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Cancer and Fatigue is an Oncologist’s Problem

Jul 25

By Rita Goldman

Many oncologists are doctors who treat cancer believing that patients should be evaluated for fatigue when undergoing cancer treatment. Fatigue often means that patients have to give up many activities that could be considered normal, because they are too tired to function. There is an argument that you should be discussing your levels of fatigue with your oncologists. They should be providing the initial screening, because they can provide the basic education that those levels of fatigue lead to pain, loss of sleep, emotional disturbances, hypothyroidism and anemia.

If any of those five primary symptoms of fatigue are present they need to be treated within the guidelines of the practise of each patient. Further assessment can include a review of the system of treatment and a total review of all medications, metabolic evaluations and an accurate assessment of current physical activity levels.

There are certain symptoms of fatigue such as electrolyte imbalances, infection and cardiac dysfunction that needs specific treatments but when these are not present then there are non-pharmacological options of treatment. These can include hypnosis to manage the pain, and improve the mood, and aid sleep. This can be in conjunction with a moderate gentle exercise program designed to make activity more tolerable.

Many cancer patients use hypnosis to alleviate their symptoms, but it is estimated that few of them discuss the results of alternative treatment with their oncologists. Many discuss it as a primary option, but once hypnosis is underway it is not discussed again. In fact it should be discussed and incorporated into a regime to manage your levels of fatigue as you undergo treatment. This is because the exact cause of fatigue in cancer patients has not been isolated.

A research study in Pakistan studied one hundred and ninety-one patients (1994) who each had a twenty five minute interview to assess how many of them used alternative therapies. Pakistan is a developing country, 54.5% of all patients used alternative therapies as part of their treatment. Traditional herbal medicines accounted for 70.2% and homeopathy was used by 64.4%. What was interesting is the fact that 36% or just over a third of the people studies used these treatments before conventional treatment was sought.

Only 15% used alternative methods after conventional therapeutic treatment options had been exhausted. Patients perceived that these treatments were less expensive and toxic. They have the opposite problem. The belief in Western therapies is not sufficient, that cancer patients will not use alternative therapies first, thus wasting a great deal of time before employing proven methods of treatment. However a recent American Cancer Society survey revealed that mind therapy which included mental imagery, hypnosis was employed by 49% of the users.

Obviously in Pakistan, dangerous consequences of using unconventional therapies instead of proven medical care mean direct physiological harm and needless deaths, but there has to be a happy medium of using alternative therapies with the full knowledge of your oncologist who is supposed to be coordinating your treatment.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rita_Goldman http://EzineArticles.com/?Cancer-and-Fatigue-is-an-Oncologists-Problem&id=2651426

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cancer, chemotherapy, chronic fatigue, immune system, lack of energy, side effects     1 Comment

Four Reasons Why Chemotherapy Patients are Tired-And What to Do About It

Jun 05

ENERhance

Boost and Restore Energy: natural herbs, vitamins & minerals

Secondary Benefits

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____________________________________________________________If you are undergoing chemotherapy treatments, you certainly have noticed that you’re tired. Not just tired where you can go take a nap and wake up refreshed, but so tired from the chemotherapy that you have no energy to do anything. You’re drained and it feels as if there’s not much you can do about it. What a challenging state to be in!

There are four reasons why chemotherapy patients are tired and fatigued, and the good news is that there is a solution that doesn’t require much effort to make a difference.

1. Low levels of white blood cells. This can result naturally from the cancer or from the cancer treatments themselves. Low levels of white blood cells mean that your army of immune system cells is dwindling, and the ones left to fight are taking on all the work themselves! That’s why you end up with fatigue.

2. Low levels of red blood cells. This can result naturally from the cancer or results from the cancer treatments as well. When you don’t have enough red blood cells, the oxygen can’t get to the tissues and the result is that you get tired. It’s the same type of fatigue noticed in those with iron deficiency anemia.

3. Abnormal growth of tumors. When tumors start growing faster, the growth spurt is draining on the body.

4. Side effects of cancer treatments. This is the most common reason that chemotherapy patients and radiation patients feet fatigued and tired.

The big question is this – is there something that can help alleviate the fatigue that chemotherapy patients and radiation patients feel? And if there is, why hasn’t my doctor told me?

