B17 IN BRIEF SERIES - Ten
pages to print out first from www.anticancerinfo.co.uk
In brief on: (1) Why eat apricot kernels? (2) Quotes - Did you know? (3) One page on amygdalin/vitamin
B17 (4) How to eat apricot kernels or laetrile tablets
This series is a gathering of
information from numerous sources. It
is intended to help you make decisions for health. Any action taken is your own responsibility and it is best to work
with a medical practitioner or clinical nutritionist.
WHY EAT APRICOT KERNELS?
Apricot kernels are, like most nuts and seeds,
very nutritious. Among the nutrients
they contain is one called amygdalin, which is also known as vitamin B17. This attacks cancer cells, and thus can help
prevent cancer from breaking out in our bodies.
Amygdalin (vitamin B17) is contained in many hundreds of foods, but ones that are particularly rich in amygdalin have disappeared to a large extent from our Western diet. Peoples throughout the world who still eat a traditional diet, have been found to be largely free from cancer. These diets are rich in foods containing amygdalin.
Apart from apricot kernels, examples of other amygdalin rich foods are bitter almonds (amygdalin tastes bitter - sweet almonds do not contain it), apple pips, grape seeds, millet, broad beans, most berries, cassava and many other seeds, beans, pulses and grains - but not ones that have been highly hybridised (African orange pips contain some amygdalin, but American ones don’t, wheat is low in amygdalin).
There are many ways you can fight cancer. One is to build up the immune system so that it is very strong. Another is to supplement with antioxidants which fight carcinogens in the body. However, amygdalin seems to be unique in the way that it directly attacks cancer cells.
Amygdalin was first extracted and named over one hundred years ago and has been listed in pharmacological dictionaries since that time as being non-toxic. However it does have a poison locked away in it - one of its constituents is cyanide. But, locked into the compound amygdalin, it is chemically inert and harmless to normal living tissue. In the same way common salt (sodium chloride) is safe to eat, and in fact is necessary to the body. But this also has locked away in it a poison - chlorine. Of course if you ate too much salt at one time you would be ill. This is true of any substance, and would equally apply to apricot kernels. However, amygdalin is less toxic than salt, and less toxic than sugar.
We are told that our bodies are creating cancer cells all the time. Normally the immune system can deal with them. However at times of stress or in a particularly weak part of the body, or under extreme or regular exposure to carcinogens, then the multiplication of cancer cells may become too great for the immune system to handle. Amygdalin comes alongside the immune system and attacks the cancer cells directly. The cancer cells have within them an enzyme which unlocks the poison in the amygdalin, and in this way the cancer cells are destroyed. Normal, healthy cells do not have this enzyme. In fact they have a different enzyme which unlocks the amygdalin in a different way and releases nutrients and also a neutralising agent which would neutralise any of the poison it came into contact with. Researchers at Imperial College London have been experimenting using cyanide to kill cancer cells, and state that any poison that escaped into the bloodstream would be quickly neutralised by the liver. (See reports in UK national newspapers of 7th September 2000).
Amygdalin is sometimes referred to as Vitamin B17 and is found in nitriloside rich fruits and plants. In its extracted, pure, concentrated form it is known as laetrile. Laetrile is used as the main therapy, but supported by other non-toxic therapies and good nutrition, in treating cancer sufferers in some clinics.
For prevention, however, Dr Ernst T Krebs Jr., the biochemist who first produced laetrile (concentrated amygdalin) in the 1950s, recommended that if a person would eat seven to ten apricot kernels a day for life, then barring the equivalent of Chernobyl, he is likely to be cancer free. At the beginning of the 21st century it is expected that one in eight women in the UK will get breast cancer and one in four men prostate cancer. If other types of cancer are added in, then no family is likely to be free. Therefore the suggestion that eating 10 kernels (7gms) per day for life is likely to prevent cancer - is very good news indeed.
Most of this information comes from World Without Cancer by G. Edward Griffin (American Media, California, 1974 and 1997). For testimonies of cancer sufferers treated with laetrile and nutrition therapy read Alive and Well (American Media, California, 1994) by Philip E Binzel, Jr., M.D. and see this website ‘Does vitamin B17 work?’.
Taking the above preventative action can cost
less than a pint of beer or a cup of coffee per week.
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DID YOU KNOW…… ? Some quotes from the
home page of www.anticancerinfo.co.uk
·
“Cancer
is predicted to become the number one cause of death within 20 years when
the risk of developing cancer in your life will be greater than 50%”. “Already one in eight women in the UK
develop breast cancer” and “within 20 years one in four men are predicted
to develop prostate cancer”. [Patrick Holford of the Institute of Optimum
Nutrition, Say No To Cancer (Piatkus, London 1999 pages ix, xi, xii)]
·
“All
the billions of dollars of research we’ve thrown at cancer hasn’t influenced
survival one little bit. More people
than ever are dying from the solid tumours that make up 90% of all cancers.
