Alternative Therapies for Cancer and Treatment Side Effects

 by Allison Brooks

The use of alternative treatments for various health problems has become popular in recent years.
More and more, people are turning to natural methods to treat things like colds, headaches and skin problems. Some are even beginning to use them for cancer, and with much success. It has often been said that the natural world contains everything needed to treat and prevent illness. Nature’s interaction with the body surpasses that of doctor’s so there is truth to that statement. Emerging research and personal accounts provide evidence to validate this claim.

To give some examples and to spike people’s curiosity, I have provided a list of a few common natural remedies to treat certain cancer treatment symptoms. It should also be noted that many doctors encourage these complimentary therapies for patients with aggressive forms of cancer, such pancreatic cancer, mesothelioma, or higher-stages of breast cancer.

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a prominent feature in almost anything spicy. Many people recognize it primarily from Mexican and Indian cuisines. However, they don't recognize cayenne's little secret: It kills cancer cells, and does a good job at it. Moreover, it also improves blood flow throughout the body. Cancer has been shown to develop more often in areas of the body where circulation is poor.

This amazing pepper is also quite adept at reducing pain, which is a common side effect of both cancer and its modern treatments. Simply consuming cayenne could decrease dependency on prescription painkillers. This could potentially help the sufferer save money. Cayenne pepper is inexpensive, but modern treatments are so very costly.

Reishi Mushroom

Ganoderma lucidum, or the Reishi mushroom, has been used in Ancient Chinese Medicine for over four thousand years, where it was used as a chemotherapy agent among other things. This simple bracket fungus is thought to reduce the invasiveness of cancer cells, particularly those of the breast and prostate.

It also aids in minimizing or protecting against the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy and radiation such as nausea, hair loss, fatigue and pain, and reduces the physical damage wrought by such treatments.

Turmeric

This humble spice is known for its bright orange-yellow hue, and is responsible for the color of foods like of mustard, yellow rice and curry. It contains a chemical called curcumin, which has been proven to destroy cancerous cells and prevent them from spreading. One study from the University of Chicago found that this chemical killed Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria that is responsible for ulcers, and has been liked to digestive and colon cancers.

Though these are only a few examples of the vast realm of natural cancer remedies, it is a good sample of what is out there. These natural treatments, promote life and health in a more enjoyable sense. Step out of the conventional patterns, and see what nature has always offered you.
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Allison Brooks is a recent graduate of the University of Mississippi. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Anthropology and has continued her research to work towards a complete ethnography. She mainly focuses on the effects of biomedicalization on different cultures, but also branches off into other fields of anthropology.

From the Chemical Fertilizer Plant to Your Drinking Water…

When you look at a tube of fluoridated toothpaste, you will see the warning: “Do not swallow,” and “in case of accidental ingestion, contact the poison control center.”

Why does toothpaste carry a warning but fluoridated water does not?
In a pea size amount of toothpaste there is a quarter milligram of fluoride (which is what causes this “do not swallow” warning). Interestingly, an 8 ounce glass of water contains the same amount of fluoride. We are told to drink eight of these glasses of water per day, yet without any concern of the amount of fluoride that we are ingesting. In addition to that, the American Dental Association (ADA) as well as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommend that infants NOT receive fluoridated water for drinking, nor for making their formula, as fluoridated water contains 250 times more fluoride than in mother’s milk. These warnings should raise red flags for the rest of us.

Where does fluoride come from?
The sad truth is that the source of fluoride used in the water supply comes from the super-phosphate fertilizer industry.  What used to be a very harmful and toxic substance, that could NOT be disposed of in lakes or rivers, is now diluted and place into the water that we drink. In addition, what used to cost $400 million to dispose of, has now turned into a $180 million profit, being sold to public water works in 2/3 of the U.S. Are they making a profit at the expense of our health?
The answer is yes.

What does this harmful toxin do?
It has been reported that fluoride causes hyperactivity, brain damage, dementia, impaired neurodevelopment in children, hypothyroidism, bone fractures, lowered IQ, bone cancer, calcification of the pineal gland, and dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis shows as abnormal white and brown spots on the teeth.



Dental Fluorosis


When this occurs, it can be indicative of the fact that the rest of the body has received too much fluoride as well, including the brain. All of these adverse health effects have been found over time in different scientific research articles.

But if this is such a harmful toxin, why do they continue to put it into the water?
Many U.S. cities add fluoride to their drinking water seeking to prevent tooth decay. However, in many different research articles, the countries that do not fluoridate their water have no more cavities than the ones that do. In fact, tooth decay has markedly declined in countries and communities that do not fluoridate drinking water as well as in those that do. Furthermore, in the places that do use fluoride, they report a much higher rate of dental fluorosis (which can only be caused by an excess of fluoride).

