Red Blood and Oxygenation

One theory of cancer, a theory for which a Nobel prize was awarded to Otto Warburg, is that cancer thrives in the absence of oxygen, a condition favoring anaerobic cells over aerobic ones. There are many possible reasons for oxygen deficiency, including poor transport of oxygen due to low hemoglobin levels, clumping of blood—rouleau, erythrocyte aggregation, embolisms—or loss of blood due to toxicity, parasitization, hemorrhaging, and/or infection. Besides the loss of vitality that is felt in such conditions, degeneration tends to overtake the body's ability to regenerate. Blood building foods and herbs can be beneficial when the the condition of the blood is less than optimal.

It is generally understood that cancer cells do not have normal cellular respiration. In simple terms, this means that they derive their energy through fermentation, break down of tissue, rather than oxygen. In the absence of oxygen, normal cells weaken or die; or they may mutate into something more primitive that can survive without a healthy supply of oxygen.

Initially, the sites that are lacking sufficient blood supply may be cooler, but as the "terrain" becomes more compromised due to oxygen deficiency, tissues in the area may break down. Then, the affected area may become more metabolically active, acidic, and hot. It is not unusual for a malignant area to be several degrees warmer than a healthy part of the body. This is what makes thermography such an interesting diagnostic tool.

There are many reasons that a cell might become oxygen deficient. A person may live in an area where the air is devitalized; he or she may not breathe deeply enough; or the red blood cells may be too few in number, too clumped together to circulate properly, or too deformed or compromised to perform the work of transporting oxygen. Anemia, infection, parasites, molds and fungi, and toxicity may all contribute to poor oxygen transport and devitalization. The physical symptoms of this may be pallor and fatigue, poor circulation to the extremities (cold hands and feet), and sometimes dizziness or mental fuzziness. The psychological symptoms are subtle: lack of fortitude, an easy sense of defeat, or a conviction that the effort needed to do something cannot be made. In some cases, the patient feels vulnerable.

While in Germany consulting on herbs, a cancer patient presented with the condition shown on the left, a number of large erythrocyte aggregations. She also had very long blood parasites. The blood problems were quickly resolved with herbs.

 

 

 

People who have chemotherapy usually suffer considerable destruction of their red blood cells. They can limit consequences through careful food choices and the right herbs. After the chemotherapy is completed, there are herbs for rebuilding the liver, heart, and blood. A few of the usual supplements are attended by controversy. Chief among these might be Tang Kwei Gin, a very affordable Chinese tonic that is used to "invigorate tired blood." It works extremely fast and has pulled some patients out of crisis who were suffering from deficiency conditions following blood loss or chemotherapy. The tonic contains a number of herbs, including some that may, according to some but certainly not all sources, be contraindicated for some patients. The chief ingredient, angelica (dong quai) has some estrogenic properties, but it is also progesteronic. It is antitumoral and stimulating to lymphocyte production. It also possesses some properties that are useful in combating the side effects of irradiation, and it helps to relieve edema. Some Chinese herbalists do not recommend Tang Kwei Gin for certain cancer patients, but many patients suffering from acute blood deficiency have taken this tonic under medical supervision where it was found to be "regulating" rather than estrogenic. In other words, it restores correct hormonal balance. My personal opinion is that it is a judgment call. I know of nothing faster acting or cheaper, but I do not recommend taking more than is needed.  This is usually no more than eight bottles over a period of two to three months. Taken in conjunction with definitively anti-cancer herbs, my experience is that TKG is safe. However, its primary virtue is to "jump start" tired blood; so when this is not necessary, other products may be considered.

Vegetables that are high in chlorophyll, such as wheat grass, are also useful but much less fast acting than TKG. Beets are also good as are lycium and/or goji berries, little berries that can be eaten instead of raisins. There are various barley green and similar powdered substances that supposedly improve oxygenation. Some of these seem completely flat and lacking both vitality and nutrients. I have found that adding fresh herbs or vegetables to carrot and/or beet juice is superior.  For example, fresh holy basil contains O7 and breaks down into seven oxygen molecules. Too much can be shocking to the system as die-off can occur faster than the body can rid itself of debris. When this happens, the urine is usually foamy and cloudy; it may also have a strong odor and may be thicker than normal. This is not safe. Therefore, people should reduce their intake and take more time to rebuild their health.

There are many specialty products that improve oxygenation of the blood. For years, I read about things such as hydrogen peroxide or various oxygen therapies. Over time, I have come to regard most of these high dose protocols as more radical and unpredictable, obviously warranted under the right circumstances, but not as nutritive as fresh vegetable juices and herbs. In the long run, it comes down to the fact that the body is 100% organic and can only be nourished and regenerated through good food and herbs. Other protocols have their place, but they cannot regenerate debilitated tissues. If the disease is removed, the body may recuperate because the trauma is gone, but deep improvement of the quality of cells occurs more reliably when proper food and herbs are included in the healing regime.

Some blood building tonics are quite mild and therefore also safe. The question is always what one needs and this, unfortunately, usually requires some expertise and familarity with all the products available. For instance, I could say that our Sundance Elixir is excellent, but it is more appropriate for some people than for others. Likewise, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have differeing opinions on Tang Kwei Gin. Ideally, one would be able to determine the cause of the blood deficiency and correct the problem at the root level. If one takes this approach, one size does not fit all, and this is why I prefer to sell our products directly to practitioners. They may be safe for almost anyone but not suitable for certain people. Obviously, I am more interested in healing than finances, but I am also cognizant of the fact that patients cannot always find a qualified practitioner in their area.

This said, I used Floradix Iron + Herbs for some years. It is much more expensive than Tang Kwei Gin and very slow acting. It may therefore take dozens of bottles to see the same improvement in hemoglobin as with one bottle of TKG. Sundance is somewhere in between. Like TKG, it contains an herb famous for its phytoestrogens, red clover blossoms, but most herbalists will say that a phytoestrogen is not estrogenic but rather normalizing. Nettles or yellow dock are additional alternatives, but they are also usually slower in action. When the weaknesses related to blood deficiency are mild, these simpler herbs can probably be used effectively. When, however, the blood has been massively destroyed by cytotoxic drugs, it may be expedient to go with something swift.

Together with their practitioners, patients have to determine causes and then weigh the pros and cons of each available product. This much I can say: so long as the red blood cells are not transporting oxygen, there will probably not be any major improvements in health. Therefore, time and safety have to be weighed against tissue breakdown, fermentation and toxicity, and growth of the cancer.

Goji Tonic		Yellow Dock Elixir		Tang Kwei Gin
4 oz., $		4 oz., $		150 ml, $