What many chemotherapy patients have done is turned to the use of safe, natural herbal combinations that help boost their immune system and simultaneously combat the fatigue they feel. One specific herbal combination created specifically for chemotherapy patients increases the natural killer cell counts, increases the white blood cell and red blood cell counts, and helps restore energy levels pretty quickly. The average time that results were seen was about seven days according to a recent clinical study. The study also found that patients who were so fatigued that they were bedridden were able to get out of their bed, and even start back at work on a limited schedule after using this herbal formula to combat fatigue in chemotherapy patients.

The reason why it works is that the herbal combination contains 15 herbs that address the diminished white blood cell and red blood cell count, and have anti-cancer properties that address the growth of the tumor. Herbs are known also to help restore the body after strong cancer treatments, and according to Chinese medical journals, they have been used as adjunct therapy for cancer patients for decades.

Find out more information on how to combat fatigue in chemotherapy patients at http://www.immuneenhance.com/products

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Chemical From Medicinal Plants May Be Used To Fight HIV

Apr 30

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Leucozepin bestseller
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Secondary Benefits

  • Regulates blood cell counts
  • Boosts energy
  • Activates NK cells
  • Stimulates macrophages
  • Relieves fatigue

____________________________________________________

Chemical From Medicinal Plants May Be Used To Fight HIV

ScienceDaily — Like other kinds of cells, immune cells lose the ability to divide as they age because a part of their chromosomes known as a telomere becomes progressively shorter with cell division. As a result, the cell changes in many ways, and its disease fighting ability is compromised.But a new UCLA AIDS Institute study has found that a chemical from the Astragalus root, frequently used in Chinese herbal therapy, can prevent or slow this progressive telomere shortening, which could make it a key weapon in the fight against HIV.

“This has the potential to be either added to or possibly even replace the HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy), which is not tolerated well by some patients and is also costly,” said study co-author Rita Effros, a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and member of the UCLA AIDS Institute.

A telomere is a region at the end of every cell chromosome that contains repeated DNA sequences but no genes; telomeres act to protect the ends of the chromosomes and prevent them from fusing together — rather like the plastic tips that keep shoelaces from unraveling. Each time a cell divides, the telomeres get shorter, eventually causing the cell to reach a stage called replicative senescence, when it can no longer divide. This seems to indicate that the cell has reached an end stage, but, in fact, the cell has changed into one with new genetic and functional characteristics.

A great deal of cell division must take place within the immune system for the system to function properly. For example, the so-called “killer” CD8 T-cells that help fight infection have unique receptors for particular antigens. When a virus enters the body, the killer T-cells whose receptors recognize that virus create, through division, versions of themselves that fight the invader.

Generally, the telomeres in cells are sufficiently long that they can divide many times without a problem. Moreover, when fighting infections, T-cells can turn on an enzyme called telomerase, which can prevent the telomeres from shortening.

“The problem is that when we’re dealing with a virus that can’t be totally eliminated from the body, such as HIV, the T-cells fighting that virus can’t keep their telomerase turned on forever,” Effros said. “They turn off, and telomeres get shorter and they enter this stage of replicative senescence.”

Previous studies have shown that injecting the telomerase gene into T-cells can keep the telomeres from shortening, enabling them to maintain their HIV-fighting function for much longer. This gene-therapy approach, however, is not a practical way to treat the millions of people living with HIV.

For the present study, rather than utilizing gene therapy, the researchers used a chemical called TAT2, which was originally identified from plants used in traditional Chinese therapy and which enhances telomerase activity in other cell types.

They tested TAT2 in several ways. First, they exposed the CD8 T-cells from HIV-infected persons to TAT2 to see if the chemical not only slowed the shortening of the telomeres but improved the cells’ production of soluble factors called chemokines and cytokines, which had been previously shown to inhibit HIV replication. It did.

They then took blood samples from HIV-infected individuals and separated out the CD8 T-cells and the CD4 T-cells — those infected with HIV. They treated the CD8 T-cells with TAT2 and combined them with the CD4 T-cells in the dish-and found that the treated CD8 cells inhibited production of HIV by the CD4 cells.

“The ability to enhance telomerase activity and antiviral functions of CD8 T-lymphocytes suggests that this strategy could be useful in treating HIV disease, as well as immunodeficiency and increased susceptibility to other viral infections associated with chronic diseases or aging,” the researchers write.

In addition to Effros, researchers were Steven Russell Fauce, Beth D. Jamieson, Ronald T. Mitsuyasu, Stan T. Parish, Christina M. Ramirez Kitchen, and Otto O. Yang, all of UCLA, and Allison C. Chin and Calvin B. Harley of the Geron Corp.

