Tag Archives: CAM

Sunday Snippet – How Should You React?

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Situations that are upsetting to us creep up all the time.  It’s life’s way of offering us lessons,  pushing us to raise our perspective and control what is often an over-reaction.

You’d think after 15 years of grasping this understanding, I would be an expert at controlling my reactions.  Ha!  I still find myself feeling upset and stewing.  But now it’s not as often, and I don’t stew for days.  Now I have some tools and I am able to discuss why a certain thing or situation has the potential of upsetting me.

I know that it takes 7 hours+ to reverse the chemical toxins released by negative emotions and thoughts.  That’s a long time to poison one’s body and ruin a perfectly lovely day… isn’t it?  And yet EGO has to express its dissatisfaction when things  don’t go as desired.

A good friend of mine, a healer, gifted me this beautiful tool not long ago.  It is so effective that I want to share it with you:

When something comes up that has the potential of upsetting you, take a moment.

Imagine two teacups: one a little old, not very pretty and full of a dark murky tea.  The other is a gorgeous, fine china cup with a happy floral pattern and full of golden light.

Which do you want to drink from?

dark cup_of_teapeacock cup

Do you choose the negative reaction, or the positive one?

Do you sip a murky tea that will probably give you a tummy ache that lasts all day, or do you choose to drink the cup of golden light and visualize the upsetness dissolving?

Fret not!

You can still correct the situation, or ponder a solution without the attached negative emotion.  Think how freeing it would be to have a calm, still, peaceful approach to life’s curve balls.

RESOLVE TO TRY THIS NEXT TIME YOU FEEL THAT OLD FAMILIAR SURGE OF ENERGY.

 

Drink LIGHT.  ♥

Sunday Snippet – Stress

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I like this story.. it quickly illustrates what we unconsciously do that contributes to compromised psychological and psychical health.

Remember this image when you begin to feel stressed over something, and also remember that worry never solved much.  A light attitude, communication and clear thinking will take care of most points of stress and worry.  water

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?”

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”

She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.”

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!

 ~To Your Health! ♥

The Top 10 Anti-Cancer Vegetables – re-blogged

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I literally stumbled on this wonderful blog while I was doing a little research on the latest ‘foods that heal cancer’ information, and was very happy to read the following, well-written post, and Chris’ story.  His blog is titled Chris Beat Cancer.

I wanted to share it with you… I am attaching the opening paragraphs.  Click on the link at the end of the excerpt for the full article.

~ Be Well. ♥

~~~~~~~

The Top 10 Anti-Cancer Vegetables

If you haven’t noticed, we are constantly bombarded with pleas from charities for cancer research money.

“Race for the Cure, Stand Up to Cancer, Buy Pink products, grow a Movember mustache….”

This is often accompanied by the message  that “we are running out of funding for cancer research”.  And of course this is a problem, because “without funding for more research, we will never find a cure”.

Cue the shots of bald women and children poisoned by chemo, accompanied by dramatic music. Then insert a high-profile celebrity to say, “The cure is just around the corner.  Together we can make cancer history. Please give today.”

Here’s the reality. The mega billion dollar pharmaceutical industry has plenty of money to fund research, they would just prefer that you fund it with your donations instead of theirs.

Real problem #1  They are running out of your money.

Real problem #2 They are only interested in medicines they can patent.

Real problem #3  Research on nutrition and natural therapies is ignored.

There are literally thousands of published peer-reviewed studies demonstrating that the 100,000+ phytonutrients in plants have the ability to prevent and reverse cancer.  But because the pharmaceutical industry can’t figure out how to extract these compounds, synthesize them, and patent them for profit, they are ignored.

Doctors can’t even use this published information or they risk losing their license.

But you can!

One of my favorite studies was published in Food Chemistry, January 2009 called, “The Anti-proliferative and Antioxidant Activities of Common Vegetables: A comparative study”

The title is so boring I almost fell asleep typing it, but hold on, because the results are awesome.

Researchers studied the inhibitory (cancer-stopping) effects of 34 vegetable extracts on 8 different tumor cell lines.

They basically just ran vegetables through a juicer and then dripped the extracted juice on different cancer cells to see what would happen. Here’s what they found…

The #1 most powerful anti-cancer food was Garlic.garlic

Garlic stopped cancer growth COMPLETELY against these tumor cell lines:

Breast cancer, brain cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, childhood brain cancer, and stomach cancer.

~~~~  Read the rest of this post by clicking HERE.

