February 8th, 2010 -- Posted in herbal remedies |
If you discover a black, cancerous mass on a birch, you may be looking at a Siberian chaga mushroom. It can also, less commonly, be found growing ash, beech, elm or hornbeam.
Europeans have used chaga for centuries as a cure for digestive ailments, tuberculosis, and cancers of the liver and heart. [121]
The black “skin” was removed and the lighter inside boiled as tea. Being such a compact natural medicine made it a valuable, portable remedy for healers of old.
Modern research on chaga has mainly focused on its potential application as an anti-cancer remedy. In Russia, this usage was already approved as early as 1955 to treat lung, stomach, breast and cervical cancers. [122]
One modern study from 1998 showed that chaga extract did in fact inhibit growth of cervical cancer cell lines under lab conditions. [123] Another study from 1995 reported that an isolate of the active compound betulin first inhibited growth of melanoma cells in a lab, and then killed them. [124, 25]
Other research papers also confirm that some of the active compounds of chaga help retard the growth of cancer cells. [125, 126]
Although traditional healers used to peel off the black outside (probably because it looked unappetizing), the skin actually contains 30% betulin, a highly prized medicinal compound, [127] while the inside is rich in fungal lanostanes. So both parts would be valuable in preparing the tea.
Even better are chaga extracts that are made with not only the whole mushroom but also the mycelium, because the mycelium contains higher levels of medicinal proteins than the fruit body of the mushroom.
Other research has found chaga to possess powerful anti-viral properties. In 1996, two studies published results of inhibitory effects on both influenza virus [127] and HIV. [128] Considering the nature of viruses, the most likely scenario is that chaga works on viruses by enhancing the body’s own immune system, a theory confirmed by a paper published in 2002 and another in 2005. [25, 129] The same mechanism may explain the reported anti-inflammatory effect of chaga. [130]
Alcohol extract of Siberian chaga has been shown to help balance blood sugar. [131] It is also a powerful antioxidant. [132, 133]
As an amusing aside not related to human health, Siberian chaga may even be used as a tree medicine. Paul Stamets relates a story of a Quebec arborist using a chaga poultice to heal chestnut blight. Not only does it cure the tree, but the tree even becomes resistant to further infections of blight after having been treated. [134]
Note: The statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never use any herb (or mushroom) except as advised by a licensed medical practitioner.
Credits: Thank you, Paul Stamets, for research references.
Dr. Rafael has worked in the natural health field since finishing Chiropractic College in 1996. He currently specializes in medicinal fungi in partnership with Cordyceps Reishi Extracts, LLC, an NC business offering Chaga Mushroom Extract and much more. For the scientific references to this article, go to the Chaga Extract page and click on any number indicating a reference.
February 1st, 2010 -- Posted in natural cures for cancer |
Dealing with cancer was terrible enough for me but the notion of living the rest of my life without another complete nights sleep was ready to be the end of me. night sweats had taken crept in after my surgical treatment and I needed to do something about it. This is what I found.
Not many years back I shocked to learn I had cancer; I was not a happy camper to find that I would have to get a hysterectomy at such a young age. Though I have two kids already, I wished to have been able to hold on to the choice for another if we so decided. It is a weird sensation to know that you will no longer have kids in particular when it is not your decision.
In the first months of my fight I was given a contingent of treatments that required radiation and chemotherapy. The chemo wasn’t very bad initially but as time went on it was apparent it was changing my body. I know it can destroy cancer but it felt like a conflict to the death was taking place inside my body and the conclusion would either be me or the cancer. I have long thought there should be a healthier way to deal with cancer. Perhaps in the future the treatment will be made accessible to us, but until then I can only imagine that if there is a biological un-patentable treatment out there, the medical and drug industry will keep a lid on it.
In time I was able consider myself cancer free and the emotion of release had covered me from head to toe. However as rapidly as I had found this fresh reprieve I found a new setback had taken its place.
Prior to cancer I had a reasonably normal sleep pattern. I would go to sleep, get up maybe once for a restroom break and return to bed to finish with a satisfied night’s sleep. Yet after the therapy and the operation I found myself tossed into a new world of hysterectomy menopause.
Promptly with this menopause came its cousin, menopause night sweats, and a complete line of additional problems. If I were to show you each and every one of the interrelated issues included I could go on ceaselessly. The Night Sweats were adequate. All this sweating would keep me up all night and cause my husband to lose immeasurable hours of rest also. Ultimately it caused my spouse to change to an alternative room. I had to find a solution. These night sweats were killing me and my relationship.
I looked at more than a few solutions to my problem plus tried just about every natural and un-natural cure obtainable. I tried chilly pillows, I tried absorbing pajamas, I tried bizarre sheets, you name it I tried it. I was just about to quit when a colleague of mine gave me a device known as a Bedfan. Now to be very honest with you when she said it over the telephone I thought she said Bed Pan so I was a touch taken back because I could not guess for anything how a Bed Pan would help with my sweating at night.
