Numerous people suffering from cancer are looking for alternative treatments and are therefore willing to try anything. The good news is that alternative treatments for cancer are constantly being studied by scientists with high success rates. Alternative treatments are not guaranteed to cure cancer however, it can help to create balance in the body to minimise symptoms and act as a complementary treatment to the conventional approach. Additionally, alternative medicine help to give patients the feeling of having a bit more control when it comes to their disease.
What is Cancer
Cancer is a malignant neoplastic disease characterised by the uncontrolled growth of cells with their ability to migrate and spread to distant sites. There are different types of cancers which include:
- Carcinomas
The majority of human cancers fall under this category. Carcinomas are cancers that arise in the epithelium, which is layers of cells covering the surface of the body and the lining of the internal organs and glands. - Melanomas
Are cancers that originate in the skin, usually in the pigment cells (melanocytes). - Sarcomas
This type of cancer grows in the supporting tissues of the body such as the bone and connective tissue like muscles. - Leukemias and Lymphomas
Are cancers in the blood and lymph glands.
Metabolic Therapy: An alternative approach
There are many ideas surrounding the cause of cancer. One belief is that cancer can be prevented by keeping the body balanced and healthy. Metabolic Therapy indicates a whole range of medical therapies and is based on the idea that diseases are essentially caused by a vitamin deficiency.
These are 9 principles of the metabolic therapy and cancer treatment:
First Principle
Malignant tumors (cancers, sarcomas, leukaemia, lymphomas) are caused by serious genetic mutations of the cell’s DNA. Consequently, the first cause of malignant tumors is identified as a chronic vitamin deficiency. This results in the body not being able to repair and kill the affected cells because it does not have the vitamins it requires. Therefore, the treatment of these tumors must include high doses of vitamins to produce spontaneous suicide of the tumor cells.
Second Principle
The cornerstone of the metabolic treatment of cancer is built on depriving the tumor of whatever feeds it. This often involves removing at least one of the essential amino acids (protein) from the patients’ diet that are needed to synthesise new cells because the intake of protein could enable tumor cell replication as well.
Third Principle
Another cornerstone of the metabolic treatment for cancer is giving the tumor what kills it without damaging the patient. This principle is primarily based on the use of natural vitamins and taking advantage of their ability to induce self-destruction of the cells and block tumor cell replication.
Forth Principle
This principle is to build an immune response against the tumor. These therapies use phyto-therapeutic systems such as herbal support or other systems for example lipopolysaccharides to trigger leukocytes (white blood cells) against tumor cells.
Fifth principle
Is to do a proper liver detoxification. This is to eliminate toxic substances that are purified by the liver through bile without allowing the toxins to be reabsorbed by the intestines. It is extremely important to allow the rapid elimination of toxins released by the tumour masses as they are inflamed and larger, and as a result reduce the pain derived from the tumour.
Sixth principle
The metabolic therapy prevents an imbalance in the patient’s natural microflora in the gut (dysbiosis). It lowers the risk of disrupting the normal intestinal bacterial flora which is responsible for the absorption and digestion of natural vitamins contained in plant-based foods.
Seventh principle
Keep glycemia levels low and avoid glycemia peaks. Tumor cells use glucose to obtain energy and replicate their DNA. Metabolic therapies include frequent but small meals with hypoglycemic foods, meaning avoid simplex carbohydrates.
Eighth Principle
Consume unsaturated fatty acids instead of saturated fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acids, particularly Omega 3, improves the function of cell walls. This allows natural vitamins to penetrate diseased cells to kill and prevent them from replicating. These also allow for greater absorption of glucose in cells as well as lower blood glucose.
Ninth Principle
Finally, minimal amounts of Sodium must be taken. It is important to keep the Sodium and Potassium levels balanced in the body. Potassium and Magnesium plays a vital role and Germanium, Selenium, Iodine, and Silicium are fundamental minerals too.
Important Vitamins to combat Cancer
Use natural sources of vitamins over the synthetic pharmaceutical vitamin products because they are most desirable.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A has extensive bibliography on its anti-tumoral actions. The anti-tumoral actions of Vitamin A and retinoids have shown anti-neoplastic actions in both vivo and vitro in various tumors such as melanomas, basilomas, scaly carcinomas, mycosis, fungoid, skin cancer, acute promyelocyte leukaemia, follicular carcinomas of the thyroid, as well as breast, ovarian, lung, and bladder cancer.
Additionally, Vitamin A has antioxidant and immune boosting functions.
Juice made from fresh carrots is a great source of Vitamin A along with cod liver oil, liver, and sweet potatoes.
Vitamin C
Ascorbic acid is a powerful antioxidant which removes free radicals, reducing the damage caused at a genome level. It also has the ability to reduce metallic ions in various enzymatic processes.