Anti-Cataract Drug Shown to Combat Leukemia

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One of the ingredients in a much debated cancer-fighting formula called Protocel is Tetrahydroxyquinone.

A friend of mine with early stage Breast Cancer decided against conventional treatment and has been taking Protocel for a number of months around the clock as prescribed.  Her diet is veggie-full and she walks almost every day (a HUGE benefit for breast cancer patients).

Through sensitive ‘circulating tumor cell’ count in the blood, Protocel has done a good job for her.  Her count came down by more than three fold.

The following study shows great promise for Leukemia patients.

Read this article on the NIH site by clicking here.

Tetrahydroxyquinone induces apoptosis of leukemia cells through diminished survival signaling

Source:

Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Tetrahydroxyquinone is a molecule best known as a primitive anti-cataract drug but is also a highly redox active molecule that can take part in a redox cycle with semiquinone radicals, leading to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Its potential as an anticancer drug has not been investigated.

METHODS:

The effects of tetrahydroxyquinone on HL60 leukemia cells are investigated using fluorescein-activated cell sorting-dependent detection of phosphatidylserine exposure combined with 7-amino-actinomycin D exclusion, via Western blotting using phosphospecific antibodies, and by transfection of constitutively active protein kinase B.

RESULTS:

We observe that in HL60 leukemia cells tetrahydroxyquinone causes ROS production followed by apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway, whereas cellular physiology of normal human blood leukocytes was not affected by tetrahydroxyquinone.

The antileukemic effect of tetrahydroxyquinone is accompanied by reduced activity of various antiapoptotic survival molecules including the protein kinase B pathway. Importantly, transfection of protein kinase B into HL60 cells and thus artificially increasing protein kinase B activity inhibits tetrahydroxyquinone-dependent cytotoxicity.

CONCLUSION:

Tetrahydroxyquinone provokes cytotoxic effects on leukemia cells by reduced protein kinase B-dependent survival signaling followed by apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. Thus, tetrahydroxyquinone may be representative of a novel class of chemotherapeutic drugs, inducing apoptosis in cancer cells through diminished survival signaling possibly as a consequence of ROS generation.

Cranberry Juice – an Awesome Healer

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Cranberries grow on bushes up to 12 feet tall.  In the Spring the berries are preceded by lovely little white flowers.

From these tiny lovely berries comes a host of healing power.  As with many brightly colored fruits, cranberries are rich in antioxidants which benefit the body in a number of ways. It is also an excellent source of vitamin C, a very good source of dietary fiber, and a good source of manganese and vitamin K.

For maximum health benefits, Cranberry juice should be consumed unsweetened. It’s a refreshing drink and can be added to your cold glass of green or mint tea.  Two ounces of cranberry juice diluted in eight (8) ounces of filtered water is recommended for medicinal purposes.

Below are some of the health benefits, many of which you’re most likely aware of.

Urinary Tract Infection:

Cranberry juice is very effective against urinary tract infections. Drinking one glass of 100% cranberry juice daily reduces the risk of infections and prevents cystitis.  Cranberry juice produces hippuric acid in the urine which acidifies the urine and prevents bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder. It also prevents kidney stone formation.

Cardiovascular Effects:

Cranberry juice contains powerful antioxidants that help to prevent or repair the damages caused by free radicals. It inhibits oxidation of LDL (Wilson et al., 1999). Drinking cranberry juice helps increase good cholesterol and the body’s antioxidant capacity (Pedersen et al., 200).

Respiratory Infections:

Cranberry juice helps inhibit certain strains of the Haemophilus influenza, which is a common cause of ear and respiratory infections in children.

Protection from Herpes Virus 

Studies have found that a substance extracted from the cranberries called proanthocyanidin, suppressed the genital herpes virus. Tests showed that this compound made it harder for the virus to penetrate cells.

Cranberry-juice glass

Dental Benefits

Some studies have shown that cranberry juice can reduce the growth of bacteria that causes plaque to stick to the teeth, preventing decay and gum disease.

Breast Cancer

Proanthocyanidin, the compound I mentioned under the Herpes heading, has potential anti carcinogenic activity (Bomser et al., 1996); cranberry products inhibited proliferation of estrogen receptor-negative and receptor-positive human breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner (Guthrie, 2000).

Stomach and Ulcers

Research shows that components found in cranberry may prevent bacteria, such as E. coli, from clinging to the cells along the walls of the urinary tract and causing infection. There is also preliminary evidence that cranberry may reduce the ability of H. pylori bacteria to live in the stomach and cause ulcers.

