Sunday, March 29, 2015

The C-Word: A Miracle Cure

imagine a forgotten "cure" for arthritis, lyme disease, candida, parasites, respiratory infections, acne, allergies, varicose veins - and some people think - certain cancers.

i'm on a number of listservs where people discuss alternative and complementary therapies. since i'm obsessed with ways to help the body heal itself, i usually do some investigation - online and asking doctors, naturopaths, acupuncturists and healers i know, along with people who've tried it. if it still sounds interesting, i test it on myself and i ask my friends and family if they want to try it.

for most of the people i know who have candida, the effects can be so debilitating and so hard to resolve, that something that may CURE it, permanently, is life-altering.

so far, from everything i've know, this seems to work, despite the scare-mongering around it. it works even better if you take a little time to clean up your body first, drinking lots of water, stopping processed foods, cutting back on animal products, etc. but it seems to work even if you don't do that.

first - here's the legal disclaimer - i am NOT a doctor and am not qualified to diagnose or treat any illnesses. anything i describe is my personal, anecdotal experience and i am not instructing you to do it.

also, every time i mention this stuff on facebook or twitter or something, people get really angry about it. and they are also REALLY scared of it - which in my mind - is always something to watch out for.

so what is it?






yes, bizarre as it sounds - turpentine.

the first time i read about someone drinking it, i thought the guy was insane. then i did some research. a lot of recent information comes from a doctor called jennifer daniels who now lives outside of the u.s.- if you click on the link, she explains how it works.

there's a naturopath in canada called tony pantelleresco who explains how to mix it with honey.



think about it. natural turpentine is pine sap. it's the oil of a pine tree and in its natural state, it's what the tree uses to heal its own wounds. it's a component of propolis (what bees collect) and has strongly antibacterial and antifungal properties. it's been used as a disinfectant and cleaning product most recently. and, in this country, was also taken as a cure-all by native americans. as an essential oil, it's called terebinth.

native americans passed their knowledge to african-americans who, during the time of slavery and afterwards, had limited access to medicines. it also spread amongst poor whites and was used both topically and internally for just about everything, but especially with farm kids, mixed with a little castor oil for "de-worming."

i spoke to an iranian friend recently about trying turpentine for a cold and he said, "oh no, that's what they used to give children for worms! a little turpentine on sugar." i've heard similar things from russian friends.

personally, i've been experimenting myself with the internal and external use of turpentine. externally, i have put 1/2 a cup of it in the bath - mixed with a carrier oil like almond or olive oil (because it can be a little stingy on hot skin) - i have massaged it into sore muscles and applied it to injuries. a dot of it on a q-tip applied to a pimple does clear it quickly.

some people say it reduces varicose veins, so far no real change, but i will add to this if it does.

in theory, taking a little turpentine (1 to 1/2 teaspoon mixed with white sugar or honey followed by a few big glasses of water) kills infectious microbes and parasites almost instantly. after i do it, i have actually passed small (but dead, phew) worms. also, in a few hours, my stomach flattens out - a sign of the candida being killed off. for me, i find the optimum dose is every few months, unless i suddenly have some sort of infection.

the unpleasant side-effects of ingestion can be burping it up all day - which can be minimized by adding 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to the water you drink after ingesting it and brief diarrhea/loose bowels as the parasites leave your body. if it feels too intense, take less turpentine - maybe 1/4 teaspoon to start.

i've also seen the sugar-turpentine remedy work for kids, the elderly, my friends, my housekeeper, my employees and my neighbors for everything from respiratory infections, emphysema, upset stomachs, brain fog, candida, post-stroke to fibromyalgia. it has never failed to produce remarkable results. a kid with a fever and a cold jumped out of bed in a few hours, a girl with severe fibromyalgia immediately relaxed, a 90 year-old woman with a chronic lung condition could suddenly breathe (after just 15 drops in a teaspoon of sugar), a guy with bad brain fog after a stroke felt clear and sharp immediately. with regular use (every other day for five or six days), my friends with candida see relief of their symptoms.

kit campbell, a woman who overcame her IBS by cleaning up her diet and taking turpentine following jennifer daniels and tony pantelleresco shows how she does it. she decided she preferred the honey or olive oil carrier method.