The Geron Corp., TA Therapeutics Ltd., the National Institutes of Health and the Frank Jernigan Foundation funded this study.

Journal reference:

1. . Telomerase-Based Pharmacologic Enhancement of Antiviral Function of Human CD8+ T Lymphocytes. Journal of Immunology, Nov. 15, 2008 [link]

Adapted from materials provided by University of California – Los Angeles.

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Can Complementary Medical Treatment Help With Cancer Treatment Side Effects?

Apr 20

By Eric DeYoung

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is defined as interventions that are neither taught widely in medical schools, nor traditionally available in US Hospitals. CAM can be broken down into two broad categories I) those that are ingested or injected such as chelation therapy, Nosodes or Homeopathy and II) those that require a practitioner or therapist. Herbals, vitamins, organics, chemicals and diet are examples of the first group and meditation, massage (body work), chiropractic, acupuncture, body-mind therapy, and prayer are examples of the second.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become the norm for many cancer patients, the majority of whom use it along with conventional therapy. Data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA 280(18):1569-75) from a 1997 United States survey of alternative medicine use demonstrated that 42% of the general population uses some form of CAM. More recent surveys of cancer patients demonstrate approximately two-thirds are engaged in a least one form of CAM therapy.

As a group, physicians remain somewhat in the dark to their patients’ use of CAM therapies. In multiple surveys, only about one-half of patients using CAM have indicated that their doctors are aware. The primary reason patients cite for not informing their practitioner is that the physician never asked. Studies also indicate that the great majority of patients using CAM do so in conjunction with standard cancer therapies, and not to the exclusion of oncologic treatments that is physician-endorsed.

Herbal formulas, raw foods, organic diets and homeopathy are additional forms of CAM modalities utilized in for many types of cancer treatments and especially for reducing the potential side effects of chemotherapy as well as radiation treatments. Traditional Chinese Medicine or Meridian therapy may also support the oncologist team in properly managing the side effects from cancer treatment. Patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy found that electro acupuncture treatments combined with anti-nausea medication were more effective than medication alone in controlling their chemo-related vomiting, according to a study reported in the Dec. 6 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. According to cancer experts, the study adds to the evidence that non-traditional therapies can be helpful to patients suffering from side effects of chemotherapy.

Homoeopathic treatment involves giving extremely small doses of a substance (called a ‘remedy’) that, if given to a healthy person in larger doses, will cause the same or similar symptoms. A recent survey (Molassiotis, Fernadez-Ortega et al. 2005) has shown that homoeopathy is one of the most commonly used complementary therapies for cancer. As a complementary treatment, homoeopathy is used mainly to strengthen the body, improve well-being and to relieve symptoms caused by the disease or the treatment. (Milazzo, Russell et al. 2006).

Most oncologists are comfortable with their patients’ use of CAM. Overall there is little clinical evidence to suggest that complementary therapies cause harm or interact unfavorably with regular medications. However, physicians are concerned that ingested or injected CAM might pose risks to some patients. Some might biochemically interfere with the effect of the chemotherapy or radiation therapy either negating or intensifying its action. In addition, although often taken to decrease the side effects and toxicity of conventional therapy, CAM may sometimes have unwarranted side effects of their own. For example, they may worsen other medical conditions a patient has such as high blood pressure. Many forms of prescription medication contain an herb as a base and therefore using herbs with CAM their may be a drug interaction potential with the existing formula within the prescription medication being used by the oncologist or other medical team participants.

The medical community recognizes the growing use of CAM and the need to investigate these medicines and their side effects. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is presently putting forth a research initiative through the NCCAM to study complementary and alternative therapies.

As a patient, it is always a good idea to discuss the use of CAM with your oncologist. Not only will it make them aware of other therapies you are using, but also the reasons that you may need them such as insomnia, pain, depression, anxiety, etc. Bringing along any data or literature you may have will be helpful to your doctor. As well, there are multiple Internet websites available for you to research CAM. Try looking at several, from a variety of different groups (manufacturers, support groups, medical) before starting complementary therapies. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) website is a good starting place – http://nccam.nih.gov

The Center For Alternative Medicines at Occupational Kinetics
http://www.myockn.com