CAUTION: There are some indications that cranberry should be used cautiously by people who take blood-thinning drugs (such as warfarin), medications that affect the liver, or aspirin.

Promising Homeopathic Treatment for Cancer – Thuja Occidentalis

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One of my early and onging regimens to protect my body from the formation of a new tumor is alternating doses of two homeopathic remedies, twice a day. This was recommended to me by one of the leading world practitioners of alternate remedies based on my total profile.

The first is 2 drops of Phytolacca 200C followed 3 hours later by 2 drops of Thuja Occidentalis 30C taken in 2 tsp of filtered water, and repeated another time later in the day.  (Homeopathic tinctures need to be taken 15-20 mins. away from taking anything by mouth.)

The studies supporting this regimen are ongoing and rather impressive. Below is one such study focused on Thuja.

Thuja_occidentalis

NOTE: If you would like to consider adding this to your supplement routine, please Contact Me so I can refer you to a homeopathic practitioner who can assess your situation and prescribe the right combo for you. Homeopathy takes the whole person into consideration for appropriate treatment, and not the symptoms alone.

You can read more about Thuja at the NIH website by clicking here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Volume 2011 (2011), Article ID 568148

Thujone-Rich Fraction of Thuja occidentalis Demonstrates Major Anti-Cancer Potentials: Evidences from In Vitro Studies on A375 Cells

Raktim Biswas,1 Sushil Kumar Mandal,1 Suman Dutta,1 Soumya Sundar Bhattacharyya,1 Naoual Boujedaini,2 and Anisur Rahman Khuda-Bukhsh1

1Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani 741235, India2Boiron Laboratory, 20 rue de la Libération., Sainte-Foy-Les-Lyon (69110), France

Received 17 November 2009; Accepted 9 April 2010

Copyright © 2011 Raktim Biswas et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Crude ethanolic extract of Thuja occidentalis (Fam: Cupressaceae) is used as homeopathic mother tincture (TOΦ) to treat various ailments, particularly moles and tumors, and also used in various other systems of traditional medicine. Anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing properties of TOΦ and the thujone-rich fraction (TRF) separated from it have been evaluated for their possible anti-cancer potentials in the malignant melanoma cell line A375.

On initial trial both TOΦ and TRF showed maximum cytotoxic effect on A375 cell line while the other three principal fractions separated by chromatography had negligible or no such effect, because of which only TRF was further characterized and subjected to certain other assays for determining its precise anti-proliferative and apoptotic potentials.

Exposure of TRF of Thuja occidentalis to A375 cells in vitro showed more cytotoxic, anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects as compared with TOΦ, but had minimal growth inhibitory responses when exposed to normal cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cell).  Furthermore, both TOΦ and TRF also caused a significant decrease in cell viability, induced inter-nucleosomal DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial transmembrane potential collapse, increase in ROS generation, and release of cytochrome c and caspase-3 activation, all of which are closely related to the induction of apoptosis in A375 cells.

Thus, TRF showed and matched all the anti-cancer responses of TOΦ and could be the main bio-active fraction. The use of TOΦ in traditional medicines against tumors has, therefore, a scientific basis.

Introduction

Thuja occidentalis (Fam: Cupressaceae), commonly known as Arbor vitae or white cedar, is an ornamental tree grown in Europe [1]. It is used as a medicinal plant in various forms of traditional medicines like folk medicine, homeopathy, and so forth, for treatment of bronchial catarrh, enuresis, cystitis, psoriasis, uterine carcinomas, amenorrhea and rheumatism [2–5]. In homeopathy, the crude ethanolic extract of T. occidentalis is used as mother tincture (TOΦ).

Thuja is also occasionally used for treating diseases of skin, blood, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, brain, warty excrescences, spongy tumors, and so forth, and claimed to have pronounced remedial effects.

The extract has been reported to enhance the antibody response to sheep blood cells [6]. Protective effect of T. occidentalis has also been reported against radiation-induced toxicity in mice [7]. Ameliorative effect of T. occidentalis has also been suggested in preventing congestive heart disease [8]. Therefore, it gained attention of pharmacologists to study the major constituents of the dried herbal substances of T. occidentalis [9–11].

The major components found in extracts of all varieties of T. occidentalis comprise essential oil (1.4–4%) as the principal constituent.