Nevertheless, the Bedfan ended up being the hero I was trying to find. For me to explain how it works I will take a quote from one of the earliest users of the fan. One lady stated it was like cooling off in a waterfall and not getting wet at all. That is just how it felt. Starting from that first night on, I never had night sweats yet again. Now don’t misunderstand I can feel my body getting warmer and simply from habit for a time I expected to begin sweating, yet it in no way happened.
They say that the way this contraption works is, when your body gets hot, your bed is not able to eradicate that heat fast enough. With the Bedfan the heat is carried out of the bed, in no way giving it a chance to build up to sweating. Here is how it feels; the next time you are relaxing in bed and you begin to feel muggy, simply lift up your legs to raise the sheets up high. Then gradually let your legs down and feel the gentle breeze gliding across your body to cool it down. This is the way it feels all night long.
At the end of the day I find myself saddened that I can no longer have children but in any case I am still breathing. Not only am I still living but thanks to the Bedfan, I am able to sleep better than before and get the relaxation I need so that I can still spend time with the beautiful kids I do have. I trust this helps someone as much as it has helped me and my husband.
January 12th, 2010 -- Posted in natural cure for cancer |
Lemongrass as an herb has been used for centuries for its positive health effects. In Ayurvedic medicine, it has been used for relief of menstrual discomfort and nausea. The fresh grass is used in indigenous medicine systems around the world. Recently, the essential oil has been the subject of scientific studies regarding its effects on cancer cells. One of the features of cancer cells is the upset of natural cell death. Lemongrass appears to be effective as a form of chemotherapy, causing cell death to occur as it should: “Our results indicate that the oil has a promising anticancer activity and causes loss in tumor cell viability by activating the apoptotic process”. These studies indicate that Lemongrass essential oil, with its low toxicity, has the potential of being an inexpensive ‘alternative’ treatment in the future.
Several therapeutic grade essential oils have been investigated for their anti-cancer effects, most notably Frankincense, Lemongrass, and the common constituent “linalool”, which adds a sweetness to many essential oil varieties. In two publications released in the Feb 2008 and May 2009 Journal of Chemico-biological interactions, studies were performed at the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine in Jammu were summarized. The investigations centered around the causes and concentrations required for Lemongrass essential oil to bring about cell death in otherwise flourishing cancer cell lines. Rather unlike classic chemotherapeutic agents, Lemongrass initiated normal cell death by eliminating protection from naturally-occurring free radicals, and a loss of membrane integrity of the mitochondria of these cells. Surrounding normal cells were not affected.
Under examination, it was found that HL-60 Leukemia cancer cells treated with lemongrass essential oil lost their surface projections, indicating a loss of normal cell function. Surface projections in these cells normally implies the cells can interact with their environment, taking in nutrients and making adjustments per their environmental conditions. The cancer cell death was attributed to the main constituent of Lemongrass oil, isointermedeol, a sesquiterpene naturally present in the oil. The IC50 of the oil itself was 30 micro grams per ml, whereas for the isointermedeol, the IC50 dropped to 20 grams per ml. — it is important to recognize, however, that this is not a huge difference in efficacy, and in many cases the complete oil is the better choice of treatment.
Lemongrass oil amazingly was effective against all 12 cancer cell lines tested, though some were more susceptable than others. And although isointermedeol was implicated in these first studies as the ‘active’ agent, Israeli researchers reported in the May 2005 publication of Planta Medica that common Citral — a lemon-scented component of MANY essential oils — also induced apoptosis in several cancer cell lines.
Here, it is important to recognize that reductionist science will have a hard time in isolating just which components of natural essential oils will impart an anti-cancer effect, and if in some cases the whole oil will be more effective than a single compound itself. It is crucial to recognize the importance of true, authentic essential oils, such as those from aromatic botanical extracts and other manufacturer’s dedicated to the craft, as the foundation of these natural healing compounds. Single chemicals can simply be manufactured in the laboratory, but it is the plant-based complete medicine that can create a harmony within the organ systems and psychology that may in-fact have the greatest healing effect.
As the body of evidence continues to grow, essential oils are finally moving out of the ‘aromatherapy’ realm and into the medical realm. At last count, over four hundred results were returned when searching Pub Med for Essential Oils and Cancer. Almost ten thousand results are available from the U.S. National Library of Medicine in all areas of essential oil use. Embracing essential oils as medicine in the U.S. is a practice that has the potential to save many lives, and is especially warranted now in these times of escalating health care costs and dwindling returns. Have a look at the fine essential oils and great information available at Ananda Apothecary for more information on using essential oils as medicine.
