Thank goodness we have educated doctors to treat us when we have cancer, cataract, and health problems that we can’t take care of alone!

Doctors are good at blood tests, surgery, and prescription medicines.

They aren’t so good at telling you how to avoid getting cancer or cataracts in the first place. And they often don’t take the time to help you improve your arthritis and allergies at home.

You’re wasting your time and money when you go to see your doctor when you don’t need to. You’re wasting your money and your time when your doctor isn’t able to figure out why your head or your back or your stomach hurts all the time.

When you don’t want to be prescribed another pill and you don’t need surgery, count on this book to tell you what your doctor won’t–like how to prevent hearing loss or get a better night’s sleep.

You’ll find out how you may be able to cut your breast cancer risk by changing the way you wear your bra. You’ll discover vitamins to help calm your stress and anxiety and home remedies to get rid of hay-fever sniffles.

You’ll find spicy, natural sinus relievers and tips to get rid of fatigue. You’ll discover how to supercharge your memory, how to cure a headache, and how to treat an ankle sprain or a painful elbow.

And that’s just the beginning….  (-From the Introduction)

The title of this book, “Inner Cleansing Cures”, is a bit deceiving. This book is not merely about cleansing, but covers how to self-heal multitude of different ailments. If the condition is something that should be treated medically by a professional, the book explains this and often several options from which to choose along with tips to help the treatment go smoothly and aid in quick recovery. If the condition is something that cannot be treated or reversed, you will find tips to help make the situation more comfortable.

I really like this book and keep a copy in my personal library, and have also used it for several of the articles written for this website. The information explained in this book agrees with everything I learned about natural health through my studies at Clayton College, and brings forth the information in easy to access and easy to use format. I keep this book for precisely that reason… the alphabetical index of ailments makes it the information so efficiently accessible that this book is one of the first I reach for whenever I have a question about a specific condition. The information is also very user friendly, so that any person wanting to self-treat at home could easily do so.  The book also contains many small changes that can be easily made to cause dramatic improvements to one’s health–things that are often overlooked by medical professionals.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acne
Altitude Sickness
Alzheimer’s Disease
Angina
Ankle Sprain
Arthritis
Asthma
Athlete’s Foot
Back Pain
Bad Breath
Bladder Infection
Blisters and Calluses
Blood Clots
Blood Pressure
Body Odor
Breast Cancer
Bunions
Bursitis
Caffeine Dependence
Cancer of the Esophagus
Canker Sores and Fever Blisters
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Wrist Pain
Cataracts
Chapped Lips
Cholesterol
Chronic Pain
Colds
Colon Cancer
Constipation
Coughing
Cuts, Burns and Scrapes
Dandruff
Depression
Diabetes
Diaper Rash
Diarrhea
Diverticulitis
Dizziness
Drowning
Dry Eyes
Dry Mouth
Dry, Irritated Skin
Earaches and Earwax
Enlarged Prostate
Falling Accidents
Fatigue
Fever
Food Allergies
Food Poisoning
Forgetfulness and Poor Concentration
Frostbite
Gas
Hair Loss
Hangover
Hay Fever
Headaches
Hearing Loss
Heart Disease
Heartburn
Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke
Heel Spurs
Hemorrhoids
Hiccups
Hypoglylcemia
Immune System Breakdown
Impotence
Incontinence
Infertility
Ingrown Nails, Fungus Nails, Brittle Nails
Insomnia
Irregular Heartbeat
Knee Pain
Lactose Intolerance
Leg Cramps and Leg Pain
Lice
Loss of Sexual Desire
Lung Cancer
Menopause Symptoms
Migraines
Morning Sickness
Neck Pain
Nosebleeds
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Ovarian and Cervical Cancers
Panic Attacks
Poison Ivy and Poison Oak
Potbelly
Premenstrual Syndrome
Prostate Cancer
Psoriasis
Raynaud’s Syndrome
Shingles
Shinsplints
Shoulder Pain
Sinusitis
Skin Cancer
Smell and Taste Loss
Snakebites
Snoring
Sore Throat
Stomach Cancer
Stomach Upsets
Stress
Stroke
Stuttering
TMJ
Tooth Decay and Knocked-Out Teeth
Ulcers
Vision Loss
Weight Problems
Yeast Infections

Order the book, INNER CLEANSING CURES by The Editors of FC&A:

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Inner Cleansing Cures by The Editors of FC&A. Fouth Printing, June 1999. ISBN# 1-890957-24-0. Hardcover, 370 Pages.

The book for sale in the LuminEarth.com Product Shop is a hardcover in excellent condition.  The book comes without a dust jacket.  The book shows negligible wear to the cover or binding, and the inside text is clean and crisp.

• Gather, dry, store and blend 25 common herbs
• Make and use teas, tinctures, oils, salves, syrups and lozenges
• Build your own herbal medicine cabinet

Joyce A. Wardwell has studied herbal medicine and wild edibles for over 20 years.  She is the editor and publisher of Herbal Voices, a member of the American Herbalists Guild, and Northeast Herb Association, and director of 7th Direction, a non-profit, sustainable lifestyle organization.  She lives in Michigan.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I: THE HEART OF HERBALISM: KNOWING THE HERBS

Chapter 1: Getting to Know the Plants
Chapter 2: Selecting Quality Ingredients and Equipment
Chapter 3: Making a Simple Cup of Tea

PART II: THE BODY OF HERBALISM: PREPARING THE HERBS

Chapter 4: Potent Potables: Making Herbal Tinctures
Chapter 5: Practical Pampering: Making Herb Oils and Salves
Chapter 6: Homespun Alchemy: Making Medicinal Wines and Vinegars
Chapter 7: Bittersweets: Making Syrups and Lozenges

PART III: THE MIND OF HERBALISM: USING THE HERBS

Chapter 8: Stocking the Medicine Chest
Chapter 9: Making Herbal Blends
Chapter 10: Symptoms and Remedies: An A-Z Guide

This book was required reading for my “Home Remedies and Simples” course at Clayton College.  It is wonderful reference, and I keep a copy in my personal library.  The book is a very easy read and will quickly have you making your own tinctures, teas, tonics, syrups… and even herbal vinegars and wines!

I used this book as reference for these articles:

Herbal Blends: Why to Take & How to Make

Homemade Herbal Syrup in Six Easy Steps

Heal That Throat With Homemade Herbal Lozenges!

Make Your Own Tinctures in Eight Easy Steps!

How to Dry and Store Herbs – It’s Quick, Easy, and Inexpensive!