In homeopathic literature [13], TOΦ has been reported to be effective against various forms of skin diseases, particularly in the treatment of moles and papillomas.

Homeopathic TOΦ has been reported earlier to have cytotoxic effect in Dalton’s lymphoma ascites (DLA), Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC), and lung carcinoma L929 [14]. Dubey and Batra also reported hepato-protective activities [15] and antioxidant activity [16] of T. occidentalis in CCL4-treated liver damage in rats.

However, to the best of our knowledge, anti-cancer potentials of TOΦ or any of its major fractions had not been tested earlier in skin cancer cell line A375 by utilizing some widely acceptable parameters of study.

Thus, the hypotheses to be tested were:

(i)              whether TOΦ and all chromatographically separated fractions had potential anti-cancer effects in A375 cells;

(ii)            if any fraction could be demarcated as the most biologically active one;

(iii)          if, it is possible, to chemically characterize this fraction;

(iv)          whether the cytotoxic, anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of the fraction, vis-à-vis TOΦ, could be compared with focus on its possible mechanism of action; and

(v)            if it is possible to assess the overall anti-cancer potentials of TOΦ in relation to its preferential cytotoxic effect over normal cells, by analyzing results of different relevant assays including the possible signaling pathways.

Findings:

Results of the present study would indicate that the homeopathic drug T. occidentalis Φ had four chromatographically separated fractions of which the thujone-rich fraction was found to be the most bioactive (anti-cancer, pro-apoptotic) component. Unfortunately, despite our best effort, the oily nature of this fraction did not allow us to purify it to 100%, for which we were able to perform only mass spectrometry of TRF.

Anti-cancer activity of the alcoholic extract of T. occidentalis had earlier been reported by Sunila and Kuttan [14] from their in vivo studies in rats. In our present in vitro study involving several protocols, we confirm the pro-apoptotic and anti-cancer potential of T. occidentalis mother tincture. Additionally, it was revealed that the thujone-rich component was possibly the key bioactive compound showing its promising anti-cancer potentials in the skin cancer cell line A375, a fact which had not earlier been reported.

We determined the optimum dose through a range finding trial. The result revealed that the 220.18 μg mL–1 of TOΦ could produce 50% cell death in A375 while that dose was relatively non-toxic to PBMC. Correspondingly, of the three doses of 50, 100, 200 μg mL–1 of TRF used, 200 μg mL–1 TRF showed the maximum effect surpassing the effect of treatment with the TOΦ as revealed from the result of the several protocols.

References

  1. L. C. Chang, L. L. Song, E. J. Park et al., “Bioactive constituents of Thuja occidentalis,” Journal of Natural Products, vol. 63, no. 9, pp. 1235–1238, 2000.
  2. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, Thuja, British Herbal Medicine Association, West Yorks, UK, 1983.
  3. K. Shimada, “Contribution to anatomy of the central nervous system of the Japanese upon the vermal arbour vitae,” Okajimas Folia Anatomica Japonica, vol. 28, pp. 207–227, 1956.
  4. D. Baran, “Arbor vitae, a guarantee of health,” Revista Medico-Chirurgicala a Societatii de Medici si Naturalisti din Lasi, vol. 95, no. 3-4, pp. 347–349, 1991.
  5. “Thuja occidentalis,” 2010, http://abchomeopathy.com/r.php/Thuj.
  6. C. Bodinet and J. Freudenstein, “Effects of an orally applied aqueous-ethanolic extract of a mixture of Thujae occidentalis herba, Baptisiae tinctoriae radix, Echinaceae purpureae radix and Echinaceae pallidae radix on antibody response against sheep red blood cells in mice,” Planta Medica, vol. 65, pp. 695–699, 1999.
  7. E. S. Sunila and G. Kuttan, “Protective effect of Thuja occidentalis against radiation-induced toxicity in mice,” Integrative Cancer Therapies, vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 322–328, 2005.
  8. S. K. Dubey and A. Batra, “Role of Thuja occidentalis Linn. in prevention of congestive heart disease,” Journal of Pharmacy Research, vol. 2, pp. 651–654, 2009.
  9. T. Dimitroula, G. Konstantia, P. O. Loretta, K. B. Miroslawa, S. Caroline, and C. Ioanna, “Chemosystematic value of the essential oil composition of Thuja species cultivated in Poland- antimicrobial activity,” Molecules, vol. 14, pp. 4707–4715, 2009.
  10. EMEA—The European Agency for the Evaluation of MedicinalProducts, “Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products—Thuja occidentalis,” Summary Report, Canary Wharf, London, UK, 1999.
  11. Witte, J. Berlin, V. Wray, W. Schubert, W. Kohl, G. Hofle, et al., “Mono-und diterpenes from cell cultures or Thuja occidenalis,” Planta Medica, vol. 49, pp. 216–221, 1983.
  12. B. Naser, C. Bodinet, M. Tegtmeier, and U. Lindequist, “Thuja occidentalis (Arbor vitae): a review of its pharmaceutical, pharmacological and clinical properties,” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 69–78, 2005.
  13. W. Boerick, Pocket Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica, Sett, Dey & Co, Calcutta, India, 1976.
  14. E. S. Sunila and G. Kuttan, “A preliminary study on antimetastatic activity of Thuja occidentalis L. in mice model,” Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 269–280, 2006.
  15. S. K. Dubey and A. Batra, “Hepatoprotective activity from ethanol fraction of Thuja occidentalis Linn,” Asian Journal of Research in Chemistry, vol. 1, pp. 32–35, 2008.
  16. S. K. Dubey and A. Batra, “Antioxidant activity of Thuja occidentalis linn,” Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, vol. 2, pp. 73–76, 2009.

