Herbal Cures for Cancer that Won't Leave You in the Dark

In today's industrialized world, there are a number of autoimmune illnesses that Western medicine can neither prevent nor cure, including cancer and tumors. Traditional Chinese Medicine, referred to as TCM, offers dramatic results for these diseases with age-old herbal cures.

Although TCM is scoffed at by some Western doctors, these effective and natural remedies offer solutions to the terminally ill. And now, more and more scientific evidence exists to back up their claims.

For example, according to several clinical studies, the active ingredient derived from Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma Lucidum), increases cellular antioxidant capacity and enhances the immune responses in advanced-stage cancer patients.

Ganoderma Lucidum (GL) has many active ingredients, including: polysaccharides, proteinase, alkaloids, glucosides, riboflavin, ascorbic acid and other amino acids that aid in immune system response. With over 200 beneficial nutrients, vitamins, trace minerals, and enzymes GL is considered a natural food and an herbal remedy for allergies, and other immune system dysfunction.

It was reported that a number of polysaccharides, such as the Beta-D-glucans, have shown both the anti tumor and immunostimulating effects of Ganoderma Lucidum.

The Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, in New Zealand established that Ganoderma Lucidum has potential anti tumor activity. The results of the study suggested that cancer patients may be responsive to GL in combination with chemotherapy.

The Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Pritzker School of Medicine, Univ. of Chicago investigated the effects of GL (commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat immune dysfunction related illnesses.) Their conclusion was that GL extract inhibits the proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells.

More good news for cancer patients, and those with autoimmune illnesses, is that research has confirmed an increase in the T-cell and Natural Killer (NK) cell activity in advanced- stage cancer patients who were given oral GL three times daily before meals for 12 weeks.

Natural Killer cells are the first line of defense against developing tumors in humans. They are crucial elements in protecting against spontaneously developing tumors (neoplasms), a condition that can occur with aging

In China, the Reishi mushroom is called "Lingzhi", roughly translated as "the herb for spiritual potency." Originally a wild mushroom found in China, Indonesia and Malaysia, Reishi mushrooms (containing Ganoderma Lucidum) were prepared in soups, broths and tonics used to balance the systemic system and the respiratory system. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Reishi mushrooms were also used in a longevity tonic.

Japanese research reports that another active ingredient in the Reishi mushroom, Germanium, can increase oxygen absorption, and improve blood circulation, preventing functional degeneration of the body.

Generally it is safe to say that one of the main differences between Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, is that the former attempts to cure the symptoms of a disease, and the latter attempts to strengthen the natural internal health mechanisms contained within the human body.

The use of herbal remedies fall in line with the philosophy of TCM, allowing the body to heal naturally, once all the internal systems are in balance and functional.