Chinese medicinal herbs inhibit growth of murine renal cell carcinoma.

This is a study about the effectiveness of Astragalus (huang qi) and Liguistrum Lucidium (nu zhen zi) to improve macrophage function to kill cancer in a rat model.

Tumors are known to produce factors suppressing immune functions. We previously showed that a murine renal cell carcinoma (Renca) suppressed macrophage function in vitro and that this suppression was abolished by co-incubation with extracts of two Chinese medicinal herbs. We now report that these phytochemicals are capable of inhibiting growth of Renca in vivo. BALB/c mice were transplanted intraperitoneally (IP) with 1-2 x 10(5) Renca cells. One day after tumor transplant, mice were randomized into two groups. One group was treated IP, daily for 10 days, with 100 microliters of phytochemicals containing 500 micrograms each of Astragalus membranaceus and Ligustrum lucidum, while the other group received saline as controls. A cure rate of 57% was obtained with these phytochemicals when the initial tumor load was 2 x 10(5), and 100% when the initial tumor load was 1 x 10(5). Additional experiments were performed to investigate the mechanisms involved in this protection. Splenic macrophages from tumor-bearing mice were shown to have depressed chemiluminescent oxidative burst activity, and this depression was restored with phytochemical treatment. Splenocytes from mice transplanted with Renca responded less favorably to interleukin-2 (IL-2) in generating lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells; again this depression was restored with phytochemical treatment. Our data suggest that these phytochemicals may have exerted their antitumor effects via augmentation of phagocyte and LAK cell activities.

Cancer Biother. 1994 Summer;9(2):153-61.Links

Lau BH, Ruckle HC, Botolazzo T, Lui PD.

Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, California 92350.

The Benefits of Juicing With Recipes

“Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.”
--Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.)

At HPS Health, there are lists of recipes for juices (combinations of raw fruits and vegetables with some fresh herbs) to address specific ailments such as headache, anemia, fatigue, and gastric ulcers. Other recipe sites include ones promoting delicious taste (this one has a V8 recipe) and those that have, well, interesting combos.

And, for the skeptics, there's a site that gives recipes as well as advice on choosing a juicer. The site? The Stanford Cancer Center, part of the Stanford University Medical System.

According to Stanford, "The best selection of juices comes in nature’s own containers: fresh fruits & vegetables. Fresh juice is loaded with cancer-fighting phytochemicals and vitamins, in a state easily absorbed by the body."

Special thanks to Rebecca at Everyday simplicity for a wonderful post.

American Ginseng Shows Potential to Reduce Cancer Related Fatigue

Science Daily — North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) researchers, based at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., have generated preliminary data suggesting that a form of American ginseng provides greater improvements in fatigue and vitality in patients who receive the highest doses tested, compared to lower doses or no treatment.

American ginseng. (Credit: iStockphoto/Mike Liu)

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The results of their scientifically rigorous pilot study, the first to evaluate the Wisconsin species of American ginseng as a possible therapy for cancer-related fatigue, were presented June 3 at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

This press release goes on to explain how most Americans don't pick their herbs and supplements based upon scientific research. So with this study they are trying to shed some light. I Look forward to the full study. Of course those uniformed folks could always ask an expert. Send me an email. I'll answer it. Alex

Fertile Hope

Fertile Hope is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing reproductive information, support and hope to cancer patients whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility. The Natural Healing and Acupuncture Clinic was just listed in the Cancer and Fertility Resource Guide.

With 25 percent of breast cancer patients under the age of 45, fertility is of special concern, particularly since new research suggests that pregnancy between six months and two years after breast cancer will not impact survival, and for those who wait 24 months to become pregnant it may actually have a protective effect. In the study, published in the British Medical Journal, 123 women who became pregnant up to two years after treatment showed improved overall survival compared with women who did not get pregnant  with the protective effect most clearly evident for those who waited at least two years to get pregnant.