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 International Journal of Oncology

February 2010 Volume 36 Number 2

Cytotoxic effects of ultra-diluted remedies on breast cancer cells
Authors: Moshe Frenkel, Bal Mukund Mishra, Subrata Sen, Peiying Yang, Alison Pawlus, Luis Vence, Aimee Leblanc, Lorenzo Cohen, Pratip Banerji, Prasanta Banerji
Affiliations: Integrative Medicine Program-Unit 145, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA. frenkelm@netvision.net.il
Doi: 10.3892/ijo_00000512
Pages: 395-403
Abstract:The use of ultra-diluted natural products in the management of disease and treatment of cancer has generated a lot of interest and controversy. We conducted an in vitro study to determine if products prescribed by a clinic in India have any effect on breast cancer cell lines. We studied four ultra-diluted remedies (Carcinosin, Phytolacca, Conium and Thuja) against two human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and a cell line derived from immortalized normal human mammary epithelial cells. The remedies exerted preferential cytotoxic effects against the two breast cancer cell lines, causing cell cycle delay/arrest and apoptosis.These effects were accompanied by altered expression of the cell cycle regulatory proteins, including downregulation of phosphorylated Rb and upregulation of the CDK inhibitor p27, which were likely responsible for the cell cycle delay/arrest as well as induction of the apoptotic cascade that manifested in the activation of caspase 7 and cleavage of PARP in the treated cells.

The findings demonstrate biological activity of these natural products when presented at ultra-diluted doses. Further in-depth studies with additional cell lines and animal models are warranted to explore the clinical applicability of these agents.

Strong Evidence That We Should Add Hemp Seeds to Our Diet

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It has been a rainy windy day.  Quite a few people have no power since this morning due to high winds, and there have been flight delays at SFO.  It’s a day for soup… and I made a Miso based one with green onions, kale, ginger, turmeric, cayenne and garlic. On the side we had braised organic Brussel sprouts with an olive oil-lime drizzle, and steamed zucchini with a dash of garlic powder, sea salt and black pepper.

I have decided to stay away from animal protein for a while, although I usually limit myself to organic white meat chicken and wild salmon.  But I have now come across two studies that identify the effects of animal protein on cancer cells… one of them is mentioned on the Epigenetics Project blog:

http://georgefebish.wordpress.com/2012/11/30/plant-vs-animal-protein-and-disease/.

So I am once again turning to my storehouse of plant proteins.

On August 2nd I wrote a post entitled:

Unique Benefits of Hemp Protein 

that outlines the history of hemp, how it got a bad rap beginning in the 1930′s, and the many unique health benefits it offers us.

On August 12th I followed that with another post entitled:

A Powerhouse of Health in a Bowl

which restated the powerful nutrients offered by this tiny seed, and a breakfast bowl idea that includes Hemp seeds.

Nutiva Organic Shelled Hemp Seed, 13-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 2)

Today I ran across the following article, and felt that it was time perhaps to write on more post about this miraculous food.  I buy organic Hemp seeds from Amazon in 1 lb. bags.  It’s easy to add them to your diet.. they have a wonderful almost mastic like flavor.. and make a lovely topping on berries, dairy free puddings, coconut yogurt, incorporated into your jar of mixed dry roasted nuts, or on top of gluten-free toast that has a smear of coconut oil.