Do the benefits out weight the risks in the case of fluoride in the drinking water?
Absolutely not. With it, fluoride brings a whole host of problems. Plant and animal life cannot survive in water contaminated with fluoride. The air we breathe contains some fluoride from smokestack scrubbers (phosphate fertilizer industry), which in turn, poisons the air we breathe.

Where do you find fluoride?
The largest amount of fluoride is put into our drinking water supply. Check with your city to see if they use it or not. Also, buy a good water purifier as bottled water can also contain fluoride (without listing it on the label). Reverse osmosis systems are said to be very good at removing fluoride as well as other harmful toxins. Other sources of fluoride include: toothpastes, pharmaceutical drugs, processed foods and juices, fluoride drops, pesticides, and industrial discharges.

On a final note…
Fluoride is not being added to water to save lives, but instead to prevent tooth decay. Upon analysis of many scientific articles, it is no longer justified to intentionally fluoridate community drinking water. People should not be forced to drink water that has many adverse health effects, when dental benefits can be obtained through other means.

Stand up and let your voice be heard on this issue.  Immediately discontinue use of fluoridated drinking water (check to see if your city uses fluoride). Educate others about the effects of this harmful substance.  Contact your Natural Health Practitioner if you feel like you are suffering from the effects of fluoride, there are many natural therapies to reverse this damage!

Is It a Luxury or a Toxin?

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and its close relative Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are very popular ingredients in many household products today.  This is the inexpensive foaming agent in dish soaps, hand and body washes, cleaning products, and even toothpaste.  We might see this as a luxury; it is what allows us to have very calming bubble baths or really foamy shaving creams.  However, studies have shown that this may not be such an innocent luxury. The power of this substance is strong enough to scrub garage floors or to degrease an engine, and is considered to be carcinogenic over time.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate contains the known carcinogen 1,4-Dioxane, which is also known as ether. This compound is irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. It is suspected of causing damage to the central nervous system, liver and kidneys. Several deaths have resulted from accidental exposure to this toxic substance.

When applied to the skin, SLS stays in the body for as long as five days and can be found in other tissues such as the liver, heart, lungs and brain.  A report published in the Journal of the American College of Toxicology in 1983 showed that concentrations as low as 0.5% could cause irritation, and concentrations of 10-30% caused severe irritation and skin corrosion. Some products have up to 30% of SLS and have been listed as being a harmful substance. SLS can also combine with other ingredients in the container and create nitrosamines, which cause further skin damage and irritation.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate shows itself in many common products today and the average consumer doesn’t even know what it is or the implications that it brings. Soaps, shampoos, bubble-baths, toothpastes, dish soap, children’s soap, mascara, mouthwash, skin moisturizer and sunscreen: these are just a few of the products that contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.

Why do they use this product if it is so harmful?
The answer: because it is cheap. The SLS that you find in your beauty products is the same exact ingredient that they use in the garage soaps or engine degreasers. You can also bet that since this powerful degreaser can remove oil from an engine, that it removes the very essential oils on your skin as well. It has also been said that once in the body, SLS mimics the hormone estrogen, which can bring on health problems like PMS, menopausal symptoms, decreased male fertility, and increased female cancers (just to name a few). SLS also works to denature proteins, and, as you are aware, our bodies are made up of proteins. Even further, a dental association in Japan tested SLS on bacteria culture and found that it is mutagenic, which means that it has the ability to change the genetics of the cell. Another study found that in children under six, the absorption of this ingredient through the scalp everyday prevented the proteins in their eyes from properly developing. Furthermore, it is said that the SLS in toothpaste contributes to prolonged and more frequent canker sores in the mouth, and the SLS in shampoo causes hair to become more brittle and break easier. So, SLS is not only a harmful additive, but it is a beauty product ingredient that is creating a not-so-beautiful situation.

What can you do to avoid this toxin?
Read the labels on all of your products, especially ones that foam. Realize that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate has many names, including: Sodium Laurilsulfate, Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate, Sodium Diethylene Glycol Lauryl Ether Sulfate, Alkyl Ether Sulfate, Sodium Dodecyl Polyoxyethylene Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Ethoxysulfate and Sodium Polyoxyethylene Lauryl Sulfate. Ammonium Laureth Sulfate is an almost indistinguishable molecule, having only slightly different properties.

My motto: if you can’t pronounce the name and you don’t know what it is… don’t use it. Also remember that you shouldn’t put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t eat as everything is absorbed and carried throughout your body. Choose natural alternatives for skin care and beauty products. Cold-pressed coconut oil is a natural moisturizer and brings balance back to the essential oils of the skin. Find toothpastes that are SLS free and contain no fluoride (another article for another time). Also be aware of the products that list themselves as “organic” or “all-natural”, these products can still contain these harmful ingredients at times. Finally, find products that have minimal ingredients, ones that you know and trust.