Order the book, THE HERBAL HOME REMEDY BOOK: SIMPLE RECIPES FOR TINCTURES, TEAS, SALVES, TONICS AND SYRUPS by Joyce A. Wardwell :

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THE HERBAL HOME REMEDY BOOK: SIMPLE RECIPES FOR TINCTURES, TEAS, SALVES, TONICS AND SYRUPS by Joyce A. Wardwell . Paperback: 176 pages. Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; 1 edition (January 3, 1998).Language: English. ISBN-10: 1580170161. ISBN-13: 978-1580170161.Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches. List Price $14.95 US.

The copy for sale in the LuminEarth.com Product Shop is a used paperback in good condition. The cover is moderately worn with some light creasing and edge wear. The binding is tight and the text is clean with no underlining or hilighting of text. The pages are crisp and clean, no bent pages.

(This book is also available on Amazon.com. Click here to view this book on Amazon.com)

From time immemorial man has relied on plants to treat sicknesses and sooth aches and pains. The same herbs, trees, and shrubs employed by ancient peoples have continued to be valued through the ages–by Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, by apothecaries an physicians in the Middle Ages and later, by the settlers who came to North America, by the Indians who met them here, and even by our own grandparents. Many of these plants are still used today; nearly half of all medicines currently prescribed are derived from members of the plant kingdom.

Over the ages, many magical and mystical powers were ascribed to such plants. Occasionally these beliefs were mere superstitions; more commonly they were based on keen observation. For although people knew that certain plants had indisputable healing powers, they could not explain how the plants’ medicinal powers worked, and so attributed them to supernatural forces. Today we understand many of the underlying chemical and physical principles that account for the medicinal properties of plants. Yet plants still do possess a magical quality–their beauty and the astonishing variety of their forms. This book is your guide to the wonderful world of magical, medicinal plants. -The Editors

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PLANTS IN MYTH AND MAGIC

ABC’S OF PLANTS

• Finding Plants in the Wild
• Making Your Own Herbarium
• The Anatomy of Plants
• Nature’s Chemical Industry
• About Plant Names

PLANTS, PEOPLE AND MEDICINE

GALLERY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

POISONOUS PLANTS

GROWING AND USING HERBS

• Growing Herbs
• Cooking With Herbs
• Herb Crafts
• Herbs for Beauty
• Herbs for Health

I love this book–it is a wonderful resource for plant identification and use!  I keep a copy in my personal library.  The “Gallery of Medicinal Plants” contains color photographs and paintings of over 200 American herbs.  The paintings point out the different plant details (stem, root, leaf, etc.) to help you identify the plant in the wild.  There is also a full color photo of each plant in its natural habitat and a description of where it is found, how it grows, and what type of environment it grows in.  The book also tells how the plant was used by the ancients–along with its magic and myths, as well as how it is being used or studied medicinally today.

Order the book, MAGIC AND MEDICINE OF PLANTS by The Editors of Reader’s Digest:

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MAGIC AND MEDICINE OF PLANTS by The Editors of Reader’s Digest. Hardcover: 464 pages. Publisher: Reader’s Digest; 4th Printing April 1990 edition (1990). ISBN-10: 0895772213. ISBN-13: 978-0895772213. Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches.

The copy for sale in the LuminEarth.com Product Shop is a used hardcover in excellent condition. The cover shows negligible wear and looks new.

(This book is also available on Amazon.com. Click here to view this book on Amazon.com)

In its first edition nearly 20 years ago, Dr. Linda Pages’s book, Healthy Healing, was the only one of its kind. Now updated and expanded, Healthy Healing is still the easiest to use bestselling natural health reference book on the market.

Customize your own personal healing program using natural therapies for more than 300 ailments through diet, while herb supplements, and exercise.

• NEW! Product rating system revealing which products the test group found to be the most beneficial, fastest-acting, and most highly recommended.
• Over 80 NEW pages of the latest research including emerging ailments such as SARS, Syndrome X, and Stress-Related Weight Gain.
• NEW! Specific guidelines for using herbal therapy before and after surgery to ensure maximum healing.
• NEW! Information on Genetically Engineered Foods, and Drug-Herb-Nutrient Interactions.

This book will help you LOOK BETTER, FEEL BETTER AND LIVE LONGER, NATURALLY!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Your Health Care Options Today
-The Pros and Cons of Orthodox and Alternative Medicine
-The Dramatic Rise of Iatrogenic (Doctor-Caused) Disease
-Alternative Healing Systems Today & How to Use Them

Holistic Recovery from Surgery or Illness
-Normalizing after Chemotherapy and Radiation
-Best Healing Results for Minimal Scarring after Cosmetic Surgery
-Herb Interactions with Drugs Used During Surgery

Herbal Healing
-Your Herbal Medicine Choices for Today

Foods for Your Healing Diet
-Food and Diet Choices to Help Your Healing Process
-The Case for Eating Organically Grown Foods
-About Genetically Engineered Foods

A Special Guide to Detoxification and Body Cleansing
-Understanding Detoxification
-Bodywork Techniques for Detoxification

Lifestyle Healing Programs for People with Special Needs
-Having a Healthy Baby and a Healthy Pregnancy
-Alternative Health and Healing Choices for Children
-Anti-Aging: Optimum Health in the Golden Years
-Optimizing Exercise, Sports Performance, and Fitness
-Alternative Medicines and Healing Treatments for Pets

Ailments and Health Conditions: Almost 400 Ailments, Health Conditions, and Healing Programs Considered
-Almost 400 Ailments, Health Conditions, and Healing Programs Considered

Look It Up! in the Alternative Health Care Arsenal
-All You Need to Know About the Help You Need to Get
-Resource Listing
-Bibliography
-Expanded Index and Cross-Referencing

This book was required reading for one of my classes at Clayton College, and I keep a copy in my personal library.  It is full of useful information that is often difficult to find elsewhere.  The section on detox and body cleansing was especially helpful–the book goes into great detail concerning the different systems of the body, explaining symptoms of toxicity and how to detoxify each system.  The book also contains a huge index (spanning almost half of the entire book) that lists over 400 common ailments, their symptoms, possible causes,and what to do to eliminate the problem via diet and lifestyle support therapy & herbal, superfood, and supplement therapy. I often use this index to help myself, family and friends heal naturally.

Order the book, HEALTHY HEALING: A GUIDE TO SELF-HEALING FOR EVERYONE by Linda Page, Ph.D. :

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HEALTHY HEALING: A GUIDE TO SELF-HEALING FOR EVERYONE by Linda Page, Ph.D. Healthy Healing Inc.; 12th edition (June 2004).10.6 x 8.3 x 1.5 inches.  Paperback; 664 pages. ISBN# 188433492X. List Price $32.95.

