Alternative Cancer Treatments

I am presently witnessing one of the saddest moments in my life. I am watching a family member undergo chemotherapy for colon cancer. That should not be a sad moment but one that we rejoice in the power of medical science. It isn't.

The cancer treatment is killing him faster than the cancer ever would have. Had he had surgery and omitted the chemo, trying alternative diets and medicine, perhaps he would eventually die from the cancer, but there would have been some quality to his life. As it stands, the chemo messed up his diabetes by making him so sick he couldn't eat. The lack of exercise from being ill has put him in the hospital, and the frail body of the once strong family member is wasting away, projecting a figure that could have been in Auschwitz, Germany camps in WWII.

Why? Why not find alternative methods to cope with this killer, rather than bringing in another hired gun that indiscriminately fires at will? Insurance. It is impossible to get approval for alternative medicine. Some of the methods used in Cancer alternative treatments involve good, sound eating. Sound dietary practices can help to treat many diseases by building the body's resistance and own immune system. These, nutritional cures are not approved.

I went to various web pages to find some alternative treatments. When I look for the treatments, I look for options that can be added to the ones that he is already receiving, and those that could do no harm. After all, until recently no one knew why chicken soup worked for colds and flu, they just knew that it did. The response always was, "It couldn't hurt."

Some "It Couldn't Hurt" Alternative and Supplemental Treatments.

I am going to list a few, give some background, and later write articles on each. Please remember that what I write doesn't mean that I believe that this is a cure. It just means that I believe that it may be worth a try and, if my science knowledge hasn't left the building, couldn't hurt.

Mind body affirmations.
The use of the mind has recently been added to many Cancer treatment programs. The mind can trick the body into feeling good, thus giving a more hopeful attitude, energy to do things, and the production of natural enzymes. There are more technical things involved in the process, but this is basically the breakdown.

The interesting thing about the mind and the workings of the body is that we don't explore it more. There were many studies done into this phenomena but I think the most impressive one was the study that showed an MPD patient that had diabetes while her alternate personality did not. Cases of drug overdoses have taken place when an amount for an adult personality was given, because the child personality showed up and the resulting overdose occurred.

I have studied the effects of the brain since I was very young. In high school, I did a Science Club project (NERDISM WRITTEN ALL OVER ME) on the effects of drugs and the brain. Now, the approach was totally wrong, the equipment that I used inadequate, but the learning began. I had raised two white rats. A local doctor gave me a prescription for Codeine to give to one rat; the other got regular food. The result was that the Codeine sucking rat became lethargic, fat, and died sooner, but with a big grin and a party hat. There was absolutely no difference in his brain from the normal rat brain. Okay, I didn't have the heart to kill the other rat and dissect his brain so I compared fat druggies brain to a picture in a book. Now, you know why I never went into hard science, the remark on my project was that I should have killed the other rat and compared brains.

This never stopped me from investigating the subject matter more as an adult. One of my degree minors is in psychology, and the process of the mind. We are so advanced in technology that we have ignored the most miraculous of machines, our brain.

http://www.deeptrancenow.com/exc2_multiplepersonality.htm

Diet:
A study done in a foreign country showed complete remission of colon cancer in a woman that was destined to die quickly. What did they give her? Fruits and vegetables that were red, purple and blue were substituted for her normal diet. Now, the question is, was it the brain, the food, or a miracle?

Researchers at Ohio State University have found that the Anthocyanins in purple fruits and vegetables help to fight and diminish cancer cells. After reading this I stuffed my face with blueberries and felt proud that I had now done my bit for my health. Feeling smug, I lit a cigarette up and had a cup of coffee for my reward.

Just like any other trait that we inherit there are traits for our health. You might say certain parts are wear dated. I presume that my present health is good, not because I take care of myself, but due to genes. Isn't it possible that those that get cancer have also inherited the inability to adequately process the nutrition that kills cancer cells? Another possibility is that through learned habits, these foods are omitted from the diet.

We have only begun to scratch the surface on dietary intake and its relationship to killer diseases. One thing I do know is that eating purple foods can't really hurt, so why not try it. Am I advocating it as a replacement for treatment? No, that would be stupid. Although the part of me that watches the chemo kill the family member screams a different answer.
http://www.medopedia.com/anthocyanins-purple-blue-red-foods-fight-colon-cancer
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070819085831.htm

Exercise, Message, and Stretching:

Cats have always been a fascination to me. They are independent, graceful, and sneaky as hell. I found that by watching them and mimicking their stretching, I get more exercise and remain limber even though I rapidly approach my 6^th decade.

Our body is a complex highway for fluids and nutrition. So, if there is a kink in the highway, it makes sense that the transportation of these fluids can't take place. That's just logical. Stretching is an exercise like any other exercise but it doesn't take strength and it feels pretty good. Yoga, long known to help focus the mind is one form of stretching.

The American Cancer Society recommends exercise for Cancer victims. The stimulation of blood flow and increased endomorphines may be one reason why. Basically it's chicken soup again, "It can't hurt".
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MIT/content/MIT_2_3x_physical_activity_and_the_cancer_patient.asp?sitearea=MIT

Foot Detox Treatment

I have a relative by relationship, who is very involved in alternative medicine. She performs Foot Detoxification with a machine that puts free ions into the water and sucks out the scum in your body. Now, I know that my description isn't very scientific, but I had it done, and that is what it looks like to me.

You place your feet into a warm bath of tap water and the practitioner turns on the machine. I felt a tingle in my big toe as though it was going to explode but that went away. As you sit, the water begins to change. She explained that the first change is from the minerals in the tap water and nothing to do with the body. After 15 minutes the water began to change to foam and chunks of crud floating on the surface. There was a brown tone to it. I quickly checked the chart for what brown meant. It said tobacco use and left over tar and nicotine in the body caused this. OK, it may be right on one count.

Noting how different my water looked from the previous friend's water, I was sold that it wasn't just the minerals from the tap. The result? I actually slept through the night and awoke feeling refreshed. This was something that I hadn't done in over 7 years. I am plagued by the fact that my body is on a day that lasts between 24 and 60 hours and my nights are restless. I function, but sometimes don't remember what has occurred because I am awake/asleep. This was magnificent. I got more than thirty minutes of wonderful, peaceful rest.

The machine is supposed to ionize our system and remove the toxins from the body. I doubt that it can hurt and after the initial tingle, was really enjoyable. This is another method that I label as chicken soup. I will be writing more hard facts about this later, in an article devoted entirely to the process.
http://eidon.com/detox.htm
http://www.footloveandfancyfeet.com/

Magnetic Poles:

I have worn magnets before but threw then away because my arm kept sticking to the refrigerator. I do know that our bodies have a magnetic charge, if from nothing else than anecdotal information. You see I am one of those people that can't wear normal watches. My body screws up the time telling mechanism. It accounts for the fact that I couldn't tell time properly until I was in my twenties. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it.)

Magnetic bracelets and other magnetic items have been used for centuries. Golfers have sworn by the fact that they feel better and their swing is improved. Do they work?

Baylor College of medicine did a study that involved polio victims. Twenty-nine were using real magnets and twenty-one used a "placebo" magnet in this double blind study. The results were outstanding for the real group of magnets in the reduction of pain. This is now added to the list of other chicken soup treatments.
http://www.essortment.com/magnetshealth_rade.htm

Conclusion:
Through the next few weeks I will delve further into the various alternative treatments and thoroughly investigate each one. Many work on the self-fulfilling prophecy and belief, but if they work, do you really give a damn why?