Supplements, oh supplements! Another controversial topic in the medical world. Obviously obtaining nutrients through your food is the best option. However, this is not always easy to accomplish for everyone. With that being said, I did research on numerous supplements and plants that basically destroy cancer while also protecting cells. I read one book that was so informative and so helpful to me that I handed it to Regina to read. Regina got through chapter 1 and said, “I have no idea what any of this means.” That's when it dawned on me that when you start talking about in-depth molecular structures, DNA, cells, biology, physiology and the like, not everybody knows what the heck it is you are talking about. I wanted to know even the little nitty gritty details of why you hear things such as, eat your dark green leafy vegetables. My mind questions this with, okay why? What is in green leafy vegetables that's going to keep my body from getting cancer or alternatively help reverse cancer? I will read to the inth degree on the natural chemicals of this or that plant!
I decided, as I have mentioned, to begin Regina on a natural protocol at the very beginning of all of this while we were waiting for formal, western medicine treatments. This was all based on me completing research on how different organic and natural plants worked in a similar fashion to traditional cancer treatments. I wanted to see how I could find a way to create something that would kill cancer cells like chemo, but not kill good cells. I didn’t even know if that was possible, so back to the books I went! I began with those dark green, leafy veggies. These veggies have carotenoids which are super-duper antioxidants and help get rid of those bad free radicals that can damage your DNA. Free radicals are atoms that go bad in simple terms. They are missing an electron and then they don’t work right so this causes cells to break down. As we age, we have less ability to fight those free radicals, so you generally see more diseases later in life. I digress, and back to those veggies! These veggies also have fiber, and we’ve all heard about how good fiber is for us!
Berberine
From the Archives of Medical Science Journal “Medicinal herbs containing a bioactive alkaloid called berberine have long been used by medical practitioners in China, Unani, and India to treat malignant diseases. The compound berberine has been shown to display potent anti-cancer effects of which the underlying mechanisms are largely attributed to induction of the cell cycle and apoptosis in cancer cells. More importantly, berberine is relatively non-toxic to humans compared to chemotherapeutic drugs' ' (Jantova S, Cipak L, Letasiova S. 2019). Numerous studies suggest that berberine is a promising drug candidate.
While berberine is great as an anti-cancer mechanism, it also helps reduce sugar which as I said, cancer cells need! “Berberine has a strong hypoglycemic (blood sugar lowering) benefit. It also has anti-obesity benefits as it can reduce blood fats too” Jun Y. et al, 2008). “Berberine can also reduce blood pressure and improve blood supplies in diabetic patients. Compared to Metformin, it had a statistically significant increased benefit. It has been used in Medicine in the Far East for centuries. (Canceractive, 2021). Berberine is also a major anti-inflammatory!
Honestly, I have been taking berberine because I have type 2 Diabetes. There are numerous studies showing how berberine can interrupt cancer cell signals and help destroy them. I love berberine so much! Please do not try to stop your medications and start natural treatments unless you have spoken to one or more Dr’s and find a Naturopath Dr. who can also monitor you and your blood!
Black Seed Oil
“Animal studies have shown that black cumin seed can stop the growth of tumor cells and reduce the incidence of tumor” (Memorial Sloan, 2023). This is from their website, but it is strictly informational and not suggested, nor endorsed. The formal name is Nigella sativa and numerous people have used this to combat cancer and other diseases. I do know that it cannot be taken long term, and it can cause kidney and liver problems. From the National institute of Health, “N. sativa shows a vital effect in the prevention of cancer through upregulation of tumor suppressor gene and inhibition of VEGF, Akt/PI3K pathways” (Rahmani , Alzohairy, Khan, Salah M. Aly , 2014).
Broccoli
What about broccoli? Half of the people I know hate broccoli, but I love it, thank goodness! Broccoli contains Sulforaphane, which is sulfur rich and is why it stinks. “Sulforaphane has been shown to have anticancer properties in a number of test-tube and animal studies, reducing both the size and number of various types of cancer cells.
Sulforaphane may also prevent cancer cell growth by releasing antioxidants and detoxification enzymes that protect against carcinogens — substances that cause cancer. Keep in mind that these studies use a concentrated form of sulforaphane, so it’s unclear whether the amounts found in fresh foods have the same effect” (NIH, 2023).
