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Treatment Dictionary
Learn about the natural and alternative cancer treatments that are offered at the clinics
There is a growing number of people who choose to be treated holistically and there are hundreds of substances and natural protocols that can be used.
Some may be taken or done at-home (supplement and such ) while others require a special technology or skills (such as infrared sauna, rife machine, IV treatments etc.)
There is no magic bullet; most testimonials from people who have seen benefit from alternative treatments, are those who have implemented a combination of:
- Nutrition
- Lifestyle changes
- Detoxification
- Strengthening and supporting the immunity system
- Non-toxic treatments targeting the tumor
How do you choose the protocol which is best for you?
It can be very overwhelming! Especially since most chances are, your oncologist would not have sufficient information about alternative and natural medicine to share with you.
Hereunder, you can find some initial information about the most widely used treatments that are offered in the clinics
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a Chinese medicine method based on the belief that a vital energy called ‘Qi’ flows through a network of energy channels in our body. Its main goal is to balance the body and remove any Qi flow blockages so the body can heal itself.
The acupuncture treatment is usually done with very thin needles, which are inserted to the skin in specific spots. Studies show that acupuncture is helping nausea from chemotherapy, post-chemotherapy fatigue, pain, depression, and anxiety[1]
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[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2642987/
B17/Laetrile/Amygdalin
Amygdalin is a compound that can be isolated from the seeds of fruits such as peaches, bitter almonds, and apricots.
When taken into the body, it forms cyanide which is thought to kill cancer cells.
Laetrile can be administered orally as a pill, or it can be given by injection.
Laetrile is not approved for use in the United States as of the 80s’.
FECO- Full extract cannabis oil / RSO - Rick Simpson oil
While some cancer patients smoke / vape marijuana to better handle the side effects of the conventional treatment, the extraction of the full compounds of cannabis flower makes a therapeutic oil called – FECO (Full extract cannabis oil), that is used as the main protocol to treat cancer itself.
FECO has gained great popularity over the years and there is a growing number of people reporting the benefits of the oil for their chronic or terminal cancer.
The biomedical community also shows a growing interest in cannabis as a medicine. Extensive research is underway for the healing effect of cannabis for multiple medical conditions, with some encouraging results which have already been published.
* FECO is NOT CBD oil!
The FECO contains both the CBD and THC components, as well as other terpenes and cannabinoids that creates the “entourage effect” which is essential for the healing process. When considering using the cannabis oil in your healing journey, please note; different medical conditions require the use of different cannabis strains, different dosages, CBD: THC ratios and methods of consumption (capsules, tinctures, suppositories etc.). We strongly believe that having a professional cannabis nurse/doctor as an online counselor can be of great benefit to your healing with cannabis.
Chelation
Chelation is a therapy that is approved by the FDA for safe elimination of toxic heavy metals from the body. During the chelation treatment, the patient is injected with a synthetic amino acid, EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid). This acid is remarkably capable of removing cholesterol, heavy metals and the plaque which impede blood flow from the body. Chelation is helpful for cancer patients as it binds with and eliminates excess free radicals, those which contribute to the rapid progression of cancer.
A study from 2003 concluded that “the development of chelators as anticancer agents is largely an unexplored field, but one with extraordinary potential to impact human cancer[1]”
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Coley's Toxins Treatment
Coley’s treatment / Fever treatment is a sort of immunotherapy; the process of boosting the immune system to attack cancer cells. This treatment was developed by a surgeon named William Coley and was inspired by the observation that patients who got infections after surgery did better than those who did not – Coley attributed this finding to the fact that the infection triggered the immune system. The treatment is done through injection of dead bacteria to the vein or directly into the tumor with the aim of getting a high temperature, stimulating the immune system which in turn kills cancer cells.
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Coffee Enema
Coffee enema speed up the lymphatic fluid to 2-3 times faster which stimulates detoxification of toxins from the body and aids the body to maintain a healthy alkaline state – a bad environment for cancer cells. The lymphatic system is one of the body’s protective mechanism against potentially harmful materials, abnormal cells or pathogens.
Coffee enema also improves gut motility and remove toxins from the liver and the gallbladder, thus reducing the body’s toxin load which helps the body to heal itself and fight cancer cells.
* Coffee enemas are an integral part of the Gerson therapy
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Cryoablation / Percutaneous Cryoablation / Cryotherapy
Localized treatment which aims to freeze cancer cells. The cold comes from liquid nitrogen or argon gas. Cryotherapy may be used to treat tumors inside the body as well as on the skin. This treatment only damages the cells exposed to the cold.