See article in the June 2005 British Medical Journal, Pregnancy and Cancer a Clinical Review

If you are facing a cancer diagnosis and are pregnant or recovering from pregnancy and want to become pregnant there are many resources we can offer you at the Natural Healing and Acupuncture Clinic to help you with cancer and/or fertility.

Vitamin D and Cancer

Scientists have long noticed that people who live in northerly regions of the world like Buffalo have higher cancer rates than those in places with more sunshine.

A growing amount of research now indicates why: vitamin D.

The “sunshine vitamin” — because our skin produces it when exposed to sunlight — is known for building healthy bones. But, otherwise, the nutrient has never received much attention. That’s likely to change.

Dozens of laboratory and geographical studies in recent years suggest that vitamin D deficiency is common and that the risk of cancer, as well as other illnesses, is higher among individuals with low vitamin D levels....

Acupuncture vs. Cancer: Re-Engaging the Body's Immune System

Can acupuncture retrain the immune system and brain toward a natural and successful antagonistic approach to dangerous cell growth? Some Oriental medical doctors are now using acupuncture in new ways to help the body's immune system relearn its original "seek and destroy" mission against cancer.

One such doctor, Dr. Wang Fuda, of Greenville Research Clinic in southern Taiwan, currently sees 100-200 patients per day. Over 70 percent of his clinic patrons are cancer patients. Dr. Fuda believes that acupuncture, employed correctly, can retrain the body's immune system to defeat cancer, and correct or erase faulty body signals hospitable to cancer.

Dr. Fuda sees the needle as a homeopathic instrument. The point of the needle is actually perceived by the body as an enemy. As the needle pricks, the body musters its defenses against the invader. Fuda says the trained hand can actually feel the qi energy and body tissue resist penetration of the acupuncture needle. Applied at key points, he believes the immune system can be retrained and reactivated in some people, and this defensive action can be channeled to the site of the cancer. For the rest of the story click the link above.

For more information about Dr. Fuda click here

Nutrition and Cancer: A Review of the Evidence For An Anti-cancer Diet

Abstract

It has been estimated that 30–40 percent of all cancers can be prevented by lifestyle and dietary measures alone. Obesity, nutrient sparse foods such as concentrated sugars and refined flour products that contribute to impaired glucose metabolism (which leads to diabetes), low fiber intake, consumption of red meat, and imbalance of omega 3 and omega 6 fats all contribute to excess cancer risk. Intake of flax seed, especially its lignan fraction, and abundant portions of fruits and vegetables will lower cancer risk. Allium and cruciferous vegetables are especially beneficial, with broccoli sprouts being the densest source of sulforophane. Protective elements in a cancer prevention diet include selenium, folic acid, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, chlorophyll, and antioxidants such as the carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, cryptoxanthin). Ascorbic acid has limited benefits orally, but could be very beneficial intravenously. Supplementary use of oral digestive enzymes and probiotics also has merit as anticancer dietary measures. When a diet is compiled according to the guidelines here it is likely that there would be at least a 60–70 percent decrease in breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers, and even a 40–50 percent decrease in lung cancer, along with similar reductions in cancers at other sites. Such a diet would be conducive to preventing cancer and would favor recovery from cancer as well.

Acupuncture In Palliative Cancer Care - A study

Acupuncture in Palliative Cancer Care

This study is not yet open for patient recruitment.
Verified by British Columbia Cancer Agency February 2006

Sponsored by: British Columbia Cancer Agency Information provided by: British Columbia Cancer Agency ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00302185

Purpose

Research question: Can acupuncture improve symptom control and quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced incurable cancer?

The purposes of this study is to investigate the feasibility of performing a randomized trial with acupuncture in improving symptom control and quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced incurable cancer at the BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver Island Centre in Victoria.

We will:

• Evaluate whether subjects who are receiving palliative care for cancer related symptoms can tolerate and complete to a course of acupuncture treatments.
• Evaluate whether it is possible to conduct a study using acupuncture on cancer patients.

