Holistic medicine and herbal medicine are NOT homeopathy

Holistic medicine and herbal medicine are NOT homeopathy.

Just to make sure there is clarification on these modalities AND to remind other about the lack of actual data results on homeopathy. Active herbs do have research data. I know I will catch hell for this, and I know homeopathy seems to have worked for some but there are other factors we must ponder. Please just ponder all these issues below. Please, no hate mail from homeopaths.

Homeopathy is specifically the use of highly diluted substances to treat symptoms caused by concentrated versions of those substances. One account I read by a chemist claimed that by the time one completes the dilution program one would have to have a sphere of water equal in size to the earth's orbit around the sun in order to still have one molecule of the original substance present in the diluted mass. There is a belief that somehow water retains a memory of the substance. Water is, of course at room temperature a liquid whose molecules freely move in relation to each other. To retain a "memory" imprint of a more complex molecule one would need a material that was not a liquid.  So, this all seems like, well, you get it.

Now, Holistic medicine is based on the practice of trying to look at the whole organism and its environment to understand the source and management of the illness. A lot of very successful mainstream doctors and veterinarians practice holistic medicine. Herbal medicine is based on obtaining pharmacologically effective doses of active compounds directly from plants without going through the stages of synthesis used in modern drug manufacture. There are LOTS of pharmacologically active compounds in plants. These compounds are the basis of our modern pharma industry in which the effective compounds in a plant extract are isolated from other compounds that have undesirable side effects to increase the effectiveness of the desired compound.

A classic example is the difference between using Belladonna (digitalis) extract and measured doses of the effective compound derived drug digoxin to treat congestive heart failure.

Now historically homeopathy arose in relation to experience of getting a compound such as extract of Belladonna plant that would treat a problem and not kill the patient. Early vaccines - in which an active pathogen was weakened and then injected to prevent serious disease also appears to people who do not understand the underlying principles to validate homeopathic dilutions. It does not.

Vaccines effectiveness is actually due to the interaction between immunologically stimulating proteins derived from bacteria and or viruses and the animal's or human's immune system. Example: Cowpox vaccine works in humans to prevent smallpox NOT because it is highly diluted but because it cannot create serious disease in most humans but is immunologically similar enough to small pox to trigger immunity to a later smallpox infection.

In most modern vaccines only a portion of the bacterial or viral protein is introduced into the immunized individual so that the immune system raises a defense against anything bearing that protein that invades the individual in the future. The manner in which the immune system learns to attack foreign proteins is complex and involves many different types of immune system cells and I am not going to go into it her.

In veterinary medicine, however, placebos primarily affect an owner’s impression of how a pet is faring, rather than actually providing any relief from the patient’s condition. We do animals a disservice when we pick homeopathic treatments solely over scientifically-validated and patient-appropriate therapeutic protocols.

I’ve heard the stories of miraculous "cures" associated with the use of homeopathic remedies, but we must remember that association does not equal causation. The unexpected does happen in veterinary medicine, primarily because the body has remarkable abilities to heal itself, often despite rather than because of what we do.

OK, here is my list of possible mechanisms, in no particular order. If you have some different ones, or can explain why mine are wrong, let me know in the comments...

1. The effect is psychological, and operates upon the owner/parent. Because they expect the treatment to work, they see improvement where there is nothing, or nothing more than normal time-limited or cyclical changes in the condition. This effect is greatly enhanced when the owner/parent is highly motivated to see improvement, either because they have a strong personal belief in the treatment, or have invested time, money and credibility in it. It will also reassure the "worried well" parent/owner whose baby/animal is not actually ill in the first place.
2. The effect is real, but derives from changes in the parent/owner's behavior and emotional state. Because they know their baby/animal is receiving treatment, they become less anxious. The babies/animals pick up on this mood change and so relax more themselves.
3. The effect is real but derives from changes associated with the treatment, rather than the treatment itself. For example, if the baby/animal has received extra care and attention, a change of diet or sleep patterns, and a break from work or other activities, these could have caused the improvement. Similarly, if an alternative treatment has been given in conjunction with real medicine, parents/owners may attribute any success to the treatment rather than the medicine.
4. The effect is real and arises as a conditioned response to the rituals of care. If the baby/animal has previously improved after taking real medicine, then the administration of a placebo in the same way can evoke the conditioned response.
5. The effect is real and arises as part of the acute phase response to an injury. Pain or inflammation evolved to stimulate the suffering organism to immobilize the injury site and to seek help. Once this has been achieved, the pain/inflammation is less necessary and can dissipate.

In other words,virtually all of the many factors that can influence the placebo effect in adults, can also produce placebo effects in babies/animals. Placebos DO have an effect upon babies and animals. Homeopathy does not.

Again, Holistic medicine and herbal medicine are NOT homeopathy.  Herbal medicine is based on obtaining pharmacologically effective doses of active compounds directly from plants without going through the stages of synthesis used in modern drug manufacture. There are LOTS of pharmacologically active compounds in plants.
Virtually all research data shows homeopathy as not effective.

Canine Lymphosarcoma Lymphoma LSA

  Canine Lymphosarcoma (Canine Lymphoma, LSA)

  

Incidence/cause

LSA, a tumor caused by a cancerous proliferation of lymphocytes (cells that normally function in the immune system), is one of the most common tumors seen in dogs. It affects dogs of any breed and age, although most dogs will be middle-aged or older at the time of diagnosis; Golden retrievers are considered a breed at increased risk of developing LSA. The cause of LSA in dogs, as is true for most canine tumors, is not known.