When done for internal organs, it is by inserting a needle through the skin directly into the tumor, then a gas that freezes the tissue is pumped through the needle.
A Promising Alternative to Lumpectomy? The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) has just (Nov) released to the press data from a 3 years ongoing research according which – An easy 1 hour cryoablation procedure may replace lumpectomy surgery! A total of 157 patients have been treated with cryoablation since enrollment began in October 2014 at different participating centers across the United States. Interim results suggest that Cryoablation of the breast is safe and well tolerated with a 100% initial procedural success rate. The overall clinical success rate with at least 6 months follow up is 99.4%. Long term results are also promising. As a comparison lumpectomy has a 90%- 95% success rate. Find the full details by clicking here. The bad news is that for cryotherapy to become a standard procedure you would have to wait for the final results of the study, which will be published when five-year follow-up data is available for all the women who were treated. The good news? Alternative clinics in Mexico can offer that:Dendritic Cell Therapy
This alternative cancer therapy holds much hope in the fight against cancer. Identified in 1973 by Steinman and Cohn. Steinman was awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize in medicine and physiology.
In this therapy, a vaccine of dendritic cells, the most powerful antigen-producing cells which form part of the body’s helper immune system, is administered to the patient. These cells help prepare T-cells to fight cancer cells. A recent study concludes that DC vaccine was able to induce an immune response and effectively eliminate tumor cells, thereby improving the quality of life and prolonging patients’ lives
DMSO
Dimethyl sulfoxide is a chemical available as a prescription medicine for treating pain. In alternative cancer treatment, doctors use DMSO to enable chemotherapy focus specifically on cancer cells by opening their ports. It binds to chemotherapy drugs, targets the cancer cells, drags chemotherapy into the cells, and the chemotherapy now kills its target: the cancer cells. Its main advantage is that much less chemotherapy is needed as it targets cancer cells killing more of them and do much less damage to non-cancerous cells.
A research from 2010 concludes that: “Methyl sulfone may have clinical potential as a non-toxic agent effective against metastatic melanoma. Additionally, methyl sulfone has promise as a tool to explore the molecular mechanisms of metastatic transformation as well as fundamental processes such as cell migration, contact inhibition, wound healing and cellular senescence[1]”
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Gerson Therapy
Dr. Max Gerson developed the Gerson Therapy™ in the 1930s, initially as a treatment for his own migraines, and eventually as a treatment for other ailments.
The two main components of this methods are –
1. Nutrients – about 15- 20 pounds of organically-grown fruits and vegetables daily. Most are consumed through fresh raw juice and dietary supplements
2. Detoxification – usually through several coffee enemas a day
3. Supplements – potassium, minerals
Glutathione
Glutathione is a sulfur-containing compound that is an effective natural antioxidant found in the body. Being a natural detoxifier, it is capable of removing free radicals that allow cancer cells to grow in the body. Cancer patients go through radiation and chemotherapy, which, coupled with stress associated with the disease lower the level of glutathione in the body. Therefore, there is a need to increase its level in the bodies of such patients. The most effective way to achieve this is via blood veins. It provides a way of supporting the body’s natural defenses.
Herbal Tonic (Hoxsey)
Tonic which comprises of different herbs, vitamins and minerals supplements in a form of a paste or a liquid. The paste is for external cancer treatment while the liquid is for internal cancer treatment. Some of the herbs that are being used are; red clover, licorice, bloodroot, burdock etc. combined with vitamins and minerals such as; zinc, sulfur and arsenic. During the treatment, patients are requested to modify their diet and avoid certain foods that don’t comply with the treatment.
Hyperbaric Chamber
In a Hyperbaric chamber, air pressure is doubled or tripled to enable the lungs to gather much more oxygen. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) reduces inflammation in the bones by providing more oxygen. Besides, cells affected by cancer have their altered metabolism corrected through HBOT which enables the body to absorb up to 20 times more oxygen by administering it at high pressure. Mitochondria in each cell can now generate more energy to drive cellular functions more effectively.
Hyperthermia
In hyperthermia treatment, body tissues are exposed to high temperatures, in order to enhance the effects of other cancer treatments and make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation or harm other cancer cells that radiation cannot damage.
· In Local Hyperthermia, heat is applied to a small area, such as a tumor
· Whole-Body Hyperthermia is used to treat metastatic cancer that has spread throughout the body.
The benefits of hyperthermia as an adjunct to cancer immunotherapy is supported by an increasing number of scientific research data[1].