Eric M. DeYoung, OTR/L, HHP, NPRS, NDC is experienced as a board registered and licensed occupational therapist in Kentucky and Indiana with a Bachelors degree from Shawnee State University, doctoral training as a traditional Naturopath practicing Homeopathy and Traditional Chinese Medicine through Clayton College of Natural Health, a certified Holistic Health Practitioner and a Neuro Physical Reprogramming Specialist through the California College of Natural Medicine. Additional training that he maintains certification and competency is in the ways of body work such as myofascial release, cranial sacral therapy, Reiki, Acupressure, Meridian therapy, body reading, homeopathic endocrinology, Neuro-Muscular Therapy, and Positional Release. Eric’s interest in treating patients is rooted in the field of Functional Medicine which believes that the core clinical imbalances that underlie various disease conditions arise as environmental inputs such as diet, nutrients (including air and water), exercise, and trauma processed by one’s body, mind and spirit through a unique set of genetic predispositions, attitudes and beliefs. He believes that improving balance – in the patient’s environmental inputs and in the body’s fundamental physiological processes – is the precursor to restoring health and it involves much more than treating the symptoms. As the owner of Occupational Kinetics at The Center For Alternative Medicines, he is able to facilitate function through holistically treating his patients incorporating mind, body and spirit.

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Benefits of Alternative Medicine

Apr 14

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Leucozepin bestseller
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Secondary Benefits

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  • Boosts energy
  • Activates NK cells
  • Stimulates macrophages
  • Relieves fatigue
In recent times, alternative medicine is becoming popular for treatment of many ailments. It has certain advantages over the conventional methods, in terms of safety and expense. Read on to know more about the benefits of alternative medicine.
Alternative medicine refers to therapeutic practices that are based on natural and traditional methods. The treatment methods are totally different from the allopathic medical practice. In contrast to the conventional medical techniques that only treat diseases, alternative medicine emphasizes in improving the quality of life; be it treatment of diseases or promoting well-being of the individual. Alternative medicine is the form of treatment for practicing holistic health. A holistic health practitioner has a thorough knowledge about the body, mind and spirit of the human system.

In general, the term complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is used to cover all the practices, other than the standard medical care techniques (or conventional methods). However, the terms complementary and alternative can be used to determine the purpose of following the therapies. If alternative medicine therapies are used in addition to the conventional treatment methods, then they are referred to as complementary. Therapies are called alternative, in case they are used instead of the conventional methods.

Benefits of Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicine has been used for treatment of many diseases, since the olden days. Alternative medicine encompasses many disciplines such as homeopathy, herbal medicine, acupuncture, naturopathy, massage therapy, physical therapy, chiropractic and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Though many of these therapies have gained interests worldwide, there are some like humor and radium therapy that are no longer in use. Following are some of the benefits of alternative medicine.

Herbal medicines (use of herbs) are used for treatment of varied health problems like insomnia, diabetes, bad breath, respiratory disease, heart disease, circulatory problem, skin and allergy problems. Some known herbs like aloe vera and garlic can be used for detoxification process. Various herbs are also identified that help to lose weight naturally.

Pain in the joints can be successfully treated by following acupuncture techniques. Acupuncture can also used to treat mental illnesses. The advantage of acupuncture is that it can be conducted in people who have a low immune system. Health problems treated by acupuncture technique include fatigue, stress, headache, tennis elbow and osteoarthritis.

Chiropractic is a popular technique for treatment of ailments related to muscle, bone and joints (neuro-musculoskeletal system). The basic principle behind chiropractic is that the body system has the ability to heal by itself. It gives more emphasis in treatment of spine problems, as spine is the primary center for many health related problems.

Aromatherapy refers to the use of plant essence for treatment of diseases. In recent times, aromatherapy has become a part of massage therapy. Essential oils added to a carrier oil base are used for massaging the body. The skin absorbs the plant essence easily (due to their molecular structure), which then stimulates the circulatory system, lymph flow and helps in natural detoxification process.

In addition to these benefits, alternative medicine does not have side effects, provided the therapies are conducted properly by a licensed practitioner. Alternative medicine is more cost-effective as compared to medical treatments. Since the therapeutic practices of alternative medicine often lack biomedical proof, a number of researches are ongoing to study the effects of alternative medicine on the human body.


By Ningthoujam Sandhyarani
Published: 3/17/2009

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Marijuana-based Drug Reduces Fibromyalgia Pain, Study Suggests

Apr 08

ScienceDaily — Patients with fibromyalgia treated with a synthetic form of marijuana, nabilone, showed significant reductions in pain and anxiety in a first-of-its-kind study, published in The Journal of Pain.

