Lymphoma: Turmeric as supportive therapy

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I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

TURMERIC ROOT
Latin: Curcuma longa
Chinese: Jiang huang / Yu jin

WHAT IT DOES: Turmeric root is bitter in taste and warming in action. It strongly reduces inflammation and mucus in all parts of the body, protects the liver, lungs and intestines, and helps prevent and treat cancer.

RATING: Gold

SAFETY ISSUES: Due to mucin-reducing effects, do not use the concentrated extract (curcumin) or oil in high doses, especially if you have bile duct obstruction, gall stones, or stomach ulcers. Use turmeric as a spice freely.

Turmeric is a common tuberous vegetable spice used all over the world. It stimulates gastric juices, and it is used in Indian households in most vegetable dishes as an anti-food poisoning agent that also reduces mucous formation.

Turmeric root is used externally by TAM doctors to treat skin diseases, and as a plaster to reduce swelling. It is a valuable anti-inflammatory. Modern research has shown it to be a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hepatotoxic herb, useful in the treatment of many inflammation-related conditions such as diabetes, hepatitis, arthritis, diarrhea, psoriasis, eczema, asthma and smoking related lung inflammation (Pandey et al., 1996).

Turmeric rhizome is yellow in color and egg-shaped (called jiang huang), with numerous secondary garlic bulb-like projections (called yu jin). TCM doctors report that these two parts have different medicinal properties. Though similar in action, the larger jiang huang is used to invigorate the blood, relieve menstrual cramps, and treat the pain and swelling associated with trauma. The smaller yu jin is cooler in action and used more to break up blood stasis and relieve constrained liver energy with symptoms of internal tension.
READ THE COMPLETE ENTRY HERE

Petra M. Burgmann, DVM on turmeric:
"The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties of turmeric and curcumin are undergoing intense research. Several studies indicate that curcumin can suppress tumor initiation, promotion and metastasis of a number of types of cancer cells. Pharmacologically, curcumin has been found to be fairly safe, with human clinical trials indicating no dose-limiting toxicity when administered at doses up to 10 g/day. All of these studies suggest that curcumin has enormous potential in the prevention and therapy of cancer. Tumeric could be added to any herbal anti-cancer regime at a dose of 100 milligrams a day."
Taken directly from Dr. Petra's article, download here.

II. CHOOSEN THERAPY & DOSING:

Do you have a one gram spoon? If not a trick learned from my favorite TCM doctor is that 1/2 US teaspoon is equal to 1 gram. Just measure it with the spoon, put it on wax paper, and 'cut it' into halves over and over until you have 10 doses like it was ferret cocaine . The rest can go in one of those weekly pill boxes for storage. Slightly too much or too little won't hurt him so you can be not so perfect in cutting it and not worry.

You can dissolve that 1/10 gram in a little warm water and administer as is (good luck with that.), mixed with treat or oil of choice, or hidden in food. Dissolving in warm water and letting sitting for a few minutes is recommended, but not required. Instructions on dissolving from the San Jiu company can be downloaded here. Of course, as I said above, you do not want to dissolve it like that. Just take the amount of extract you need and dissolve in a little warm water covered for 2-3 minutes is probably easiest. It does say to refrigerate the extract packets though.


EXAMPLE DOSING 1
EXAMPLE DOSING 2:
Referring to the Tillotson information above about the 2 different types of turmeric and other related studies, the following plan was outlined for patient 00. Explanation in brief below:

Actually, under TCM they identify two types of turmeric root. They both have slightly different actions. In all my resources, although turmeric is recommended for use in cancer supportive treatment, I can't find a single source that specifies which one. I choose the Yujin form since although both are anti-inflammatories, according to TCM theory, cancer is brought about through (amoung other things) liver stagnation. As you can see from the Tillotson book quote Yu jin works by relieving the liver. Hence the choice of Yu jin form of turmeric over the Jiang huang form.