Hemp Protein: Eat the Nutrients

Wednesday, December 09, 2009 by: Amielia Ponds

(NaturalNews) Researchers claim that if no other food is consumed, hemp seeds  could sustain a human life for a few months without causing nutrient deficiency  problems. In fact, hemp protein was used in Europe during tuberculosis outbreaks  to reverse the wasting away caused by the disease.

With a protein  structure of 66% edestin and 33% albumin, hemp seeds (latin: sativa) contain all  8 essential amino acids plus 2 conditionally essential amino acids. In addition  to its surprising protein profile, it also contains the perfect ratio of omega  fatty acids researchers recommend for good health: 3- omega-3`s to  1-omega-6.

Why Are Amino Acids Important?hemp seeds

A human being needs 21  amino acids to survive: Eight are essential and must be obtained from food; two  are conditionally essential and can be synthesized if all the eight essential  amino acids are consumed. No other plant or animal source, aside from hemp,  contains the first ten amino acids necessary for health. Nor do any of them  contain the fatty acid ratio essential for life.

Hemp seeds are not  unique among plant seeds in having all the essential amino acids. However, they  are unique in that they have them in the correct ratio and they are in the form  of globulin edestin at 65% of the protein content. The other 35% of the protein  content is albumin.

The globulins contained in hemp seeds are one of the  seven classes of 100% pure amino acids. Globulins make up the portion of seed  between the embryo and the seed coat and they are a fraction of all animal and  human blood. Edestin globulin comes from seed; globulin is in blood plasma.  Globulin and albumin are classified as globular proteins. All the enzymes,  antibodies, many hormones, hemoglobin, and fibrogin are made from globular  proteins.
The protein  portion of the blood answers the call of tissues in need by providing nutrients,  vitamins and minerals.

Similarly albumin and globulin provide all the  nutrients to the seed embryo until it can begin to provide its own through leaf  photosynthesis. The seeds of most plants contain all the necessary nutrients for  metabolic activity.

Since globulin is the third most abundant protein in  the human body, it is no surprise that it acts as a catalyst for many other  processes.  It is responsible for the activity of the cells which make up the immune system.  These cells are responsible for recognizing and destroying foreign invaders such  as toxins, viruses, and dangerous bacteria.

Our body also needs other amino acids in sufficient  quantity in order to manufacture other globulin proteins and cells structures.  Most foods do not contain sufficient quantities of these essential amino acids  nor the right kinds. Additionally, amino acids in many foods, especially animal  foods, are not available to the body most of the time.

Since hemp  seeds contain 65% globulin edestin and 35% albumin, both in a highly  digestible state, it contains a protein panel similar to that of human blood. In  addition to the necessary amino acids, it contains the right 3:1 ratio of  omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids our bodies need to be healthy. Hemp seeds also  contain sufficient quantities of zinc, iron, and magnesium, three of the most  common metals/minerals implicated in mineral deficiency  diseases.

Resources:

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And another article:

Hemp Can Repair DNA!

There are many factors that cause damaged DNA : oxidation, UV radiation from the sun, radiation from Xrays,

viruses, plant toxins, and man-made chemicals (chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, hydrocarbons, smoke, pollution, to name a few). Some results of damaged DNA are: premature aging, cancer, diabetes mellitus (diabetes itself may cause DNA damage), Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, chronic fatigue syndrome, and many other conditions.

Cells cannot function properly if the DNA is damaged. However, the cells CAN, through chemical processes, reverse the damage themselves.

Hempseed and hempseed oil have been found to be a factor in DNA repair. Hemp has the perfect 3:1 ratio of Omega fatty acids (Omega 3 and Omega 6) needed by the human body. One ‘job’ of Omega 3 is cellular repair. Hemp is 65% protein, 35% of which is globulin edestin protein. It is the protein that is closest to human globulin, and is very easily digestible by the body.

The protein is a major factor in DNA repair, as the cells use that protein to correct the DNA damage.

Because hemp is the highest source of Edestin protein, AND is responsible for boosting the immune system, it is a perfect addition to the diet.

About the Author

Becca Wolford is a writer, entrepreneur, artist, reiki practitioner, and hemp activist. She has experienced first-hand the nutritional and healing benefits of hemp and her passion is learning, writing, and educating others about the benefits of hemp – benefits that encompass nutritional health for humans, a healthy environment, and a healthier economy.

