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Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta arthritis. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta arthritis. Mostrar todas las entradas

miércoles, 25 de abril de 2012

A MIRACLE PLANT FROM SOUTH AFRICA: CANCER BUSH


Source: HubPages

                              The Sutherlandia "Cancer Bush". Image is licensed licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license.
                 The Sutherlandia "Cancer Bush". Source: Michael Wolf, via Wikipedia


What is Sutherlandia?

Sutherlandia frutescens is a herb that grows in South Africa and Botswana. Mature plants grow into one foot tall shrubs with pretty leaves and attractive red flowers. Sutherlandia is valued bothe as an ornamental plant and as a cure-all immunity booster by the local indigenous people.

Traditional Uses of Sutherlandia in Folk Medicine

Sutherlandia frutescens is a South African herb used traditionally by the natives to treat a number of ailments including:
  • cancer, which is the reason for its local nickname as the "cancer bush"
  • to help improve the overall health of patients suffering from HIV/Aids
  • diabetes
  • arthritis
  • as a pain reliever
  • to fight viral infections
  • to reduce inflammation
In recent years, Sutherlandia has gained popularity as an alternative cancer treatment outside of South Africa.

What Are the Health Benefits of Sutherlandia?

There have been a number of studies into the health benefits of Sutherlandia. Scientists have been especially interested in determining whether this plant can actually fight aids, diabetes, cancer and a host of other dreaded diseases.
Here is a summary of research into Sutherlandia's health benefits as published in various peer reviewed journals:
  • A paper entitled "In vitro culture studies of Sutherlandia frutescens on human tumor cell lines", published in the Journal of of Ethnopharmacology, 2004 Jul;93(1):9-19 found that Sutherlandia inhibited the proliferation of specific cancer cells by as much as fifty percent. This study only tested Sutherlandia in vitro, which is to say in a test tube, and did not use animals or humans.
  • A study published in Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol. 2004 Jul-Aug;26(6):409-16. found that Sutherlandia frutescens had anti-inflammatory (reduces inflamation), analgesic (is a pain killer) and lowered blood sugar levels. The researches concluded that the experimental testing lent credence to the traditional medical uses of this plant as a treatment for arthritis and type 2 diabetes.
  • In "The antioxidant potential of Sutherlandia frutescens" published in J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Nov;95(1):1-5., researchers at the Univ. of South Africa concluded that the plant has strong anti-oxidant activities which may explain its reported effectiveness in treating inflammation.
  • In "Anti-HIV activities of organic and aqueous extracts of Sutherlandia frutescens and Lobostemon trigonus" J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jan 4;96(1-2):113-9. researchers published the results of testing to determine if Sutherlandia as well as another local plant called Lobostemon had any effect on the HIV/AIDS virus, as claimed by the natives and traditional folk medicine. The researchers concluded that "The study shows that Sutherlandia extracts contain inhibitory compounds active against HIV target enzymes, while aqueous Lobostemon leaf extracts contain a potent HIV-1 RT inhibitor, thus showing a potential mechanistic action of these plants in aiding HIV-positive patients."
  • A study conducted by the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster Univ. in Ontario, Canada conducted research relevant to determining Sutherlandia's usefulness in fighting AIDS. Their research was published in an article entitled "Impact of African herbal medicines on antiretroviral metabolism" in the journal AIDS. 2005 Jan 3;19(1):95-7. concluded that: "Sutherlandia showed significant effects on cytochrome P450 3A4 metabolism and activated the pregnane X receptor approximately twofold. P-glycoprotein expression was inhibited, with Hypoxis showing 42-51% and Sutherlandia showing 19-31% of activity compared with verapamil. Initiating policies to provide herbal medicines with antiretroviral agents may put patients at risk of treatment failure, viral resistance or drug toxicity."
  • In a study at the University of South Korea published as "Inhibitory effects of the extracts of Sutherlandia frutescens (L.) R. Br. and Harpagophytum procumbens DC. on phorbol ester-induced COX-2 expression in mouse skin: AP-1 and CREB as potential upstream targets." in Cancer Lett. 2005 Jan 31;218(1):21-31 concluded that compounds made from Sutherlandia as well as another plant commonly known as Devil's Claw inhibited certain cell activities associated with cancer spread.
  • A study has confirmed that Sutherlandia frutescens extracts can kill carcinoma cells. It concluded that "These findings warrant further research with a view to develop Sutherlandia frutescens extracts for use in anti-cancer therapy." -- See: J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Apr 8;98(1-2):163-70. It should be noted that this study only looked at the effect of Sutherlandia on cancer cells growing in a lab, and not its effect on cancer growing in a human being.
  • A soon to be published study conducted by the University of Johannesburg (J Ethnopharmacol. 2011  Aug 2.) concludes that "Sutherlandia frutescens and S. tomentosa extracts show promise as apoptosis-inducing anti-cancer agents." In plain English, Sutherlandia was found to cause Oesophageal cancer cells to die. This study did not use huuman subjects, however.
  • Another study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology showed that Sutherlandia extract "revealed a decrease in malignant [breast] cell numbers when compared to their controls." See: J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Jul 6;124(1):45-60. Epub 2009 Apr 14.