III. TIMING OF ADMINISTERING HERBAL THERAPIES:

Most homeopathic remedies are best given at least 20 minutes before… a meal. Ideally there should be no food residue in the mouth. Drop the liquid directly into the animal's mouth or on the gums... If this proves impossible for your companion, then mix the remedy with a small amount of food or a treat. (Clip taken from the Only Natural Pet store.)

It should be noted that giving herbal medicines 20+ minutes before any food is ingested has been standard operating procedure in over 3000 years of Chinese medicine, even for humans. Of course, in the interest of actually getting them to take it at all, we frequently bow to necessity and mix it with food as in the case of patient 00. At least they are taking it, even with reduced effect. It is always better to not cause anymore stress.

IV. POSSIBLE DRUG INTERACTIONS:

Always double check with your Holistic DVM first, but Minimal.
Check the links on the right in the Complimentary & Supportive Therapies section under the Drug Interactions / Toxic Reactions / Poison Control subheading to research it. And remember to search under the Latin name or Chinese name to make sure you are getting the most accurate information. More links to be added to that section in the future.

Need a holistic DVM? Research for the closest one to you here at the official American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.

Disclaimer: I am not a DVM. Advice is offered after my own extensive research and/or experience and should be undertaken at your own risk. Consult with your licensed DVM before undertaking any treatment!


No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means -- electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise -- without the written permission of the copyright owner. All copyrights of their respective owners.

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Sugar Substitutes and Safety

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We all know xylitol is bad for animals (specifically dogs and probably others).

Off hand, does anyone know whether erythritol is dangerous for animals, too?

It is another no-calorie sweetner that has no effect on glycemic index.
"In the body, erythritol is absorbed into the bloodstream in the small intestine, and then for the most part excreted unchanged in the urine. Because erythritol is normally absorbed before it enters the large intestine, it does not normally cause laxative effects as are often experienced after over-consumption of other sugar alcohols and most people will consume erythritol with no side effects. This is unique, as other sugar alcohols are not absorbed directly by the body in this manner. " (thefreelibrary.com)

It is often used as the main ingredient in a popular sweetener Rakanto where the second ingredient is the extract if the Asian fruit Rakan (Scientific name: Siraitia grosvenori, Chinese name: Luo Han Guo). It is interesting to note that Siraitia grosvenori has also shown anticarcinogenic activity. And although it is not a common problem with ferrets, a recent paper also points to an "antidiabetic effect of long-term supplementation".

However, why compare xylitol to erythritol?

Although the chemical makeup is different from xylitol - xylitol is C5 H12 O5 and erythritol is C4 H10 O4 - BOTH xylitol and erythritol fall into the category of "sugar alcohols". Because of that, even though liver toxicity in dogs is occurs because they don't have the liver enzymes necessary to deal with xylitol, I wonder whether xylitol and erythritol might share some of the same properties in terms of safety?

UPDATE @ FerretKnots

Disclaimer: I am not a DVM. Advice is offered after my own extensive research and/or experience and should be undertaken at your own risk. Consult with your licensed DVM before undertaking any treatment!

No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means -- electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise -- without the written permission of the copyright owner. All copyrights of their respective owners.

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Supportive Therapies: Buying Medicinal Herbs

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In treating myself, I have worked with and come across numerous suppliers over the years. Here's a list of good online sites along some company quirks, herbal traditions, and how the herbs are offered.
The most commonly practiced Herbal Traditions are as follows, in order of years of practice: Chinese or TCM (4000 years), Indian or Ayurveda (2000+ years), and Western/European (300 years). Looking at this list you can see why I prefer the Chinese tradition of herbal medicine. I am sure Ayurveda is just as good, but TCM is what I started with living in Japan back in 2000 and I have no background in even the basis of Ayurveda. Correction, I know enough to know it is very different from TCM.