You’d never know any of this if you talked to the average oncologist.”
[Lynne McTaggart The Cancer Handbook
(What Doctors Don’t Tell You, London 2000)]
·
‘The
fact is, for most of today’s most common cancers, the ones that kill 90% of
cancer patients every year, chemotherapy has never been proved to do any good
at all and in fact may do harm.’ [ed. Lynne McTaggart The Medical Desk Reference (What Doctors Don’t Tell You, London, 2000)
p50]
· “…many medical oncologists recommend chemotherapy
for virtually any tumour, with a hopefulness undiscouraged by almost invariable
failure.” [Oncologist Dr Albert
Braverman (Lancet, April 13, 1991)]
· “It should arouse
concern that, according to opinion polls, many oncologists would decline to
accept cytotoxic therapy in their own case.”
Dr Ulrich Abel of Heidelberg in Biomedicine and Pharmocotherapy 1992,
quoted by Michael Gearin-Tosh, Living
Proof: A Medical Mutiny (Scribner, London 2002)
· “In my 25 years experience
in this field, almost all of the long-term survivors I’ve known have used
some alternative approaches, with or without conventional treatment.” Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D. (www.cancerdecisions.com/beatcancer.html)
· “Cancer is a chronic
metabolic disease and in the past such diseases (e.g. scurvy, beriberi, pellagra)
have only ever been cured by a change in diet”. (“A chronic disease is one which usually does
not pass away of its own accord. A
metabolic disease is one which occurs within the body and is not transmittable
to another person.”) [G. Edward
Griffin World Without Cancer (American Media, California, 1974 and 1997)
p56-57]
·
What
we eat has a great effect on the immune system, which is the first line of
defence against cancer. A healthy
diet including vegetables and fruit, with vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements,
and exercise can all boost the immune system.
However when the body is under stress, of whatever kind, sometimes
this is not enough.
·
There
is a second line of defence to prevent cancer - vitamin B17, which is found
in nitrilosides in hundreds of edible plants, plants which have generally
been eliminated from a Western diet. Vitamin
B17 contains a substance which directly targets cancer cells in the body.
·
“After
more than twenty years of specialised work, I have found the non-toxic nitrilosides
- that is, laetrile (concentrated vitamin B17) - far superior to any other
known cancer treatment or preventative. In my opinion it is the only existing possibility for the ultimate
control of cancer,” Dr Hans Nieper,
former Director of Medicine at Silbersee Hospital in Hanover, and Director
of the German Society for Medical Tumour Treatment told news reporters on
his visit to the USA in 1972.“
·
“The
ultimate question is, ‘Does nutritional therapy work?’ That depends on how you define ‘work’. If you are tumour oriented and are looking
for something to make the tumour magically disappear, no, it doesn’t.
If you are looking for something that will prevent the disease from
spreading and save the life of the patient, yes, it does.”
Dr Philip E Binzel Alive and Well (American Media, California 1994), General Practitioner
in the USA, where he used vitamin B17 and nutritional therapy with phenomenal
results for 18 years until he retired in 1991.
·
“Laetrile
is goddamned quackery! “ Helene Brown,
president of the American Cancer Society of California. [Today’s
Health, Nov. 1973 p28, quoted in World
Without Cancer, G. Edward Griffin (American Media, California 1974 and
1997)
·
Those
with cancer can do much to help themselves.
“Other treatments (than chemotherapy) - the ones the American Cancer
Society considers unproven - have better success rates. Once we all admit that, we can go forward.”
[Lynne McTaggart The Cancer Handbook (What Doctors Don’t
Tell You, London 2000) p9]
These notes concentrate on one
of those ‘other treatments’ - vitamin B17, but also refer to other natural
treatments which will work alongside it.
In a war it is not usual to rely on one type of weapon. Similarly, it may be wise to combine vitamin
B17 and nutritional therapy with other therapies to increase their effectiveness.
·
“Since
so few cancers can actually be completely cured by the official medical establishment
despite billions of dollars being spent on drug development, the crucial issue
is not to contract it in the first place."” Chris Woollams M.A. (Oxon)
Everything you need to know to help you beat cancer (Health Issues,
Buckingham 2002)
Most people reading these notes
will be doing so because they, or people they know, have cancer - and they
will find much information that relates to them. Nevertheless we believe the special role of VITAMIN B17 is in
cancer prevention. It is easy to
include in a normal, every day diet, and if everyone would recognise the necessity
of doing this to prevent cancer and realise how easy it is to do, then cancer
could be confined to the history books. However, since Dr Krebs
did his pioneering work in the 1950s the chemicalisation of our world has
continued unabated - “As the American Chemical Society catalogues the ten
millionth man-made chemical….. there are 3500 chemical food additives…. [Patrick
Holford (Say No to Cancer (Piatkus, London 1999 p24)]. And our food continues to contain fewer and
fewer nutrients (e.g. between 1940 and 1991 magnesium in food has declined
25%, calcium by 47%, iron by 36% and copper by 62%
[Dr Paul Clayton Health Defence
(Accelerated Learning Systems, Aylesbury, 2002)].