the reviews on amazon for the organic, natural turpentine i buy show that i am not the only person who is using it internally.

so why does every bottle of turpentine carry dire warnings? a few years' ago, turpentine was listed in the merck manual, the NIH and the new england journal of medicine as the cure for a number of illnesses. even webmd suggests it can be used externally for skin conditions.

i've read arguments that it is a poison, but from what i understand, it is only hard on the body if ingested in very large quantities, using that logic, even in small quantities, tylenol or acetaminophen is toxic to the liver and, according to our friends at the FDA, is the leading cause of liver failure in the U.S., leading 15,000 trips a year to the emergency room. (if you insist on taking tylenol or paracetemol, keep some NAC on hand as it helps re-build your stores of glutathione).

according to jennifer daniels, the reason is that turpentine is too cheap and available and resolves too many conditions, thus not appealing to regulating organizations which get a lot of support from corporations.


in any case, the kind of turpentine one uses is important. it should be pure gum spirits which are made from tree sap rather than mineral spirits which are made from petroleum. this is available in any art supply or hardware store, just check the label carefully.

or one can order the organic one from diamond g forest.

last of all, there is a theory that the cancer cell mutation is caused by molds, parasites and other opportunistic microbes - in which case, turpentine might be an effective piece of a healing protocol. my suggestion is to find a doctor or healer who understands it or do your own research.

imho, it's an incredible tool. i keep it in my medicine cabinet!




Wednesday, March 4, 2015

The C-Word: Not Budweiser, the Budwig Diet

While trolling around cancer online support groups, I have been amazed by the results people report from the "budwig diet." It was popularized and written about by a German doctor, Johanna Budwig. The crux of it is mixing cottage cheese with flax seed oil - in a ratio of 2-1 - in a blender so that it is totally creamy and then topping it with freshly-ground flaxseeds and a little fresh fruit.

I've never tried it but here's what I read: people recovering from stage-4 breast cancer, from pancreatic cancer, from multiple myelomas - however, it doesn't seem to work as well with lung cancer.

According to these happy cancer survivors, one of the crucial things is that one follows the protocol to the letter - with no "cheating" or variations. Though of late, it seems that they are eliminating wheat as well.

If you are pondering complementary or alternative "cures,"I suggest you try it for 8 weeks and see how you feel. Obviously, there are no clinical trials. I am not a doctor so I can't prescribe medicines or treatment, but it's worth looking into.

the information below includes references to her books that, if you decide to follow it, are easy to buy on amazon.com and elsewhere.


INTRODUCTION to the BUDWIG PROTOCOL with DIET DETAILS
This plan has stopped cancer & other diseases for over 50 years
----------------------------------------
This can help you to follow Dr. Budwig's protocol. It is based on her book, "Cancer - The Problem and the Solution" [1999], her
cookbook, "The Oil-Protein Diet" [1952]

Most people begin gradually, adding healthy foods & liquids and eliminating damaging ones. The diet seems simple, but foods are powerful and can damage or heal a person. The Budwig plan has healed people of many kinds of cancer and other diseases and conditions.

In liver, pancreatic, stomach and gall bladder disease it's best to begin with a "Transition Diet" - After the transition, begin the diet below with small amounts of the oil & cheese as well as the other foods.

Dr.Budwig had over a 90% success rate with this protocol with all kinds of cancer patients over a 50 year period. Many research studies done in the last ten years support the cancer-fighting value
of foods, juices, sun exposure and relaxation Dr.Budwig recommended.

To start the diet, it helps to have 3 appliances:
1- A coffee bean grinder to grind the whole brown flaxseeds sold in health food stores or online.
2- An immersion hand-held mixer (a stick-shaped mixer), to blend flaxseed oil [FO] and cottage cheese [CC] together so that they become one food, making the oil water-soluble and more absorbable.
3- A vegetable juicer. A masticating or extractor type may give a more healthful juice than a centrifugal type. Many members like Green Star.

FLAXSEED OIL and COTTAGE CHEESE (FOCC) or quark:
Generally, each tablespoon of Flaxseed Oil (FO) is mixed with 2 or more tablespoons of low-fat organic Cottage Cheese (CC)or quark.
That is a FOCC ratio of approximately 1:2. Cold-pressed refrigerated liquid FO is used, for example, Barlean's & Spectrum. It's better
to buy regular FO instead of High Lignan FO. Healthier lignans are obtained at a lower cost by using freshly ground flaxseeds.
[used instead of Linomel].