Western/European herbal medicine has been ignored and often ridiculed until recently under the massive weight of "western medical science". I have also found that in western herbology medicinal formulas tend to be heavily watered down to the point they are almost ineffective. A good, robust formula as the type you will find in TCM, should take no more than one month to see some effect. Depending of the formula and/or individual, eg for those of us who are extremely sensitive, effects can be felt within a week.

You can find out more about TCM and Ayurveda through the NIH website of National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Both TCM and Ayurveda are recognized by the World Health Organization as an effective, traditional health science.

There are multiple Formats in which herbs are processed and sold:

Liquid Extracts

Oils

Dry Extracts

Capsules

Powdered

Concentrated Powders (most commonly 5:1)

Tablets

Tea Pills (style strictly found in TCM)

Whole, Unprocessed

Again, in working with animals, they are listed from "easiest to use" to "hardest/avoid". Liquid extracts and oils are obviously the easiest to use because you can always use a dropper coated on the tip with Ferrotone to sucker them into taking the medicine. As a last resort, this form is usually easiest to mix straight into their food. You want to avoid that if possible. Refer to Administering LIQUID herbal formulas for tips and the reasoning behind it. The only thing you have to watch out for with oils and liquid extracts is what is the medium for carrying the herb? Is it an alcohol base or some other oil or the pure extract with no carrying medium? Ask before you purchase.

Dry Extracts are in a category of their own as these should be (if labeled correctly) dry extracts which are water-soluable. This means you used have to dissolve the amount you want in as much water as necessary to dissolve it. Provided you give the prescribed dosage, adding the water does not weaken the concentration. From then on you can just treat it as a Liquid Extract.

Capsules, Powdered, and Concentrated Powders fall into the third category of ease of use. Capsules I think can be the nicest because the are pre-measured to some extent and you can divide them down further from there. Typically, capsules are just gelatin capsules like Tylenol caps so they are very easy to open since they are just 2 halves pressed together. Powered types are the raw herb that has merely been reduced to a fine powder. Concentrated Powders are most commonly a 5:1 concentration meaning 1gm of the concentrate herb is equivalent to 5gm of the raw herb. It's just 5 times as strong. This is a good choice for humans, but for ferrets with their considerably smaller bodies, it would be a hassle. Sticking with the powdered or capsule form is less taxing on the brain. Another reason these 3 types are in this category is because a "liquid" form can be readily made from them. Refer back to Administering LIQUID herbal formulas for ideas on how to do so. I do not AT ALL recommend sprinkling the powdered herbs straight onto their food. The smell is too obvious to their super-noses and one can not be sure they are ingesting all of the necessary dose.

Tablets and Tea Pills (a type of tablet) are usually found in the realm of TCM formulas. If you are using a traditional Chinese formula in America, you will likely be using it in one of these forms. Although some herbs can be found in tablet form, tea pills are style strictly found in TCM. Basically, the ingredients of the TCM formula has been made into a concentrated tisane, dried and then formed into little tablets. There is no actual 'tea' in the pills. The problem with tea pills is that you have to be careful that you are purchasing non-sugar coated teapills. The default is a sugarcoating, not that it improves the taste any, just makes it easier to swallow. If you and your vet happen to find a formula that you want to use, for instance from the Cheryl Schwartz, DVM book Four Paws Five Directions, you will need to crush the pills down. Treat the powdered result the same as you would when dealing with Capsules, Powdered, or Concentrated Powders.

Whole, Unprocessed is the category you want to stay away from unless you are backed into the corner by snarling, ravenous ferrets. Even then I can't imagine how you would get them to eat it. (You would have to brew it into a dense tisane and then administer as a liquid.) This category contains herbs that are whole roots, bark, petals, antler, etc... Completely unprocessed. Fortunately, 99.9% of the herbs you want can be found in any of the above other forms.

Now on to the best part-SHOPPING!!