So supplementation as well as changing our diet has become a necessity,
as well as removing as many toxins from our lifestyle as possible. See ‘In brief on supplements’ and ‘In
brief on diet & lifestyle’.
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IN BRIEF - one page on AMYGDALIN/VITAMIN
B17
For those with cancer and those
in remission:
For fuller information see the notes ‘Nutrition therapy for people suffering with cancer: a summary of different sources’, and ‘Maintenance lifestyle for those who have had cancer‘. See also 'The Importance of Enzymes'.
I have based most of the following
on the information given by Dr Philip Binzel, M.D. in his book Alive and Well (American Media, California
1994) Dr Binzel, an American GP,
offered his patients vitamin B17 and nutritional therapy for 18 years until
his retirement with amazing results. He was asked to consult his records and compare them with statistics
from the American Cancer Society. His
book tells his story and covers these results. (See NOTE below.)
Dr Binzel stresses the importance of being monitored by a doctor. Certainly
this would be advisable if using the injectible laetrile as he did.
However, with the ignorance of nutrition amongst most doctors, a lot
of people have taken responsibility for themselves using the tablets. Perhaps working with a clinical nutritionist
would be the best compromise.
Vitamin B17 and nutritional therapy has three parts to it: (1) vitamin B17, (2) supplements and (3) diet. It is important to follow all three - they work together. Binzel tells of the importance of being consistent with the therapy - people who had good results and then wavered for example on the diet sometimes had a reoccurrence of the cancer, which once again receded when they went back on the strict regime. If you think following a strict regime is going to be difficult, one answer, though expensive, is to go to a clinic specialising in laetrile(vitamin B17) and nutritional therapy. (Karen Kirkpatrick has information on these: 01483 423235 9am-5pm Mon-Fri)
Here follows the information about (1) vitamin B17:
1. Start on the supplements and changed diet for 10-14 days before starting with the high doses of B17. It has been suggested that the most important single consideration is to get the maximum amount of vitamin B17 into your body in the shortest possible time. However, there are two other pieces of information to add to this. Firstly, that for those with cancer, especially if the cancer is widespread, there may be side-effects such as nausea and feeling giddy when first starting to take either the laetrile (concentrated form of vitamin B17) or apricot kernels, if too high a dose is taken initially. Toxins are released as the laetrile destroys cancer cells and can cause a 'toxic crisis'. Please also note that one side effect of taking laetrile is that it may lower blood pressure. This is a bonus for many people, but if you already have low blood pressure, you need to be carefully monitored. It is therefore best to increase the dose very gradually over the first few days, starting with half a 500mg tablet or just a few kernels, and to drink water (try at least six to eight 8-oz glasses per day). Dr Binzel does not start his patients on high doses of laetrile until they have been on vitamins and enzymes and changed their diet for ten to fourteen days. So it would seem a good idea to increase the amount of kernels or tablets taken very gradually over a period of ten days or so, while also adjusting to the multivitamin/mineral and other supplements suggested, getting used to the change in diet and to the detoxification taking place.
Cautions
2. The B17 regime suggested is as follows: after the initial period of adjustment with supplements and diet mentioned above, the recommendation for a period of 21 - 30 days is:
· 5 South African apricot kernels per waking hour up to a total of 50 kernels per day,
(NB Kernels vary in size: Californian kernels
are larger and Hunza kernels are smaller. The equivalent measurement
is approximately 3gms per waking hour up to a total of 30
gms per day) (see comments on ‘How to eat’ below) and/or
· six of the 500mg laetrile tablets per day, spread out during the day (see ‘How to eat’ comments below) NB Start slowly with half a tablet a day, increasing gradually to two tablets three times daily.
Please note: If both laetrile and kernels are taken, then Dr Krebs recommends that there should be two hours between taking them. While high doses of laetrile are taken, the number of kernels taken can be less.
3. Maintenance: at the end of the month, or when the cancer
is in remission, Binzel lowers the dose of laetrile gradually over three months
down to two tablets 500mg per day thereafter, indefinitely. For those eating kernels I find no recommendations
for maintenance levels. I personally
have four lots of apricot kernels (breakfast, lunch, tea, supper) and at least
2 hours later, at bedtime, I take the two laetrile 500mg tablets.
For prevention
- including anyone reading this on behalf of a loved one with cancer - the
recommendation is 5 South African kernels twice a day (or one and a half teaspoons
ground kernels) twice a day, for example in the morning and in the evening. For fuller information see ‘Cancer
prevention - a change in our diet’.
For sources of kernels and laetrile see 'Suppliers'
___________________________________________________
NOTE: Of the 180 in Binzel’s study who had primary cancer (cancer in one
site), over a period of 18 years 87.3% of them did not die from cancer.
