To be logical and not fanatical about the way we live is the best advice given by Dr. Charles Brusch, founder of the prestigious Brusch Medical Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and physician to US President John F. Kennedy.

 

Dr. Brusch encouraged adopting an open mind on natural remedies to complement conventional medicine in the fight against cancer. He stressed that adopting lifestyle changes is crucial to one’s health profile.

 

Some of his wise suggestions include:

 

Avoiding food that “clogs” the body like fried, sweet and sticky foods that contain white sugar. (Safe sugars are stevia, dehydrated cane sugar, unpasteurized honey and real maple syrup.)

 

Maintaining a natural diet, meaning food closest to their original state like fresh vegetables and fruits, raw/uncooked and not laced with creams and syrups.

 

Avoiding valueless carbohydrates and hydrogenated fats (or chemically processed vegetable oils). Hydrogenated fats have suspected links to cancer.

 

Color-coding

 

Following a color plan— deeply colored vegetables and fruits contain a generous amount of antioxidants which benefits the immune system while strengthening its defense against life-threatening diseases.

 

Going whole, as in wholesome—stick to whole grains (including the husk), rye, quinoa, rice, barley, wheat, multigrain, high-fiber food. (If you are allergic to wheat and dairy, eliminate them from your diet immediately.)

 

Avoiding temptation—if you have a confirmed allergy to chocolates or dairy but crave the taste, fight the impulse to devour that chocolate bar, slice of cheese or bowl of ice cream.

 

Keeping hydrated. This translates to 10-15 glasses of water daily. And this advice bears repeating because water is essential to sustaining life.

 

Exercising sensibly, which is a minimum of three visits a week to the gym or walking daily (ideally on a treadmill) for 30 minutes.

 

Managing stress levels through laughter, yoga, music therapy, exercise (mind-body regimens like taichi, qigong, Pilates).

 

Love, love, love

 

A practical tip is to surround yourself with loving and supportive family members and friends.

 

Vitamin/mineral supplementation is important. Ask your doctor for a supplement therapy from A to zinc.

 

Sunshine—10 to 15 minutes of morning sun is best, enough to get life-saving natural vitamin D produced in the body.

 

Herbal support—there is an herbal army out there. Believe, because they work. Famous anticancer herbs include turmeric (yellow ginger), garlic oil and red clover. In the fight against cancer, there is now Flor Essence, a powerful combination of herbs whose synergistic blend can guarantee immediate detoxification of the body, no matter what your ailment may be, whether it’s constipation, sleeplessness or cancer.

 

Personally, I have seen Flor Essence work on my mother in her battle against Stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. Her condition was brought on by heavy smoking habits and a weakness for sweets.

 

Within three days, I witnessed how toxins were expelled from her system, leading to restored strength and an extension of her life.

 

She beat the four-and-a-half month deadline by the doctor and lived for four-and-a-half more years.

 

While fighting the Big C, she followed a radical lifestyle change prescribed by Dr. Omar Arabia of Paracelsus Integrative Medical Clinic (tel. nos. 9296093/0917-8985319).

 

Herbs combat cancer

 

To combat cancer the natural way, you need to understand the power of these ancient herbs.

 

Red clover—Dr. J. Hartwell of the American National Cancer Institute found that it contains generous amounts of tocopherol proven to help prevent breast cancer. Chinese medicinal research shows that this herb also has antimicrobial/viral and bacterial functions.

 

Blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus)—this herb was used in ancient times for the treatment of digestive pains. Studies show it increases gastric juices and bile secretions and is antibacterial (Foster, 1990: “Medicinal Plants”).

 

Sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella )—rich in vitamin C. A tea of sheep sorrel has traditionally been used to cool fevers and inflammation and as a diuretic to promote the flow of urine. (Foster, 1990: “Medicinal Plants”).

 

Kelp (Laminaria digitata)—used traditionally for its abundant minerals. It is also a  great source of iodine which helps to regulate energy levels.  The alginates found in kelp have a soothing and cleansing effect on the digestive tract, and are known to help prevent the absorption of toxic metals like mercury, cadmium, plutonium and cesium (M. Castleman, 1991: “The Healing Herbs”).

 

Turkish rhubarb root (Rheum palmatum)—since ancient times, Turkish rhubarb root has been an effective remedy for digestive ailments. Traditionally used for weak digestion and loss of appetite, it increases both the flow of saliva and gastric secretions (Foster, 1990: “Medicinal Plants”). It helps normalize bowel movements and is considered a safe and effective laxative.

 

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)—the fresh leaf of watercress is a superior food medicine high in vitamins A, C and iodine, and is a blood purifier. It is an excellent remedy for vitamin deficiency.

 

Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra, U. fulva)—an excellent healing herb that has been used for centuries and is recognized by the American Food and Drug Administration for its medicinal properties. A decoction of the bark helps soothe the throat and digestive tract.

 

Burdock root (Arctium lappa)—used as a cancer treatment since the 11th century, when Hildegard of Bingen discovered its powerful healing properties. Since then, it has been used in Russia, China, India and the Americas. Burdock root contains a proven anticancer compound called arctigenin which, studies show, has marked antitumor activity (G. Dombradi 1970: Journal of Chemotherapy 15:250).

 

Caution: Burdock has been shown to be a uterine stimulant and should not be taken by pregnant women.

 

Annie’s story

 

Annie Francisco is a 50-year-old mother of three and a full-time homemaker. Three years ago, she discovered a lump on her breast. She didn’t mind it and let a year pass.

 

While showering one day, she noticed the lump had hardened.  Alarmed, she went for a checkup. The prognosis: Stage 2 breast cancer.

 

Her doctor-husband supervised her treatment with chemotherapy, which lasted six months. Afterward, she opted for a natural regimen.

 

Annie began her Flor Essence supplementation. This tea concoction plus her vegetarian diet resulted in marked improvements in her health condition.

 

She has been cancer-free for three years.

 

E-mail the author at [email protected].