Fibromyalgia syndrome has no cure, is difficult to diagnose, and effective pain management strategies are a must to help patients cope with the disease. An estimated 12 million Americans have fibromyalgia, which is characterized by widespread muscle and joint pain and myriad other symptoms. The condition is far more prevalent in women and the incidence increases with age, reaching 7 percent among women 65 years and older.

Forty subjects were selected for the nabilone trial, conducted by researchers at the University of Manitoba Rehabilitation Hospital. They were divided into nabilone and placebo groups and were treated for four weeks. The authors noted this was the first randomized, controlled-access trial to evaluate nabilone for pain reduction and quality-of-life improvement in fibromyalgia patients. Nabilone is one of two oral marijuana-based compounds, known as cannabinoids, available in Canada and is approved for treatment of nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy.

Results of the Manitoba study showed the nabilone group had significant reductions in pain and anxiety, measured by comparisons with baseline scores on the visual analogue scale for pain, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the FIQ anxiety score. From the data, the study concluded nabilone has significant benefits for pain relief and functional improvement in fibromyalgia patients. Although the improvement was significant, none of the nabilone-treated subjects had complete relief of their fibromyalgia symptoms.

The drug was well tolerated by treated patients, which the authors characterized as reassuring since fibromyalgia patients are sensitive to most medications and have difficulty tolerating side effects. The downside, however, is cost. In Canada, nabilone would cost about $4,000 for a year’s supply.

The authors believe their findings warrant consideration of nabilone as an adjunct to current medical management of fibromyalgia.

Adapted from materials provided by American Pain Society, via Newswise. (Feb. 18, 2008)

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Acupuncture reduces side effects of breast cancer treatment as much as conventional drug therapy

Feb 23

Acupuncture is as effective and longer-lasting in managing the common debilitating side effects of hot flashes, night sweats, and excessive sweating (vasomotor symptoms) associated with breast cancer treatment and has no treatment side effects compared to conventional drug therapy, according to a first-of-its-kind study presented September 24, 2008, at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology’s 50th Annual Meeting in Boston. Findings also show there were additional benefits to acupuncture treatment for breast cancer patients, such as an increased sense of well being, more energy, and in some cases, a higher sex drive, that were not experienced in those patients who underwent drug treatment for their hot flashes.

“Our study shows that physicians and patients have an additional therapy for something that affects the majority of breast cancer survivors and actually has benefits, as opposed to more side effects. The effect is more durable than a drug commonly used to treat these vasomotor symptoms and, ultimately, is more cost-effective for insurance companies,” Eleanor Walker, M.D., lead author of the study and a radiation oncologist at the Henry Ford Hospital Department of Radiation Oncology in Detroit, said.

The reduction in hot flashes lasted longer for those breast cancer patients after completing their acupuncture treatment, compared to patients after stopping their drug therapy plan.

Eighty percent of women treated for breast cancer suffer from hot flashes after being treated with chemotherapy and/or anti-estrogen hormones, such as Tamoxifen and Arimidex. Although hormone replacement therapy is typically used to relieve these symptoms, breast cancer patients cannot use this therapy because it may increase the risk of the cancer coming back. As a treatment alternative, patients are generally treated with steroids and/or antidepressant drugs. These drugs, however, have additional side effects, such as weight gain, nausea, constipation and fatigue. The antidepressant, venlafaxine (Effexor), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is one of the most common drugs used to treat these hot flashes. However, many women decide against this treatment choice because of potential side effects, including decreased libido, insomnia, dizziness and nausea, or because they simply do not want to take any more medications.

The randomized clinical trial compared acupuncture treatment to venlafixine for 12 weeks to find out if acupuncture reduced vasomotor symptoms in breast cancer patients receiving hormonal therapy and produced fewer side effects than venlafaxine. The study involved 47 breast cancer patients who received either Tamoxifen or Arimidex and had at least 14 hot flashes per week. Results show that acupuncture reduces hot flashes as effectively as venlafaxine, with no side effects, and also provides additional health benefits to patients.