Condition	Intervention	Phase
Neoplasms Palliative Care	Procedure: Acupuncture	Phase III

Merged Sciences May Aid Cancer Treatment

(AP) Western science and traditional Eastern medicine could be combined to enhance treatment of cancer and other diseases, an oncology professor told a medical forum Sunday.

But comprehensive clinical studies must be carried out and patients must be educated to accept the combination of methods, Tony Mok Shu Kam, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, told participants at a two-day medical forum in Singapore sponsored by the Lancet medical journal.....

A key factor in the integration would be convincing users of traditional medicine that modern science is as good as or better than their centuries-old methods.

A 2004 study in China showed that 49 percent of women who were being treated for breast cancer with traditional Chinese medicine believed it to be an effective treatment for their disease.

Mok also referred to a Chinese trial he was involved in this year in which some prospective patients declined to be part of a placebo control study to test the effectiveness of a traditional medicine when they learned their chances of getting the medicine were only 50-50. They preferred to go to a traditional doctor who would definitely prescribe the treatment they sought.

Integrative Medicine Grand Rounds

The University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson publishes Grand Rounds in many disciplines to the Web. Below are the recent Integrative Medicine Grand Rounds. They are all excellent. If you ever wondered what is going on in alternative medicine cancer clinics around the world check out the first link to Ralph Moss.

View this program live
First Thursdays from 12:00 to 1:00pm MST starting in January

April 11, 2007	Promising CAM Cancer Clinics Around the World Ralph Moss, PhD Disclosure: Presentation will include the discussion of unlabeled/investigational drug use.
April 5, 2007	Why do researchers tell us CAM does not work when thousands of patients experience the opposite? Vinjar Fonnebo, MD, MSc Epidemiology, PhD, NAFKAM, University of Tromso, Norway
March 1, 2007	Integrative Medicine and Biomedicine: Paradigm Shift or Paradigm Clash? Ian Douglass Coulter, PhD, LHD Disclosure: Presenter has nothing to disclose
February 1, 2007	Origin and Clinical Application of the Functional Medicine Model Jeffrey S. Bland, Ph.D. Chief Science Officer, Metagenics; President, MetaProteomics; Founder, Institute for Functional Health Disclosure: Presenter has an affiliation or financial interest with Metagenics, Inc.
December 7, 2006	Ethical Issues in CAM and Integrative Medicine John Tilbert, M.D., M.P.H. Disclosure: Nnothing to disclose.
November 2, 2006	Herbal Medicine and Nutritional Supplements for Children: What Do We Really Know? Ben Kigler, M.D. Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
June 1, 2006	The Quantum Paradigm in Health and Disease Stuart Hameroff, MD; Professor, Anesthesiology, Psychology; Director, Center for Consciousness Studies, The University of Arizona Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
May 4, 2006	An Integrative Approach to ADHD Sandy Newmark, M.D. Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
April 6, 2006	Clinical Issues: Controversies and Updates in Women's Health and Natural Medicine Tori Hudson, ND, Professor, The National College of Naturopathic Medicine; Clinical Professor at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Bastyr University Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
March 2, 2006	The Darker Side of the Physician's Life Daniel Shapiro, PhD Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
February 2, 2006	Preventing Relapse from Addictive Disorders: The Role of Mindfulness & Acceptance John Astin Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
December 8, 2005	DSHEA: A 10-Year Retrospective on the Science, Regulation and Politics of Dietary Supplements Loren Israelsen, JD President, LDI Group, Inc. Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
April 9, 1999	Is Integrative Medicine the Medicine of the Future? A Scholarly Debate Arnold Relman, M.D. Editor-in-Chief, New England Journal of Medicine & Andrew Weil M.D. Director, The University of Arizona Program in Integrative Medicine
Download or player here to view these video stream files.

Educational Objectives:
Discuss clinical, scientific and/or policy information related to the practice of Integrative Medicine; relevant protocols and/or procedures for patients that will directly improve patient care.
The University of Arizona College of Medicine at the Arizona Health Sciences Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.