The copy for sale in the LuminEarth.com Product Shop is a used paperback in good condition. The cover is moderately worn with some light creasing. The binding is tight and the text is clean with no underlining or hilighting of text. The pages are crisp and clean, no bent pages.

(This book is also available on Amazon.com. Click here to view this book on Amazon.com)

BORN TO HEAL

BORN TO HEAL is the astonishing story of Mr. A and the remarkable cures he achieves through the ancient art of healing with life energies. Ruth Montgomery is the distinguished author of A WORLD BEYOND, the after-death revelations of her close friend, the renowned medium Arthur Ford. Her previous books, including A GIFT OF PROPHECY: THE PHENOMENAL JEANE DIXON, A SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH, AND HERE AND HEREAFTER, have established Mrs. Montgomery as one of the country’s foremost authorities on the psychic.

BORN TO HEAL is the story of a dynamic man and his seemingly miraculous cures of tragic ailments, which run the gamut of human suffering from severe cripplings to the most dread of diseases–ailments which have often defied treatment by more traditional practitioners.

Mr. A came early, as a boy in the Midwest, to an awareness of his healing gifts, which he put to use to help family and friends. But it was not until 1941, and after a varied career as a machinist, salesman, and land developer, that he devoted himself full time to healing, first in Nevada, then in California, where word of his work swiftly spread. Inevitably, as is so often the case with those methods of confound tradition, he came into conflict with the medical establishment in a headline-making trial on charges of “practicing medicine without a proper license,” sparked by the California Medical Association–charges of which he was dramatically acquitted. At the time of this printing, Mr. A was retiring at the age of seventy-seven and could not handle an increased workload, so chose to remain anonymous… but the Life Energies Research Foundation had been established to explore his methods and his work.

Introduced by a qualified surgeon who had for many years observed and documented Mr. A’s healing skills, the book also investigates his tapping of “life energies” –energies that power the universe and direct human life–and the awe-inspiring ends to which he had put them. As Dr. Dena L. Smith observed: “During the past decade I have worked closely with Mr. A, keeping detailed records of many of his cases and subjecting them to intensive scrutiny–and I have yet to find an instance when the patient was not substantially benefitted or healed.”

Table of Contents:

I. The Drama of Healing
II. In the Beginning
III. The Universal Ring
IV. The Lean Years
V. His Lifework Begins
VI. The War Years
VII. The Medical Trial
VIII. Public Demonstrations
IX. The Middle Years
X. Not in the Textbooks
XI. Energy over the Air
XII. Mr. A Goes to Washington
XIII. When a Guy Goes Fishing
XIV. Diet and Foods
XV. The Philosophy of Living

Order the book, BORN TO HEAL by Ruth Montgomery:

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Book Club Edition. 1973. Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, New York. 224 pages.

The copy being sold in the LuminEarth Product Shop is a good, solid, used reading copy.  It is a hardcover book in the original dust jacket.  There is some wear to and small flaws on dust jacket.  The book’s binding tight, the text clean, and there is a private library sticker on inside cover.  The pages faintly tanned consistent with age.

(This book is also available on Amazon.com.  Click here to view this book on Amazon.com.)

White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Names:  Eastern White Pine, Northern Pine, Northern White Pine, Pin Blanc, Pinus strobus, Soft Pine, Weymouth Pine, Weymouths Keifer, Weymouthtall, White Pine

Appearance:  The White Pine (Pinus strobus) is a coniferous evergreen tree.  It’s trunk is tall and stright and the needles are blue-green.  Young trees are conical shaped, but as the trees age they develop wind-swept, horizontal, upturning branches.  This tree is easily identified by counting the needles in the needle-cluster bundles.  The Eastern White Pine is the only pine native to eastern North America that contains five needles per bundle.

Edible:  The Micmac Indians used the bark to make beverage and the Ojibwa used the young staminate catkins (the slim, cylindrical flower cluster, with inconspicuous or no petals that kind of resembles a “kitten’s tail”) for food and stewed them in with meat. They reportedly have a sweet flavor and do not taste like pine pitch.

A Russian writer says to use needles from 1 year old pine tree. Use 2 oz of washed needles. Grind them. Steep in 2 or 3 cups of poured boiling water. Let cool and steep in cool place for 2 hours. Strain, add honey and lemon to taste and drink. Loses vitamins if stored. Lots of C. 5X that of lemon juice. (Mama’s Home Remedies by Svetlana Konnikova)

-Cindy Moonrose, Eatable Weed Walks & Plant Classes

White Pine (Pinus strobus) has five needles per cluster.

I personally like to use white pine needles to make tea.  The taste is sweet and a bit piney, and tastes very good sweetened with honey. It is a wonderful way to get vitamins A and C, as well as all of the immune-boosting and detoxifying medicinal benefits as used by the Native American Indians.

Becki’s Recipe for Pine Needle Tea (Decoction)

• 1 gallon filtered or spring water
•  3 cups chopped pine needles
•  honey

In a large pot combine water and pine needles. Boil for 10 minutes, simmer until cool. Strain and sweeten to taste with honey. (This is technically a “decoction” because the needles are boiled.)

For convenience, I gather pine needles, chop, and fill a large ziploc bag full of the chopped needles and store them in the freezer. This makes it very easy to access the needles and to measure for making tea. To obtain the most benefit from the needles, it is best to pick the young needles located at the ends of the branches.

Note:  Always make sure you positively identify the pine tree before making pine needle tea!  Some pines are poisonous, such as Yew, Norfolk Pine, and Ponderosa Pine.

White pine needles are great in a vinegar! Take any size jar (with plastic lid) fill it with pine needles and then pour apple cider vinegar over it to fill bottle. Let sit for six weeks and it will be ready to use. I learned this technique from Susun Weed. Here is a link to her page on how to make vinegars: http://www.wisewomantradition.com/empoweringwomen/2009/03/making-springtime-wild-herbal-vinegars.html

-Cathy Webster

Medicinal:  Native Americans utilized White Pine for many medical ailments.  It has been said that Native Americans treated 80% of their medical ailments using pine.   Pine has been shown to bring relief to conditions such as fatigue, heart ailments, heart disease, kidney ailments, sclerosis, and varicose veins.  It has even been shown to improve eyesight!  Cancer patients drink pine needle tea to ease nausea, boost the immune system, and as a strengthening tonic.