Source: American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology

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Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Jan 15

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Secondary Benefits

  • Regulates blood cell counts
  • Boosts energy
  • Activates NK cells
  • Stimulates macrophages
  • Relieves fatigue
You can imagine a situation where apart from the anguish of having cancer, patients receiving chemotherapy for it find that they also have to deal with the side effects of the treatment which can be fairly devastating.Fortunately like most things in life, understanding the side effects and the causes for it is an excellent place to start in alleviating the suffering. And understanding the basic reason for the side effects of chemotherapy is not as difficult as most people think it is. All you need to grasp is what chemotherapy does to the body. The whole idea behind chemotherapy is to kill cancer cells. However in the course of destroying the deadly cancerous cells the treatment also damages other normal cells. The unavoidable harming of these normal cells is what causes the side effects associated with chemotherapy.

The cells that are usually affected include bone marrow blood cells, cells of hair follicles, cells lining the digestive tract and cells lining the reproductive tract. Looking at this list of the cells that are usually destroyed, one can start to recognize some the ailments that cause so much suffering to people going through chemotherapy treatment. Now you understand exactly why people end up losing their hair for instance. This is as a result of the cells of hair follicles being damaged by chemotherapy.

Bone marrow cells being affected during cancer treatment is one of the most common causes of many of the side effects of chemotherapy. Bone marrow is a thick liquid in the inner part of some bones which usually produces white blood cells. This damage leads to low white blood cell counts or what doctors call neutrophil. The kind of signs and symptoms that follow include fever, sore throat, coughs, shortness of breath, nasal congestion, burning during urination, shaking chills as well as redness, swelling, pain, and warmth at the site of an injury amongst other symptoms.

Usually because of the high risk of infections, doctors may need to delay further chemotherapy doses. These are some of the factors that cause so much suffering amongst cancer patients.

Fortunately new research and clinical trials offers some hope in greatly alleviating problems related to cancer and cancer treatment. For example natural herbal medicines have been used for hundreds of years and now regularly complement mainstream care in managing symptoms, boosting the immune system and greatly enhancing the quality of life. Actually many cancer patients going through chemotherapy have reported impressive results from natural herbal medicine in addressing the side effects of chemotherapy.

Get more information on the Side Effects Of Chemotherapy

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Therapy Pain

Jan 15

Therapy Pain   by Billy Fischer

Where traditional forms of medicine do not work alternative therapies are resorted to. When there is a combination or integrated medical system that is followed, how to blend both the alternative and the conventional needs expertise. Alternative therapies make available services which are not offered in conventional medicine. These treatments could involve homeopathy, new age healing, faith healing and naturopathy. Some diseases might warrant alternative methods of healing rather than the conventional and more and more people seem to be becoming aware of this.

Not only can alternative health therapies help you to improve the quality of your life and feel better, they can also help you to improve your overall general health in order to provide you with a sense of control. It relaxes you by reducing your anxiety, stress, depression, sleeplessness and tension. They reduce some of the side effects, which are normally noticed in the usual cancer treatments and also help in reducing some of the symptoms like poor appetite, tiredness, pain, sickness, diarrhea, constipation and breathlessness.

Alternative health therapies can be very effective at masking pain, which can sometimes hide a more serious underlying condition and are often used in conjunction with conventional medicine. Some cancer support groups for example, offer these therapies for free or make a small charge and some hospitals and hospices provide as part of cancer care, alongside conventional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Many cancer patients to support themselves in their fight against cancer now use these therapies. These therapies are very valuable in that they identify and support spiritual and emotional characteristics and physical features, but they should not be used as the only alternative line of treatment.

More than billion is spent by the Americans annually on vitamins and herbs which are alternative health products. The recent studies that were conducted by Phillips, Tindle, Eisenberg and Davis, reflected that there was roughly seventy two million adults within the United States that use alternative and complementary therapies. The studies conducted by Herman, Craig and Caspi in 2005 also show an out of pocket spend of about billion annually on these therapies.

It is very essential to find out which treatments offered by alternative health therapies are more effective and at the same time making you feel much better and comfortable. The quality of life for many people has improved especially those who have Motor Neuron Disease. It is always advisable to check with your doctor before starting with any of the alternative health therapies and you should also remember to check whether any such treatment adapted would have adverse effect on any of the treatment programs which are already being undertaken.

In case you are thinking of using any alternative health therapy along with your contemporary medication then you must talk to you doctor and find about the pros and cons that are related. You could even find out from your physician if he is qualified to practice any of these therapies. Today doctors are more and more convinced that alternative therapy does have a place in the overall healing of a patient; this gives them the ability to maybe recommend alternative therapy practitioners. For some people, these types of therapies are helpful in coping with effects of conventional treatments, reducing anxiety and giving them back some control over their lives.

