Chemotherapy for cancer can cause all kinds of side-effects, nausea and vomiting being amongst the most common. There are various ways to minimize these problems, such as by eating several small meals throughout the day rather than attempt to tackle two or three big meals. Eating before one feels hungry is also highly recommended. Nibbling on dry crackers, dry cereal and toast helps as well.

Ginger has traditionally been used by many cultures to treat nausea, and it has been observed that it significantly relieves nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Recently, I shared my recipe for a natural anti-cancer ‘tea’ which uses ingredients like ginger and turmeric. I have found that it also helps to counteract nausea. Here’s the link to the recipe. Ideally, start consuming it daily at least a day before you begin chemotherapy.

Posted: December 7th, 2009 under Alternative Remedies, Cancer, Healing Foods, Recipes.
Comments: none

Aloes are desert lilies which have been used around the world for more than 3,500 years. Aloe Vera – Latin for “true aloe” – is the most widely-used of more than 200 varieties of this plant. It has long, thick-skinned spiked leaves which are full of a clear gel-like substance. Reputed to aid in the healing process, and protect and moisturize, aloe vera is used today in many products, including cosmetics, skin lotions and moisturizers, sunscreen creams and burn gels.

Aloe vera plant

Reference to aloe is found in many ancient works like the Bible. One of the first documented users of aloe vera was Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, who lived from 68 to 30 B.C. She is said to have used the gel on her skin as protection from the sun, and to keep her skin youthful.

To extract the aloe vera’s healing gel, simply break or cut off a piece of the aloe vera plant. Some liquid will run out and this can be applied topically. The part of the leaf remaining on the plant will ‘heal’ itself by forming a seal on the cut or broken area, so don’t worry about killing your plant. You can also peel off the tough green skin, including the thorns, and fillet, chop, crush or blend the firm gel-like substance within to use for topical applications, either on its own or mixed with other healing ingredients.

Aloe Vera is a cellular regenerator with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects. The gel has been used to heal skin which has been damaged, like first-degree burns. Other uses include soothing sunburn, treating eczema and acne, shrinking warts, lessening the painful effects of shingles, and reducing the symptoms of psoriasis. And, of course, softening and moisturizing dry and rough skin.

Aloe vera gel

The healing properties of aloe vera come from the 18 amino acids it contains. It also has eight enzymes, including Bradykinase which helps to reduce excessive inflammation when aloe vera gel is applied to the skin topically, thereby reducing pain. Other enzymes help digest dead tissues in wounds. Salicylic Acid, an aspirin-like compound, also helps in pain relief. It possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

Glycosides called Saponins form about 3% of the gel in the aloe vera plant. They are soapy substances which provide cleansing and antiseptic activity, and act as anti-microbials against bacteria, viruses, fungi and yeasts.

Lignin, a cellulose-based substance, is another component of aloe vera which acts as a carrier for other elements of this plant. It carries the aloe vera’s soothing properties to damaged skin areas where it strips toxic materials, increases the blood circulation to the area and flushes dead tissue away. Lignin is also keratolytic, meaning it destroys and softens hard skin.

Aloe vera can also be taken orally, but this is another subject for another day. Next, look out for my post on how to use aloe vera in a healing salve for wounds and sores, including cancer tumors which have come to the surface.

Posted: December 2nd, 2009 under Alternative Remedies, Healing Foods, Wound Healing.
Comments: none

Curcumin, found in the yellow spice turmeric, is known to have cancer-fighting properties. In laboratory test, cancer cells have been observed to die within 24 hours of contact with curcumin. What are some ways to get more curcumin into your system?

You can try eating curry and other foods containing turmeric every day. Not a problem if you’re accustomed to spicy foods. However, if you’re one of those who finds eating spicy foods a challenge, what else can you do? Well, I like to make myself a spicy hot drink which is loosely based on the popular Indian marsala tea. It’s really refreshing. You can modify it to suit your taste. For instance, how many slices of ginger or turmeric you use depends on the size of the roots as well as what you can handle. Turmeric has a rather strong, distinctive taste. My simple recipe includes cayenne pepper, another cancer-fighting compound, as well as raw honey, which contains the flavonoid chrysin, a natural aromatase inhibitor. Aromatase inhibitors help fight estrogen-dominant breast cancer.

Spiced Anti-Cancer Tea With Turmeric
Ingredients:
Fresh turmeric root (one or two slices per mug)
Fresh ginger root (3-5 slices per mug)
Freshly-squeezed lemon or lime juice
Cayenne pepper powder (a few dashes per mug)
Raw honey to taste

Method:
1) Crush the turmeric and ginger slices.
2) Put cayenne pepper powder into a fine tea or spice bag.
3) Put the turmeric and ginger slices plus cayenne pepper bag in a saucepan with some water and bring to the boil. Once the mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for a couple of minutes.
4) Remove the saucepan from the heat and pour the liquid into mugs or cups.
5) Add fresh lemon or lime juice and raw honey to taste.
6) Drink either hot or cold.

If you’re lazy like me, you can just crush the turmeric and ginger slices, place them in a mug, pour boiling water over, and leave the mixture to infuse. After a few minutes, you can add a few dashes of cayenne pepper powder and lemon or lime juice and honey to taste. This “lazy” method will produce a gritty beverage, but the cancer-fighting properties are just the same. You can even use turmeric powder and ginger powder instead of the fresh roots, but the beverage will be really gritty, and nothing beats fresh, really.

For a more robust and tasty version, you can use brewed tea instead of just plain water. This is somewhat similar to Indian marsala tea, which also has milk added to it.

Of course, if you’re really, really lazy, you can take supplements, like Neways powerful antioxidant formulae Revenol and Cascading Revenol. Both contain curcumin as well as other known cancer-busters. Whatever works for you. Just get those anti-cancer compounds into your body!

Posted: November 28th, 2009 under Alternative Remedies, Antioxidants, Cancer, Healing Foods, Recipes.
Comments: 1