What you might see/ Clinical presentation

The presentation of dogs with LSA is highly variable as lymphocytes can be found in virtually any organ in the body. Nonetheless, the most common form (referred to as stages) of LSA causes a non-painful enlargement of one or more lymph nodes that can be seen or felt from the body surface. Occasionally, a lymph node becomes large enough to impair function (obstruction of blood flow or airway, for example). Other forms of LSA can involve the liver, spleen, bone marrow and gastrointestinal tract, skin or nervous system (and other organs) and the clinical signs will reflect the organ system involved (e.g. vomiting or diarrhea with gastrointestinal forms; weakness or pale mucous membranes and others that reflect impaired production of blood cells from the bone marrow); many dogs will simply feel ill (lose appetite, become lethargic) with any of the different forms. In some dogs, lymph node enlargement is an incidental finding when an otherwise healthy-appearing dog is seen by a veterinarian for an unrelated reason (e.g. vaccination).

Lymph node staging

Stage I: single lymph node enlarged
Stage II: multiple nodes enlarged on either the front half or back half of the body
Stage III: multiple nodes enlarged on both front and back halves of body
Stage IV: involvement of the liver and/or spleen
Stage V: bone marrow involvement, or involvement of other organs (e.g. gastrointestinal, skin, nervous system)
Each numbered stage can be further divided into substages, of which there are two: a and b. Patients with substage a feel well while patients with substage b are ill.

Biological behavior of LSA

LSA is viewed as a systemic disease, and as such is not really viewed to "spread" to other organs. This tumor is not generally viewed as a curable tumor in dogs, although occasional dogs will experience what seems to be a cure with appropriate treatment (see below). A dog can start with one stage of the disease and progress over time to another (usually more advanced) stage of LSA.

Clinical staging (determination of the extent of the tumor)

Because of the organs that LSA commonly involves, staging a dog with a LSA can involve aspiration of one or more lymph nodes, thoracic radiographs abdominal radiographs or ultrasound (to look for big nodes in the abdomen and to look at the liver and spleen), or bone marrow examination. Often, obtaining blood for a complete blood count and biochemical profile, and a urinalysis will be advised as these can help assess overall health and provide information that potentially influences treatment recommendations. Sometimes, special stains to determine if the LSA is of B-cell or T-cell origin (B-cells and T-cells are specific types of lymphocytes) are recommended because of prognostic significance, although treatment recommendations are the same for either type.

There is now a new screening test (Canine Lymphoma Assay Kit) offered by Tri-Screen. It is a quick (24 hours turnabout time), non-invasive, and accurate diagnostic test that can differentiate between lymphoma and other benign problems of the lymph nodes. If lymphoma is suspected in your dog, ask your vet about this test.

Prognosis

The prognosis of dogs with LSA is highly variable, and depends on the clinical stage (ill dogs fare more poorly than dogs that feel well, and dogs with Stage V disease are generally considered to have a poorer prognosis), the type of tumor (dogs with B-cell LSA usually do better than dogs with T-cell LSA). Most dogs treated with chemotherapy will experience a remission, a period in which there is no detectable cancer and the dog feels well. Remission times are variable, but most dogs with the lymph node forms of LSA will have initial remissions lasting in the range of 6-9 months before evidence of the tumor is seen again; second remissions can be achieved in many of these dogs, but any subsequent remission is expected to be shorter in duration than the first remission. Survival times for most dogs treated with combination chemotherapy protocols are in the range of approximately 1 year. And even though an individual dog will have received a lot of chemotherapy over that year, their quality of lfe is generally very good. Statistics, while useful, can never predict how an individual dog will fare with or without specific treatment.

Treatment options

The mainstay of conventional treatment of LSA is administration of chemotherapy drugs; the best responses in terms of length of tumor control and survival are generally seen with protocols that entail administration of more than one chemotherapy drug, although there are approaches that involve administration of a single drug. Chemotherapy drugs commonly used include: doxorubicin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, prednisone, and L-Aspariginase, but many others are also used. In some dogs with very localized disease, surgery or radiation therapy can play a role in treatment, although chemotherapy is still often recommended in these cases.
A company called PetScreen (which also offers the new diagnostic test mentioned above) provides a service called "Directed Chemotherapy Assay Service" (DCA) - a laboratory service to help veterinarians select the most effective chemotherapy drug for a dog patient. This can avoid incidences of drug resistance in which a certain drug has little or no effect on a particular dog patient. With the help of DCA, time is not wasted in picking the right drug for the patient.

If you opt for DCA, please understand that a biopsy of the cancerous tissue has to be taken. Various chemo drugs are then tested against the biopsied tissue to determine which drug(s) is the most effective.

While undergoing chemotherapy, regular blood tests should be carried out to monitor for decreased white blood cell counts (drug-induced myelosuppression).

For the same reason as surgery, radiation is not commonly recommended for lymphoma in dogs. However, relatively novel approaches have recently been adopted to treat canine lymphosarcoma. For example, the dog patient may receive half-body irradiation - each half body is treated 4 weeks apart. Also, radiation to a single lymph node or all nodes may be given to dog patients that are drug-resistant.