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Insulin Potentiation Therapy (IPT)
Cancer cells consume more sugar and are therefore considered more sensitive to insulin. Insulin is used to potentiate chemotherapy. It does that by attaching itself to the cancerous cells making them more permeable, thus increasing the toxic effect of chemotherapy on these cells. This way, it is easier to target cancer cells, since the excess insulin activators are activated. IPT may also reduce chemotherapy doses, thus reducing the chemo’s side effects.
Lymphatic Massage
The lymph system is one of the body’s protective mechanism against potentially harmful materials, abnormal cells or pathogens as well as produces white blood cells which are part of the body’s immune system. Movement is required for lymph fluid circulation. Lymphatic massage is a technique that gently pushes the lymph fluids, helping with its circulation, hence may improve filtration and removal of toxins and wastes, reduce inflammation and boost the immune system.
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Mistletoe / Iscador / Helixor
Mistletoe is an herbal extract that is injected subcutaneously or administered by an IV. Mistletoe is one of the most widely studied complementary and alternative medicine for cancer; It has been shown to have[1]:
- Immune stimulating effects
- Improvements in patients’ general condition, vitality, strength, thermal comfort, appetite, sleep and pain from bone metastases
- The ability to decrease in side effects from chemotherapy (less pain, nausea, neuropathy, fatigue, low blood counts)
Mistletoe is widely used for cancer patients especially in Europe. In Germany, for example, it is among the most prescribed drugs offered to cancer patients.
Unfortunately, this therapy is not approved by the FDA and therefore has limited availability in the United States.
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[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4860234/
Ozone Therapies
Cancer cells thrive of inflamed and toxic areas. Ozone treatments help to detoxify the body, take inflammation down, and trigger and boosts the immune system. Ozone supports recovering and healing process.
Ozone therapies are very versatile and can be used topically to the skin, drunk as an ozonated water, injected to organs, mixed to the blood, or used in gas bath or sauna.
Ozone therapies are gaining more and popularity in alternative medicine as well as a growing attention of scientific researchers.
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Stem cell therapy/ bone marrow transplant
Bone marrow is a soft fatty tissue that is in the bones. In the bone marrow, stem cells are created. Stem cells are the body’s raw materials, they can turn into red and white blood cells (carrying oxygen and fighting infections) and platelets, which helps the blood to clots.
In this therapy, stem cells transplanted replace cells that have been damaged (due to a disease or chemotherapy) or used to strengthen the immune system to fight different types of cancers, as well as other health conditions.
There are 3 main types of transplants –
– Autologous- The marrow from the patient’s own body
– Allogenic transplant – from another person, with closely matching genes
– Umbilical cord transplant – from a newborn umbilical cord
Sono-Photo Dynamic Therapy (SPDT)
Sono-Photo Dynamic Therapy (SPDT), an advanced method of destroying cancer cells.
SPDT begins with the administration of SP Activate, a nontoxic sensitizer that responds to specific wavelengths of both light and sound. Structurally similar to chlorophyll, SP Activate remains in cancer cells but is released by healthy cells. When SP Activate is exposed to the correct light and sound frequencies, it “explodes” into free radical oxygen, which destroys the cancer cells. The inflammation caused by this “explosion” attracts the immune system to get involved, amplifying the effects of the treatment. Because healthy cells are unharmed, SPDT does not cause side effects
Vegan Diet
The vegan diet is becoming popular by the day among cancer patients.
The vegan diet excludes all animal product – be it meat or eggs or dairy. To ensure all the health benefits it is also important to include vitamins and minerals from a balanced plant-based diet.
A vegan diet is of different varieties and may include:
- Whole-food vegan diet: which consists primarily of whole plant food including grains, legumes, vegetables, seeds, and nuts.
- Raw food vegan diet: here, all plant-based foods are eaten its whole raw form or cooked at a temperature below 48℃. It includes seeds, nuts, vegetables, and raw fruits.
Vitamin C- IV
In 1971, a two times Nobel prize winner, Dr. Pauling, showed that vitamin C could cure cancer. It both lowers the risk of getting cancer and increases survival rate. Researchers at Salford University, UK have recently (2017) found that vitamin C inhibited the growth of cancer cells, and was actually 10 times more potent than some experimental pharmaceutical drugs[1].
Cancer cells are fed on sugar during a process that is called glycolysis. Vitamin C blocks glycolysis thus cutting cancer cells energy. The cancerous cells are starved.
Clinics use a high dose of Vitamin C injections usually in conjunction with other treatments.
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