Herbs and Natural Supplements for Breast Cancer
A returning patient called me yesterday. She was a breast cancer survivor when I saw her as a student intern in Chinese medical school. If I had been more confident at the time, I would have suggested she be diligent in preventing a recurrence of breast cancer, and explained how she might attempt that with Chinese medicine.
Even if I had, however, she might not have followed my advice, because Chinese medicine's credibility has yet to catch up with its sophistication, efficacy, and research.
It's well known that acupuncture can help with palliative strategies in cancer- for pain relief, itching relief, and nausea. The topic examined less often is: can Chinese medicine fight cancer directly? Many acupuncture teachers and practitioners warn us not to claim that it can - they suggest there's some law against us treating cancer, and you can see how reactive conservative doctors might be to the idea. They are accustomed to having control of the treatment of all cancer, regardless of whether they can help individual patients, or how much damage their therapies cause. Still, there is research and a clinical track record that suggests Chinese medicine can do more than just reduce discomforts.
I can't resolve all by myself in this short space the political issues and ethical issues of alternative medical treatment. But, I suggest that if a patient who refuses conventional treatment, then their alternative practitioners should find out everything they can and do all they can to help the patient recover, or at least become more comfortable.
Even in my small alternative medicine library, I have 2 books on Chinese herbs for cancer, and a third that summarizes the research on natural compounds used in cancer therapy. On PubMed, I found even more scientific references about herbs and breast cancer specifically. It's not the case that there isn't research on this topic. Instead, as with much Chinese medicine research, the information is either unknown, or unused by Western physicians. What follows is a short summary of the scientific information I found (in less than an hour) on alternative medicine and breast cancer. At the end, I've provided some herbal formulas for practitioners.
Human Studies on Natural Compounds for Cancer Therapy:
John Boik, MacOM, LAc has contributed a weighty work called Natural Compounds in Cancer Therapy (Oregon Medical Press, 2001). It not only reviews hundreds of scientific references, but also explains many specific cancer disease processes. The following human studies are drawn from that book, but their specific references are also included.
Scientific research is done either in vitro (test tube), in animals, or in humans. Knowing that any non-human research is easily discounted by skeptics, I've chosen only the human studies. However, the other studies are also interesting and helpful, so if you want more, get Boik's book. All of the following are specific for breast cancer.
6 Bromelain tablets for 10 days corrected deficient macrophage activity. (1)
Vitamin C was found to not necessarily good for breast cancer and may actually have accelerated some patients' deaths, but those who lived had fewer recurrences. (2,3)
Eleuthrococcus stimulated the immune system in breast cancer patients. (4)
Higher levels of fat intake in breast cancer patients was associated with increased risks of recurrence and death. (5)
In post mastectomy breast cancer patients, there were higher survival rates among those who took enzymes. (6)
Enzyme therapy also improved weight gain, fatigue, depression and quality of life. (6)
A diet of 20% fish oil (24g/kg) improved the anti-tumor effect of the chemotherapy drug mitomycin due to enhanced lipid peroxidation. [This was a combined human/animal study where human cells were studied after transplantation to an animal] (7)
Vitamin D3 helps chemotherapy drugs work better. (8)
Chinese herbs for Breast Cancer
I have access to three sources for Chinese herbs and breast cancer. One is a book called Anticancer Chinese Drugs by Lien & Li, which surveys more than 120 plants used to treat cancer, and examines the chemical structure and effects of individual compounds from those plants. Below are 4 compounds from this book specifically for breast cancer. Unfortunately, none of these are among the 500 or so common Chinese herbs referred to in the standard reference, Materia Medica, by Bensky & Barolet. Note that there are closer to 12,000 substances called herbs used here and there in Chinese medicine.
Labiatae I. longitubis inhibits br ca cells in vitro (Lien/Li, 10).
