Month: December 2007

A herbal formula used by a Canadian nurse, Rene Caisse (1887–1978) has developed something of a worldwide cult status. The formula is said to have originated with a Native American herbalist in Northern Ontario, who successfully treated an English woman for breast cancer towards the end of the nineteenth century. A limited scientific trial failed to find any anti-cancer benefit from its use, but the herbal mix is relatively inexpensive and considering the positive anecdotal evidence, it’s worth trying. Like so many cancer treatments, mainstream and otherwise, it is possible that Essiac works with some people, but not others, though why this should be so is uncertain. There can be a number of reasons.

The formula consists of the entire dried and powdered sheep sorrel plant (Rumex acetosella), chopped and dried burdock root (Arctium lappa), then dried and powdered bark of the slippery elm tree (Ulmus rubra), and then dried and powdered root of the ornamental turkey rhubarb plant (Rheum palmatum).

Essiacinfo.org – A good overview with links to other Essiac sites

EssiacSales.eu.com – UK supplier of Essiac herbs worldwide.

Clouds Trust – An Essiac information organization. A useful information site.

ImuPlus

“ImuPlus is a proprietary pharmaceutical grade (99%), non-denatured whey protein isolate formula: a functional food that provides bioactive precursors for the intracellular production of glutathione, a critical constituent for the immune system and a vital antioxidant and detoxifying agent… Thus, it is possible that the ingestion of non-denatured whey protein isolates may oxidatively stress cancer cells, while protecting normal cells. This may be why carcinogen-treated mice fed non-denatured whey protein isolates had significantly smaller tumor burdens than controls” (Swiss Bioceutical International). Whey is the watery liquid component when milk is curdled.

Swiss Bioceutical International Ltd. – The manufacturer’s site.

Swiss Bioceutical International Ltd. – The manufacturer’s product information.

Springboard – “The ImuPlus Story” – a comprehensive report on ImuPlus, sponsored and partially written by the manufacturer, with a number of doctors’ recommendations and an evident product promotional agenda.

Avemar

Avemar sometimes referred to as MSC, is a nutritional compound produced by the fermentation of wheat germ (Triticum vulgaris) by bakers yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), in a patented process that yields a standardized quantity of the naturally occurring flavone 2,6-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone (2,6-DMBQ). It is used as a supportive adjunct to conventional cancer treatment. The process was devised by the Hungarian researcher, Professor Mate Hidvegi, during the 1990s. Avemar is manufactured in Hungary, where it is an accepted part of cancer treatment. According to a number of studies, Avemar enhances immune system regulation in a number of ways, making it easier for the immune system to see cancer cells and destroy them. Avemar also selectively inhibits glucose metabolism in cancer cells, reducing their ability to multiply.

A number of small clinical trials conducted since 2000 have proved encouraging. One study, published in the British Journal of Cancer in 2003, showed a reduction from 23.1% to 7.6% of new metastases over six months among 66 colorectal cancer patients who received Avemar and 104 who did not. Other trials have shown similar, significant results with other forms of cancer. American BioSciences Inc., the US distributor of Avemar, has the complete text of the various studies and reviews on its website. The product is subject to considerable marketing effort and sales-oriented presentation of the research data and brand name.

Avemar – The Hungarian manufacturer’s website.

American BioSciences Inc. – The US distributor’s informative website.

Avemar Published Research – The full text of the four clinical trials, and various reviews.

Annals of the New York Academy of Science – “Fermented Wheat Germ Extract (Avemar) in the Treatment of Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases.” An explanatory review.

Supportive Therapy – A high-pressure Avemar marketing site.

BioBran MGN-3

The primary active ingredient of BioBran MGN-3 is arabinoxylan, a short-chain polysaccharide formed by the breakdown of rice bran by enzymes from the shiitake mushroom. It has been shown to boost the immune system by increasing the activity of natural killer (NK) cells and other lymphocytes (B- and T-cells), which can identify and destroy cancer cells. However, there is little clinical research to show that MGN-3 reduces the size of tumors. It is therefore recommended as an adjuvant treatment for those undergoing chemo- or radiotherapy, or in conjunction with surgery. No side effects or incompatibility with other treatments have been reported, and its effect does not diminish with time. It may be possible in the UK to obtain this product from your GP.

