Professors Michael Zimmerman and Rosalie David in England have an intriguing suggestion in their recent study of mummies: cancer may be a largely man-made disease. The study found no evidence of the disease in ancient corpses — leading to the theory that cancer may be the result of diet, pollution, and other man-made causes such as early use of snuff.
The researchers examined tissue from hundreds of Egyptian mummies and found only one case with cancer traces. Likewise, an earlier study of thousands of Neanderthal bones produced only one sample with possible cancer traces.
Some of the first published accounts of cancerous growths have been linked directly to such man-made causes as the use of snuff.
Such accounts largely occurred in the last 200 years with early accounts of nasal cancer (from snuff) and scrotal cancer in chimney sweeps — both in the eighteenth century.
Source: Daily Mail
Blouise is right. I agree my body reacts positively to lemon, ginger, cinnamon, garlic, onions and lots of other foods and herbs. It makes sense that favorite foods and flavors are favorite for more than one reason.
JoshOnPC,
Of course you are right … knowledge and common sense should always take a front seat.
I am not a believer in “alternative medicines”. Naturally the lemon myrtle regime was just a small part of the routine used in protecting the child. She was also on a steady dose of recognized medicines proscribe by her cardiologist and pediatrician (and breast fed by pump). Hand washing, as you mention, is vital … we used the abc method which was scrubbing the hands as long as it took to recite the alphabet before rinsing. Also no one was allowed to touch the baby without first applying purcel or similar hand wipe. There were literally bottles in every room of every house. I read what Byron posted but I have to tell you that I don’t really understand how the lemon myrtle works … only that it does … 10 years without a single cold between us (my husband and I) … of course we get our flu shots, wash our hands, etc. We are also out and around groups of people all the time. I was a skeptic when my pharmacist friend first told me about it 10 years ago … not anymore. We, the pharmacist and I, place our yearly order together. It costs us $42.94 each for a yearly supply … we had our first price increase 3 years ago … $3.12.
Here’s another one for you … cinnamon in capsule form (500 mg per capsule)does wonders in helping with sugar metabolism. Two capsules a day for those who have been told they are pre-diabetic (not quite at but headed towards Type 2) along with the diet change and exercise their doctor recommends works wonders. I don’t use it because I don’t have any diabetes problem but several of my friends do. Don’t ask me why it works but those who have just been following a diet and exercise plan see a marked improvement in their A1c test after adding the daily cinnamon dosage.
I’ve heard a lot of individuals advocating herbal solutions as a natural alternative to FDA approved medications. While I understand that these substances may have a (largely unexplained) health benefit in some cases, I think it is important to understand the pros and cons of such supplements.
First of all, I would posit that a natural remedy is just a different sort of medication (albeit an untested one). The only difference is that the benefits and potential side effects are, for the most part, unknown or undocumented. This doesn’t mean that the remedy is not useful (after all, plenty of medications were “natural remedies” at one time). An “herbal treatment” is just a drug that hasn’t been studied yet – or in the alternative, it’s a future controlled substance (laudinum), discredited antiquity (snake oil), or known poison (arsenic).
Using the aforementioned example of lemon myrtle (an extract of the Backhousia citriodora plant) as an example, I have to express my personal skepticism regarding its effectiveness against viral agents (the “common cold” that lemon myrtle is said to prevent). Lemon myrtle is known to be toxic to cells, so I wouldn’t doubt its effectiveness against bacteria when used in correct concentrations. But antiviral drugs are typically highly specialized, synthetic substances known as nuceloside analogues, which essentially inhibit correct replication of the viral genome. It is unlikely that there are any such components to lemon myrtle.
As is the case with many herbal remedies, the case for lemon myrtle is largely anecdotal. It doesn’t mean it can’t be beneficial in some way, but it does mean that consumers must be wary. It is an inescapable fact that many, if not most, herbal remedies are unregulated, untested, undocumented substances with unknown contraindications, side effects, and (in many cases) ingredients. If anecdotal evidence is enough to for you overlook those (in my opinion) serious issues, I suppose we’ll just have to disagree.