Maytansine (from maytanus oratus, serrata, buchananii, and hookeri) prevents polymerization of tubulin to microtubules (ibid, 85). (9)
9-hydroxy-2-methyl-ellipticinum (from ochrosia moorei and borbonica) has therapeutic value in advanced breast cancer (ibid, 78). (10)
In phase III clinical trials, VP-16 (from podophyllum berberidaceae) has caused responses in a number of cancers including breast cancer (ibid, 60). (11)
More Science:
A quick search of PubMed for more research on herbs for breast cancer yielded 4 interesting results:
Huang lian (coptis) inhibited tumor growth (gastric, colon, breast)... "These results indicate that traditional Chinese herbs may represent a new source of agents designed for selective inhibition of cyclin dependent kinases in cancer therapy." (12)
Hemsleya amabilis extract significantly inhibited tumor cell growth and colony formation and promoted tumor cell death.(13)
Triptolide (TPL), a diterpenoid triepoxide purified from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, in vitro inhibited the proliferation and colony formation of tumor cells and the antitumor effect of TPL was comparable or superior with that of conventional antitumor drugs, such as Adriamycin, mitomycin, and cisplatin. (14)
Huang qi root specifically inhibits gastric cancer cells growth in vitro - its mechanism is mainly inhibition of cancer cell growth, not attacking or dismantling of existing cancer cells. (15)
Chinese Herbal Formulas for Breast Cancer (For Practitioner Reference)
My final source is a book called Treating Cancer with Chinese Herbs (Hsu, Ohai Press, 1990). This book is mainly for practitioners to learn from and use. It is not scientifically referenced - of course, some Chinese physicians and writers are not familiar with the Western insistence on always quoting your sources, so some of this information may have science behind it. We just can't tell from Hsu's book. But here's a suggestion patients can try at home:
Combine the juice of 90g of fresh asparagus (or 30g peeled) with yellow wine (a traditional Chinese wine made from rice) once a day.
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Breast Cancer Prevention And Cure
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in North America (after heart and other cardiovascular diseases) and breast cancer is among the leading causes of death among women. Cancer prevention, not cancer research or cure, is therefore a top priority for all women. Of known cancer causes, smoking tobacco accounts for about a third of the cases and diet is blamed for another 30-50 per cent, although the relationship between food and cancer is hazier than for tobacco and there are no pat answers.
But "prevention" may simply not be possible. If it is, and there is some evidence that change of diet and occupation (reduced stress levels) in combination with a special herbal dietary supplement may be effective in preventing some types of cancer in women, so much the better. If it isn't, the alternative is early detection and surgery. But not just surgery, surgery in combination with other treatments which may include any or all of chemotherapy, radiation, lymphectomy, tamoxaphen (tamoxifen, and a new replacement called Arimidex which may have frightening side effects) and even radical mastectomy (complete breast removal).
Mammograms may be painful. All reports indicate that they are. However, the alternative, breast cancer left long enough to detect by conventional means (pain, lumps, etc) is virtually always resultant in radical mastectomy, chemotherapy and often in death. Check this web site for basic information on cancer, breast cancer, side effects, etc.
My wife has had 10 tumors removed from her breasts. The first two, in the late 1980's, and the last two (1 each breast each occurrence), about 1996-7, were benign. The six in between (four in the right breast, two in the left breast) were malignant. Although the diagnosis of breast cancer is a devastating experience, most women face up to and cope well with it. In fact, studies show that many respond with renewed vigour and enjoyment of life and stronger interpersonal ties. But there is an inevitable period of adjustment, usually improved by knowing as much as possible about the disease.
My wife has been "free of cancer" for well over 8 years, but at her last mammogram checkup, in Jan '05, they discovered a growth they could not otherwise account for and wanted to do another biopsy-type lump removal. This inevitably raises the heady and frightening spectre of "cancer" once again. As I began to write, this "ectomy" was still in our future, the results and reactions were also "still in our future". We've been there, several times, but that didn't make a diagnosis of malignancy any easier, any less emotionally stressful, even though the "period of adjustment" was eased somewhat.
So after 8-9 years cancer free she was diagnosed in January, 2005 with another lump and it was removed in early April, 2005. Yes, it was malignant, but, in the doctor's words, it was a "friendly" tumor. Our "period of adjustment" has been much easier this time around.
My mother had a radical left-breast mastectomy when she was about 77-78. She lived another 11-12 years cancer free.
At what age am I most at risk for breast cancer? Actually, most at risk is probably after 40. But breast cancer has occurred in teenagers. I'm not sure if it occurs in pre-teens? Breast cancer is extremely rare but not unknown in men, also. The age group most at risk of dying of breast cancer is the younger women because "I'm too young to have breast cancer" and so the warning signs are ignored until it is too late.
What are the causes of breast cancer? There are many. They include stress, diet and lifestyle, and genetic tendencies (inherited).