 Most dogs with lymphoma are rather responsive to chemotherapy. Greater than 75% of dogs with lymphoma are expected to achieve a complete remission of 6 to 11 months with chemotherapy. When a dog treated with chemotherapy comes out of remission, further chemotherapy (rescue protocol) can be given which may induce second or even third remissions. However, understand that cancer cells that have survived prior chemotherapy treatments are stronger and more resistant to being eradicated; therefore, stronger and stronger medications have to be used. Dog parents, at that stage, have to make a decision.

This alternative treatment option I found a dog that lived more than 2 years:

""Following supplements were given each day with each specific meal

Batch #1:
(2) IP-6 Celle Forte(220mg.), (1) Swiss Formula Anti-Oxidant capsule (contains 10,000IU Beta-Carotene / 500mg Vit. C / 25mcg. Selenium), (3) Reishi Mushroom capsules(1000mg each), (3) Maitake Mushroom caps(800mg each), (3) Shiitake Mushroom caps(800mg each), (2) Ester Vitamin C(600mg each), (3) Prednisone Rx, every other day(5mg each)

Batch #2:
(2) IP-6, (1) Co-Enzyme Co-Q10(30mg), 1 ounce Flor-Essence diluted with 2 ounces water (or Essiac Tea is acceptable), (1) Green Tea capsule(50mg), (2) Salmon Oil**(1000mg each), 2 teaspoons Greens+ powder

Batch #3:
(2) IP-6, (1) high quality human grade IRON FREE Multi Vitamin,  (2) Ester Vitamin C, (3) Reishi Mushroom caps, (2) Cat's Claw(670mg each), (2) Grape Seed extract capsules, (2) Moducare Sterinol tablets, (1) Salmon Oil cap**

Batch #4:
(3) Maitake Mushroom caps, (3) Shiitake Mushroom caps, 2 teaspoons Wheatgrass powder, 2 tablespoons Flax Seed Oil**

Batch #5:
(2) IP-6, (1) Selenium(100mcg), (1) Co-Enzyme Q-10, (1) Ester Vitamin C,

Liver Supplements (given twice daily):
Turmeric - 1000mg
Artichoke Leaves Extract - 1800mg
Dandelion Extract - 1500mg
SAMe - 200 mg (started in 2003)
Milk Thistle - 3000mg (<--- very important liver supplement, with SAMe being a close second)


Anti-angiogenic medication:
Doxycycline Rx 50mg / 3 times a day (150mg total per day): Doxy helps to prevent cancer spread and blood vessel growth around tumors and seems to be effective with osteosarcoma cases. Doxy appears to be beneficial for other cancers as well.

Try to give some of the above supplements between meals, especially IP-6. The more "spread out" the supplements are throughout the day and evening, the better.
**Stop excessive fatty acid/fish oil supplementation 2-3 days prior to any chemo, until 2 days after.""""

Here is another one:

"1. Chemotherapy

This is the most common, and most effective treatment for canine lymphoma.
Chemotherapy generally refers to the treatment of cancer with powerful drugs that kill cells. These drugs are used to kill the cancer cells, but can harm healthy cells as well (which causes the side effects associated with this treatment). Combination chemotherapy usually involves chemotherapy drugs in addition to radiation treatment, which is usually the most effective against canine lymphoma.

The chemotherapy process for dogs is slightly less intensive than chemotherapy in humans, since the dosage ratio of the cell-killing drugs is much lower.

The veterinarian responsible for selecting chemotherapy drugs that will best help your dog is called an oncologist. Certain chemotherapy drugs are used for each type of cancer, and an oncologist is responsible for choosing the drugs that will have the lowest toxicity rate for your dog's healthy cells.

2. Immune System Booster(w/ chemo)

Treating your dog with an immune booster in addition to chemotherapy treatments is a good way to further increase your dog's survival rate. Most immune boosters include glyconutrients, which are required for healthy immune system function in canines.

3. Proper Nutrition(w/ above)

With a systemic cancer like lymphoma, proper nutrition is extremely important in increasing your dog's odds of survival. According to veterinary studies, dog foods that are high in carbohydrates “feed” the cancer, causing visible acceleration of the tumor's progression.

Dog foods that are high in protein are said to "starve" the cancer, while providing good support for your dog's healthy systems.

Dog food that is enriched in Omega 3 fatty acids has proven especially effective against canine lymphoma.

4. Surgery

In some cases, surgery to remove the malignant lymphoma tumor is suggested for a treatment option. Surgery is usually used in combination with chemotherapy, and is generally only suggested if the tumor is extremely large or is endangering vital organs. Fatal complications can arise with a surgical removal of a tumor, especially if a portion of the endangered organ is also removed.


The life expectancy of a dog diagnosed with lymphoma is between 9 and 12 months. While this may seem discouraging, it is possible to send a dog's lymphoma into remission with constant medical care, and regular chemotherapy.
 With proper care, the survival rate of a dog diagnosed with lymphoma can be raised to 50%. With intensive chemotherapy, the average chance of remission is from 60-90%. Without any treatment/intervention whatsoever, most dogs will only survive for an average of two months."

Key points

LSA is one of the most chemotherapy-responsive tumors seen in veterinary medicine, and most dogs tolerate chemotherapy very well with minimal impact on their quality of life. If you notice fast growing lumps on your dog that seem to be in the area of the major joints (at the neck, in front of the shoulders, in the armpits, at the back of the knees or in the groin) have your dog examined soon by a veterinarian even if he feels well. Remember, lower stage disease, and dogs that feel well, will do better with treatment than dogs that are ill and/or have more advanced disease. In the case of lymphoma, I don't think you should rule out conventional measures, just look into combining conventional treatments with natural ones to support the immune system.