The American Cancer Society tells us that in primary cancer, with early
diagnosis and early treatment with surgery, and/or radiation and/or chemotherapy,
85% of the patients will die from their disease within five years. Of the 108 patients with metastatic cancer
(cancer that has spread), over a period of 18 years, 70.4% of those patients
did not die of cancer. The American
Cancer Society tells us that in metastatic cancer with early diagnosis and
treatment, only 0.1% of those patients will survive 5 years. 21 case studies can be found in Dr Binzel’s
book, along with the nutritional therapy he used.
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NB IF EATING BOTH KERNELS AND
TABLETS LEAVE AT LEAST TWO HOURS BETWEEN THEM
KERNELS
1½ teaspoons (UK) of ground kernels is approximately equal to five South African kernels - one serving.
Kernels should not be swallowed whole. They should be chewed, or ground. To obtain a consistency like ground almonds use a nut mill or general purpose grinder. Ground kernels can be sprinkled on food or in fruit juice. They taste bitter - it is the bitterness that is the amygdalin/vitamin B17 so try stirred in apple juice and drink immediately while it is held in suspension.
FOR PREVENTION: have one serving in the morning and one in the evening.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE CANCER When eating the kernels, it is a good idea to gradually increase the number of kernels eaten, starting with a few and increasing slowly. If the kernels are working effectively they will release toxins through the excretory organs of the body, including the skin - it is therefore helpful to have a good fluid intake (remember to drink a lot of water!). Please see below on 'Toxic Crisis - coping with reactions'. Please also note that apricot kernels may lower blood pressure.
It is important to emphasise that it is a good idea to have some food in the stomach when eating large amounts of kernels. It is also a good idea to eat fruits containing nitrilosides such as apricots (fresh or dried), peaches, plums, nectarines, apples, pears, cherries. There is something in the flesh of the fruit which will neutralise the minute traces of beta-glucosidase present in the saliva, the stomach and the intestines, which is what may cause some people to feel a bit nauseous. Some people find eating the kernels cures constipation! If this creates a problem the other way - this usually settles down soon.
SUMMARY: aim to eat 1½ teaspoons of ground kernels (e.g. stirred into juice), or 5 whole (chewed) kernels, up to a maximum of ten times in a day, with at least one hour in between each serving, but remember to build up gradually.
Some people have successfully treated themselves just by eating apricot kernels. However, especially if the cancer has metastasised (spread), it is advisable to consider taking a more concentrated form of vitamin B17 along with supplements and a changed diet, to maximise the attack against the cancer.
LAETRILE TABLETS (Comments mainly taken from Christian Brothers’ website, Frequently Asked Questions)
Taking two tablets at a time is fine (so many people would be able to have two at each meal time: at breakfast, lunch and supper). Start slowly, with half a tablet the first day. If this is well tolerated take one whole tablet the next day and increase gradually over the following week.
Most individuals with cancer only take 3 - 6 tablets per day. If you find that you are getting nauseous, cut the tablets in half and have one every other hour. It is a good idea to have a little food (but not raw fruit/vegetables) in the stomach just before taking the vitamin. www.worldwithoutcancer.com/faq.html is another website that also emphasises that it is a good idea to have some food in the stomach when taking high doses of B17. (However, Binzel suggests taking the tablets on an empty stomach, so it is best to experiment. Personally we have found having food in the stomach best - but not raw fruit or vegetables. So bread, biscuits, cooked fruit or vegetables e.g. soup would be fine.)
NB. Dr Binzel does not start his patients on their Laetrile, either I.V. or orally, until they have been on their vitamins and enzymes and diet for a period of ten days to two weeks. He finds that the Laetrile seems to have little or no effect until a sufficient quantity of other vitamins and minerals are in the body. Zinc, for example, is the transportation mechanism for the Laetrile. In the absence of sufficient quantities of zinc, the Laetrile does not get into the tissues. The body will not rebuild any tissue without sufficient quantities of Vitamin C. When he starts the Laetrile he also increases the dosage of Vitamin C by 1 gm every third day until they reach a level of at least 6gms. NB When reducing from high levels of vitamin C, please do so gradually. The comments on toxic crisis and lowering of blood pressure also apply to laetrile.
See the other parts of the B17 and nutritional therapy - (2) supplements
and (3) diet, which are equally important. The people who do best in their fight against
cancer are the ones who take it seriously and are thorough and consistent
in applying the recommendations. Being
half-hearted or inconsistent, or even feeling too much is being asked, may
be understandable but doesn’t bring
the same results.
Recommended Reading
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TOXIC CRISIS - COPING WITH REACTIONS
The majority of people have no adverse reaction when eating
apricot kernels or taking laetrile tablets, but for some there may be a reaction
in the body as it responds to cancer cells dying off and has to handle flushing
out the resulting toxins.