What are the methods of detection of breast cancer? Intermittent or continuous breast pain or breast discomfort for no apparent reason should be quickly investigated. "Feeling" a "lump" or "hard spot" in one's breast should also be quickly investigated. But the best "early detection" method remains, as painful as it may be, a mammogram. My sweetie has had 7 malignant lumps successfully removed from her breasts (four from the right, three from the left) as well as 4 benign lumps (2 each breast), all detected by mammogram. Had she not had those mammograms she would long since have died of breast cancer; as it is, she also still has both breasts (slightly reduced in size).
How do we prevent breast cancer? The first thing is to eliminate undue stress. This may require a radical lifestyle change and could hinge upon something as simple as running one's household in a period of low income - just making ends meet! The next step is to make certain one's diet is not counter-productive to a cancer-free existence. A regular program of exercise, such as walking a mile or two a day, every day, is beneficial (golf is excellent exercise). Finally, an herbal dietary supplement taken as a preventive may be beneficial? However, even doing all of the above is no assurance one will not develop breast cancer. So make sure you get your mammogram.
Disclaimer: This article in no way should be taken as "medical advice" on any product, condition or course of action, nor does it constitute in any way "medical advice" endorsing any specific product, specific result, nor any possible cure for any condition or problem. This article is meant as a source of information upon which you may base your decision as to whether or not you should begin using any vitamin, mineral and/or herbal supplement for better health, or begin using a "greens" product as a dietary supplement.
If in doubt, or if you have questions, you should consult your physician and, if possible, consult a second physician for a possible different opinion. The author does not bear any responsibility for your decisions nor for the outcome of your actions based upon those decisions.
Breast cancer for beginners
Introduction
Because of the social changes, which has brought increased number of workingwoman and hence delayed childbearing, there has been a steep rise in the number of breast cancer patients in the last few decades. But as the incidence of the patients has risen so has raised the modality of treatments and the success rates. Also scientists have devised methods by which the cancer can be detected in an early stage and it has been convincingly proved that early detection and treatment bears a better prognosis than the later stage.
Myths
There are many myths attached to breast cancer. Some think that any lump in breast is a breast cancer but to the contrary most of them are benign. Similarly it was a popular belief earlier that breast-feeding decreases one's risk of the cancer but that has been now found to be untrue. Some say that mammography makes the breast cancer widespread but it's not true. Similarly there are many other myths, which need to be cleared in mind of the general mass for the proper detection and management of the tumor.
Early detection
Breast cancer can be detected in an early stage if women are taught to self-examine their breast. In case of detection of any breast lump or of any slightest suspicion, mammography should be done to rule out any tumor. Mammography is a good tool to diagnose this type of cancer.
Statistics
The incidence of breast cancer is increasing at an alarming rate. It is said that every 2-3 minutes one American woman is diagnosed a breast cancer.
Cause
Although the cause is not fully understood but it is hypothesized that there are various factors such as genetic and environmental. The environmental factors are increased age, obesity, smoking and having the first child at late age.
Diagnosis
The findings that denote a cancer are single, non-tender and firm to hard mass with ill-defined margins. This can be later confirmed by mammography and biopsy. After the cancer has been diagnosed staging is done to find out the best treatment option as well as the prognosis.
Management
The management of breast cancer rests basically on two things. The first is the treatment and second is the counseling. The treatment can further be divided into three: medical, radiation, and surgery. The medical treatment consists of drugs such as tamoxifen, which is an anti estrogen, aromatase inhibitors such as aminoglutethimide and monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab. But similar to other drugs they have their own side effects profile. The side effects associated with tamoxifen are increased vaginal bleeding, endometrial cancer and cataracts. The aromatase inhibitors have the side effects of leg cramps, jaundice and weight gain while the monoclonal antibodies may cause sterility or certain birth abnormalities.
Generally the radiation and surgery are the modalities, which are needed for the treatment to ward off the body of the cancerous growth.
Counseling
This is one of the most important parts of the treatment both before and after the surgery. The patients are to be taught that this is only another disease, which has treatment available, and persons can lead a normal life after that.
Latest research
Latest research is being done on both the surgery and the medicine. For the surgery, surgeons are trying to find out the best way of surgery so that post surgery the patients have minimal disabilities. Similar medicines with lesser side effects are being researched.
Bee Pollen, Nature's gift to Mankind
How could a 0.05-mm-sized dust, can affect human life even without the powder may be the earth will turn into desert sand? Want to know what the powder? The powder is flower pollen, no pollen of flowers there will be no pollination, no pollination there will not be fertilized plants without flower pollen will not be trees. Can you imagine the earth without trees? Bee Pollen Is it? Pollen is the male reproductive elements in plants that shaped golden yellow powder found in halus.Pollen flower plants. Each item polllen contains 100,000 to 5 million pollen spores that have the ability to form reproductive plants.