Conclusion

Preliminary scientific testing seems to be confirming what the indigenous people of South Africa have known for centuries. It appears that this multi-purpose plant is indeed a sort of miracle pharmacy with positive effects on cancer, diabetes, inflammatory diseases, and arthritis.
Frustratingly, none of these preliminary studies on Sutherlandia have been followed up with double blind clinical trials involving humans. Most of the testing has been done on cancer cells and the HIV virus growing in a test tube, so it is not known for sure whether Sutherlandia would have any effect on humans. However, the fact that the preliminary research tends to confirm the traditional uses of this plant, which of course were discovered by local medicine men who did not have the benefit of laboratories but rather derived their knowledge from the practical use of the "Cancer Bush" on their patients, is very intriguing and warrants further study.
A word of caution: there are many websites that are promoting Sutherlandia as a wonder drug for the treatment of cancer and HIV/Aids and I suspect that many people are self-medicating. Though the early research is encouraging, there is no evidence that Sutherlandia actually cures cancer or AIDs. In addition, the lack of human or animal testing means that we do not know whether Sutherlandia is safe, or how it might interact with other medications.


Disclaimer

Sutherlandia and the contents of this article have not been approved by the FDA.
Nothing in this article is meant to treat, diagnose, or mitigate any disease or medical condition. The information in this article about Sutherlandia Frutens and the limited research on its effectiveness is presented for discussion purposes only and does not constitute advice on whether you should use Sutherlandia. The author does not recommend Sutherlandia or any product. Always follow the advice of a medical professional.
Links to external sites are for convenience only. The author does not endorse the content of any external site.

Original source:
 http://quotations.hubpages.com/hub/The-Health-Benefits-of-Sutherlandia-the-So-Called-Cancer-Bush-from-South-Africa

sábado, 7 de abril de 2012

OUR MICROFLORA: THE KEEPERS OF THE SWITCH

Source: ScienceDaily (Apr. 5, 2012)

When the right microorganisms are at work, immune cells involved in the development of autoimmune illnesses like psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and arthritis, can develop anti-inflammatory properties. Scientists at Charité -- Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Bellinzona, Switzerland, have now made this discovery. The scientists have demonstrated that particular fungi activate the immune cells involved in the development of certain illnesses, whereas other microorganisms, in particular bacteria that are found naturally on our skin, lend an anti-inflammatory function to them.

          
Psoriasis. When the right microorganisms are at work, immune cells involved in the development of autoimmune illnesses like psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and arthritis, can develop anti-inflammatory properties. Particular fungi activate the immune cells involved in the development of certain illnesses, whereas other microorganisms, in particular bacteria that are found naturally on our skin, lend an anti-inflammatory function to them. (Credit: © quayside / Fotolia)


"This not only demonstrates that the composition of our microflora has a decisive role in the development of chronic illnesses, but also that the key cells causing illness can develop an anti-inflammatory 'twin'," explained Dr. Christina Zielinski, first author of the study.

Their work is published in the current issue of the scientific journal Nature.

The 32-year old researcher from the Dermatology and Allergology Clinic at Charité and Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies, and her colleagues identified the basic signals that contribute to whether or not a pathogenic or anti-inflammatory immune cell develops. It then emerged that interleukin 1b, one of the body's own immune system hormones, works like a molecular switch. Its presence trains immune cells during autoimmune occurrences to function destructively and to release inflammatory messenger substances. Its absence, on the other hand, allows the immune cells to mature into anti-inflammatory counterparts. Interestingly, it is our own body's microorganisms that decide whether interleukin 1b is produced and therefore which mode is selected.