This is a well-known phenomenon, not only relating to vitamin
B17. When people are put on a diet to beat candida together with
anti-yeast supplements, often they get worse before they get better as they
experience 'die-off' symptoms. The more candida is destroyed the worse people
are likely to feel as extra toxins invade the bloodstream, leading to a worsening
of previous symptoms, including aches and pains, muzzy head and depression.
These people need to have 'die-off' explained to them so that they see these
unpleasant symptoms as an encouragement, and they also need to be told ways
of alleviating the symptoms of die-off reaction. (See Erica
White's Beat Candida Cookbook p15-16, p31ff, p39-40. Having
a problem with yeast often goes hand in hand with having cancer. See
Chris Woollams The Tree of Life: Everything you need to EAT to help you
Beat Cancer p108)
People who take glyconutrients to boost the immune system
to help them in the fight against many diseases and conditions, are also warned
about the possible uncomfortable reactions. These reactions are associated
with fever, rash or hives, excessive gas, running nose, headaches, insomnia,
increased thirst, weakness, lethargy, nervousness and various aches and pains
in joints and muscles. People taking glyconutrients are assured that these
reactions are due to the body making a positive change to improved health.
Toxins are removed from the body, carried in the blood and also through the
lymphatic system and then through the excretory organs. If toxins
are released, through the dying off of cancer cells or because of a detoxifying
regime, at a greater rate than the liver, kidneys, skin and lungs can handle
them, then toxic reactions can occur.
What you can do
Drink lots of water, and fruit and vegetable juices to flush out the toxins (emphasis on vegetable rather than fruit juices, they contain less sugar).
Exercise: the lymphatic system depends on exercise. Walking is fine, or using a bouncer/rebounder. See 'Suppliers'.
Support the liver with supplements such as milk thistle and dandelion 'coffee' (avoiding the ones that contain lactose). Antioxidants also help, as does magnesium. Cut out alcohol and caffeine as they put stress on the liver.
If the reaction is too much to handle, cut back on the number of kernels/tablets taken until you find a comfortable level, stay at that for a while and then gradually increase.
NB If you have cancer it is good to be on the new diet and to take the supplements of vitamins and digestive enzymes for one to two weeks before starting the laetrile tablets or hourly apricot kernel regime, and then to introduce these gradually. See 'Nutrition Therapy for People Suffering with Cancer'.
If you are just taking the kernels as prevention and nevertheless have some sort of reaction, try not to give up - experiment, just take one a day to start with and build up from there. Investigate the cause of the reaction with a nutritionist.
For people with nut allergies, the pure laetrile extract also comes in 100mg tablets - for prevention one a day.
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IN BRIEF - one page on SUPPLEMENTS
VITAMINS MINERALS AND ENZYMES (Check accumulative amounts
of ingredients of all supplements)
To be monitored by a clinical nutritionist is a good idea. You can find one
through at
www.ion.ac.uk
Summary of supplements supporting vitamin B17 therapy (to be taken with meals)
· Multivitamin/mineral - Binzel recommends twice daily but no level is suggested (see comments below)
· Zinc is the transportation mechanism for the laetrile. In the absence of sufficient quantities of zinc, the laetrile does not get into the tissues. A therapeutic dose is 15 - 50mg daily.
· Vitamin C 2 - 5 gm (i.e. 2000-5000mg) daily (at least 6gm while high dose of vitamin B17 is taken) NB When reducing from high levels of vitamin C, please do so gradually.
· Vitamin E 800 iu daily
· Vitamin B15 (pangamic acid) 100mg three times daily - detoxifies the liver and enhances oxygen intake
· Pancreatic/digestive enzyme - supplement with meals to digest food and between meals to free enzymes up for metabolic functions. Binzel recommended Univase Forte (formerly Megazyme Forte) two tablets three times daily. See notes 'The Importance of Enzymes'
· Vitamin A (e.g. A + E emulsified drops2 15,000 i.u. vitamin A per drop). The emulsified form is non-toxic. (125,000 i.u. recommended daily by Binzel) Beta-carotene is also non-toxic; retinol is safe up to 10,000-50,000 i.u. daily. (see Holford's New Optimum Nutrition Bible page 427)
Comments
·
Multivitamin/mineral. Patrick Holford of The Institute of Optimum Nutrition comments
that a ‘one tablet daily’ multivitamin/mineral is not going to provide enough
nutrients if the size is kept to an acceptable level. Good multi formulae are offered with two or more tablets a day
to give optimum levels of nutrients. For
full recommendations see Holford’s book Say No To Cancer and The Optimum Nutrition Bible. Recommendations
include:
B vitamins mainly 50-100mg(100mcg for B12 and 400mcg for folic acid)
vitamin E 400-800iu
vitamin A as beta carotene 10,000 (3300mcgRE) to 30,000iu (10,000mcgRE) per day
vitamin C over 1000mg (3gm long term and up to 10gm short term)
selenium 100-200mcg
zinc 15-50mg
It is best to get the B vitamin level right in the ‘multi’
and add extra supplements to give a boost to the other requirements.