How Bees Collect Pollen? Besides honey bees suck also collect pollen, which erodes powder by pollen from flower using his jaw and legs. After the pollen is moistened with honey bee hind leg that has a comb to comb pollen grains and pollen bag putting in legs behind it.
Queen Cleopatra, the secret of lasting beauty and youth is to soak the rich honey bee pollen. Roman army: bring cookies made from bee pollen, honey and wheat to increase the strength on the battlefield. Cicero (106-43SM): almost all the houses in the Roman store honey and bee pollen for their healhthy protection. Aschenasy Leru, head of the French Scientific Research center: Pollen contains 40-80% free glutamic acid (which does not produce the human body) which can prevent blood clots in the brain, increase IQ, including mental retardation, and concentration.
Bee Pollen contains 18 amino acids, 8 of them essential, 12 vitamins, 28 minerals, enzymes, coenzymes, essential fatty acids 14, 11 karbonhidrat and 30% protein.
How to Use Bee Pollen for health and beauty.
- Bee Pollen can be eaten directly as a snack for the Diet.
- Bee Pollen has refined the mix with other beekeeping products such as honey and royal jelly for fitness, vitality and health.
- Bee Pollen (mask) mixed with honey and royal jelly is very good for smoothing and rejuvenating the skin.
below are some benefits of bee pollen:
- Helps improve endurance
- Increased stamina
- Slow down the aging process
- Increase the ability to think and concentrate
- Stimulate the development of the child's brain tissue cells
- Improve the fertility of men and women
- As a nutritional supplement that is very good
- Maintain healthy skin.
13 types of food that's easy to make fat
1. Ice cream. Although ecstasy is very inviting, a dish of ice cream is a very high fat, sugar and calories. So, consider returning to enjoy it if you're dieting.
2. Potato chips. This tasty snack is one of the foods most likely to make fat from very high salt content. Not to mention the fat and sugar content, so the higher the total calories. In addition, many potato chips contain preservatives, artificial flavorings and sweeteners which clearly can harm health.
3. Processed meats. Although very practical, hot dogs, sausages and processed meats like, not fat either. Levels are so high, as much salt they contain.
4. Fried snacks. This type of food is less good for health because it is generally fried in oil that are not replaced every time frying. Fat content is also very high and not guaranteed cleanliness if sold on the roadside.
5. Fast food. Among hamburgers, nachos and fries. Very high fat content, caloric content as well. While a healthy nutrition, almost not there.
6. Sodas. Though bringing freshness of a moment, this drink has no nutritional value. Except, rich in sugar content, sodium, and calories.
7. Sweet cereals. Cereal with high carbohydrate content, increasingly become a threat when meeting with the sweetness of sugar. This type of food will increase blood sugar and causes the body to store fat.
8. Milk whole milk. Although the content of calcium is good for the body, this type has the milk fat content is very high which will increase body fat. So, if you want to take advantage calcium, replace it by eating fat-free milk or at least have reduced the fat content.
9. Gravy. Karbihidrat fat content and calories as well as high-asthma.
10. Bread. Especially those made from flour that has experienced the process of refining, so the high fat and carbohydrate content. If you want safe, try to eat wheat bread, so it can menfaat of the fiber.
11. kind of Cream. Whipped cream is often used to decorate the strawberry juice and salad dressing, all high in fat and calories will be higher when mixed with your healthy diet. Instead, if you're eating healthy foods, do not peppered with various cream or topping.
12. Mayonnaise. Has so many ties of fat in it. So, should put a little if you want.
13. Instant coffee. Did you know that a cup of instant coffee contains more than 39 fat? Well, if you do not want your body to be fat, carefully calculate how many calories of instant coffee into the body.
10 Habits That Increase The Risk of Diabetes
Well Here are 10 little habits that can lead to diabetes and also the solution:
1. Sweet tea
The explanation is simple. The high intake of sugar causes blood sugar levels soaring. Yet the risk of excess calories. A glass of sweet tea contains approximately 250-300 calories (depending on thickness). Caloric needs of adult women the average is 1900 calories per day (depending on activity). Of course our sweet tea was able to 1000-1200 calories. Currently plus three meals of rice and side dishes. Reasonably suspected that the excess of our daily calories. End: obesity and diabetes.