Bark of the White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Bark: Native Americans used a decoction take internally for coughs, a poultice of wetted inner bark applied externally to the chest for strong colds,  a poultice of trunk of a young tree applied esternally to cuts and wounds, a decoction of raw bark was taken internally for rheumatism, steam from a decoction of raw bark inhaled for head colds, decoction of bark used externally for skin eruptions and scabs, and raw bark was taken internally for rheumatism, to prevent typhoid, and relieve stomach cramps.

Needles:  Native Americans used a poultice of needles bound externally to heal broken bones, needles were burned in the fall and the smoke used to fill the house and prevent all sickness, decoction of needles used used internally for coughs, colds and rheumatism, an infusion of young trees was taken internally as a blood tonic, decoction of needles taken internally to prevent scurvy.  Pine needles are very high in vitamin C and vitamin A (beta-carotene).  The needles were used to keep the early settlers alive during the first winter by preventing scurvy.

Scientists area currently exploring the medical uses of pine needles. Research is being done using pine needles as an antioxidant, antidepressant, antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory.  Pine is also being studied for boosting the immune system, strengthening the heart, reducing triglycerides, treating Alzheimer’s disease, depression, anxiety, and dementia. A wonderful writeup on this can be found in The Amazing All-Purpose Pine on the website Dave’s Garden.

Branches of the White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Pitch (Sap, Gum): Native Americans used a poultice of pitch applied externally to felons and other similar inflammations, applied externally to boils to draw out pain and inflammation, used internally for coughs, colds and boils, the pitch was chewed for coughs, and boiled gum taken internally for sore throats.

White Pine (Pinus strobus) was extensively used by many Indians. New England tribes boiled the needles in water or maple syrup and drank this tea to prevent scurvy and to relieve coughs and colds. These needles contain five times more vitamin C than an equal amount of lemons, and they are also a rich source of vitamin A. Just chewing the freshly picked needles is very beneficial. The Obibway Indians used the seeds to flavor their cooking. The Iroquois Indians ate the sweet inner bark.

-Native Harvests: American Indian Wild Foods and Recipes by E. Barrie Kavasch

Sources:

• Kavasch, E. (2005). Native Harvests: American Indian Wild Foods and Recipes. Mineola: Dover Publications.
• Moerman, D. (1998). Native American Ethnobotany. Portland: Timber Press.
• Walker, B. (2011). Pine Needle Tea. Dave’s Garden. Extracted December 4, 2011 from http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/3126/

Visit our FREE Online Herbal Materia Medica

Visit our FREE Online Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants

The LuminEarth Library

Here is a list of some the books used in our research and experimentation. Enjoy!

• A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: Eastern and central North America (Peterson Field Guide)
• Great Smoky Mountains Wildflowers: When and Where to Find Them by William Hutson
• Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places by “Wildman” Steve Brill
• Jude’s Herbal Home Remedies: Natural Health, Beauty & Home Care Secrets by Jude C. Williams, M.H.
• Ortho’s  All About Herbs by Maggie Oster
• Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health by Rosemary Gladstar
• Secrets of the Chinese Herbalists by Richard Lucas
• Sunset Herbs:  An Illustrated Guide by The Editors of Sunset Magazine
• The Forager’s Harvest:  A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting and Preparing Edible Wild Plants by Samuel Thayer
• The Herbal Drugstore by Linda B. White, M.D.
• The Herbal Home Remedy Book: Simple Recipes for Tinctures, Teas, Salves, Tonics and Syrups by Joyce A. Wardwell
• The Natural Physicians’s Healing Therapies: Proven Remedies Medical Doctors Don’t Know by Mark Stengler, ND
• The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine by Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D.
• The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra, L.Ac., O.M.D.
• Wildflowers of the Land Between the Lakes Region, Kentucky and Tennessee

Pokeweed Berries

POKEWEED (Phytolacca Americana)

Other Names: American Nightshade, Cancer Root, Inkberry, Pigeon Berry, Poke, Poke Salad, Poke Sallet, Pokeberry, Pokeroot, Pokeweed, Skoke, Virginia Poke

Visit Our FREE Online Guide to Wild Edible & Medicinal Plants

Pokeweed is a robust perennial potherb that usually grows 4 to 12 feet tall, then dies back to the root during the winter. It is native to eastern North America but has been grown all over the world. Pookweed is an aggressive plant and is commonly found in disturbed areas all over North America. The plant is tinged with purple-red and has oval, untoothed, stalked, alternate emerald-green colored leaves with a width between 2 to 5 inches and length approximately 8 to 12 inches long. The plant flowers are symmetrical white with green centers eventually turning into dark purple, seed filled berries approximately 1/3 inch in diameter.

My interest in pokeweed began playing as young child in the countryside of rural Pennsylvania. My brotherand I would come home with the purple berries smeared all over our faces, arms and legs. “DON’T EAT those berries!” my mom would warn, “They’re POISONOUS!” I’m sure the same scenario occurred for many others in my age group and locale. This was probably the main reason I took me so long to get around to trying this delicious wild edible. Now I am glad that I did!

Pokeweed is one of the most widely used edible plants in North America, even though it has poisonous parts. Because the toxins can kill, this is not a plant for unsupervised beginners to eat. Study it over several seasons, build experiences with other wild foods, and work with an experienced forager before attempting to survive a pokeweed dinner.

-Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants by “Wildman” Steve Brill

CULINARY USE OF POKEWEED

CULINARY RECIPES USING POKEWEED LEAVES

Pokeweed Basic Preparation 

Boil a large and a medium-sized pot of water to a rolling boil. Boil the pokeweed in the medium-sized pot for 1 minute. Drain, using a colander. Add more boiling water from the large pot, which is your reservoir, and boil another minute. Drain, add more boiling water from the large pot again, and boil another 18 minutes. Drain again. Press the greens against the colander with a slotted spoon to remove excess water. Season to taste and serve. Good with vinegar, pepper, oil, lemon sauce, and bits of smoke-flavored foods.

–Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants by “Wildman” Steve Brill

Poke Salad

1 to 2 lbs. Poke Salad (Poke Leaves)
6 to 8 slices bacon
1 lg. onion
2 eggs
 

Pick and wash poke salad, bring to a rapid boil for 20 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold tepid water. Bring to a rapid boil, starting with cold water, for a second boil for 20 minutes. Again drain and rinse with cold tepid water. Now for the third time, starting over cold tepid water bring to a rapid boil for 20 more minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Let drain completely.

Meantime fry bacon and save drippings; set aside. Clean and cut onion in quarters. Take drained poke salad. Cook in fry pan that you fried your bacon. Add 1/4 cup of drippings and shortening from bacon. Add onion, 1/4 cup of water, salt to taste. Let steam fry until onions are sauteed, about 15 to 20 minutes. Serve and garnish with hard-boiled egg and bacon.