[The ‘multi’ I take (April 2003) is two capsules daily, which gives me 100mg of the main B vitamins, 100mcg of B12 and 400mcg of folic acid. It gives 150ius of vitamin E, so I also take an extra 600iu capsules of E. It only gives 1.5mg of zinc so I supplement with two 15mg capsules of zinc. I also take an extra supplement of vitamin A, 9500iu of beta carotene to add to the almost 8500iu of retinol in the multi. I also take vitamin C - at least 3gm daily. The multi has low levels of selenium so I add 100mcg selenium (in one of my vitamin E supplements). NB I also take other supplements, e.g. digestive enzymes, milk thistle, Cat's Claw, Ambratose.]
[2006 update: I now take Complete Immune powder (see below) (formerly called Wholly Immune) which is specially formulated for those who have suffered with cancer plus Thorne Supportive Care (nutritional support for oncology patients). I add extra emulsified vitamin D, omega 3 fish oil (Eskimo 3), FamilE (vitamin E), Ultra Potent-C (vitamin C) and I'm visiting a kinesiologist/nutritionist/cranial osteopath who can tell specifically what my body needs as an extra to this.]
·
Zinc is important - don’t forget to check how
much you are getting.
· Vitamin C has a laxative effect at high doses, so experiment to find your own ideal level. I take Ultra Potent-C by Nutri. This comes in powder or tablet form and contains a precursor supporting system that enhances its bioavailability and biological activity. It accelerates delivery to the tissues and increases tissue saturation. Vitamin C retention is increased, producing higher blood serum levels of vitamin C over a 24 hour period. NB If you wish to cut down on vitamin C, please do this gradually.
·
Digestive enzymes. The enzymes often mentioned
are bromelain (from pineapples) and papain (from papaya/pawpaw). Also important are trypsin and chymotrypsin
which are contained in Univase Forte (formerly Mega-Zyme Forte).
·
Other supplements for general good health will
also be needed, such as calcium and magnesium, omega 3 fish oils and perhaps
MSM and glucosamine for joint health, trace elements - take time to consider
overall needs - see suggested reading below.
Check with a nutritionist.
·
Assimilation - NB! it doesn’t matter how
many supplements you take, if your body is not assimilating the nutrients
you will not be benefiting. Again,
a clinical nutritionist would be able to check this.
Additional supplements not specifically mentioned in connection with B17 therapy:
There are a number of preparations
which are specifically anti-cancer, sometimes helping a specific type of cancer.
Then, there is another group of natural supplements which are anti-cancer
in so far as they boost the immune system.
You might like to consider taking extra precautions alongside the B17
and above nutrients:
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HERBAL AND NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS WHICH ARE ANTI-CANCER/ BOOST THE IMMUNE
SYSTEM
NB The Foods Standards Agency in February 2006 announced that half of
all health vitamins and supplements contain irradiated ingredients (i.e. half
of those they tested). It's illegal to sell irradiated foods in the UK as
the process changes the compostion of products and may present a health risk.
Carctol (only available on prescription) is a blend of eight Indian herbs. Dr Rosy Daniel feels she is seeing a breakthrough with this medicine. See www.carctolhome.com and www.healthcreation.co.uk which includes a list of prescribing doctors in the UK.
Cellular Medicine containing vitamin C, the amino acids lysine and proline, and a green tea extract has been proved in the laboratory to halt the spread of cancer. See www.rath.co.uk and www.dr-rath.com (01753 690069).
Coral Calcium - cancer cells are acidic. See www.alkalizeforhealth.net for the importance of alkaline pH levels in body fluids.
Graviola and N-Tense (Amazon herbs including graviola with cytotoxic (anticancer), antibacterial, immunostimulant and antiviral properties.) Graviola is a tree in the Amazon which has been studied in more than 20 laboratory tests since the 1970s, where it has been shown to effectively target and kill malignant cells in 12 different types of cancer, including colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancer, without harming healthy cells. These findings have been leaked by a researcher, after the drug company dropped their unsuccessful attempt to synthesise two of the tree’s most powerful anti-cancerous chemicals.
CanSupport - herbal nutrient support for specific cancer types
i.e. bone cancer, brain cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, kidney and
liver cancer, leukemia/lymphomas, lung cancer, ovarian/cervical/uterine cancer,
pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer. Each
formula contains graviola and 7 -9 other herbs in varying proportion.
For a list of the contents of each formula see www.altcancer.com (New ownership hopes to be operational again late 2007)
Shark Cartilage - once a cancer mass is formed it develops its own blood supply and defence system, a process called angiogenesis. One strategy against this is to cut off the tumour’s blood supply so that it effectively starves to death. Shark cartilage is an inhibitor of new blood vessels in tumours. Obtainable from health shops. Preven-CA is a natural blend of shark cartilage, milk thistle, garlic powder, grapeseed extract, carrotroot powder, alfalfa powder and boldo. Developed by Dr Francisco Contreras and available from www.healthgenesis.com
Zeolite - ZNatural a powerful, natural detox that can be taken with chemotherapy and help with any side effects. However ZNatural should not be taken with radiotherapy. See www.spiritofsunshine.co.uk
Iodine: Lugol's Solution and Iodoral See separate notes: 'Find out the link between iodine deficiency and cancer'.