HERBAL FORMAT KEY:
le = Liquid Extracts
o = Oils
de = Dry Extracts
cap = Capsules
p = Powdered
cp = Concentrated Powders
tab = Tablets
tp =Tea Pills
w = Whole, Unprocessed

Store Name	Herbal Tradition	Herbal Formats	Other
East Earth Trade Winds	TCM, Western	le, o, de, p, w	take note of the sanjiu extract packets and starwest liquid extracts
Sanjiu	TCM	de	Carries ENTIRE selection of Sanjiu single extracts. Also allows cross-reference between common English name and Chinese pinyin and character names. See addendum I below.
First Chinese Herbs	TCM, Ayurveda, Western	p, cp, tp, w	very helpful. will search for request. will not carry Sanjiu, offers explanations of TCM formulas
Banyan Botancials	Ayurveda	p, tab	USDA organic and traditional Ayurveda formulas
Herbs MD	Western	cap, le, p, tab	not so much selection, but offers Many Manufacturers
Gaia Herbs through Amazon.com	Western	le	The only thing I don't like is that in TCM they strictly identify and differentiate the separate parts of the herb used. Gaia does not.
China Medicine Mall	TCM	p, cp, tp	formulas also. smaller selection but good service
Chinese Herbs Direct	TCM	p, cp, w	formulas also. never used but huge selection. pinyin Chinese and botanical names only
Max Nature	TCM	p, cp	large selection of single and concentrated herbal powders. traditional formulas also but would AVOID the formulas as they are often diluted with a lot of licorice powder. pinyin Chinese and translated English nameds
Spanda Healing	TCM	tab	GOLDEN FLOWER BRAND PILLS! see addendum II

Now after all that hard work, don't you feel you deserve to buy something for yourself? (I do.) I recommend and absolutely LOVE the Cocoa & Spice Tea.


ADDENDUM I

About the SANJIU manufacturer's store:
If you notice, their order form is credit card only not even a Paypal option. Not only that they do not processing the order through "verisign" or similar online security systems. And for the finale, if you notice at the bottom of your browser (Firefox), there is no "this is a secure site" flag. I have been purchasing online for over 7 years so I did notice that and sent an inquiry regarding to which the reply was as follows:

Thank you for your email. Indeed, although our order page is not registered as a secure page, we can guaranteed that your credit card will only be used on your order billing and is 100% secure and will be erased after the transaction. We have been in business for over 7 years and we never have a problem with our online credit card payment. We shipping to US all the time through UPS and never had a problem.

Hope this helps ease your worry and looking forward to doing business with you. Thank you.

Regards,
Sanjiu Medical Center

So how do I feel about it now?
I will use them. IF I can't find what I need at East Earth Trade. At any rate, they are still an excellent reference site. Even if you can't read Chinese, if you click on the highlighted Chinese name a secondary window will pop up and the scientific name in English will be shown. You can then use that name to check out the herbal databases for more information and drug interactions.

Preparation:
Dissolve the contents of one (1) package in ... boiling water. Cover and let stand for 2-3 minutes, during which time the cover should not be removed.
--How much boiling water you use is dependent on how much you want to weaken the extract or make it easier to use.

Precautions:
1. Do not dissolve granules in cold water
2. Store in a cool, dry place such as a refrigerator.

ADDENDUM II
About Golden Flower Pills:
Out of all the "american producers" this is by far the most effective brand. Potent and high quality. Very similar to what I can find over here in Japan. They only sell pills so you will need to crush them then measure then administer. A hassle, but the quality is well worth it. However....
"DUE TO OUR DISTRIBUTOR AGREEMENT WITH GOLDEN FLOWER WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO OFFER GF FORMULAS FOR SALE ON OUR WEBSITE. TO ORDER GF FORMULAS PLEASE CALL 1-800-772-6320 OR SEND AN EMAIL TO info@spanda.com"



Disclaimer: I am not a DVM. Advice is offered after my own extensive research and/or experience and should be undertaken at your own risk. Consult with your licensed DVM before undertaking any treatment!


No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means -- electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise -- without the written permission of the copyright owner. All copyrights of their respective owners.

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