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.

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 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