THE FOLLOWING HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS BOOST THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND SOME COULD BE HELPFUL ALONGSIDE OTHER THERAPIES WHICH ARE SPECIFICALLY TARGETING CANCER
For sources see 'Suppliers'
Glyconutritionals promote cell-to-cell communication and boost the immune system up to 400%.
Complete Immune (Detox and Cell
Protector) A powder formulated by oncologist and founder of a clinic in Germany.
A blend of herbs and nutrients designed to work synergistically
to enhance immune system function, decrease oxidative damage and promote liver
detoxification. Includes high levels of vitamins and minerals as
well as anti-cancer herbs such as milk thistle, olive leaf, astragalus, grapeseed
extract, turmeric, green tea extract, etc. Provides support
for those undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and afterwards. This needs to be prescribed by a nutritionist or other health professional.
Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) (aka Uno de Gato) immune booster, anti-viral,
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant.
Pau D'Arco (Tabecuia impetiginosa) has been used to treat cancer, and
is anti-fungal, anti-parasitic and good for digestion.
Barleygreen contains at least 16 vitamins, 70 minerals, 18 amino acids, and numerous usable enzymes. It has a high alkalising effect. Cancer cannot live in high (alkaline) pH level body fluids. Most processed foods and meat are acidic. More information is found at www.barleyg.com
Spirulina - a blue-green algae that grows naturally in mineral-rich alkaline lakes. Contains more protein than meat and fish, contains all eight essential amino acids, high iron, calcium and mineral content, more GLA than evening primrose, natural antioxidants and many vitamins. www.xynergy.co.uk sells several brands.
Dr Gillian McKeith’s Living Food Immune Defence contains 11 key superfoods and live sprouts, all organic.
Broccoli sprouts, astragalus, ginseng, reishi and shitake, lapacho (pau d’arco), milk thistle, oregon grape, olive leaf, ginger root, liquorice root, lemon peel.
Pure Synergy containing over 60 superfoods - algaes and organic green juices, freeze dried herbs, oriental therapeutic mushrooms, plant enzymes, royal jelly, natural antioxidants, etc. Capsules, tablets or powder. From www.xynergy.co.uk (08456 58 58 58) (leaflet available) or Nutrestore or The Nutri Centre (see 'Suppliers')
Olive Leaf Extract: antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, anti-hypertensive, antioxidant.
Mediolive liquid complex available from www.xynergy.co.uk (08456 58 58 58) (book available)
Recommended Reading:
#Patrick Holford Say No To Cancer (Piatkus,
London 1999), Supplements for Superhealth (Piatkus, 2000) New Optimum Nutrition Bible (Piatkus, London 2000)
#Jennifer
Meek & Patrick Holford Boost Your Immune System (Piatkus, London
1998
#W.
John Diamond M.D. and W. Lee Cowden M.D. with Burton Goldberg Cancer
Diagnosis - What to do next (AlternativeMedicine.com
Books, California 2000) Clinicallyproven, safe and non-toxic treatment.
#Dr Rosy Daniel with Andrew Panton. The alternative cancer treatment guide
(Health Creaton, Bristol 2003) Tel: 0845 009 3366 www.healthcreation.co.uk
#Chris Woollams Everything you need to know to help you Beat Cancer
(Health Issues 2002)
#Dr Gillian McKeith's Living Food For Health (Piatkus, London 2000)
and You are what you eat (Penguin, London 2004)
#Russell L. Blaylock, M.D. Natural Strategies for Cancer Patients (Kensington,
New York 2003). Suggestions to minimise the side effects of chemotherapy and
radiotherapy, and to fortify the immune system, all with nutrition.
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IN BRIEF - one page on DIET
Dr Binzel’s Diet Plan (See Philip E. Binzel, Jr., M.D. Alive
and Well (American Media,
California, 1994)
For those with cancer, a restricted diet is recommended - very restricted for four months, then if the patient is doing well, it is liberalised to a certain extent.
The restricted diet:
·
Vegetarian
(it takes large quantities of pancreatic enzymes to digest meat - these
are the enzymes that dissolve the protein lining of the cancer cells which
can then be killed by white blood cells) i.e.
no meat, fish, and no dairy produce.
· Fresh vegetables and fruit - should be eaten raw if possible (cooking destroys enzymes). Cook lightly if necessary. Eat a wide variety, and eat the seed of the fruit e.g. apple pips, grape seeds, peach kernels.
