Herbal Supplement May Prevent Prostate Cancer

Columbia University Medical Center has launched the first clinical trial of a possible herbal preventative for prostate cancer. The Phase I study will determine whether Zyflamend®, an herbal supplement commonly used as an anti-inflammatory, can prevent prostate cancer in patients with prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN).

PIN is a clinical precursor for prostate cancer. Without intervention, men diagnosed with PIN have a 50 to 70 percent likelihood of developing prostate cancer. Although there are tools that detect the early signs of prostate cancer, such as PIN or elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, there is no consensus as to the optimal therapy for these patients.

"Zyflamend has shown an ability, in vitro, to reduce prostate cancer cell proliferation by as much as 78 percent and to induce cancer cell death or apoptosis," says Aaron E. Katz, M.D., associate professor of urology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Director of the Center of Holistic Urology at Columbia University Medical Center and principal investigator of the study. "These results are exceptionally promising and have led us to initiate this clinical trial."

The herbal supplement, made by New Chapter, Inc., is composed of 10 herbs which inhibit the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inflammation pathway. Long-term chronic inflammation contributes to carcinogenesis in many organ systems (the origin of certain cancers); inhibiting this pathway appears to be key to preventing cancers like prostate and colon cancer. An herbal supplement such as this herbal supplement may inhibit this pathway without causing the adverse gastrointestinal side effects associated with the long-term use of other COX-2 inhibitors. The preparation of this herbal supplement differs from many herbal products in that it is not standardized to isolated chemicals. It delivers herbs in concentrated form, but the herbs retain their "food" status.

"We know more people are using herbal supplements as either their primary treatment or in tandem with their prescribed therapies, which is why it is important to study the safety and efficacy of herbal therapies," said Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of the non-profit American Botanical Council. "This study is an important step in a new direction for therapy in this area and holds much promise for millions of men with challenges in prostate health."

The Study

The Phase I study will evaluate the safety and tolerability of the herbal supplement in patients with PIN. Up to 48 men, between the ages of 40-75, will receive the herbal supplement three times a day for 18 months.

PIN and Prostate Cancer

PIN means that the top layer of cells or epithelial cells of the prostate are dividing more rapidly than normal epithelial cells. This development of pre-cancerous, abnormal tissue of the prostate gland puts men at high risk of developing prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is a group of cancerous cells (a malignant tumor) that begins most often in the outer part of the prostate. It is the most common type of cancer (excluding skin cancer) diagnosed in American men. In 2003, an estimated 220,900 new cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed in the United States.

The Herbal Supplement

Zyflamend includes rosemary, turmeric, ginger, holy basil, green tea, hu zhang, Chinese goldthread, barberry, oregano, and Baikal skullcap.

Located in New York City, Columbia University Medical Center provides international leadership in basic and clinical research, medical education, and health care. The medical center includes the dedicated work of many physicians, scientists, and other health professionals at the College of Physicians & Surgeons, the School of Dental & Oral Surgery, the School of Nursing, the Mailman School of Public Health, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. The pioneering tradition of Columbia University health scientists, who have achieved some of the 20th century's most significant medical breakthroughs, continues today.

Media Contacts: Chris Seger PR21 212-299-8973 chris.seger@pr21.com Craig LeMoult Columbia University Medical Center 212-305-0820 cel2113@columbia.edu

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Herbal Tonic Recipe for Prostate Cancer and Prevention

Herbal Tonic Recipe for Prostate
Nearly a quarter-million American men each year are diagnosed with prostate cancer and many more are diagnosed with BPH or Prostatitis; an inflammation of the prostate. Prostate Cancer and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) used to be diseases of old age and was usually diagnosed around the age of 80. Today, prostate cancer is now being diagnosed in men as young as 55.

Symptoms of prostate cancer and BPH are similar:

Urinary problems including:

Not being able to urinate. Difficulty in starting urination Having a hard time starting or stopping the urine flow. Needing to urinate often, especially at night. Weak flowof urine Urine flow that starts and stops. Pain or burning during urination.

Blood in the urine or semen.

Frequent pain in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs.

Conventional Prostate Cancer Treatment:

Surgery to remove the prostate, surrounding tissue and lymph nodes in the pelvis.

Chemotherapy

Radiation therapy that uses radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer.

Impotence and urinary problems may occur in men treated with radiation therapy.

