Treating cancer and illnesses with herbs and nutrition - Part 3
One of the benefits of green tea (camellia sinensis) is that it has the ability to disable multidrug resistance pumps. Green tea also contains catechins, which are powerful antioxidants and are anti-inflammatory too.
They act as an active p53 tumour suppressor gene and are synergistic with chemotherapy. Additionally, they act at different levels and via different mechanisms than chemotherapy. Green tea also inhibits COX2, promotes cell cycle arrest and increases apoptosis (activates p53).
Cyclophosphamide
This activitiy is potentiated by extracts of several herbs. Phytotherapies reduce chemotherapy resistance, increase its effeciveness (anti-tumour activity) and reduce toxicity. They also provide kidney support (e.g. Fenugreek and Andrographis).
Black walnut hulls, fenugreek, baical skullcap, rhodioia root, licorice root, ginseng all provide liver support and reductions to toxicity.
In addition, withania reduces the leukopenia induced by cyclophosphamide and has an immunopotentiating and myeloprotective effect.
The benefits of Adriamycin, Methotrexate, Doxorubicin, Vincristine and Vinblastine
- Rhodiola protects the liver with adriamcycin.
- Plantain & 5FU provides less damage to intestines in mice.
- Age garlic (allium sativum) protects the liver with methotrexate.
- Cantella asiatica (Gotu kola) reduces chemotherapy resistance with vincristine and vinblastine
- Rosemarinus officinalus reduces resistance to a broad range of compounds by increasing the intracellular accumulation of drugs, such as doxorubicin, vinblastine (Pgp inhibitor). It also has antioxidant properties and is liver protective.
Reducing chemotherapy resistance
- Nutrients, such as Vitamin C, reverse Vincristine resistance and improve the effectiveness of Cisplatin, Doxorubicin and Paclitaxel (Taxol).
- Quercetin inhibits Adriamycin resistance in the oestrogen receptor. It also potentiates action of many chemotherapeutic drugs, while reducing side effects.
- The Hawthorn and co-enzyme Q10 reduces heart damage with herceptin and doxorubicin.
Corticosteroids
Nutrients and Vitamin C reduce adrenal damage from prednisolene. If taken with licorice root and rehmannia and Alpha lipoic acid, this will reduce hyperglycaemia (diabetes) from developing.
Indoles
Indoles (part of the Brassica family) and Rosemary both inhibit P-glycoprotein activity, by inhibiting the binding of the drugs. Doxorubicin and Vinblastine are Indoles that make these more effective. Indoles is an oestrogen receptor blocker, similar to Tamoxifen (which is a different activity that has a similar outcome). As for Melatonin, this creates oestrogen regulation.
Allium sativum – Garlic
Garlic helps to destroy cancerous cells and can be as effective as some chemotherapeutic drugs. Whereas Ajoene is three times as toxic to malignant cells. Garlic is a biological response modifier and boosts immune function by boosting the activity of macrophages and T-cells.
Garlic and onions contain 30 anti cancer components, which reduce stomach, breast, skin, lung and liver cancer. Research shows that by eating 85gm of garlic, onions, chives, spring onions, etc…, reduces stomach cancer by 40%.
Cisplatin
Gluthathione reduces neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and myelosuppression of cisplatin (it reduces damage to the brain, the kidneys and bone marrow).
Selenium reduces nephrotoxicity and bone marrow suppression from cisplatin.
Meta-analysis – AM and platinum drugs
- There have been 34 randomised studies of 2,8156 patients.
- 12 studies showed that there is a reduced risk of death at 12 months with using AM and platinum drugs.
- 30 studies reported improved tumour response.
- Two studies found a reduced risk of death at 24 months.
Four studies included 257 patients. Preparation of Panax ginseng, Astraglaus membranaceous, Eleutherococcus Senticosus and Mylabirs cichoi stabilised or improved patient performance.[1]
Astragalus
There was a significant reduction in the proportion of patients who experienced nausea and vomiting when Astragalus was given in addition to chemotherapy.
There was also a decrease in the rate of leucopenia and increases in T-lymphocytes. Astragalus may stimulate immunocompetent cells and decrease side effects in patients treated with chemotherapy.[2]
Evidence has found that Astragalus-based Chinese herbal medicine may increase effectiveness (by improving survival, tumour response and performance status) and reduce toxicity of standard platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. [3]
In vitro (refers to the technique of performing a given experiment in a controlled environment outside of a living organism) stimulates marophage activity, which enhances antibody responses, reduces cancer cell growth, induces apoptosis, increases secretion of tumour necrosis factor alpha and TNF beta potentiates therapeutic activity in chemotherapy (mitomycin, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, fluorouracil) and radiotherapy.
Ginseng
Ginseng has been extensively studied. In fact, 1500 studies have been conducted in total. 500 studies have been on pharmacological activities of ginseng.
Korean ginseng (Panax) is a great adaptogen for the elderly because of its ability to enhance the body’s capacity to cope with stress.
Large case control studies in Korea found an inverse of cancer with ginseng consumption. The relative risk of cancer was 50% less in ginseng users. The risk showed a clear dose response relationship over time and in regards to the specificy type of ginseng (Korean (Panaz) ginseng powder), there was evidence of a preventative effect after one year.
It also induces differentiation of cancer cells (to stop them spreading), reduces anti inflammatory carcinogensis, inhibits COX2 expression, as well as anti-oxidant chemoprotection.
In addition, it reduces the protection of over expression of growth factor and decreases expression of oncogenes, inhibits proliferation and inhibits metastasis in cell lines by decreasing angiogenesis and adhesion. It also modulates the immune system by lowering cortisol levels when stressed.
Ginseng as a chemotherapy adjunct
Ginseng is multidrug resistant and can significantly reverse multidrug resistant lymphoma cells. Combined with paclitaxel, ginseng compounds resulted in a 42.8% increase in the life span of mice bearing sarcome 180 tumour cells, while no obvious effect was seen on sole paclitaxel treatment.
The tumour weight per mouse also decreased by 76.3%. In conclusion, natural therapies assist with improving the health of a person during the treatment phase. It reduces side effects of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and increases the effectiveness of chemotherapy. It also reduces the need for accessory pharmaceuticals and reduces the risk of recurrence.
Hi,
It has been well known for decades that platinum and compounds of platinum kill cancer. In fact, most chemo drugs for cancer are platinum compounds. It has been widely reported in the alternative medical community that platinum nano particles in colloidal form will also kill cancer. Do the nano particles kill cancer by the same means as the compounds? Is there scientific data available that details the mechanism?