Dog Cancer Protocol Starter Version

Many holistic vets use this basic set to start.

"Mini" Cancer Protocol to support the immune system and fight cancer. This is a very basic set shown below. It should help some. But Lucy got the whole truckload of pills from the get go. But this is a good start to get the dog and you used to dealing with them.

My full Tippner Cancer Protocol set that Lucy (who lasted more than 5 years after diagnosis and had remission for most of 4) uses is shown here http://dognasalcancertreatmentforlucy.blogspot.com/2012/12/dog-cancer-supplements-and-herbs-i-use.html

Simple BASIC start list:
- Coenzyme Q10 200mg a day for dogs, 50mg a day for cats and small dogs in AM meal.
- IP6 800-1600mg twice a day for dogs and 400mg twice a day for cats and small dogs in night snack.
- Medical mushrooms – to include Shiitake, Maitake, Reishi, and/or Cordyceps at 300mg per 50lb. in PM meal
- Artemisinin – see artemisinin article in night snack
- FEED:  NO Grain, high protein, medium fat mostly home cooked diet (crock pot meats/veggies on half no grain good quality kibble like Earthborne Primative or Taste of the Wild. If out of ready cooked and pressed for time, just fry an egg or 2 and add to kibble or add some grain free canned to kibble and drizzle some olive oil.  Give some tablespoons of low fat cottage cheese fork mixed with a small gravy on top of liquid flax oil near bedtime. Put opened capsule of Artemisinin in it.
*dosages were averages I found using google.

These are all extremely easy supplements to find

Sometimes oncologists will not allow the use of Chinese herbs or some supplements when they are giving an animal chemotherapy. They may be more open to this protocol or parts of it. They don't understand this side of medicine. And yes, herbals with active compounds are medicine. How do you think most drug research happens? It starts with natural compounds.

You don’t need to know what type of cancer your animal has to use this.

This protocol is unlikely to cause any kind of side effects because Coenzyme Q10 and IP6 are naturally in the body already and the other supplements are quite mild on the body.

You don’t have a holistic vet to work with and you are unsure what to use this may be a good protocol to consider and talk to your vet about.

This protocol can be used with other herbal protocols when the immune system needs additional support


Coenzyme Q10 is an enzyme made by the body and found in the membranes of many tissues. CoQ10 has effects in stimulating the immune system and works as a strong antioxidant. In animals and people with cancer it has been shown that levels of CoQ10 are lower then in normal individuals. There is some evidence that CoQ10 can increase cancer survival times.

Reduced levels of CoQ10 have been found in animals and people with heart issues. CoQ10 can help to protect the heart, lower blood pressure and help with repair to the heart.

CoQ10 has been shown to reduce cardiotoxicity (toxicity to the heart) in people on the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin (adriamycin).

Vets usually dose CoEnzyme Q10 at 200mg per day for dogs and 50mg per day for cats.

Here are some additional articles on CoQ10





Inositol Hexaphosphate also known as IP6 is important in stimulating the immune system’s natural killer cells to destroy cancer tissue. It is an antioxidant and has effects in inhibiting cancer cell growth and division. Not much research has been done in humans with this supplement but a lot of cancer studies have been done in animals.

Vets usually dose cats at 400mg two times a day and dogs 800-1600mg twice a day when they use this supplement.

Here are some articles on IP6





Medical mushrooms are very good for our animals in so many ways. I will later have a whole article up on medical mushrooms but what you need to know now is -

Mushrooms are amazing in their abilities to help the body fight cancer and stimulate the immune system, the Chinese have been using these for years.


Mushrooms also help with giving animals added nutrition when they need it, such as when they have cancer or are going through chemo.
The best mushrooms to use for an animal with cancer are maitake, shiitake, reishi and cordyceps. A combination can be used or focus on one.

Vets usually use at least 300mg of mushrooms be given daily for every 50lb of cat or dog. More is fine. 

I use a 12 mushroom complex from swansonvitamins.com

One of the best ways to dose mushrooms is by adding them to your dog’s food (doesn’t work quite as well in cats).
http://dognasalcancertreatmentforlucy.blogspot.com/2011/12/medicinal-mushrooms-cancer-and-immune.html
http://dognasalcancertreatmentforlucy.blogspot.com/2012/10/mushroom-derived-compound-lengthens.html



And use...   - Artemisinin – see artemisinin article

If your dog has bleeding tumors then add Yun Nan Bai Yao

If your dog has Mast Cell Tumors, then Tagamet and Benedryl OTC work very well to add. They both work on both types of histamine receptors - mast cells tumors release lots of histamine.


Where can you buy any of these products?
Many of these products can be bought at your local drug store, Amazon.com,  health supplement store or grocery store. I buy most (except Yun Nan Bai Yao)  from swansonvitamins.com because it's the cheapest route. The Yun Nan Bai Yao you can get from Amazon.com easily. The Artemisinin you might need to get there or swansonvitamins. 

As with all of my articles please check with your animal’s veterinarian before using any supplements, herbals or products discussed here.