Hormone therapy used in the treatment of prostate cancer may include the following:

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists can prevent the testicles from producing testosterone.

Antiandrogens can block the action of androgens (hormones that promote male sex characteristics).

Orchiectomy is a surgical procedure to remove one or both testicles, the main source of male hormones, to decrease hormone production.

Science Daily on October 10, 2007 reported the risks of hormone therapy — The use of androgen deprivation therapy to treat localized prostate cancer is associated with an increased risk of death from heart disease, according to a study published online October 9 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The use of androgen deprivation therapy can also lead to the development of metabolic syndrome, which increases both the risk of type II diabetes and coronary artery disease.

Alternative Prostate Cancer Treatment:

The October issue of the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention suggests that prostate cancer may respond quickly and markedly to significant changes in weight and diet. The report found that dramatically cutting back on dietary fats and carbohydrates actually alters the levels of genes in prostate tissues that can potentially regulate cancer growth.

Strikingly, the changes occurred after four of the men spent just six weeks on a low-fat, low-carb diet, said Dr. Daniel Lin, assistant professor of urology at the University of Washington and the paper's lead author.

I recommend tomatoes and tomato products to help protect against prostate cancer along with fresh organic fruit and vegetables. Brown rice. Vitamin A, D, E and Selenium. Omit dairy products and fatty meats. Add a good herbal tonic to your daily health regime that supports the blood, the kidneys, the immune system, that has anti-inflammatory properties and that balances hormone levels.

Browning’s Male Supreme tonic is an excellent herbal formula for prostate health, for prostate cancer, high PSA levels and BPH. If you are unable to make your own tonic purchase a tonic with similar ingredients.

About the herbs in the Male Supreme tonic:

Astragalus: Research shows it stimulates the immune system in many ways. It increases the number of stem cells in bone marrow and lymph tissue and encourages their development into active immune cells. It appears to help trigger immune cells from a resting state into heightened activity. It also enhances the body's production of immunoglobulin and stimulates macrophages. Astragalus can help activate T-cells and natural killer (NK) cells. In other studies, polysaccharides were shown to potentiate the immune-mediated antitumor activity of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and the activity of monocytes, improve the responses of lymphocytes from normal subjects and cancer patients.

Bloodroot Showing results as an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-neoplastic, antioxidant, anti-periodontic, anti-plaque, antiseptic, fungicide, and more. Showing promise in fighting cancers

Burdock Root: Burdock root is rich in vitamins, B-complex, E and P. It also contains, in high amounts, chromium, cobalt, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, zinc, sodium and potassium. In animal experiments, burdock root extracts have been shown to destroy bacteria and fungus cultures, as well as showing strong anti-tumor activity.

Chaparral: Tumor inhibitor. Antibacterial, antiviral, anti-cancer.

Devil’s Claw: An excellent anti-inflammatory. It is also a deep tissue cleanser and healer.

Hydrangea Root: Its primary chemical constituents include glycosides, saponins, resins, rutin, essential oils, and flavonoids. It contains no tannins and is well recognized in the treatment of inflamed or enlarged prostate glands.

Isatis: This herb has the compound indirubin that possesses strong antitumor activity. (can be purchased from 1st Chinese Herbs)

Licorice Root: Anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatotoxic, anti-spasmodic, rejuvenative, sedative, tonic. Phytoestrogens. Antibody production is enhanced by glycyrrhizin, possibly through the production of interleukin.

Pau d’ Arco: For problems like cancer, colitis, cystitis, fungus and prostatitis.

Pygeum: The phytosterols, including beta-sitosterol, have anti-inflammatory effects by interfering with the formation of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins that tend to accumulate in the prostate of men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The ferulic esters reduce levels of the hormone prolactin and also block cholesterol in the prostate.

Red Clover: Clinical evidence shows that there is a basis for its long standing tradition in treating any type of cancer and studies looking at the extracts' specific effectiveness against prostate enlargement and prostate cancer have now begun. Phytoestrogens.

Saw Palmetto: The saw palmetto extract prevents testosterone from converting to dihydrotestosterone. It also inhibits DHT from binding to cellular receptor sites and so increases DHT's breakdown and excretion. In several double blind studies Saw Palmetto extract was an effective treatment for BPH. It was found to be superior to finasteride (Proscar). Most patients reported obtaining some relief of symptoms within the first 30 days of the treatment with the Saw Palmetto extract.