-Cooks.com “Poke Salad”

MEDICINAL USE OF POKEWEED

Pokeweed Plant With Blossoms

The roots and berries of the Pokeweed plant are poisonous to eat, but are often used medicinally.  Poke root has been used as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral.  It affects the glands, lungs, spleen and kidneys and has been used to treat swollen and/or inflamed glands, breast cysts, and tumors.  In folk medicine it is used for its anti-inflammatory properties to ease arthritis and rheumatism.

In his book “The Way of Herbs”, Michael Tierra cites pokeroot as “one of the two or three most important native herbs for treating cancer” and indicates that it should be used with “a broad-spectrum blood-purifying formula, such as the Hoxsey formula” with dosage being “no more than 5-10 drops every 3 hours”.

Information on the Hoxsey Formula and Harry Hoxsey can be found in the book Cancer Salves: A Botanical Approach to Treatment by Dr. Ingrid Naiman .

Click here to watch Hoxsey: How Healing Becomes a Crime (Free)

Tierra also recommends making a syrup of fresh pokeroot, because a syrup lessens gastrointestinal irritation.  To make the syrup add fresh green pokeroot tincture to a base of syrup or honey.  (Click Here to Learn How to Make Tinctures.)  Tierra recommends using 5-10 drops every three hours.

Some research has shown that a protein contained in pokeweed, called pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP), has anti-tumor effects in mice and laboratory studies. In test tube studies, PAP has also shown action against viruses such as herpes and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Research has shown that pokeweed contains a compound that appears to enhance the immune system and has some anti-cancer effects in animals. According to one animal study, pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP), a protein contained in the plant, demonstrated anti-cancer effects in rodents. Another study found that PAP, when combined with an immunotherapy drug called TP-3, holds promise as a potential treatment for advanced osteosarcomas and some soft tissue sarcomas. Laboratory studies have suggested that certain formulations of PAP may be turn out to be useful against cancer cells that depend on hormones for their growth, such as cells from prostate, breast, and ovarian cancer.

PAP also acts against some viruses such as herpes and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and it is being studied as a possible antiviral. In laboratory studies, it seemed to help protect cells against HIV, and researchers are studying whether it might help protect people from HIV infection. However, even though animal and laboratory studies may show a certain compound looks promising, studies in people are necessary to find out whether the results hold true for humans.

-Cancer.org

In her book “Jude’s Herbal Home Remedies”,  Jude Todd stresses that pokeweed should be used with caution in any home remedy.  “I call it the chemotherapy of herbs, as it is it is an extremely strong purge.  It duplicates the effects of cortisone, which stimulates the entire glandular system.”  She also indicates that it should be used “only when drastic measures are called for and when all other methods have failed or not suitable.”  Ms. T0dd also explains that pokeweed is a violent laxative and diuretic that cleans the entire system.

Adult Pokeweed with Unripe and Ripe Berries

HERBAL RECIPES USING POKE ROOT

Poke Root Tea

1 tsp powdered or cut dried pokeroot
1 cup water
Simmer pokeroot herb in water.

Recipe courtesy of “The Way of Herbs” by Michael Tierra.  Tierra recommends taking one mouthful several times throughout the day.

Poke Root Tincture

Click Here to Learn How to Make and Herbal Tinctures

Formula for Glandular System, Arthritic, and Rheumatic Complaints

Dried Poke Root
Sasparilla Root
Dandelion Root
Burdock Root
Spikenard
Ginger
Licorice Root (1/2 part of this)

Use equal parts to make a standard decoction.

Recipe courtesy of “The Way of Herbs” by Michael Tierra.   Tierra recommends taking two or three cups daily.

My Personal Use of Pokeweed

We eat pokeweed as a boiled green in our house.  I use the leaves only from all sized plants, making sure there is no red or purple in the vein of the leaves.  I do not use the stems, flowers, root, or berries.  To prepare the greens, I boil them three times discarding the water each time.  My family and I think pokeweed is delicious.  It is very tender and mild, it reminds me of asparagus.  We eat it as Poke Salad using the recipe above and in omelettes and quiche.

I have a great poke story! When my hubby had cancer last year..all of a sudden a poke plant started growing right outside my front door. I have lived here 23 years and never had one there before. Poke berries are a natural remedy to cancer. Don’t tell me nature doesn’t know our needs!

 -Jyll Renee’, Master Herbologist

Click Here to Visit Our FREE Online Guide to Wild Edible & Medicinal Plants

Click Here to Visit Our FREE Online Herbal Materia Medica

Sources:

Brill, S., & Dean, E. (2002). Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places. New York: HarperResource.

Cancer.org. (n.d.). Pokeweed. Retrieved July 26, 2011, from Cancer.org: http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/pokeweed

Cooks.com. (n.d.). Poke Salad. Retrieved July 20, 2011, from Cooks.com: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1650,150172-232192,00.html

Tierra, M. (1998). The Way of Herbs. New York: Pocket Books.

Todd, J. (1995). Jude’s Herbal Home Remedies. St. Paul: Llewellyn Publications.

WHAT IS AN HERBAL TINCTURE?

 In Medicine  a tincture is an alcohol based extract of leaves or other plant material, or solution of a non-volatile substance (like iodine).  In Herbology, tinctures are potent, alcohol based, liquid extracts made using fresh plant material in liquid base such as vodka, brandy, vegetable glycerin, or even apple cider vinegar (all of which are safe for human consumption).

 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TINCTURE AND AN EXTRACT?

The terms are often used interchangeably by herbalists.  The pharmacological definition of  a tincture is a liquid herbal made using most often alcohol as the solvent,  but occasionally glycerin, vinegar and water.  (If a solvent other than alcohol is usede used, the tinctures will not store indefinitely like tinctures made with alcohol.)  The pharmacological definition of an extract the concentrated substance obtained by dissolving a drug in some solvent, as ether or alcohol, and then evaporating the preparation.  In this instance, extracts are much more concenrated than tinctures.

But again, please note that many herbalists use these terms interchangably.  Sometimes herbalist refer to a tincture as a liquid herbal made using alcohol as the solvent and refer to extracts as a liquid herbal using oil as the solvent.

It is always best to clarify this when purchasing tinctures and extracts, if concentration of the herb is a concern for you.

Click Here for Commonly Used Herbology Terms and Defintions

WHY MAKE EXTRACTS AND TINCTURES?