[Include foods known to have anti-cancer properties such as soya, garlic, turmeric, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and choose a variety of colours of anti-oxidant rich foods such as sweet potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, watercress, berries, grapes - see Patrick Holford Say No To Cancer (Piatkus, London 1999)]
· Use whole foods, not refined. Organic if possible. AND CUT OUT SUGAR (AND HONEY) and don't substitute artifical sweeteners.
· No caffeine. Herb teas OK. Fresh juices - vegetable as well as fruit. NB Keep a good intake of liquid. This helps in the detoxification process. Pure water is ideal.
Followed by less
restricted diet to keep on for life:
· After 4 months, if the patient is doing well, the diet is liberalised to include chicken, turkey and fish.
· 90% of the diet should be as above plus chicken, turkey and fish. The other 10% can be red meats and cooked vegetables.
·
Must always
stay on vitamins, enzymes supplements and laetrile (1gm daily)
The importance of no dairy
Milk contains growth factors and hormones known to promote breast and prostate and other types of cancer - Professor Jane Plant CBE The Plant Programme (Virgin, London 2001) p9 This is a recipe book. To be convinced that your body can ingest sufficient calcium without resorting to dairy products, and for ideas to substitute in your diet also see her books Your Life In Your Hands (Virgin, London 2000) and Prostate Cancer (Virgin, London 2004) Plant is an eminent scientist and her first book contains detailed research together with her own story of fighting breast cancer five times. Prostate Cancer contains most recent research and refutes critics. Her motto is “Think non-dairy, live non-dairy”
The importance of no glucose/sugar: Cancer cells live on sugar fermentation. Healthy cells use oxygen to release energy.
What Doctors Don't Tell You: Special Report Cancer: The Sugar Theory in WDDTY Review, September 2007 makes interesting reading.
Detoxing happens as part of the vitamin B17 and nutritional therapy. Other cancer therapies place more emphasis on this, with for example coffee enemas and juicing playing an important role. Consider a detox programme under the monitoring of a clinical nutritionist, perhaps using ZNatural or Iodine.
Recommended books and videos - buy some new recipe books - vegetarian does not have to be boring
· Professor Jane Plant, CBE with Gill Tidey The Plant Programme (Virgin, London 2001) Recipe book. Excellent. Huge variety of tasty recipes, not all vegetarian, but all definitely dairy free, with the cancer sufferer in mind
· Chris Woollams The Tree of Life: Everything you need to EAT to help you BEAT CANCER (Health Issues, Buckingham 2003) Excellent information for a healthy eating programme based on scientific evidence. (But note that bitter almonds contain B17 not sweet almonds)
· Patrick Holford & Judy Ridgway The Optimum Nutrition Cookbook (Piatkus, London 1999) This book is full of healthy recipes including many using seeds which are packed with nutrients.
· Jane Sen Healing Foods Cookbook (Thorsons, London 1996) ‘The vegan way to wellness’ by the Head Chef at the Bristol Cancer Help Centre
Jane Sen: Healing Foods - on video - 3 titles: ‘Juicing and Raw Power’, ‘Sweet but Unrefined’, and ‘Delicious and Dairy Free'. (to order tel: 0117 980 9522)
· Barbara Cousins Vegetarian Cooking Without (Thorsons, London 2000). Recipes free from gluten, sugar, wheat, yeast, dairy, meat, fish and saturated fat.
· Michael van Straten Superjuice (Mitchell Beazley, London 1999) Recipes for fruit and vegetable juices describing the vitamins, minerals and goodness in each.
· Dr Gillian McKeith’s Living Food For Health (Piatkus, London 2000) especially on the importance of enzymes and details of ‘superfoods’ to boost the immune system, etc. Some recipes included. Also You are what you eat (Penguin, London 2004)
·
· Dr F. Batmanghelidj Your body’s many cries for water available from Credence 01622 832386
· William Wolcott and Trish Fahey The Metabolic Typing Diet (Broadway, New York 2000)
· Vernon Coleman Food for thought (European Medical Joural, Barnstaple 1994, 2000) On foods that are good for you, and foods that aren’t. On food preparation and why you should not eat microwaved food.
· Lynda Brown The New Shopper’s Guide To Organic Food (Fourth Estate, London January 2002)
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IN BRIEF: Should we be avoiding dairy?
According
to an article in ‘thrive’, a magazine sent by Norwich Union Healthcare to
its customers, dairy is ‘in the dock’ (Spring 2005 issue). A study links dairy to a range of health complaints.
The results come from the
Milk is also strongly linked with breast and prostate
cancer – the culprit
here appears to be a compound known as Insulin Growth Factor (IGF), which
is normally rich in milk, but doubly so because of selective rearing and the
routine use of growth hormones. Studies
have shown that the higher a woman’s IGF levels the higher her risk for breast
cancer, and that men with high IGF levels have three
times the risk of prostate cancer. Holford’s advice
is to dump the milk and get your protein, calcium and vitamin D from fish,
seeds, nuts, beans and lentils. For more convincing read:
·