My full Tippner Cancer Protocol set that Lucy (who lived more than 5 years after diagnosis and in remission most of that time  - using just these pills and diet at this link) uses is shown here http://dognasalcancertreatmentforlucy.blogspot.com/2012/12/dog-cancer-supplements-and-herbs-i-use.html





Please contact me using the form on the right side of pages if you have any questions about how I am treating Lucy and her status or any of the research.

Another example of chinese herbs used in cancer treatment

Tumorite TM
(Fu Zheng Kang Ai Wan/Pian)
An All Natural Chinese Herbal Supplement

TumoriteTM ( Fu Zheng Kang Ai Wan, Fu Zheng Kang Ai Pian, 扶正抗癌片) is a Chinese herbal supplement formulated to support our body's ability to defend tumours.†

What does it do?
From the perspective of TCM, one of the basic principles to win the battle against cancer is to promote the internal ability of the body in resisting any pathological occurrence, a concept similar to what we normally understand as increasing the immune function. This includes enhancing the fundamental elements such as Qi, Yin, Yang energies, Blood, etc. (TRANSLATION - IT BOOSTS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM)  A complementary approach is to go directly against the tumors by softening mass and clearing toxic substances (TCM considers tumors or cancers as toxins along with other pathogenic molecules in the body).

TumoriteTM or Fu Zheng Kang Ai Wan/Pian is a herbal dietary supplement formulated to follow the TCM principles. It is composed of 8 Chinese herbs that collectively tonify Qi energy and the blood, remove stagnation, resolve phlegm and mass. The herbal supplement may provide unique nutritional support to help recovery from tumor and to enhance the immune function.†

Tumorite consists of the following Chinese herbs:
Huang Qi (Astragalus root) is a famous Chinese herb that enhances Qi energy and tonifies the Spleen. Many studies have found that Astragalus can enhance the immune function, which is largely dependent on the spleen, in consistent with the role of Astragalus in TCM in defending the body from pathogenic toxins and strengthening the spleen.
Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis root) is a well known Chinese herb that both nourishes and moves the blood.†
Bai Zhu (Atractylodes rhizome) is a key tonic for the Spleen and dries Dampness.
Chi Shao (Red Peony root) clears heat, cools the blood, disperses stagnation, reduces swelling, and stops pain.
Zhi Ban Xia (Processed Pinellia rhizome) is a major Chinese herb that expels phlegm. It also dissolve nodules.† In TCM, excessive mass and nodules belong to phlegm.
Shan Zha (Hawthorn berry) helps improve digestion to remove food retention and promote blood circulation to disperse blood stasis.
Chen Pi (Tangerine peel) moves Qi and strengthen digestion, expels dampness and transforms phlegm.
Gan Cao (Licorice root) tonifies Spleen and Qi and moderates the action of the other herbs.

What is the formula composition botanical names?
A proprietary blend* of
Radix Astragali Membranacei            (Huang Qi)
Radix Angelicae Sinensis                   (Dang Gui)
Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae    (Bai Zhu)
Radix Paeoniae Rubra                         (Chi Shao)
Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae                   (Zhi Ban Xia)
Fructus Crataegi                                   (Shan Zha)
Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae                  (Chen Pi)
Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis                  (Gan Cao)



*Tumorite Fu Zheng Kang Ai Wan/Pian is made of 100% pure authentic Chinese herbs of highest qualities. Traditional preparation procedures are combined with modern pharmaceutical processes to extract the active ingredients from the herbs and to further concentrate them into pills or tablets. It is produced in the certified GMP facilities of Shanghai TongHanChun Herbs Factory (Guang Ci Tang) and is imported to USA in accordance with the FDA guidelines.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Fu+Zheng+Kang+Ai government research data on this herb set





A complementary approach is to go directly against the tumors by softening mass and clearing toxic substances by using the below with the above herbs. 

TumoclearTM ( Kang Zhong Pian, 抗肿片), is a Chinese herbal medicine specially formulated for tumor and cancer care. It is composed of multiple Chinese herbs that have been shown in studies to help fight various tumors or cancers.†

What does it do?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), many Chinese herbs have been reported to treat tumor cells in various clinical settings. Tumoclear has a unique combination of the following Chinese herbs.

Herba Sarcandrae (Zhong jie feng, Cao shan hu, Sarcandra glabra): Sarcandra has been used traditionally to disperse pathogenic wind and remove blood stasis. Modern studies have revealed its antitumor properties.† It was shown to modestly inhibit the growth of the implanted S180 sarcoma or HepA tumor in mice and prolong their survival. When administered together with chemotherapy drugs like CTX, 5-Fu, ADM or radiotherapy 60Co, Sarcandra can increase their antitumor efficacy in the range of 11.17% to 39.80%. In a small clinical trial of 14 acute leukemia patients with Sarcandra, 4 patients had a complete remission and 6 a partial remission. Relapse was observed after the withdrawal of Sarcandra. No significant side effect was noticed during the trial. In a separate trial of 373 patients with various late stage tumors using Sarcandra, 53.9% patients showed improvement, of which 15.7% showed marked improvement. Among the types of cancers that better responded to the treatment are pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, esophageal cancer, and leukemia.1 †