• Extracts and Tinctures are more powerful and last longer than dried herbs.
• It is much cheaper than buying ready made herbal products.
• You can make approximately one quart of your own extract or tincture for the price of a few ounces of tincture at retail stores.
• You can control the quality of the product you are making by starting with herbs you collect yourself or purchase through a reputable source. You are also ensured of the purity of the final product.
• You can custom-make special combination formulas.
• There is something to be said about getting involved in your own health. Some herbalists say that you benefit by absorbing some of the herb through the skin and from the aroma.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN HERBAL TINCTURES

THE ITEMS YOU WILL NEED:

1. Dried or fresh herbs. (Fresh herbs are the best – one of the advantages of tincturing yourself is that you can preserve the fresh attributes of the plant.  If you are using fresh herbs, pick through them removing any damaged or dirty parts, but don’t wash them.)  Click here to view our Materia Medica.  Click here to see a list of easy-to-find herbs useful for making tinctures.
2. 80 -100 proof vodka or rum (NEVER use rubbing, isopropyl or wood alcohol!!!)  ( I like using 100 proof vodka.  “100 proof” means it is exactly half water and half alcohol. This makes figuring dosages easy as most  herbal dosages are based on the assumption that a tincture was made at 50% – 1/2 water, 1/2 alcohol.  Also, tinctures made using alcohol as the solvent  last indefinitely.   If you are concerned about ingesting the alcohol, Rosemary Gladstar recommends placing the bottle of tincture in boiling water for 1-2 minutes which will remove about 1/2 the alcohol.)
3. Wide-mouthed glass jars with lids (mason jar or equivalent).
4. Unbleached cheesecloth or muslin.
5. Labels and markers.

 MAKE THE TINCTURE:  STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

1. Chop herbs finely.
2. Pour the amount of herb you desire into the glass jar and slowly pour in the alcohol or other menestrum until the herbs are entirely covered. Then add an inch or two of additional liquid.
3. Seal the jar tightly so that the liquid cannot leak or evaporate. Put the jar in a dark area or inside a paper bag and let the herbs liquid soak (macerate) for 4-6 weeks. (The longer the better).
4. Shake the jar every day during the maceration period of 4-6 weeks. This keeps the herbs from packing down on the bottom of the jar and helps to extract their herbal properties. Some believe it brings some of the old “medicine making” magic back into the process — you can sing to your tincture jars, play special music, perform Reiki or other energy procedures…what ever your imagination or intuition inspires you to do!
5. When ready to bottle, strain the herbs from the menestrum through a large strainer lined with cheesecloth or muslin. Save the liquid, which is now a potent tincture, and pour into another jar or glass bowl. Squeeze the saturated herbs, extracting the remaining liquid until no more drips appear, pouring this in with the previously strained tincture. Compost the herbs. Rebottle into dark colored bottles or jars and label appropriately.
6. Store in a cool, dark place out of reach of children. The tinctures will keep almost indefinitely.

ADDITIONAL TIPS ON EXTRACTS AND TINCTURES

• If you are using dried herbs, plan to use 1 part herb to 3 parts menestrum.  If you are using fresh herbs, plan to use 1 part herb to 1 part menestrum.  (More menestrum is needed with dried herbs, as they will rehydrate while macerating.)
• If using fresh herbs, running the herbs through a blender with the menestrum can more finely chop the herbs and help to extract the properties more thoroughly and quickly. 
• You should plan to start your tinctures on the day of the new moon and let them sit at least 2 weeks until the full moon – this adds a natural drawing power.
• 200 grams dried or 300 grams of fresh herbs (chopped) to one liter of liquid is needed.  Some herbalists use a measurement of 1 part herb to 3 parts liquid. For exact tincture ratios, please consult a herbal textbook.
• Rum helps hide the taste of bitter herbs.
• Distilled water, vinegar or glycerol can be used to make nonalcoholic tinctures.
• Standard dosage is 1 teaspoon, 1-3 times daily, diluted in tea, juice or water.
• A  wine press or juicer may be used to extract liquid from the herbs.
• Several herbs can be combined into a tincture formula.

Experiment and have fun!

Sources:

• Gladstar, R. (2008). Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing.
• Herbal Tincture Recipe for Aromatherapy/Skin Care. AromaWeb.com. Extracted July 22, 2010 from http://www.aromaweb.com/recipes/herbaltincturesrecipe.asp
• Making Herbal Tinctures. Herbal Remedies Info.  Extracted July 22, 2010 from http://www.herbalremediesinfo.com/tinctures.html
• Satchell, M. “How to Make Your Own Herbal Tincture from Any Loose Herb” extracted from http://www.kcweb.com/herb/tincture.htm

Recommended Reading

• Ortho’s  All About Herbs by Maggie Oster
• Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health by Rosemary Gladstar
• Secrets of the Chinese Herbalists by Richard Lucas
• Sunset Herbs:  An Illustrated Guide by The Editors of Sunset Magazine
• The Herbal Drugstore by Linda B. White, M.D.
• The Natural Physicians’s Healing Therapies: Proven Remedies Medical Doctors Don’t Know by Mark Stengler, ND
• The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine by Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D.
• The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra, L.Ac., O.M.D.

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• Health Improvement:  Use Sound Therapy to Improve Your Health
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• Marharishi Ayurveda: Herbal Remedies and Supplements Produced Through Vedic Tradition and Knowledge
• Shop at MotherNature.com for Great Deals on Thousands of Health & Wellness Products!
• Standardized Herbs: Nature’s Sunshine Utilizes over 600 Tests to Guarantee the Quality of Herbs, Supplements, Essential Oils and Other Natural Health Care Products!
• Self Sufficient Life Website
• Super Antioxidant Juice MonaVie for a daily dose of Acai – the highest rated antioxidant currently known on the planet!
• Ultimate Guide to Vitamins and Minerals Book Info

Daily supplements of zinc may reduce measures of anger and depression in young women. That’s what Japanese researchers found in a current study.

A daily supplement of 7 mg of zinc as zinc gluconate was associated with significant decreases in measures of anger-hostility and depression-dejection, scientists from Daigaku Junior College and Seitoku University reported in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

On the other hand, multivitamin supplements did not affect the mood state of women who participated in the study.

“Although our findings are preliminary and should be interpreted with caution, they may prompt further investigations to evaluate the relationship between zinc nutriture and mood states in women,” wrote the researchers.

Zinc deficiency affects 30% of the world’s population, and mood swings are reportedly common symptoms of mild zinc deficiency. In order to test if zinc supplements could affect mood, the Japanese researchers recruited 30 young women and randomly assigned them to receive either multivitamins, or multivitamins, plus zinc, for 10 weeks.