December 30th, 2009 -- Posted in natural cure for cancer |
Linalool has been the topic of frequent studies investigating its anxiolytic (anti-stress) effects. Inhalation of Linalool, from true essential oils, leads to lessened aggressive behavior, lessens stress reaction, and improves sleep.
Now, in a study just released in the Journal of Chemico-biological Interactions, researchers at the American University of Beirut focused on a specific natural constituent of many common organic essential oils: Linalool. Linalool is the ’sweetness’ of many oils used in aromatherapy; Lavender is perhaps the most popular linalool-containing oil, though it is found in many, many species of plants. There are also linalool types of oils, where the particular cultivar of a plant produces more than others.Linalool Appears to Kill Cancer Cells at a Very Low Concentration
In this study, linalool derived from steam distilled Coriander essential oil was found to decrease the viability of the HepG2 cell line, a particular liver cancer cell type broadly used in research. The essential oil from Coriander seed was chosen as the researchers believed them to have healthful properties. Linalool inhibited these liver cancer cells from replicating. A concentration of 0.4 micromole inhibited 50% of the cells from replicating, a concentration of 2 micromol inhibited 100% of the cells from replicating, thereby destroying the cancer.
Now we don’t claim to be high-tech researchers Ananda but we did take a bit of chemistry in college. It appears this is an very, very small amount of linalool — 1 mole of Linalool is 154 grams. This appears to be .000308 grams of linalool per liter of solution the cell line was bathed in.
Given that most Lavender species produce an essential oil containing between 30 and 40% linalool, this is astounding. 25 drops of Lavender essential oil delivers in somewhere around .3 grams of linalool. The oil is quickly absorbed through the skin, and safe to injest in small amounts.
“A 50% and 100% decrease in the viability of HepG2 was obtained at 0.4muM and 2muM linalool (note: these are very small amounts of linalool in the solution), respectively…In addition, a time-dependent decrease in glutathione (GSH) level and in the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium was obtained, indicating increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In addition linalool increased ROS generation and decreased GSH level…Pretreatment with the antioxidants: N-acetyl cysteine (2mM), Trolox (100muM) and different flavonoids (50muM) was partially protective against the linalool-induced cell death…We hereby report a decrease in cell viability of HepG2 cells by linalool and identify the mitochondria as one possible target for its site of action, inhibiting complexes I and II and decreasing ATP.”
December 12th, 2009 -- Posted in natural remedies |
Constipation can be one of the most aggravating experiences you’ve had. Myself, I have to be wary of what I consume to stay away from this afflictive condition. There are a variety of reasons and causes for constipation, mostly eating fast foods and foods that lack loads of fiber.
The symptoms of constipation can range from nausea, leg pains, headaches, gas, fever and loss of appetite. All of which should not be underestimated and can turn into troubles in themselves. It should be noted at this point, that even if bowel movements are taking place, you could still be constipated. It’s because if you have intermittent bowel movements and they do not take place every day and are not painless to pass, you could still be considered to be constipated.
In general, we should all try to eat additional fruits and vegetables. This will add weight and fiber to the food intake and so help with diminishing constipation. Make an effort to shun those vegetables that are identified to encourage gas: these include cabbage, sprouts, beans and foods such as nuts and as well some dried foods. Processed, fatty foods and fried foods are also best ignore.
One of the fruits that should be added to food and drink are figs. Well acknowledged throughout time as one of the constipation home cures, figs can be soaked over night in water and be ready for breakfast the next day. You can also utilize figs as the basis for a home made blended beverage. Simply toss in 3 or 4 figs, add some prune juice and blend. This is a tremendous drink, that when taken repeatedly for several days will usually help to reduce constipation.
In the case of expectant females, constipation is a consequence of a change in hormonal stability in the body and also because of the pressure of the now occupied uterus on the intestines.
Wholegrain breads and cereals should also be added to the diet of anyone who has irregular bowel movements or is constipated. These breads and cereals lend a hand to add the necessary bulk that our bodies require to get rid of the waste. The fiber in these foods is critical to keep the bowels fit and running.
Add exercise to your daily schedule and drink a load of h2o, as this will assist to keep your system running well and encourage the waste to naturally and easily evacuate the body.
For nigh on every person who has constipation, their first priority when looking for constipation home cure should be their diets. Obviously put, if you ingest the appropriate amounts of foods in the appropriate combinations, then you should have daily bowel movements and that will get rid of the necessity for exploring constipation home treatments.
Submitted by Richard Ealom Author of this article. To learn more about subjects as Natural an Alternative Medicine visit our web site at Constipation - Natural Remedies And Treatments or Home Remedies And Cures For Relieving Constipation NOTE article seen above may be circulated freely on web sites, so long as ALL article content and author information remain UNCHANGED.
Next »
