

Nowadays the amazing healing properties of mistletoe have almost been forgotten. Mistletoe is commonly used as a Christmas decoration and many people consider it to be poisonous. This is only partly true. The white berries containing the seeds are indeed poisonous and should never be consumed. But the leaves and twigs are considered to have high medicinal value and may be taken like any other herb on a regular basis. Usually homeopathic preparations, tinctures, and tea are used for therapeutic purposes.

Mistletoe contains many active compounds that have strong healing properties. Among others, scientists identified viscotoxins, alkaloids, lectins, glycoproteins, flavonoids, polypeptides, saponines, choline, lignans, histamine, mucilage, and tannin. Mistletoe is believed to have many therapeutic properties, among others it is used to:

* alleviate hypertension

* help heal arteriosclerosis

* stimulate immune system

* improve the function of the urogenital tract

* alleviate PMS and menopausal symptoms

* improve the gastrointestinal function

* enhance metabolism

* calm the nervous system

* alleviate respiratory ailments, including asthma

* improve cardiovascular function

* inhibit the formation of tumors

Common Mistletoe in Cancer Therapy

In Europe mistletoe is used in complementary cancer therapies. The extract is injected subcutaneously, but it can also be applied topically around or directly to the tumor or a body cavity. Sometimes it is delivered intravenously as an infusion. It can also be administered orally. The extract is used to treat all kinds of cancer. It can be used alone or as an adjuvant to a conventional cancer treatments.

Mistletoe extract works on many levels in the body. Most importantly, it stimulates body's own defenses. A strong immune system is absolutely vital at any time, but especially when a person is afflicted with cancer. Mistletoe extract protects the DNA of healthy cells against the harmful effects of cell toxins, otherwise known as the cytostatic agents. The extract lessens the effects of the administered chemotherapy or radiation treatment and helps to minimize the damage caused by these treatments to healthy body tissues. Moreover, the extract has a substantial thermogenic effect. It induces mild inflammatory reaction and a slight fever in the body of a patient. This in turn helps to speed up metabolism and activate the immune system. Both reactions are necessary to effectively eliminate toxins and to heal.

Clinical studies and direct patient observation demonstrated that patients using the mistletoe extract tolerate the conventional cancer treatments much better. They experience less pain, have better appetite, and manage to sleep better at night. They recover much faster and have more energy in comparison to those who do not use the extract, and their survival chances are higher.

"The effectiveness of mistletoe extract appears to be not so much attributable to any individual constituent as to the concerted effects of all the substances contained in the whole extract – just as the desired overall sound of an orchestra is only brought about if all instruments play harmoniously together." From the Mistletoe Therapy Website.

There are many different preparations on the market. Some of them are produced under the anthroposophic guidelines, others are non-anthroposophic. The anthroposophic preparations use extracts of mistletoe harvested from different trees. Summer and winter extracts are mixed together. The non-anthroposophic preparations use only mistletoe harvested from poplars during winter and emphasize the lectin content on the premise that lectins are the main active compounds in mistletoe. This approach, however, is fragmentary and the efficacy of the preparation uncertain.

One of the most popular preparations is the lactobacillus-fermented Iscador. This potion was first developed in 1917 by anthroposophic doctor Ita Wegman. Iscador is widely prescribed by oncologists in Germany. This preparation is sold in the USA under the name of Iscar. It is a prescription drug.

There is an ongoing debate in the scientific circles as the clinical effectiveness of mistletoe cancer therapy is still greatly disputed as the conducted studies use different standards. The anthroposophic approach is holistic. Disease is regarded as imbalance in the organism. To restore balance, physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of a person have to be addressed as well as the relationship with the environment in which she or he lives. Since every human being is different, each disease takes on a personal characteristics. Some of the therapeutic results may not be replicable in clinical studies.

Mistletoe is a very potent herb and should not be administered without a supervision. The mistletoe tea may be safely consumed daily over a longer periods of time. However, it is strongly advised to consult a certified health care provider, particularly one who understands the principles of anthroposophic medicine, before beginning self medication.

By Dominique Allmon

*This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose or cure a disease.

Health Benefits of Common Mistletoe by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.


For more information about the mistletoe cancer therapy visit Mistletoe Therapy Website