Blouise, I’m happy to hear that your granddaughter is thriving. Knowing that, I don’t think I could could make a very strong argument for a different course of action. However, I do feel it’s necessary to point out a few things. Viruses are not typically spread by touching infected surfaces, as viruses need cellular hosts to replicate and survive. So-called “airborne” viruses are really the result of bioaerosols, which can result from a cough, sneeze, or toilet flush. This is why your granddaughter’s physicians recommended keeping her away from large groups of people. If she never came into contact with an infected person, it would be highly unlikely for her to contract a virus. Bacterial infections were likely kept in check by frequent hand-washing and keeping surfaces clean. In addition, if the child was breastfed, she had the benefit of her mother’s antibodies, effectively immunizing her from many environmental pathogens (I’ve read some estimates that breastfed newborns have up to 95% fewer infections than their non-breastfed cohorts). There are plenty of reasons why your granddaughter did not contract an illness.
*Necessary disclosure – My wife is a microbiologist and she helped in my understanding of these concepts. In addition she helped me greatly in writing this response, as she has a far greater mind than myself.*
Henman said:
You don’t seriously think that an acne medication causes tuberculosis, do you? TB is caused by a bacterium, an acne med can not have such a side effect.
The reason that you heard of it as a side effect – if indeed you got it right – is partly because of hysterical people like PatrickP, who don’t understand clinical medicine but are very vocal about their distrust of the Pharma industry, doctors, the FDA, etc.
Pharma is now obligated to report ALL symptoms experienced by patients during their clinical trials, regardless if there is no possibility that they were related to the drug under study. And because the FDA is a politically-responsive organization, hysterical patient advocates got their demand that these less-than-useless bits of information are part of all pharma advertisements. TB was, no doubt, included because of its seriousness.
An online check indicates that one patient in clinical trials became positive for TB test during the trial. Ridiculous state of affairs. Say thanks to all those hypercritical folks who complain about pharma, like the anti-vaccination folks, for creating a situation where people think accutane causes TB.
Drug package inserts also list all the side effects above a certain occurrence, regardless of relevance. You have to look at the “Common side effects” section to get an accurate idea of what the true drug side effects might be, and be sure to look at the incidence of the control patients as well.
For example, “Headache” is usually listed as a common side effect. And it is – both in patients taking the drugs AND patients not taking the drug. You can expect at least 25% of people will have a headache during the time frame of a clinical trial – usually 6 to 8 weeks.
And you will hear about “Headache” on the ads, in the package insert, etc as a prominent side effect. Such useful information – NOT!!! Aspirin – if it managed to be approved today ( and I doubt that it would be) as a new drug, would have such a scary warning section, nobody in their right mind would use it.
Unless they understood how to read a package insert.
Blouise,
How long do you let it simmer after adding the oil, generally. Until the scent dissipates, I’m guessing… Almost signed this with my name! 🙂 Thanks for the all the info. Byron, you too.
There is a huge historical record of mining and smelting. Researchers could go to the same times and places in history and look in diaries, wills, bibles, work records, nuns’ records, police reports etc. for references to cancer symptoms. They might be able to find some connection long ago.
A relative got breast cancer in Central City Colorado during the depression. They mine gold there.
Blouise:
I have heard the toilet seat idea. If your tooth brush is less than about 6′ from the toilet enjoy the brush if the toilet seat is not down if you get my drift. 🙂
There are a lot of good things that are not traditional medicine. I even read somewhere that all cases of cancer that are “spontaneously cured” usually include a body temperature of over 105 F. I think I read in the same article that the Germans have a place where they systematically raise your body temperature in a controlled manor to cure cancer.
If it isn’t true I am sure someone who reads this will give me crap. But I also have read that salmonella was looked at as a cancer cure. I think the health profession is keeping a bunch of stuff quiet. Jesse V. may be on to something.