Herba Scutellariae Barbatae (Ban zhi lian, Portulaca grandiflora): The Chinese herb Ban zhi lian has been long used to treat various tumors in Chinese Medicine. In recent years it has been shown to inhibit the growth of several lines of tumour cells in implanted mice and in petri dish. In clinical studies, Chinese herbal formulas that include Ban zhi lian as a major ingredient have been used with various successes in treating many types of malignant tumours such as liver cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, malignant ascites, and breast cancer in Chinese hospitals.2 † For example, in a trial involving 136 breast cysts, 44 (32%) showed remission, 42 (31%) marked improvement, 30 (22%) improvement, 20 (15%) had no improvement. No significant side effect was noticed. In USA, a Ban zhi lian herbal preparation is now being approved by FDA for phase II trial of stage IV metastatic breast cancer, as reported in a Oct 15, 2007 Time magazine article.3 In an earlier trial, 21 stage IV metastatic breast cancer patients were treated with Ban zhi lian. After about a year, 25% of the patients showed stabilization in their disease for 90 days and 19% for 180 days.3 †

Herba Salviae Chinensis (Shi jian chuan): Salvia chinensis is another Chinese herb that is often used in Chinese herbal medicines for treatment of cancers in China. It is normally included in combination with other Chinese herbs. The types of cancers treated include liver cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and nasopharynx cancer. For example, in one study of 158 late stage stomach cancer, one Salvia chinensis-containing herbal formula was used along with chemotherapy for 1 to 2 years, the 3, 5, and 10 years' survival rate are 41.07%, 30.36% and 12.5% in the first group of 56 patients, and the 3 years' survival rate is over 50% in the second group of 102 patients with the best result seen in the combination with 5-Fu chemotherapy.†
Semen Coicis Lachryma-Jobi (Yi yi ren, Job's tears, semen coicis): Coix is a maize-like seed traditionally consumed in China and is often a component of anticancer Chinese herbal formulas in China. A Coix preparation named Kanglaite is now among the best selling anticancer drugs in China. The Coix preparation has been approved by FDA for a phase II trial to test its efficacy in treating non–small-cell lung cancer in USA. Studies have suggested that the Coix preparation may enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and reduce side effects such as fatigue, nausea, and hair loss, as discussed by a Science magazine news focus. 4 †


What is the formula composition botanical names?
A proprietary blend of

Herba Sarcandrae                 (Zhong Jie Feng)
Herba Scutellariae Barbatae  (Ban Zhi Lian)
Herba Salviae Chinensis        (Shi Jian Chuan)
Semen Coicis Lachryma-Jobi  (Yi Yi Ren)
Herba Hedyotis Diffusae       (Bai Hua She She Cao)
Rhizoma Paridis                    (Qi Ye Yi Zhi Hua)




Case Reports
(Case reports are provided to have a better understanding of the product. Please be aware that the info was received from acupuncturists/ Chinese medicine doctors and was not reviewed by FDA. Drs. Gu from California and Lei from Arkansas contributed to the cases).†

1. Female breast cancer patient, 45 years old. Blood test indicates a cancer cell index was as high as 22. Patient came to my office for TCM treatment because she does not want to go through surgery and chemotherapy treatment. I prescribed Tumoclear tablets for her to take orally and provided acupuncture and Qi-gong treatments. Her tumor was reduced in size significantly and the cancer cell index went down from 22 to 8. She has not undergone the excision surgery to date. Her condition is under the control completely.†

2. Late stage lung cancer patient, Female, 70 years old. Patient was diagnosed to have only 3-month time to live by Western medicine doctors. She had to take morphine to reduce the agonizing pain but with unsatisfactory results. After visiting our place, taking Tumoclear tablets and receiving acupuncture and Qi-Gong treatments, she reported her pain was reduced greatly. Tumoclear does have the analgesic and stabilizing effects. The patient eventually died after 9 months. Her family was grateful that her pain was reduced and she passed away very peacefully.†

3. Male patient, with metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma spreading to the brain. He was diagnosed by Western medicine doctors to have a 6-month survival time. Prescribed a large dose of Tumoclear from the start of the treatment. It has been more than two years since and his cancer is under control. He has been taking Tumoclear continuously under my supervision.†

4. Female patient, 20 years old at the time of visit, had Pharyngeal cancer. Patient had gone through chemotherapy but the cancer relapsed. She had a whole body edema, accompanied by the jaundice. Prescribed Tumoclear at large doses from the start of the treatment in conjunction with Guang Ci Tang’s Qin Dan Hua Shi Pian. Also provided acupuncture and Qigong treatments. Now at age of 24, her cancer is completely under control.†

5. Male, 45-year old, with pancreatic cancer. He had gone through chemotherapy treatment for approximately half a year without achieving apparent results. The size of the tumor was not reduced and at about 1.5cm. After coming to my clinic, she had since stopped the chemotherapy. Prescribed Tumoclear and Reishi (Ganoderma japonicum) in conjunction with acupuncture treatment. After three weeks treatment, the tumor had been reduced in size from 1.5cm to 0.3cm.†

6. Female, 55 years old, with metastatic lung cancer spreading to the cerebrum. She did not undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy and instead chose to receive TCM treatment at my clinic. Prescribed Tumoclear and Reishi (Ganoderma japonicum) in conjunction with acupuncture treatment. After five weeks treatment, the brain tumor had disappeared from a size of 0.9cm at the onset.†

"Fuzheng Kang'ai Granules has good short-term therapeutic efficiency and few side effects for patients with late gastric antrum cancer. It can significantly improve the life quality, extend the survival period, and improve the survival rate in patients with late gastric antrum cancer, which may be due to the up-regulation of the immune regulating factors such as IL-2, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and down-regulation of the immune inhibitory factor sIL-2R."   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16965740


Tumoclear is a Guang Ci Tang® signature formula.
What is Available?
Guang Ci Tang® TumoclearTM (Kang Zhong Pian) 40 grams in 200 mg 200 tablets @ 5:1 strength.