This vitamin is important, alongside the vitamins A and E for its anti-tumoral powers. It forestalls the destructive action of hyalurons produced by neoplastic cells as well as reinforce the intercellular bond.
Most importantly, vitamin C stimulates the natural killer lymphocytes, the production of antibodies, and the response of T-cytotoxic lymphocytes on antigens.
Additionally, this vitamin fights infection and keeps the skin healthy.
Blackcurrants, green pepper, mango, oranges, and cabbage are a natural source of vitamin C.
Vitamin D
Natural vitamins bind with Magnesium, taking it away from cancerous organisms. Studies in vitro have shown that Vitamin D inhibits neoplastic cellular growth in neoplastic cellular lines, especially of the CNS, prostate, colon, ovaries, breasts and hematopoietic system.
Foods that provide vitamin D include fatty fish like tuna, mackerel, and salmon as well as mushrooms. Fortified foods like soy milk, orange juice, and cereals also contain vitamin D. Sunlight is another source of vitamin D.
Vitamin E
Similar to Vitamin C, Vitamin E contains antioxidant properties and therefore acts as a scavenger for and deactivator of free radicals.
Vitamin E stimulates the immune system by inducing cellular differentiation, inhibiting cellular growth which intervenes with DNA and RNA synthesis. Studies have shown its ability to induce cancer cell suicide in the cell lines of breast carcinomas and lymphoma B.
Wheat germ oil, sunflower oil and seeds, almonds, pine nuts, peanut butter and sweet potato are natural sources of vitamin E.
Herbs to combat Cancer
Garlic
Garlic has the ability to assist with the principles 3, 4 and 5 listed above.
First of all is to give a tumor what kills it. Garlic has the ability to kill cancer cells, induce dysbiosis and stop cancer cells by blocking the formation of and halting the activation of cancer-causing substances.
Build the immune response against a tumor with garlic as suggested in the fourth principle. Speed up DNA repair and fight cancer with the strong antibacterial and anti cancer substances present in garlic.
Principle number six suggests detoxification of the liver. Garlic has the ability to enhance the body’s mechanism by eliminating carcinogens and toxic substances. As a result, garlic could potentially be of great interest to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Green Tea
Neutralise carcinogenic agents in the intestine, liver, and lungs and hinder the activation of carcinogens with the powerful antioxidants of green tea.
EGCG studies have shown that:
- The antioxidant activity in green tea scavenges free radicals.
- Green tea stimulates the detoxification system and induces healthy metabolic enzymes.
- Green tea inhibits the factors which activate and develop tumors and reduce the cellular repetition rate.
- It has the ability to induce selective neoplastic cell suicide in myeloid leukaemia, skin cancer, and prostate carcinomas.
- Green tea has the ability to stop abnormal cell growth by blocking the transduction signal paths associated with growth factors.
- It restrains gelatinase and telomerasis.
Early morning and before 3 in the afternoon is the best time to drink green tea. Brew green tea in water that has slightly cooled down to prevent the bitter taste (tannins) from coming out.
Turmeric
The active ingredient in turmeric is known as curcumin which is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Curcumin work against blood vessels which feed tumors and essentially choke cancer cells to death.
Hundreds of studies have shown that curcumin fights cancer cells and inhibits the growth of cancer cells including those of the colon, liver, bladder, kidney, stomach, pancreatic, blood, bone, brain, breast, ovarian, prostate and skin cancer. It triggers cell suicide and as a result assist the body’s natural method of ridding itself from damaged cells. Laboratory studies show that curcumin interferes with cancer development, growth, and spread.
A study done in 2007 showed that combining chemotherapy while consuming curcumin eliminated more bowel cancer cells than chemotherapy alone.
Activate curcumin’s powers by mixing turmeric with black pepper and olive oil.
Oregano
Carvacrol, a molecule present in oregano, is a natural disinfectant that stifles the spread of cancer cells. Promote cancer cell death and slow their growth with the phytochemical quercetin in oregano. It is especially effective against leukaemia, breast, prostate and colon cancer.
Additionally, oregano contains antimicrobial, immune-supportive, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antibiotic, antiviral and anti-parasitic properties.
Astragalus
This Chinese herb is a natural immune system booster. It known to stimulate the body’s natural production of interferon which is an essential chemical that induces the proper functioning of the immune system. It also helps the immune system identify and fight rogue cells. Research has shown that survival rates doubled when using astragalus while undergoing radiotherapy.
Astragalus modulates the immune system by increasing the activity and numbers of macrophages, which remove white blood cells that engulf invading organisms.
Scientists have discovered that the use of astragalus extract is a promising adjunctive treatment for cancer as patients with cancer-related fatigue showed significant improvement.
Chinese studies show that astragalus improves the quality of life and the overall immunity of cancer patients undergoing chemo.
Disclaimer:
The medical and/or nutritional information on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