Byron,
The plants used for the oil I buy are plants grown in Australia … supposedly one can flavor lemon pies with it but I’ve never been brave enough to try. A good herbalist is a must … it can be a bit uncomfortable on the skin.
I have a 1 qt. pan that I fill 3/4s full and when the water is simmering I add 4 drops of the oil … it rises through the steam. I only do it once in the morning. If I have had a large party with many people, I will do it again after they all leave.
During the first year of her life, before her heart surgery, it was necessary to keep my granddaughter free from any infections. We could not take her out to stores or anywhere large numbers of people congregated. She stayed with us, her mom and dad and the in-laws. Everybody used the lemon myrtle. The child never caught a single cold … not even the sniffles and went in for her open heart surgery in the best possible condition. She caught her first cold 6 months after surgery and nobody knew what to do 🙂
Here’s another tip that was given to us by her doctors … always close the toilet seat lid before flushing thus keeping germs out of the air.
Blouise:
read the warning lable:
“Antimicrobial
Lemon myrtle essential oil possesses antimicrobial properties; however the undiluted essential oil is toxic to human cells in vitro.[6] When diluted to approximately 1%, absorption through the skin and subsequent damage is thought to be minimal.[7] Lemon myrtle oil has a high Rideal-Walker coefficient, a measure of antimicrobial potency.[8] Use of lemon myrtle oil as a treatment for skin lesions caused by molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV), a disease affecting children and immuno-compromised patients, has been investigated. Nine of sixteen patients who were treated with 10% strength lemon myrtle oil showed a significant improvement, compared to none in the control group.[9] The oil is a popular ingredient in health care and cleaning products, especially soaps, lotions and shampoos.”
Thanks for the story and tip, Blouise. Will pick up some lemon myrtle oil today. (Suffering from a wicked cold (with a cough) for over a week now. Weathering it with OTC “cold” preps.)
It’s the simple things sometimes… Again, thanks.
Thanks to Patric for his posting, which helped to stimulate the recent discussion.)
I forgot to include something that Patrick, Byron, and anon nurse may find interesting. Ten years ago a pharmacist friend of mine returned after a 6 month fellowship in Europe. He spent the majority of the time in hospitals in France and Switzerland. He told me that all the hospitals he studied at had an infusion system that was tied to their ventilation system. They infused the air with an herb, lemon myrtle. It was believed that this lemon myrtle oil diffused throughout the hospital cut down drastically on pneumonia and other airborne bacterias that caused the common cold etc. He told me that these hospitals had almost totally eliminated the occurrence of these illnesses.
He was using lemon myrtle oil in his home and recommended I do the same. I found a good herbalist on the web and ordered some. I put a few drops of the oil is simmering water every morning and I gotta tell you folks, it works. We never get colds … ever. I’ve been doing this for ten years. It has a very clean fragrance to boot.
Oh, and thanks to Tony S. that blog addresses the faulty nature of this study.
Patric,
You do know that vaccine’s aren’t drugs right? And that they in fact increase immune system responses. No really, that’s how they work. Personally, I’d much rather my kid get poked with a needle than be crippled by polio. Maybe that’s just me.
There are good points made by every poster on this thread. I’m with anon nurse’s “appropriately and judiciously”.
Proper use of medications is keeping my husband very much alive and active in spite of his genetic heart problem. He is not a candidate for heart transplant and due to the specific nature of his heart problem, a pacemaker is of no use. It is the meds that keep him alive. My granddaughter is alive and well due to a series of specific medications that kept her healthy and allowed a one year growth time before her open heart surgery.
On a historical note … George Washington’s Continental Army maintained an ability to fight due to the small pox vaccinations that Washington required each soldier to have. While the English and German mercenary troops were dropping like flies from small pox, The Continental Army survived with very few deaths from the continued outbreaks.
I’m with Patrick on the physicians and the trick is to find a doctor who is not relying on drug company money and is judicious in his/her prescription writing. I pay attention to the “NASCAR” (I liked pete’s description of a doctor’s office) look and I ask the doctor straight out, “How dependent are you on drug money?”