At a true 5:1 concentration, one tablet is equal to 1 gram of raw herb.

Tumoclear tablets are made with 100% natural herbs that are tested for authenticity, quality, and potency. A traditional water decoction is prepared with the herbs to reproduce the time-tested efficacy of the formula, and this water decoction is concentrated with our proprietary technology to form a potent extract that is made into easily absorbed tablets, which are remarkably effective, easy to use, and safe. The tablets are produced by Guang Ci Tang® in astate of the art cGMP-certified facility and imported in accordance with U.S. FDA guidelines. When you choose Guang Ci Tang® products, you are taking advantage of a wonderful fusion of science and tradition that incorporates the highest standards in the field of Chinese medicine today.

 Double the concentration of other Chinese herb concentrated pills
 Pure water extract using minimal or no fillers/binders
 No pharmaceuticals, sugar, or dyes
 Comprehensive heavy metal testing in accordance with the US Pharmacopeia
 Proprietary extraction and formulation technology
 Reduced daily dose and larger pack size for longer use
 Made in a pharmaceutical cGMP certified facility
 Safely used in the USA since 1995



References 
1. Zhang Y. et al., Studies on Parmacology of Sarcandra glabra. Chinese Journal of the Practical Chinese with Modern Medicine, 2006 19:1839
2. Zhu Y. et al., Journal of Emergency in Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2006 (5):533 
3. Carr C., Can Ancient Herbs Treat Cancer? Time 2007 Oct 15. Link 
4. Normile D., The New Face of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Science 2003 299:188.

I am still researching these for dogs as a possible replacement for Wei Qi Booster and Stasis Breaker. These would be cheaper and easier to get.

Tumorite is no longer available at activeherb.com

It didn't work that well for Lucy anyway. I switched back to Stasis Breaker. You can get that here http://www.wellpetdispensary.com/targeted-support/ or from your holistic vet.

Essiac Tea Ojibwa Indian medicine herbs for cancer studies research

Essiac Tea

Other common name(s): Essiac, Flor Essence, Tea of Life, Herbal Essence, Vitalitea, Ojibwa Indian medicine

Scientific/medical name(s): none


Description

Essiac is a mixture of herbs that are combined to make a tea. The original formula included burdock root (Arctium lappa L.), slippery elm inner bark (Ulmus fulva Michx.), sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella L.), and Indian rhubarb root (Rheum palmatum L.). Watercress (Nasturtium officinale R.Br.), blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), and kelp (Laminaria digitata [Hudson] Lamx.) were added to later recipes for a product sold as Flor Essence.
Overview

There have been no published clinical trials in conventional medical journals showing that either Essiac tea or Flor Essence helps in the treatment of cancer. Some of the specific herbs contained in the mixture have shown some anti-cancer effects in laboratory experiments. However, most laboratory studies of Essiac have found it didn’t work against cancer cells, and one reported that Flor Essence increased the growth of breast cancer cells. Available scientific evidence does not support its use for the treatment of cancer in humans.


How is it promoted for use?

Promoters claim Essiac strengthens the immune system, improves well-being, relieves pain, increases appetite, reduces tumor size, and extends survival. Some also claim that it cleanses the blood, promotes cell repair, restores energy levels, and detoxifies the body. The herbs contained in Essiac are supposed to relieve inflammation, lubricate bones and joints, stimulate the stomach, and eliminate excess mucous in organs, tissues, lymph glands, and nerve channels.

It was originally claimed Essiac worked by changing tumors into normal tissue. Proponents claimed a tumor would become larger and harder after a few doses of Essiac, then would soften, shrink, and be discharged by the body.

Essiac and Flor Essence are also promoted to treat AIDS and a variety of digestive system problems.


What does it involve?

Essiac is available in dry and liquid formulas, and methods of preparation and dosage vary by manufacturer. The dried herbs are brewed into tea. Some recommend using spring or non-fluoridated water, and most require refrigeration after brewing. A typical dose is 1 ounce taken 1 to 3 times per day. Practitioners advise that Essiac tea should be taken on an empty stomach, 2 hours before or after meals, for a period of at least 1 to 2 years. The manufacturer of Flor Essence recommends 1 to 12 ounces of tea daily.

You can buy Essiac and Flor Essence by mail order and in United States health food stores as a dietary supplement, and as a health tonic in Canada. There are also other herb mixtures with similar formulas that can be obtained from other sources.

What is the history behind it?

In 1922, a nurse named Rene Caisse from Ontario, Canada learned about an herbal formula from a patient. The patient claimed to have recovered from breast cancer by taking an Indian herbal tea from an Ojibwa medicine man. Caisse reportedly obtained the recipe and used it to treat her aunt's stomach cancer. In 1924, Caisse opened a clinic and began to offer cancer patients the herbal mixture, which she named Essiac (her last name spelled backward). She treated thousands of patients using her secret formula as a tea and as an injection. Canadian medical authorities investigated the clinic in 1938 and concluded that there was little evidence for the effectiveness of Essiac. Caisse gave her 4-herb formula to a manufacturer in Toronto in 1977, a year before her death.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center conducted animal testing of Essiac in 1959 and the mid-1970s but no anti-tumor effects were verified. In 1983, Canadian federal health officials requested that Essiac be tested by the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), which found no evidence of anti-cancer activity in animal studies. Canadian health officials reviewed 86 case studies and concluded that there was no evidence that Essiac slowed the progression of cancer. They noted that there were few serious side effects, however, and that people may have benefited psychologically from the treatment.