The main researcher behind BioBran MGN-3 has been Dr. Mamdooh Ghoneum at the Charles Drew University, Los Angeles. The product has been produced by Diawa Pharmaceutical in Tokyo, a small company committed to the development of natural products. The product was first marketed in 1992 and rapidly ran into legal problems in the USA, when the distributor Lane Labs, made …

Mistletoe

Mistletoe is a traditional remedy and panacea dating back to the time of the ancient Greeks and the Druids. Nowadays it is the most widely used cancer drug in Germany, where it was introduced as a cancer treatment in 1917 by Rudolph Steiner, founder of anthroposophy. Since the 1960s, there have been at least 30 trials of mistletoe. These indicate that mistletoe not only has a direct toxic effect on cancer cells but also stimulates the bodily immune system to deal with cancer cells. A number of studies have indicated extended survival times for patients treated with mistletoe extracts. Substances in European mistletoe also affect the heart. Low concentrations can lower blood pressure and heart rate, while higher levels can cause the contraction of blood vessels, and thus possibly raise the blood pressure.

Of the several species of mistletoe, only Viscum album, the white-berried European mistletoe, is used therapeutically. Mistletoe’s anti-cancer properties are believed to arise from its toxic constituents, viscotoxins, and lectins. Because of its toxicity, mistletoe extract needs to be prepared by carefully controlled processes. Extracts are administered either orally or by subcutaneous injection. Because of the negative indications and potential side effects, it is wise to seek professional medical advice before using any mistletoe extract. It is also worth bearing in mind that mistletoe belongs to the ivy family, to which some people are allergic. European mistletoe extracts are sold under brand names such as Iscador, Israel, Vysorel, and Helix.

US Pharmacist – An excellent and comprehensive summary of mistletoe and its uses as an anti-cancer agent.

National Cancer Institute – A good, brief summary of mistletoe research.

DrugDigest – A summary of mistletoe research, with information on its potential side effects and when not to take it (e.g. it can cause miscarriages).

Vitacost – A summary of mistletoe research in simple language.

Mistletoe Extracts and Cancer Therapy – Reviews the book Iscador, by Robert Gorter, giving details of mistletoe’s anti-cancerous properties and the method used for making the extract known as Iscador.

Physicians’ Association for Anthroposophical Medicine – “Use of Iscador, an extract of European mistletoe (Viscum album), in cancer treatment.” This is the research paper detailing the Iscador trial mentioned above.

Park Attwood Clinic – A private clinic near Kidderminster in Worcestershire, UK, specializing in anthroposophical medicine, including the use of mistletoe.

Cat’s Claw

The two closely related species of the thorned vine known as cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis), are traditional herbal remedies from the Amazon rainforest. The popular use of a cat’s claw as folk medicine has prompted a number of scientific studies into its efficacy. Although more research is required, it seems clear that the herb has potent immuno-booster properties, and may thus be useful for cancer patients. Other properties claimed of the cat’s claw include pain relief, inflammation reduction, blood cleansing, bowel cleansing, and the reduction of both blood pressure and cholesterol. It is also said to kill cancer and leukemia cells and to be diuretic, antioxidant, and antiviral.

Cat’s claw contains several groups of phytochemicals that account for most of these properties. Firstly, there is a group of oxindole alkaloids with documented immuno-stimulant and antileukemic properties. Then there are quinovic acid glycosides, which are anti-inflammatory and antiviral. Antioxidants (tannins, catechins, and procyanidins), as well as plant sterols (beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol), also account for the plant’s anti-inflammatory properties. And the plant’s carboxyl alkyl esters have demonstrated immuno-stimulant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous, and cell-repairing properties (Raintree Nutrition).

Tropical Plant Database – An excellent and detailed overview.

University of California, Moores Cancer Center – A brief overview.

Pure Health Systems – An overview from a US supplier.

Artemisinin– Wormwood

Artemisinin (Artemesia annua L., known in China as qing hao su or QHS) is extracted from the Chinese herb, qing hao, known in the West as sweet wormwood or sweet Annie, a herb not to be confused with common or bitter wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.). The story behind its discovery as a cancer drug must be unique. The recipe for the remedy was found among ancient medical recipes discovered in a tomb dating back to 168 BCE during an archaeological dig in China during the 1970s. According to one of these recipes, the ancient Chinese used an extract of wormwood to combat malaria. Artemisinin was first isolated in l972 and synthesized in 1983. As an anti-malaria remedy, artemisinin has subsequently been well-researched and is widely used with considerable success in Asia and Africa.

Artemisinin reacts with the high iron concentrations found in the malaria parasite, forming free radicals (charged atoms and molecules). The free radicals then disrupt the cell membranes of the single-celled parasite, causing their demise. Considering this process, two professors at the University of Washington, Henry Lai and Narendra Singh, began to wonder whether the same process could bring about the destruction of cancer cells. Cancer cells contain a high …