Another amazing thing about good ole broccoli is that it appears to target cancer stem cells! This means it goes right to the source of killing that cancer cell. No, that is not the scientific way of describing the mechanism and functions of broccoli inside the body!! I am trying to keep things simple, and personal. For those interested in researching further, you can read more about this, and the science of the studies. Nandini D, Rao R, Deepak B, Reddy P, (2020). Sulforaphane in broccoli: The green chemoprevention!! role in cancer prevention and therapy. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol (2020) 24:405. doi: 10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_126_19
Vitamin C
This vitamin is not new, nor do I know anyone who doesn’t understand the importance of vitamin C! Obviously, the intake of vitamin C through fruits etc. is best, however, if you take this in supplement form, get Liposomal Vitamin C. I have read so many articles on the use of vitamin C in cancer and I think it all boils down to this: vitamin C therapy by means of an IV into the body seems to work best. Most Naturopath Dr’s will do this for you. Numerous clinics in other countries south of the United States use this IV therapy at large. I don’t think vitamin C alone can kill cancer, and I’d never claim that, however, it sure does help with other treatments. Look into the following: Research Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling as well as, KRAS or BRAF mutations and Vitamin C.
Vitamin D3 WITH K 2.
This is a combination I had never even thought about when I began researching things for Regina! Honestly, how I even stumbled upon the following information, I do not know. I had little sleep, high emotions and a lot of information to process. Again, and yes, repeatedly, this is one reason for this book. I hope to narrow it down or simplify things for people! Key word here is hope. Vitamin D should be taken as D3 and needs to be combined with K2. This helps prevent calcium build up in your arteries. Vitamin D3 with K2 shows promise with fighting cancer!
“Vitamin D3 is another micronutrient capable of restricting the growth of cancer cells by inhibiting proliferation and stimulating differentiation. However, an adverse effect of vitamin D3 treatment is hypercalcemia, which can lead to vascular calcification. VK2 regulates the calcium deposition between bone tissue and other tissues and inhibits the formation of vascular calcified foci. The combination of vitamin D3 with VK2 on cancer cells can synergistically improve the induction of cellular differentiation and also significantly reduces the risk of hypercalcemia and vascular calcification” (Fan Xv, Jiepeng C. Lili Duan,and Shuzhuang L. 2018). This last statement by the authors of that study tells me that Vit D 3 needs to be taken WITH K2! Yes, Regina took this, is still taking this, and so do I!
Vitamin K is usually associated with blood thinning, however, there are three different types of Vitamin K simply abbreviated as VK 1, VK 2, VK 3. Clinical studies and reports have stated, “VK1, VK2 and VK3 can inhibit several neoplastic cell lines at different levels, primarily by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of cancer cells, (you want that!) including HCC, leukemia, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer and lung cancer (Bouzahzah B, Nishikawa Y, Simon D, Carr BI 1995). “Although the inhibition caused by VK3 is highly potent, VK3 is also highly toxic. By contrast, VK2 is milder, but causes no side effects, whereas VK1 has the least strong function. Hence, VK2 is a potential chemotherapeutic candidate for the treatment of cancer” (Hitomi M, Yokoyama F, Kita Y, Nonomura T, Masaki T, Yoshiji H, Inoue H, Kinekawa F, Kurokohchi K, Uchida N, et al. 2005). “In conclusion, VK2 can positively inhibit cancer cells. VK2 appears to be an extremely promising agent with very limited toxicity, which can be a useful option for prevention of cancer and clinical therapy of cancer. However, the inhibition of vitamin K and D in cancers indicated that vitamins might have positive effects on the prevention and therapy of tumors. Therefore, the effects of vitamins or minerals on tumors should be investigated further” (Oncol Lett. 2018).
Here’s the thing for me on Vit D3 with K 2… If there have been studies dating as far back as 20-30 years ago that show these two vitamins have the potential to help kill cancer cells, then I say go for it. Make sure you get your labs checked often, which is what we did for Regina, every three weeks without fail! Ask a Naturopath about this as well, or any doctor you feel comfortable asking.