This observation prompted the scientists to also look for patients suffering from an overproduction of interleukin 1b, which is the case in the so-called auto-inflammatory syndromes (e.g. CAPS, Muckle-Wells, or Schnitzler Syndromes). These patients, especially children, suffer from multiple symptoms like fever, arthritis, and skin rashes. The exact development of these diseases is, however, to a large extent unexplained. Researchers tested whether a therapy of antibodies that block interleukin 1b can generate anti-inflammatory potential in the immune cells. In fact, after the introduction of this therapy the immune cells produced inflammation-retardant messengers. They even developed a memory to release the messenger substances over long time periods.

"I am convinced that an imbalance in our microbial microflora has a decisive influence on the development of chronic inflammatory illnesses like rheumatism, Morbus Crohn and psoriasis. Our organism is composed of ten times more microbial cells than our body's own cells. Keeping this in check is not easy. Interleukin 1b is now turning out to be a decisive molecular switch, which the microbes use to dictate between healthy or sick," says Dr. Christina Zielinski. She sees great potential in the therapy of inflammatory diseases by blocking this messenger substance. In contrast to other immune therapies this does not lead to a weakening of the immune system, but rather enables the cells instead to be anti-inflammatory if needed, without losing the ability to fight dangerous pathogens.

Original source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120405075223.htm

jueves, 29 de marzo de 2012

PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN ABORTED FETAL CELLS

Source: Birth of a New Earth
Post date: March 4, 2012
 

Below is a list of products that contain aborted fetal cells. Please boycott these products.


http://www.cogforlife.org/fetalproductsall.pdf



Aborted Fetal Products

Pepsi Beverages on the Boycott

• All Pepsi soft drinks
• Sierra Mist soft drinks
• Mountain Dew soft drinks
• Mug root beer and other soft drinks
• No Fear beverages
• Ocean Spray beverages
• Seattle's Best Coffee
• Tazo beverages
• AMP Energy beverages
• Aquafina water
• Aquafina flavored beverages
• DoubleShot energy beverages
• Frappuccino beverages
• Lipton tea and other beverages
• Propel beverages
• SoBe beverages
• Gatorade beverages
• Fiesta Miranda beverages
• Tropicana juices and beverages


Other Senomyx Partner Products

At this time we are formally boycotting PepsiCo
products, however many have asked us for lists of
the other companies involved with Senomyx and
what products are involved. Unless we know a
certain product or brand name specifically, we
intend to boycott all of the company’s products.


Nestles Products
• All coffee creamers
• Maggi Brand instant soups, bouillon cubes, ketchups, sauces, seasoning, instant noodles


Kraft - Cadbury Adams LLC Products:
Gum
• Black Jack chewing gum
• Bubbaloo bubble gum
• Bubblicious bubble gum
• Chiclets
• Clorets
• Dentyne
• Freshen Up Gum
• Sour Cherry Gum (Limited)
• Sour Apple Gum (Limited)
• Stride
• Trident


Cadbury Adams LLC Candies
• Sour Cherry Blasters
• Fruit Mania
• Bassett's Liquorice All sorts
• Maynards Wine Gum
• Swedish Fish
• Swedish Berries
• Juicy Squirts
• Original Gummies
• Fuzzy Peach
• Sour Chillers
• Sour Patch Kids
• Mini Fruit Gums


Other Cadbury Adams LLC Products
• Certs breath mints
• Halls Cough Drops

Not part of Senomyx - Neocutis Products

This company produces anti wrinkle creams that
contain cells from a 14 week gestation aborted male
baby. Following is the list of the creams, but we
recommend a full boycott of all Neocutis Products.

Bio-Gel Prevedem Journee
Bio-Serum Lumiere
Bio Restorative Skin Cream


Vaccines Containing Aborted Fetal Cells And the Manufacturers:
MMR II (Merck)
ProQuad (MMR + Chickenpox – Merck)
Varivax (Chickenpox – Merck)
Pentacel (Polio + DTaP + HiB – Sanofi Pasteur)
Vaqta (Hepatitis-A – Merck)
Havrix (Hepatitis-A – Glaxo SmithKline)
Twinrix (Hepatitis-A and B combo – Glaxo)
Zostavax (Shingles – Merck)
Imovax (Rabies – Sanofi Pasteur)


Other medicines:
Pulmozyme (Cystic Fibrosis – Genetech)
Enbrel (Rheumatoid Arthritis – Amgen)

Note: Moral options exist for Rabies, Polio,
Rheumatoid Arthritis. Separate moral options
currently not available for Measles and Mumps.

For more information visit our website at
http://cogforlife.org


Disclaimer: The information on this site is for educational and entertainment purposes only. There is no intent, express or implied, to promote illegal activities. We assume no liability for the potential actions of any third party. All data compiled here has been gathered from, and is available through, independent public sources.