Suma: Normalizing influence on your body and can help regulate and enhance your endocrine, nervous, digestive, cardiovascular and immune system. Nutritionally it contains essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids and trace elements plus high amounts of the trace element germanium, which is a powerful immune stimulator. The germanium in Suma may be partly responsible for Suma's powerful ability to bring more oxygen to the cells. The overall effect is to give you an increased resistance to stress while having a cell-building and regenerating effect. Suma is also beneficial for treating cardiovascular disease, depression, chronic fatigue and inflammatory conditions.

Turmeric: In recent studies show promising results on the use of turmeric to treat cancer. Curcumin found in turmeric possesses liver protective activity, detoxifying dangerous carcinogens, stimulating the gall-bladder and acting as a free-radical scavenger.

The dried herbal ingredient amounts you will need make Browning’s Male Supreme:

(Whole herbs are easier to strain than powdered herbs – you can use either)



2 oz. Astragalus Root (A. membranaceus)

1 oz. Bloodroot (sanguinaria canadensis)

2 oz. Burdock Root (arctium lappa)

2 oz. Chaparral (larrea tridentate)

3 oz. Devil’s Claw Bark (oplopanax horridus)

2 oz. Hydrangea Root (hydrangea arborescens)

3 oz. Isatis Root (iatidis tinctoria)

3 oz Licorice Root (glycyrrhiza glabra)

2 oz. Pau d’ Arco (tabebuia impetiginosa)

5 oz. Pygeum Bark (pygeum Africana)

2 oz. Red Clover (trifolium pretense)

5 oz. Saw Palmetto Berry (serenoa repens)

2 oz. Suma (pfaffia paniculata)

1 oz. Turmeric (curcuma longa)

What cooking tools and other ingredients you will need:

2 stainless steel or glass 20 quart or larger pots with lids. One pot for cooking and one pot for straining liquid into after cooking.

A large strainer.

A candy or water thermometer.

Cheesecloth.

4 gallons of distilled water

32 oz of vegetable glycerin

32 oz of black strap molasses

Citric acid

For bottling you can use regular canning jars. If using pint jars you will need about 24 – 28 jars. If using quart jars you will need about 14 jars. This is a large recipe that will provide one year worth of tonics for the cancer patient, or, if using for a preventative go together with friends or family and share it. You can cut recipe in ½ for a smaller batch.

In pot add:



In 1 pot add astragalus root, bloodroot, burdock root, chaparral, devil’s claw, hydrangea root, isatis, licorice root, pau d’ arco, pygeum, saw palmetto, suma, turmeric and cover with 4 gallons of distilled water. Stir. Cover pot with lid and simmer for about 6 hours.

After simmering for 6 or more hours turn heat to warm/low heat and add the red clover to the above pot and turn heat down to warm to steep (not boil) the herbs like you would a cup of tea. Steep overnight.

The next morning/day strain the liquid from the herbs by laying a couple of layers of cheesecloth over your strainer. Strain liquid into a clean container then heat herbal liquid and bring to a boil for 15 minutes to kill any bacteria.

Compost the strained herbs in your garden.

Then add:

32 oz of vegetable glycerin, 32 oz black strap molasses 4 tablespoons of citric acid

Stir and let the mixture mingle for 15 minutes or so. When ready to bottle use a candy thermometer to check the temperature of the liquid. You want the temperature at 190* to prevent any bacteria to grow in the tonics. Maintain this heat temperature throughout bottling.

While waiting for your liquid to reach the accurate bottling temperature prepare your canning jars. Sterilize jars and lids.

Once your bottles are sterilized and your herbal liquid is at the right temperature add the tonic liquid to the hot jars. Fill to ½” from top of jar and cap. Let cool overnight. Check to make sure all the jars sealed properly the store them. Tonics can be stored for 1 year.

Once you open a jar of tonic for use you must Refrigerate it. The tonic will last for 2 months in the refrigerator once it has been opened. Sediment in the bottom of the jars is normal. Give the jar a little shake or stir to mix the sediment before taking.

How much to take:

Adult Folklore Dosage: 1 Tablespoon 1 time a day for preventative health. 1 Tablespoon 2 times a day for BHP or Prostatitis. 2 Tablespoon 2 times a day for prostate cancer. Refrigerate after opening.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem, suffer from allergies, are pregnant or nursing

Resource:

Science Daily >http://www.sciencedaily.com

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