The multivitamins were given to all to avoid vitamin deficiencies, and the supplement provided 50% of the Japanese recommended dietary allowances of vitamins A, D, B-1, B-2, B-12, niacin and folic acid.

At the end of the study, only women who received the additional zinc supplements showed significant increases in blood levels of zinc and reductions in scores of depression and anger.

Similar studies in lab animals showed that only females experienced increases in aggression levels when zinc-deficient, and the new data appears to support this anger-reducing effect in women following zinc supplementation, said the researchers.

“Our results suggest that zinc supplementation may be effective in reducing anger and depression,” they concluded.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 64(3):331-333, 2010

Source: Swanson, L. (April 2010.) Lee Swanson Research Update. “Zinc May Ease Female Anger and Depression.” Extracted verbatim with permission on April 27, 2010 from http://www.swansonvitamins.com/health-library/articles/nutrition/zinc-may-ease-female-anger-and-depression.html?SourceCode=INTHIR363

Note:  This article references ORAL zinc supplementation, not zinc nasal spray.   Zinc nasal sprays, such as Zicam have been shown to cause loss of smell.  ”While zinc is critical for maintenance of normal smell function through its action as a cofactor in carbonic anhydrase VI, given directly into the nostrils at high concentrations, it can initiate direct toxic destruction of the olfactory epithelium with which it comes into contact in its spray form.” (http://www.tasteandsmell.com/apr04.htm)

Related Links

• Improve Your Mood Naturally With Endorphin Release Sound Recordings
• Marharishi Ayurveda: Herbal Remedies and Supplements Produced Through Vedic Tradition and Knowledge
• Order Zinc from Nature’s Sunshine: Nature’s Sunshine Utilizes Over 600 Tests to Guarantee Product Quality!
• Super Antioxidant Juice MonaVie for a daily dose of Acai – the highest rated antioxidant currently known on the planet!
• Ultimate Guide to Vitamins and Minerals Book Info

Courtesy of

Special Thanks to Kim Thomas for forwarding this article to LuminEarth.

Are apricot seeds a source for a natural substance that kills cancer cells without destroying the cancer victim’s health and wealth? The essential ingredient has been called laetrile or vitamin B 17. If there is any merit to it, why is this information being suppressed? Why are people who have been cured or have cured others being censured and imprisoned? Could be there is something to the claims.

Keep in mind that the cancer industry world wide is estimated at a 200 billion dollar a year industry. There are many in various associated positions within that industry who would be without a job if that cash flow dried up suddenly with the news that there are cheaper, less harmful, and more efficacious remedies available. Big Pharmacy would virtually vanish.

What is B17, or Laetrile Anyway?

In 1952, a biochemist named Dr. Ernst Krebb, Jr. in San Francisco decided that cancer was a metabolic reaction to a poor diet, and a missing nutrient from modern man’s diet could be the key to overcoming cancer. His research led to a compound found in over 1200 edible plants throughout nature. That compound is amagdylin,

Amagdylin is found with the highest concentration and necessary enzymes in apricot seed kernels. A primitive tribe, the Hunzas, were known to consume large amounts of apricot seed kernels. The hard pit had to be broken to get into the soft kernels. There was no incidence of cancer with them at all, ever. And they had long, healthy life spans. Laetrile was created by simply extracting amagdylin from the soft apricot kernels, purifying it and putting it into a concentrated form.

Amagdylin is a nitrioloside. Nitriolisides are difficult to categorize since they are in foods but not foods themselves. As a nitrioloside, amagdylin resembled the B complex structures, so Dr. Krebb called it B17 since by that time 16 types of B vitamins had been isolated.

Dr. Krebb injected himself with laetrile to ensure there would be no toxic side effects. He conducted further lab animal and culture experiments to conclude that laetrile would be effective in the treatment of cancer. By the way, the FDA standard for drug safety is known as LD 50, LD stands for lethal dose, and the 50 is the percentage threshold of lab animals poisoned to death by the drug tested. As long as the percentage killed is under 50%, FDA will approve it!

Since laetrile is derived directly from a food substance in nature and not chemically developed in a laboratory, it is impossible to patent. And of course it’s not toxic. In other words, just as with all natural healing substances, Big Pharma and the AMA can’t make a fortune from the substance and from the remedies for the long term side effects. There have been several testimonies from cancer victims who cured themselves by chewing large quantities of the apricot seeds alone.

The seeds are more available to consumers now than laetrile because in 1971 the FDA banned laetrile. Laetrile is difficult, but not impossible, to purchase. The seeds are actually the soft almond shaped, bitter tasting kernels from inside the pits. A few users prefer extracting those soft kernels from the pits themselves. But the soft kernels are available and inexpensive.

So How Does It Work?

Amagdylin contains four substances. Two are glucose; one is benzaldyhide, and one is cyanide. Yes, cyanide and benzaldyhide are poisons if they are released or freed as pure molecules and not bound within other molecular formations. Many foods containing cyanide are safe because the cyanide remains bound and locked as part of another molecule and therefore cannot cause harm.

There is even an enzyme in normal cells to catch any free cyanide molecules and to render them harmless by combining them with sulfur. That enzyme is rhodanese, which catalyzes the reaction and binds any free cyanide to sulfur. By binding the cyanide to sulfur, it is converted to a cyanate which is a neutral substance. Then it is easily passed through the urine with no harm to the normal cells.

But cancer cells are not normal. They contain an enzyme that other cells do not share, beta-glucosidase. This enzyme, virtually exclusive to cancer cells, is considered the “unlocking enzyme” for amagdylin molecules. It releases both the benzaldyhide and the cyanide, creating a toxic synergy beyond their uncombined sum. This is what the cancer cell’s beta-glucosidase enzyme does to self destruct cancer cells.

Amagdylin or laetrile in conjunction with the protective enzymes in healthy cells and the unlocking enzymes in cancer cells is thus able to destroy cancer cells without jeopardizing healthy cells. Chemotherapy, on the other hand, kills a lot of other cells and diminishes one’s immune system while killing an undetermined amount of cancer cells.

Those cancer cells tend to return elsewhere because the patient’s general health was reduced from the pervasive chemo toxins. The cancer industry has declared the bench mark for curing cancer as being cancer free for 5 years. It’s estimated that of those who undergo the AMA big three for curing cancer, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, no more than 3% make the 5 year cancer free mark. Besides the treatments’ debilitating effects, they are much more expensive!

But for someone with cancer, it takes a considerable amount of daily B17 consumption to enable the amagdylin to reach the cancer cells with beta-glucosidase. That’s because some of the amagdylin molecules will be neutralized by the normal cells containing rhodanese.

