Ingrid Naiman wrote:
This is the third time this week that someone has asked about brain tumors. I have limited experience with this type of cancer, but a colleague in Germany told me that naturopaths and ayurvedic physicians are having simply remarkable results with boswellin. She sent me the technical papers and research data from several sources. Some of this is in English and some in German. I sent the German yesterday for translation (my German is not so technical). What she told me on the phone is that they are having total remissions in only ten days. I know this is really almost too marvelous to believe, especially given the prognosis of your patient; but isn't this a nothing to lose situation? I personally have no experience at all with boswellin so am passing this on "for what it is worth" but am eager to add that the person who told me about this is totally credible and not prone to exaggeration. She spends several months each year in Sri Lanka with ayurveda doctors.
Next, I have used the escharotics on brain cancer, but very seldom. Hoxsey and others also used caustics in this manner. Depending on the location, escharotics may be an option.
Then, there is a very expensive ($175) herbal product from Wyoming that I got some years ago. It was accompanied by pages of testimonials which did include brain tumors. The man who makes it appeared to be quite well informed and insisted that it passes the blood-brain barrier. It is very potent and one only uses 3-9 drops a day (in orange juice). It makes most patients quite nauseous.
Burzynski has good results with many types of brain tumors. It's certainly worth checking with his clinic--and thank God he won the law suit! Consider Dr. Burzynski's antineoplastons. It is a glutamine peptide administered I.V. that has been experiencing decent enough reports (especially with Grade IV) to have also spawned FDA approved clinical trials around the country as "phenyl acetate." It evidently creates an internal biochemical environment conducive to cell line repair. Dr. Burzynski is in Houston, TX 218/597-0111.
Another consideration would be Poly ICLC, an RNA vaccine developed by Dr. Salazar at Walter Reed Hospital. It stimulates interferon activity. The reports are better for Grade III, though with Grade IV (glioblastoma) there was still an improvement over conventional treatments. Dr. Salazar's number is 202/782-6348. An interesting trial opened up last January using high doses of St. John's Wort (hypericum). It evidently received very encouraging results in the lab following on the heals of human trails with tamoxifen. They both have similar mechanisms-of-action (blocking protein kinase C). The person to contact would be Dr. William Couldwell 701/857-5877.
Though there are a number of good dietary and
herbal protocols for brain cancer, it's better to go to the source than
except in e-mail. I would just suggest that no patient with a brain
tumor eat anything even slightly sweet. Good luck and keep us informed.
Dr. Ingrid Naiman I was interested to read your post regarding the use
of "boswellin" for brain tumors. I'd like to know the doses and exact nature
of the preparation used. Boswellia carterii (Gummi Olibanum, frankincense)
is a Chinese herb that has properties of invigorating Blood, promoting
circulation of Qi, and resolving Congealed Blood, according to Bensky's
Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica. There is no mention of its use
for tumors, although such a use is not surprising given than most tumors
involve "Congealed Blood and Phlegm", according to TCM. Is the "boswellin"
you referred to a phytochemical extracted from raw frankincense, or was
the whole gum resin used in the research you referred to? Please keep me
informed regarding translations of this research.
Roger W. Wicke, Ph.D.,
TCM Clinical Herbalist
Rocky Mountain Herbal Institute, Hot Springs, Montana
USA
e-mail: rww@rmhiherbal.org
Clinical herbology training programs - http://www.rmhiherbal.org/
I was interested to read your post regarding the
use of "boswellin" for brain tumors. I'd like to know the doses and exact nature of
the preparation used.
Boswellia carterii (Gummi Olibanum, frankincense)
is a Chinese herb that has properties of invigorating Blood, promoting
circulation of Qi, and resolving Congealed Blood, according to Bensky's
Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica. There is no mention of its use
for tumors, although such a use is not surprising given than most tumors
involve "Congealed Blood and Phlegm", according to TCM. Is the "boswellin" you referred to a phytochemical
extracted from raw frankincense, or was the whole gum resin used in the
research you referred to?
Please keep me informed regarding translations
of this research.
Roger W. Wicke, Ph.D., TCM Clinical Herbalist
Rocky Mountain Herbal Institute, Hot Springs,
Montana USA
e-mail: rww@rmhiherbal.org
Clinical herbology training programs -
http://www.rmhiherbal.org/
Feel free to contact me for further information. Please make it clear in the "subject" line that it is in regards to "GBM" (glioblastoma multiform) so that I can pick it out of the multitude of posts I receive each day. A useful list to access would be "Braintmr." Their address is: LISTSERV@MITVMA.MIT.EDU Sign on by typing: SUBSCRIBE BRAINTMR You will be able to access archives with useful information about the three treatments I have mentioned and many more. There are very knowledgeable and experienced people involved in this group. Michael Miles, N.D. (husband of Kathleen, Grade III astrocytoma 1/94)