Cancer patients are very unique individuals. The western world tends to (not in all cases but in many) demoralize cancer patients, leaving them feeling powerless and hopeless. Nothing could be further from the truth; many illnesses, especially cancer, is a wake-up call to one's spirit, it is a spiritual calling with the intent of getting one's attention to recognize their true calling in life. Chinese medicine believes that one of the major causes of cancer is linked to emotional imbalances, specifically depression. When we can heal our emotions, we heal our hearts, the origin from which all diseases manifest from. Unlike the western medical world, eastern healing modalities are centered around healing the emotional self.
In the west we tend to disbelieve anything unless we can physically see it with our own eyes. But disease manifests from the inside out; the higher level physician can see the unseen and can heal from a deeper internal place before disease proliferates on the outside. One of the most effective healing tools for cancer patients is qi gong (pronounced ch-ee gong). Qi gong focuses on healing the deep inner landscape of our beings, the realm of the unseen. When we heal from the inside out remarkable outcomes arise; the western world views these as miracle healings because such things cannot be studied, researched, or seen, the western paradigm is very linear and space, time and direction do not exist. Like qi gong, foods also work on our inner landscape as they go directly to our inner beings.
Unfortunately, western medical schools place nutrition low on the curriculum totem poll and in turn patients get very little education and advice on healing foods for their condition. Foods can be our poison but they can also be our medicine when used correctly. For example, cancer can be triggered by too many rich foods, too many environmental toxins, too many pent up emotions, too many processed foods etc. However, we can supplement foods that act medicinally to heal us on all levels including our internal landscape. Cancer patients should focus on whole grains- quinoa, millet, amaranth, brown rice, oats and they should pay special attention to vegetables! Cruciferous vegetables such as brussel sprouts, bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage contains powerful antioxidant compounds called sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinols which are detoxifying and promote the suicide of cancer cells. Members of the onion family-onions, garlic, leeks, shallots and chives reduce carcinogenic effects; carotenoid rich veggies such as squash, carrots, pumpkin, yams, tomatoes, apricots and beets are known for their cancer inhibiting properties. One of the most powerful foods that fight cancer are mushrooms. Several varieties of mushrooms have major immune enhancing properties such as shiitake, maitake, enokidake, cremini, portobello and oyster. In Asia, mushrooms are used in conjunction to chemotherapy to boost the immune system including white blood cell count. Miatake is said to have the strongest effect and is extremely hard to find fresh in the states. However, dried varieties are available at health food stores and Asian markets and can easily be sauteed into dishes and are great in soups. A brand of nutritional supplements called New Chapter sells a mushroom extract that is a great supplement for cancer patients.
Protein should come from plant based sources including soy, cultured soy, legumes, fish and occasional white meat (turkey is a better choice than chicken for illness; roast a turkey and freeze what you don't use, pull out of the freezer when desired). Also, fruits such as berries especially blue berries, raspberries and blackberries have the highest antioxidant content.
Other powerful cancer fighting herbs and foods that boost white blood cell count (making them great conjunctions to chemotherapy) are rosemary, mint, basil; puher tea (pronounced poo-air, a specific type of green tea; steep quickly making sure the tea is not too dark in color), ginger- a natural anti-inflammatory that combats cancer and is also great in conjunction with fighting the effects of nausea in chemotherapy. Turmeric is another anti-inflammatory it is extremely powerful in fighting off cancerous and precancerous cells. Turmeric initiates cell suicide in cancer cells this is referred to as apoptosis. However, turmeric is not absorbed well in the gut in pill form and is best taken in whole food form. When it is mixed with black pepper and olive oil its effectiveness increases dramatically and greatly reduces tumor growth.
More and more cancer patients are looking to alternative modalities due to the toxic effects of chemotherapy and radiation. There is no right or wrong answer to treatment, the most important thing is patient predilection. Yet, acupuncture, qi gong, meditation and diet alone have healed millions of diseases including cancer. Such modalities are also highly effective when combined with chemotherapy and radiation as well as they reduce the toxic effects of chemo and radiation allowing them to work more effectively. It is best to seek out a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist to help support you during your time of healing. Laughter, a positive attitude, a positive support system, great healing modalities and nutrition can help heal any disease.
"Sometimes it is not until we know our helplessness and our failure at love that we can come under the grace of love..Love is not the attribute of the self-righteous and the perfect. It is the attribute of the humble, those who have realized their own nothingness, those who have failed in love". ~Rumi
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