Succeeded: Water, tea without sugar, or limit consumption of sugar is not more than two teaspoons a day.
2. Fried
Because of the small, one fried not enough for us. And fried is one of the high risk factor triggering degenerative diseases, such as cardiovascular, diabetes mellitus, and stroke. The main causes of cardiovascular disease (PKV) is the blockage of coronary arteries, with one of the main risk factor was dyslipidemia. Dyslipidemia is a disorder of lipid metabolism characterized by elevated levels of total cholesterol, LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides, and decreased levels of HDL (good cholesterol) levels. Increasing the proportion of dyslipidemia in the community due to the habit of eating a variety of foods low in fiber and high in fat, including fried.
Succeeded: Nuts Japan, or fruit pies.
3. Like snacking
We thought that by limiting the afternoon or evening meal may shy away from obesity and diabetes. Because not full, the stomach is filled with a piece or two pieces of biscuits and snacks like potato chips. In fact, biscuits, potato chips, cookies and other sweet containing high carbohydrate content and without adequate food. All the food is classified in foods with high glycemic index. Meanwhile, sugar and flour contained in it have a role in raising blood sugar levels.
Substitute: fresh cut fruit.
4. Sleep deprivation
If the quality of sleep is not obtained, so disturbed metabolism. Research experts from the University of Chicago revealed, lack of sleep for 3 days resulted in the body's ability to process glucose declined rapidly. That is, the risk of diabetes increases. Lack of sleep also can stimulate the kind of hormones in the blood that trigger appetite. Driven hunger, sleep disturbances triggered patients to eat high-calorie foods that make blood sugar levels rise.
Solution: Sleep is not less than 6 hours a day, or should be 8 hours a day.
5. Lack of physical activity
World Health Organization (WHO) says diabetes cases in Asian countries will rise by 90 percent within the next 20 years. "In the past 10 years, the number of diabetics in Hanoi, Vietnam, doubled. The reason? In this city, people prefer riding than cycling," said Dr. Gauden Galea, WHO Advisor for Non Communicable Diseases in the Western Pacific Region.
In conclusion, they are a little physical activity have a higher risk of obesity than those who diligently biking, hiking, or other activities.
Solution: Biking to the office.
6. Often stress
Stress just as a flood, must be channeled to avoid a big flood. When stress comes, the body will increase the production of hormones epinephrine and cortisol blood sugar to rise and there are reserves of energy to move. Our bodies are designed for good purposes. However, if the blood sugar kept high because of stress triggered prolonged without a way out, might as well commit suicide slowly.
Solution: Talk to people who are considered problematic, or tell me the closest friends.
7. Cigarette addiction
An American study involving 4572 volunteer men and women found that active smokers the risk of diabetes rose by 22 percent. It added that the increase in risk is not just caused by smoking, but the combination of unhealthy lifestyles, such as diet and exercise.
Succeeded: sugar-free candies. A more progressive way is to follow the hypnotherapy. Choose the hypnotherapist who is experienced and certified.
8. Using the contraceptive pill
Most of the contraceptive pill is made from a combination of estrogen and progestin hormones, or progestin alone. Combination pill often causes changes in blood sugar levels. According to dr Dyah Purnamasari S, Sp PD, from the Division of Endocrinology RSCM Metabolic, hormonal contraceptive pill work against the work of insulin. Because insulin work unopposed, the pancreas is forced to work harder to produce insulin. If left too long, the pancreas becomes exhausted and did not function properly.
Solution: Limit the use of hormonal pills, no more than 5 years.
9. Scared black leather
According to the journal Diabetes Care, women with high intake of vitamin D and calcium at low risk of developing diabetes type 2. Apart from food, the best source of vitamin D in sunlight. Twenty minutes exposure to sunlight in the morning is sufficient for vitamin D for three days. Several recent studies, among which was published by the American Journal of Epidemiology, suggests that vitamin D also helps order metabolism of the body, including blood sugar.
Solution: Use a sunscreen cream before the "sun" in the morning sun for 10-15 minutes.
10. Avid soda
From the research conducted by the Nurses' Health Study II of 51,603 women aged 22-44 years, found that increased consumption of soft drinks to make weight and the risk of diabetes soared. The researchers said the increased risk was due to the existing sweetener content in soft drinks. In addition, liquid calories do not make us full, so motivated to drink more.
Succeeded: cold juice without sugar.