Many practitioners who use laetrile have an 85% cure rate among cancer victims who did not undergo much of the standard cut, burn, and poison that is main-stream – while the cure rate for those who come to laetrile therapy as a last resort after all that conventional medicine could only have a 15% recovery rate. There is a clinic in Mexico that claims a 100 percent cure rate!

The Medical Mafia’s Suppression

Since around 1920, practitioners of alternative cancer therapies and remedies and their messengers have been marginalized, harassed, imprisoned, and even killed. Federal agencies have been used to bring about bogus charges or IRS tax liens that are enforced by US Marshals the way Dr. Gary Glum was hassled for even writing books on Essiac Tea. See Natural News article “Essiac Tea: A Cancer Cure Big Pharma Doesn’t Want You To Know About.” http://www.naturalnews.com/026928_c….

A young Brooklyn man, Jason Vale, was imprisoned because he refused to stop telling others on TV and in lectures how he cured himself of cancer using those nasty apricot pit kernels! Jason is a more recent public example of the Medical Mafia’s grip on the legal system regarding B17. Laetrile, which is non toxic, was banned by the FDA in 1971.

Shortly after the 1971 laetrile ban, a practicing physician in San Francisco, Dr. John Richardson, who had been using laetrile successfully on cancer patients, came to his friend G. Edward Griffin, a published investigative journalist, and asked Griffin if he could write up something to help him and others continue using laetrile on their cancer patients.

G. Edward Griffin’s research evolved into his groundbreaking book, World Without Cancer. This book not only explained laetrile and chronicled several cancer cures, but Griffin’s investigative nose led him down the rabbit hole and into the underbelly of the cancer industry’s efforts at keeping alternative cancer cures from the light of day. That’s how he discovered that the Sloane-Kettering Cancer Institute had buried documentation from scientists’ research, which proved laetrile was “highly effective” at curing cancer.

Griffin received those documents himself from a Dr. Ralph Moss, who had been told to cover up that evidence and claim that laetrile was worthless. He refused and left his position as PR manager with Sloane-Kettering. Since that time in 1977, Dr. Ralph Moss has gone on to write or edit several books on cancer cure options. It’s always encouraging to see an insider come out! Someone else filled Dr. Moss’s vacant position and lied the lies about laetrile that filled the medical journals.

And what about those medical journals? Lately, the most prestigious New England Journal of Medicine dropped its standard of not allowing articles contributed to the journal from anyone who was receiving money from Big Pharma, as long as it’s less than 10 grand annually. If they didn’t drop that standard, there wouldn’t be enough articles to fill the journal! Of course, most medical journals are glossy ad forums for Big Pharma anyway.

Both G. Edward Griffin with World Without Cancer and Phillip Day in his book Cancer: Why We’re Still Dying to Know the Truth, make it very clear that the cancer industry does not really want a cure. Even non-profit organizations get millions in donations from the brainwashed, huddled masses along with funding for promoting Big Pharma. A non-profit organization can and will have key people working for 6 figure plus annual salaries, by the way.

Doctors mostly do as they are trained and told; medical journals contain false reports and lies. Cancer foundations have breast cancer months or whatever as PR to get people into the disease industry’s money mill as early as possible, and at the top, there is Big Pharma. It’s all about money and career. Not about public health and “The War on Cancer.”

So far in mainstream medicine, it’s been a losing battle with more getting cancer than ever. Around 1 out of 3 is destined to get cancer these days, and more are dying from cancer after conventional treatments. Talk about pandemics! All this with lots of cash going their way, enabling some to live a lush lifestyle and others hanging on to their comfy, secure jobs at the expense of our health.

Meanwhile, too many true humanitarian doctors and herbalists and writers concerned with the truth wind up being treated like criminals or nut cases, sometimes with their lives destroyed. That’s tragic. And so is the fact that millions suffer and die while being conditioned against using effective and less painless procedures.

Laetrile Treatment

There are many success stories from people using just laetrile or apricot pit kernels. The usual recommendation for prevention is around 5 to 7 over the course of a day. For actual cancer cases use 2 to 3 times that. Some say one kernel for every 10 lbs of body weight. For maintenance after a cure, go back to 5 to 7 per day.

Some laetrile therapists have patients use vitamin B15 tablets and digestive enzymes such as papaya’s papain and pineapple’s bromalene. Too many apricot pit kernels can create nausea or dizziness. There are no recorded deaths or disabilities from the apricot seeds or laetrile, however. Although some success has been recorded with patients undergoing conventional therapy and using laetrile, it’s not recommended. Eventually most of those who combine the two get off the chemo or die anyway.

There are many practitioners and writers who recommend you combine other alternative cancer therapies while taking laetrile or using the apricot pits – especially if you go for it alone at home. It should be obvious to Natural News readers that a foundation of healthy food and less stress is necessary. A fundamental lifestyle change has to be a part of any permanent cancer cure. In addition, a little eclectic mix and match with other alternative therapies seems like a good approach.

For example, Gerson’s cancer cure therapy’s juicing protocol with the right type of juicer and using coffee enemas to detox the liver could be added with laetrile use. It’s hard to go wrong with that healthy combination. See Natural News article on the Gerson Therapy for more details here:
http://www.naturalnews.com/027004_c…

Do your own research by starting with the source links below this article. Those sources are for more than showing the author has done his homework. The author intends for you to use them as a springboard for your own research. Why waste your money and health on toxic remedies when so much is available as alternatives for far less money and negative side effects?

Sources:

Excellent interview of G. Edward Griffin on laetrile and the cancer industry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFnP…

An excellent overview of different cancer cure options
http://www.1cure4allcancer.com/the_…

A vast, indexed and categorized free source of cancer cure options with details you can use – It’s the free online bible of cancer cure options
http://www.cancertutor.com/index.html

Information on apricot seeds with more details
http://www.detailshere.com/cancerap…

Vitamin B17 – contains information on supplements to include with B17 and a list of foods with B17, also a few caveats on using B17
http://www.detailshere.com/cancerb1…

Author Phillip Day’s blog
http://www.credence.org/

Sources:

NaturalNews.com, extracted in entirety with permission on April 9, 2010 from http://www.naturalnews.com/027088_cancer_laetrile_health.html

Related Links

• Health Improvement:  Use Sound Therapy to Improve Your Health
• Nature’s Sunshine Utilizes over 600 Tests to Guarantee the Quality of Supplements, Essential Oils and Other Natural Health Care Products!
• Super Antioxidant Juice MonaVie for a daily dose of Acai – the highest rated antioxidant currently known on the planet!
• Ultimate Guide to Vitamins and Minerals Book Info