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Curcumin curry’s secret agent

Nov 13

Curcumin curry’s secret agent: behind all great spices are powerful healing compounds. for the curry seasoning turmeric, that hidden gem is curcumin—a potent antioxidant that quells inflammation and keeps the mind sharp

Jack ChallemCurcumin is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory with potentially far-reaching health benefits. Based on human, animal, and cell studies, it may be helpful in rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, diabetic retinopathy, and cancer. All of these diseases share underlying inflammation that curcumin can diminish.

ALIAS: If you have ever eaten curry or cooked with the spice turmeric (which gives curry its yellowish color), you’ve consumed curcumin. Curry uses turmeric, obtained from the roots of Curcuma longa. Curcumin, consisting of several curcuminoids, is the active constituent of turmeric. Biologically, turmeric is related to ginger.

HOW IT WORKS: Curcumin works through several well-established mechanisms. An antioxidant in its own right, it also boosts levels of glutathione S-transferase, one of the body’s principal antioxidants. It blocks the formation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a compound that promotes inflammation within the body.

To get technical for a moment: Curcumin also inhibits activity of “nuclear factor kappa beta,” another substance involved in inflammation. In addition, it reduces the activity of cydooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), two more inflammation-promoting enzymes. Finally, curcumin prevents mutations to DNA, in effect helping to maintain younger, healthier cells.

HEALTH BENEFITS: Supplemental curcumin can help with the following conditions and diseases:

* Rheumatoid arthritis. In a study conducted at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson, researchers used a curcumin-rich turmeric extract to treat rheumatoid arthritis in laboratory animals. The extract blocked joint inflammation and the breakdown of joint cartilage and bone. It worked by inhibiting genes involved in inflammation.

* Cancer. Curcumin holds tremendous promise in preventing cancer and as an adjunct treatment. Animal studies show that curcumin can protect against colon, intestinal, oral, and skin cancers. Its benefits derive from several mechanisms. First, it blocks the cell-growth cycle (a process called apoptosis) in cancer cells, leading to cell destruction. It also reduces free radicals and inflammation, both of which can lead to cancer-causing cell mutations.

* Liver and kidney protection. Studies have found that curcumin can protect the liver against a variety of toxic compounds–important news for people suffering from liver diseases, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis. In one recent study, researchers reported that curcumin increased the clearance of creatinine and urea, signs of improved kidney function. It also reduced liver damage from toxic chemicals and excess iron. Another study found that curcumin inhibited the activation and spread of the liver cells that play a role in the development of cirrhosis.

* Ulcerative colitis. Japanese doctors recently used curcumin, drags, or placebos to treat 89 patients with ulcerative colitis. A combination of curcumin and conventional medications led to the greatest benefits over six months of treatment. Patients took 1,000 mg of curcumin after breakfast and again after dinner.

* Other inflammatory diseases. Because inflammation is the underpinning of all chronic degenerative diseases, curcumin will likely be beneficial for many different conditions. Research so far has identified curcumin’s benefits for diabetic retinopathy, lung disorders, and such skin problems as psoriasis. A dose of 3.6 g (3,600 mg) of curcumin reduced PGE2 levels by two-thirds in just one hour. After one month of daily consumption, PGE2 levels were 57 percent lower than before supplementation began.

BACKGROUND CHECK: Turmeric, the source of curcumin, has been used as a culinary spice for at least 2,000 years. It was listed in an Assyrian herbal in 600 BC, used by ancient Greeks, and widely recommended in Ayurvedic medicine. It is native to India and other regions of South Asia.

GLEANINGS: Eating a lot of curry–rich in curcumin–may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and help maintain mental function. In a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, researchers reported that people who often ate curry had half the risk of becoming mentally impaired. Eating curry on occasion reduced the risk of mental decline by a little more than one third.

HEADS UP: Curcumin is safe in amounts from 500 to 8,000 mg daily.

WHAT YOU SHOULD TAKE: Most supplements provide 500 mg of curcumin. Turmeric is safe in even larger amounts, but is usually limited by taste as a spice. Look for a standardized supplement containing at least 90 percent curcumin. Use curry spice to flavor homemade chicken salad.

COPYRIGHT 2007 PRIMEDIA Intertec, a PRIMEDIA Company. All Rights Reserved.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

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