What is the evidence?

Although there have been many testimonials, there have been no clinical trials testing the effectiveness of Essiac or Flor Essence. Reviews of medical records of people who have been treated with Essiac do not support claims that this product helps people with cancer live longer or that it relieves their symptoms.

Animal studies conducted at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the NCI from the 1950s through the 1980s concluded that Essiac was not effective. The majority of subsequent studies have confirmed these findings. A recent laboratory study found that Essiac and Flor Essence actually increased growth of breast cancer cells. Flor Essence has not been tested as a cancer treatment in humans.

Some components of Essiac and Flor Essence have been tested individually in laboratory and animal studies. Some of these studies identified substances with anti-tumor or anti-inflammatory properties. However, these results do not mean that either of these formulas helps humans. To the contrary, the available scientific information indicates that these products are not helpful in treating people.


Are there any possible problems or complications?
These products are sold as a dietary supplement in the United States. Unlike companies that produce drugs (which must be tested before being sold), the companies that make supplements are not required to prove to the Food and Drug Administration that their supplements are safe or effective, as long as they don't claim the supplements can prevent, treat, or cure any specific disease.
Some such products may not contain the amount of the herb or substance that is on the label, and some may include other substances (contaminants). Actual amounts per dose may vary between brands or even between different batches of the same brand. In 2007, the FDA wrote new rules to improve the quality of manufacturing for dietary supplements and the proper listing of supplement ingredients. But these rules do not address the safety of the ingredients or their effects on health.
Most such supplements have not been tested to find out if they interact with medicines, foods, or other herbs and supplements. Even though some reports of interactions and harmful effects may be published, full studies of interactions and effects are not often available. Because of these limitations, any information on ill effects and interactions below should be considered incomplete.

Serious side effects are uncommon. Essiac may cause headache, nausea, diarrhea or constipation, vomiting, low blood sugar, liver damage, and kidney damage. Allergic rashes are possible. Rarely, serious allergic reactions have been reported.

In addition, the potential interactions between Essiac and other drugs and herbs should be considered. Some of these combinations may be dangerous. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs you are taking.



Relying on this type of treatment alone and avoiding or delaying medical care for cancer may have serious health consequences.


Eberding A, Madera C, Xie S, Wood CA, Brown PN, Guns ES. Evaluation of the antiproliferative effects of Essiac on in vitro and in vivo models of prostate cancer compared to paclitaxel. Nutr Cancer. 2007;58:188-196.

Essiac. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Web site. Accessed at www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69215.cfm on July 15, 2011.

Essiac/flor-essence (PDQ®). National Cancer Institute Web site. Accessed at www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/essiac/healthprofessional/allpages on July 15, 2011.

Herbal/plant therapies: essiac detailed scientific review. Complementary/Integrative Medicine Education Resources, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Web site. Accessed at http://www.mdanderson.org/education-and-research/resources-for-professionals/clinical-tools-and-resources/cimer/therapies/herbal-plant-biologic-therapies/essiac-scientific.html on July 15, 2011..

Kaegi E on behalf of the Task Force on Alternative Therapies of the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative. Unconventional therapies for cancer: 1. Essiac. CMAJ. 1998 Apr 7;158(7):897-902.

Kulp KS, Montgomery JL, Nelson DO, Cutter B, Latham ER, Shattuck DL, Klotz DM, Bennett LM. Essiac and Flor-Essence herbal tonics stimulate the in vitro growth of human breast cancer cells. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2006;98:249-259. Epub 2006 Mar 16.

Seely D, Kennedy DA, Myers SP, Cheras PA, Lin D, Li R, Cattley T, Brent PA, Mills E, Leonard BJ. In vitro analysis of the herbal compound Essiac. Anticancer Res. 2007;27:3875-3882.

Ulbricht C, Weissner W, Hashmi S, Rae Abrams T, Dacey C, Giese N, Hammerness P, Hackman D, Kim J, Nealon A, Voloshin R. Essiac: systematic review by the natural standard research collaboration. J Soc Integr Oncol. 7(2):73-80, 2009.

Zick SM, Sen A, Feng Y, Green J, Olatunde S, Boon H. Trial of Essiac to ascertain its effect in women with breast cancer (TEA-BC). J Altern Complement Med. 2006;12:971-980.

Note: This information may not cover all possible claims, uses, actions, precautions, side effects or interactions. It is not intended as medical advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor, who is familiar with your medical situation.

2 years since nasal cancer diagnosis and

She is still alive and fine using all these supplements!
http://dognasalcancertreatmentforlucy.blogspot.com/2012/12/dog-cancer-supplements-and-herbs-i-use.html

She will get a special BBQ day celebration as soon as the weather clears up.



UPDATE 4/2015
http://dognasalcancertreatmentforlucy.blogspot.com/2015/04/lucy-has-made-it-to-her-4-four-year.html