GB is also correct in his cautioning not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. And Byron makes perfect sense with his admonishment to “embrace nutrition and exercise”.
In the end, caution and common sense should rule the day along with specific questions directed at the doctor and if the answers aren’t satisfactory, get another doctor. I have also found that pharmacists are very helpful in answering questions about medications, alternatives, and workable combinations.
GB: Not enough time myself, but will say this, to clarify. I believe in the sensible use of medications, but overuse and abuse are huge problems. A case in point: antibiotics and the emergence of resistant “superbugs.”
Neither am I against vaccinating appropriately and judiciously. We need to be prudent in our use of various medications, vaccines, etc. and find a better balance.
Gosh, I am sorry I am way too busy today to devote the kind of time to this as it requires, but….
PatrickP –
You just delivered a ridiculously misinformed paranoid screed against vaccines that wins the anti-medicine-lunatic-fringe bingo contest. Vaccines suppress the immune system? Vaccines are a financial burden on society?!? LOL! Well done. Well, except for the hundreds of kids around the world who will die needlessly this year from lack of being vaccinated because their parents believed the idiocy you have promoted here.
The rest of you who thought his was a good post – please, inoculate yourself against this kind of junk science woo – start reading http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/?utm_source=bloglist&utm_medium=dropdown
I am disheartened at what I am reading. What PatricP wrote was a series of platitudes that are one small step away from the extreme positions scientologists take on psychiatric drugs. It’s the exact same kind of argument that lead so many to campaign against vaccines for causing autism, which they don’t. These biased statements absent reasoned thought lead to real political movements that do real harm. I will assure every one of the posters here that they know somebody who was saved by modern medicine, expensive and profit driven or not.
I do not dispute that some diseases are often over or misdiagnosed, but in that case you better define the disease, not stop diagnosing it.
I do not dispute that pharmaceutical companies are profit driven greedy bastards. Of course they are, they are companies. However, that doesn’t mean there product is evil, harmful, or not worth the cost.
I take issue when you read a list of side effects, some of which are bad and simplify it to things like, “Would I rather have acne or tuberculosis?” Of course you’d rather have acne, but it is a false dichotomy. Would you deprive 1’000s of their perfectly working acne medication if 1 person had extreme side effects to it?
There is a kernel of truth in what PatricP says, but when it is all that is said, much life saving information is left out. What he wrote was nothing more than a series of platitudes that are dangerous in their implications. If you don’t believe me, then go stop your mother from taking her heart medication, or your father from taking his diabetes medication, or you friend from…..
Patrick P:
great post. we do indeed over-medicate. People should look to nutrition for salubrious health.
As to pharmaceutical adds, I would offer the following observation, the side effects listed are typically worse than the disease. I will be very careful about putting that “shit” into my body. For example celery lowers blood pressure and apparently potassium helps with regulation as well, so no statins for me except as a last resort.
Medicine needs to embrace nutrition and exercise as a universal “vaccine”.
Excellent post PatrickP.
Given that so little is known about these people, It seems to me that Zimmerman and David are jumping to an awfully big conclusion here and perhaps not giving these civilisations the credit they rightly deserve as there is evidence that Egyptians were performing successful brain surgery while we in the West were still living in caves, what is to say that other medicinal advances were not made by them which could have prevented or halted forms of cancer.
Josh wrote:
“This implies something that is plainly false. The goal of medicine is and always will be for longevity of life, increased quality of life, and decreased mortality, all of which are measurably improved by advances in medicine.”
But above and beyond the goal of medicines lies the goal of the companies manufacturing the medicines = which is Profit.
In the UK it is quite common for proven drugs which can genuinely save or extend life to be delisted or made unavailable to NHS patients due to cost implications and it is the manufacturers who dictate the price. If medicines are truly created for the benefit of man then such a circumstance should never arise.