~ Be Well! ♥

Roasted Sweet Potato and Kale Salad – ReBlog

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One of my fav blogs is A Table in the Sun.  Not only do I envy her home surrounded by animals (Growing up we always had a cackle of chickens, goats, sheep, bunnies, a turkey and a peacock, a donkey for a short while, dogs and a cat or two), but I enjoy her stories and recipes too.

Below is a recipe that delighted me, and it fits well with our cancer prevention diet… full of fiber, healthy fats and antioxidants. Her photo is amazingly appetizing too!

Roasted Sweet Potato and Kale Salad

  • 2 medium large organic Sweet Potatoes
  • 1 organic Red Onion, sliced
  • 4 c. chopped organic Kale
  • 1 c. shredded Coconut
  • 1 Tbs. Coconut oil
  • dash Sea Salt

Cut sweet potato into 1/2 inch cubes.  Mix with sliced onions and coconut oil on a large shallow pan.  Sprinkle with salt.  Roast at 400° for about 35 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Wait until sweet potatoes are finished to toast the coconut and kale under the broiler (but not too close) until the tips are golden.

Golden Autumn Dressing

  • 1 Tbs. Almond Butter
  • 2 Tbs. organic Light Olive Oil
  • 2+ tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar (to taste)
  • dash Sea Salt
  • dash Sriracha (if you like a bit of spice….but it’s very good without the heat too)

Mix all ingredient, adjusting for taste.  Since roasted vegetables are fairly soft already, add dressing to your warm salad at the table, then top with toasted coconut.

~Enjoy! ♥

Gorgeous and Delicious Quinoa Salad

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Hello my friends!

It’s been almost a month since my last post… unbelievable!  I am working part-time for an attorney now, scheduling talks and consulting on fighting disease with food, and just returned from an over due trip to India, where I spent 2 incredible weeks!  So life has been quite busy and inundated with His Grace.

I want to share a very yummy concoction with you. Since quinoa is mentioned in every other article on healthy grains.. and recipes abound.. I thought a simple and flexible one might be a welcome addition to your repertoire.  Let me also say that if you’re brave, you can get creative with your choice of left over cooked veggies, beans and/or herbs in this recipe.

Recipe

  • 2 c. red organic Quinoa, cooked
  • 1/4 c. Red organic Onion, chopped
  • 2 med. organic cooked, diced Carrots
  • 1 Avocado, diced
  • 1/4 c. organic Corn off the cob, steamed or grilled
  • 1/4 c. organic Green Beans, steamed or grilled
  • 1/4 c. diced cooked organic Zucchini
  • 1/2 Red Bell Pepper, diced
  • 2 Tbs. Almond Cheese, diced (opt.)
  • Organic Parsley, chopped (opt.)

Dressing:

  • Use your favorite dressing or the one below:
  • 2 Tbs. Lemon juice
  • 2 Tbs. organic Apple Cider vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp. Cumin
  • 1/8 tsp. Black Pepper
  • Drizzle of organic virgin Olive Oil

and

  • Sea Salt to taste

Mix all and enjoy at room temperature or chilled.

~ Bon Apetit! ♥

Is Soursop (Graviola) a Potential Cancer Cure?

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While this fruit has had some promising results against many types of cancers, even those that Chemo could not kill, there is reason to be cautious.  Studies have found that consumption could lead to a Parkinson’s like disease.

Here is more information from Sloan-Kettering:

Graviola, guanabana, soursop, custard apple, brazilian paw paw

Clinical Summary

Graviola, a tree prevalent in the rain forests of Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia, has been used in traditional medicine in many countries. Extracts of graviola show antiviral (1), antiparasitic, antirheumatic, astringent, emetic (2), antileishmanial and cytotoxic (3) (4), antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory (9), antihyperglycemic (10) and anticancer effects (5) (12) (13) in vitro and in vivo. However, human data are lacking. Alkaloids extracted from graviola may cause neuronal dysfunction and degeneration leading to symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (6) (11).

Purported Uses

  • Cancer treatment
  • Herpes
  • Infections
  • Parasitic infections
  • Sedation

Constituents

  • Acetogenins
  • Quinolines and isoquinolines
  • Annopentocins
  • Annomuricins
  • Coreximine and reticuline (6) (7)

Mechanism of Action

Annonaceous acetogenins, phytochemicals isolated from the leaves, bark and twigs of graviola, are thought to be the active ingredients. The ethanolic extract of Annona muricata was found to inhibit the Herpes simplex virus (1) and effective against Leishmania braziliensis, L. panamensis promastigotes, and the cancer cell line U 937 (3) and hepatoma cell lines (8) in vitro. Gravioloa extracts were shown to be lethal to the fresh-water mollusk Biomphalaria glabrata, which acts as a host for the parasitic worm, Schistosoma mansoni (2).