TO START THE DAY - About an hour before breakfast, have a glass of raw sauerkraut juice. It has cancer-fighting benefits. Home-made is best in order to get the digestive enzymes.

Anything pasteurized has lost its enzymes.
But, you can get healthy lactic acid from Biotta brand juice, ordered online. Lactic acid in the juice helps the digestive tract work better all day.

BREAKFAST -
Start with a cup of green tea or herbal tea. It provides warm liquid required for the ground flaxseeds to swell properly. That is important. Then eat your Muesli [Muesli in the Budwig diet refers to the recipe below. Cottage cheese, quark, homemade yogurt cheese or kefir cheese are OK to use.

Budwig Muesli [FOCC] recipe: [Prepare only enough for one meal - avoid storing. Eat it as soon as possible, do not let it sit.
[1] Blend 3 tbs flaxseed oil with 6 tbs organic low-fat CC and 2 tblsp milk (no water or watery liquids at this point) with a hand-held
immersion electric blender. The mixture should be like rich whipped cream with no separated oil within about a minute. VERY IMPORTANT!!
[2] Grind 2 tblsp whole flaxseeds and add. [This replaces Linomel]
[3] Add fresh [frozen if necessary] berries which contain cancer-fighting ellagic acid. [Use organic fruits, if possible]
[4] Add other fresh fruit if you like, totaling 1/2 to 1 cup of fruit.
[5] Add some fruit juice [e.g. dark grape, blueberry] or milk if mixture is too thick. Fruits & their juices are proven cancer fighters.
[6] Add organic raw nuts such as walnuts or Brazil nuts [no peanuts] and, if you wish, a bit of vanilla. Try various fresh [or frozen if necessary] organic fruits and flavorings for variety. Limit honey to 1 or 2 teaspoons a day.

MID-MORNING -
Freshly-pressed vegetable juice from carrot and/or radish, stinging nettle, beet, celery, lemon, apple [carrot and beet juices are
especially helpful to the liver and are excellent cancer fighters.]

GO OUTSIDE FOR SUNLIGHT - Sunlight on the skin is very healthful for vit.D and other benefits [even in winter]. Dr. Budwig stressed the value of sunlight. Avoid burning & avoid sunscreen & sunglasses.

If you feel up to having some exercise, individualize it according to your strength - DON'T OVERDO IT. Some quotes by Dr. Budwig regarding exercise: "Often yoga or sport is very important, but sometimes the patient should not do this" and "I would never allow a cancer patient with metastases to jog, ride a bicycle, or to practice yoga. His body must relax." She added, "There is no one treatment that applies for everyone. The patient must also feel for himself what is good for him." and "The whole subject of sport must be treated on a very individual basis."

One form of exercise that is beneficial for most people is using a rebounder [a mini-trampoline] because it helps clear the lymph system and promotes better drainage.


BEFORE LUNCH -
A cup of warm green or herbal tea. Use honey if desired (no sugar). Also suggested, one tblsp whole flaxseeds, freshly ground and added to a glass of Champagne, known to help digestion & absorption. [1999 book]

LUNCH -
RAW vegetable salad with various homemade salad dressings which may include 1 or more tblsp FO blended with 1 or 2 tblsp organic low-fat CC plus 1 tblsp organic apple cider vinegar or lemon juice and spices. Or, for sweeter dressing, try FO & red grape juice or another fruit juice. You can vary the salad dressings based on the recipes in the Oil-Protein Diet Cookbook. Several recipes do not include cottage cheese at all. The body can utilize 2 or 3 tblsp oil without cottage cheese. Avoid commercial salad dressings. Experiment with spices, honey or garlic for variety.

If still hungry, make baked or steamed veggies. [See dinner]

LUNCH DESSERT: Repeat breakfast recipe with varied fresh raw fruits (organic if possible). This is the second FO/CC serving of the day:
three tblsp flax oil & 6 tblsp CC with fresh fruit but NO flaxseeds. Smaller amounts of food are digested better. Work up to six tblsp FO
per day, if possible, mixed with twice as much CC, depending on digestive ability and size. Chew very well to optimize digestion. Predigestion
starts in the mouth by mixing saliva with the foods. Try to have your meals in a peaceful atmosphere. Stress reduction is important.

