Treatment Guides
A Brief Guide to the Naturopathic Treatment of Cancer
Jared L. Zeff, ND
This is not a comprehensive approach to the treatment of cancer. It is merely a brief summary of my research and experience, based primarily upon what I have found in journals, heard in conferences, and discovered in talks with colleagues. It was put together only to stimulate my thinking when confronted with questions regarding cancer and patients with cancer. Any specific patient will require a treatment plan designed specifically for them.
In general, there are nine areas of concern. Each person should be evaluated with regard to their specific needs relative to these nine areas.
I. Dietary: enhance nutrition and digestion, reduce intrinsic toxin production from maldigestive processes, reduce foods which have carcinogenic potential and increase foods which are protective.
1. evaluate and correct nutritional balance and adequacy
2. remove intolerant and allergic foods
3. stimulate and support digestion as needed with enzymes, tonics, etc.
4. daily constitutional hydrotherapy
5. Specific supplementation as individually required
II. Evaluate and support organ and system function:
Pulse, tongue, palpation, PE, ROS, Iris, etc.
Especially consider adrenal, kidney, hepatic, CV, lung, blood
III. Immune enhancement: stimulate and support the body’s intrinsic cancer fighting mechanisms, and reduce the occurrence of bladder or other infections.
1. Vary immune tonic substances, specifically Astragalus, mushroom fractions, immune tonic/antibacterial. antiviral herbs.
2. daily constitutional hydrotherapy
3. weekly or twice weekly acupuncture
4. treat specific infections as needed with botanicals
eg., bladder, yeast, etc.
IV. Antioxidant therapy: support immune function and reduce tendency for cancer generation and organ damage.
Vitamin C, E
Glutathione/NAC
Alpha- lipoic acid
Selenium
V. Detoxification: improve overall function by removing accumulated toxins and irritants.
Daily constitutional hydrotherapy
“Open the Emunctories”- bowels, kidneys, skin (sweating), lungs, liver
VI. Specific anti-cancer approaches:
Daily constitutional hydrotherapy
Proteolytic enzymes
Co-Q 10 - high dose: breast, prostate, and cervix tumors
Melatonin - high dose
Quercetin: oral, fibrosarcoma, skin, breast, colon (?)
Yew preparations
Anti-estrogenic preparations
soy, phytoestrogens
Lycopene and zinc (prostate)
Hoxsey-like formula
Botanical alturative formulae
Phytolacca, Artemesia annua, etc.
Modified citrus pectin protective against metastasis
Indole-3-carbamol reduces estrogenic re-uptake from intestines
Green tea polyphenols inhibit skin and estrogen-sensitive cancer progression,
Green tea catechins inhibit prostate tumor growth
NAC may reduce colon cancer, but may interfere with alkylating chemotherapeutics
Soy inhibits prostate cancer growth
Soy isoflavones contraindicated in post-menopausal women using tamoxifen
Serenoa repens reduces growth of prostate tumors
(All of this information is subject to change with further study)
VII. Treatment for the ill effects of chemotherapy and radiation, and surgical support:
Daily constitutional hydrotherapy
Cadmium sulphate 30,200 prn for chemo “illness”
Nux, Tabac, Cocc, etc., for nausea, or ginger tea
Detoxification factors to aid hepatic conjugation
Antioxidants to protect healthy tissues
Various homeopathic medicines for symptoms
Astragalus increases tumor killing effectiveness of interlukin-2 by 10-fold
Vitamin C is synergistic with adriamycin, cysplatin, and paclitaxil
Quercetin and catechin in green tea reduce malignant cell resistance to chemotherapy
Glutathione protects normal tissues against the toxic effects of cisplatin, etc.
Glutathione increases the effectiveness of adriamycin
Silymarin protects against the toxic effects of chemo and increases the effectiveness of cisplatin and adriamycin
VIII. Spiritual development: to gain insight and healing of causative factors, and create the basis for deep healing.
Daily prayer and meditation
Personal reflection: purpose, new purpose for life
Counseling- talk with the person about their relationship to cancer in all of its aspects and impacts; why do they think they have the cancer?
Development or utilization of a community of support and healing
IX. General measures for health improvement:
Daily constitutional hydrotherapy
Weekly acupuncture
Constitutional homeopathic medicine
Support the nervous system (avena, hypericum, kali phos 3x, etc.)
Address anxiety
Promote good sleep
Promote good energy and blood sugar management, good adrenal function
Daily dietary regimen
Daily exercise schedule