Alkaloids from graviola are detrimental to the survival of dopaminergic nerve cells in vitro. This may result in neuronal dysfunction and degeneration. Graviola-induced cell death was inhibited by glucose supplementation suggesting that cell death may have been caused by energy depletion (6).  Graviola has also been shown to stimulate serotonine receptors (7). Graviola extracts were effective against the growth of Adriamycin-resistant human mammary adenocarcinoma (MCF-7/Adr) by blocking access of cancer cells to ATP and by inhibiting the actions of plasma membrane glycoprotein (5). They also inhibited expression of HIF-1α, NF-κB, glucose transporters, and glycolytic enzymes resulting in decreased glucose uptake and ATP production in pancreatic cancer cells (12); and downregulated EGFR expression in another study (13).


Adverse Reactions

  • Graviola may cause movement disorders and myeloneuropathy with symptoms mimicking Parkinson’s disease (6) (11).

Dosage

Commercial Preparations: Following are dosages recommended by the manufacturers. However, the dosage may vary between products. A standard dose has not yet been established. Graviola supplement: For adults, one capsule daily. Each capsule contains 500mg of ground stem and leaves.

References

  1. Padma P, Pramod NP, Thyagarajan SP, Khosa RL. Effect of the extract of Annona muricata and Petunia nyctaginiflora on Herpes simplex virus. J Ethnopharmacol. 1998;61:81-3.
  2. dos Santos AF,.Sant’Ana AE. Molluscicidal properties of some species of Annona. Phytomedicine. 2001;8:115-20.
  3. Jaramillo MC, Arango GJ, Gonzalez MC, Robledo SM, Velez ID. Cytotoxicity and antileishmanial activity of Annona muricata pericarp. Fitoterapia 2000;71:183-6.
  4. Liaw CC, Chang FR, Lin CY, Chou CJ, Chiu HF, Wu MJ et al. New cytotoxic monotetrahydrofuran annonaceous acetogenins from Annona muricata. J Nat Prod 2002;65:470-5.
  5. Oberlies NH, Chang CJ, McLaughlin JL. Structure-activity relationships of diverse Annonaceous acetogenins against multidrug resistant human mammary adenocarcinoma (MCF-7/Adr) cells. J Med Chem. 1997;40:2102-6.
  6. Lannuzel A, Michel PP, Caparros-Lefebvre D, Abaul J, Hocquemiller R, Ruberg M.Toxicity of Annonaceae for dopaminergic neurons: potential role in atypical parkinsonism in Guadeloupe. Mov Disord. 2002;17:84-90.
  7. Ron G. Tropical myeloneuropathies revisited. Curr Opin Neurol 1998;11:539-44.
  8. Chen JC, Tsai CC, Chen LD, Chen HH, Wang WC. Therapeutic effect of gypenoside on chronic liver injury and fibrosis induced by CCl4 in rats. Am.J Chin Med. 2000;28:175-85.
  9. de Sousa OV, Vieira GD, de Jesus R G de Pinho J, Yamamoto CH, Alves MS. Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Ethanol Extract of Annona muricata L. Leaves in Animal Models. Int J Mol Sci. 2010 May 6;11(5):2067-78.
  10. Adeyemi DO, Komolafe OA, Adewole OS, Obuotor EM, Adenowo TK. Anti hyperglycemic activities of Annona muricata (Linn). Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2008 Oct 25;6(1):62-9.
  11. Lannuzel A, Höglinger GU, Champy P, et al. Is atypical parkinsonism in the Caribbean caused by the consumption of Annonacae? J Neural Transm Suppl. 2006;(70):153-7.
  12. Torres MP, Rachagani S, Purohit V, et al. Graviola: A novel promising natural-derived drug that inhibits tumorigenicity and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo through altering cell metabolism. Cancer Lett. 2012 Apr 1. [Epub ahead of print]
  13. Dai Y, Hogan S, Schmelz EM, Ju YH, Canning C, Zhou K. Selective growth inhibition of human breast cancer cells by graviola fruit extract in vitro and in vivo involving downregulation of EGFR expression. Nutr Cancer 2011;63(5):795-801.