MID-AFTERNOON -
Two tblsp whole flaxseeds, freshly ground, stirred into a glass of sparkling wine or Champagne OR one teaspoons flaxseeds, ground and
stirred into a glass of fruit juice: grape, cherry or pineapple. Chew the ground flaxseeds for better digestion.

RELAX, IN THE SUN IF POSSIBLE, to relieve stress. It's healing. Seek out nature, music, chat, laughter, or what pleases you.

LATE AFTERNOON -
One tblsp whole flaxseeds, ground & added to blueberry or papaya juice. Both papaya & pineapple [above] have digestive enzymes if they are fresh. Most bottled juices have lost their enzymes but still have valuable nutrients. If making the juice, drink it immediately after
preparation before the enzymes are lost by air and light. You want to get as many natural enzymes as possible [as well as electrons from flax seeds & oils]. [Note: Instead of the fruit juices, some members heal using homemade vegetable juices as described at 10 a.m.]

DINNER -
Vegetable soup or a variety of veggies and starch-containing foods, well spiced. Add Oleolux and nutritional yeast flakes after cooking. Choices of cooked starchy foods - buckwheat (JB's top choice-digests well), millet, brown rice, lentils, beans, peas, yams & potatoes. Add lightly cooked vegetables such as tomatoes, spinach, beets,carrots, chard, cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, onions,artichokes, asparagus, peppers, kale, green beans, etc. Also, addspices such as cayenne pepper, paprika & others. AFTER COOKING,
add Oleolux 'to taste,' made with coconut oil, flaxseed oil, garlic and onion [recipe in Files under 'Foods']. Also use it as a spread on bread [sprouted grain, homemade or Ezekiel].

EVENING -
A glass of organic red wine if desired.

The above diet can be varied by the many recipes in Dr. Budwig's book "The Oil-Protein Diet Cookbook," sold on Amazon and Barlean's  websites for about $10.

THE FOLLOWING IS VERY IMPORTANT:
Dr. Budwig stressed that we must AVOID UNHEALTHY FOODS and SUBSTANCES such as hydrogenated fats, trans-fats, most animal fats, butter, sugar, white flour, preservatives and processed foods as well as pesticides and chemicals, even those in household products & cosmetics. Also, drink chemical-free pure water if possible.

++ Avoid leftovers - food should be prepared fresh and eaten soon after preparation to maximize intake of health-giving electrons &
enzymes.

++ At least 3x a day drink warm green or herbal teas, unsweetened or sweetened only with honey.

++ Stress is very damaging. Avoid stress and anxiety; take time to relax & enjoy each day. Listen to beautiful music, laugh, do deep breathing, connect with nature, spend time with people you like. Eliminate anger and sadness through EFT, counseling, support group or some method of letting go of it.

++ ELDI oils are oils for external application. Dr.Budwig had her patients use them extensively.

++ Dr.Budwig did not include supplements in her protocol. Also, as far as we can tell, she did not use drugs with her protocol and generally discontinued those that were taken.

Some supplements, especially high amounts of man-made antioxidants, can seriously interfere with how well the diet works, as can/will some drugs and treatments (particularly cytostatic [chemo and radiation] treatments, cortisones, hormones and many pain killers). She also warned against the dangers of ozone and oxygen therapy
for the cancer patient. Ozone resulted in death for some members.

++ The foods in the Budwig Protocol give your body what it needs daily to stop cancer. Dr. Budwig warned that you should follow the diet strictly for three years before relaxing a little, but you can never stop these foods for more than a day or so, and you cannot regularly include damaging foods or supplements. Doing so
may allow the cancer to return. This has happened to some people.

Dr.Budwig's book "Flax Oil as a True Aid Against Arthritis, Heart Infarction, Cancer and other Diseases" offers an understanding of the scientific principles behind this protocol. Her cookbook "The Oil-Protein Diet" gives practical diet information and recipes. Both of these books can be ordered from www.Amazon.com or from
www.Barleans.com for about $10.

Her newest (and last) book, "Cancer-The Problem and The Solution," written in 1999, is available from http://www.nexus-book.com