by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
Most of the time holistic treatment for cancer (such as diet and exercise) is used in conjunction with more traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and surgical removal. More and more physicians are seeing the value in these “wacky” holistic treatments, and most are seeking supplementary training in these sorts of alternative treatments. Even if a physician isn’t trained in this discipline, they can usually refer you to another doctor or pharmacist who specializes in complementary alternative treatment.
Here in Jacksonville, there are a number of resources to help those with cancer, including Florida Oncology Associates of the Integrated Community Oncology Network, the Mayo Clinic and a branch of the A.P. John Cancer Institute, among others. According to their website, the A.P. John Cancer Institute is “bridging the gap” between complementary and conventional therapy by offering cancer patients “an additional weapon to fight their cancer.”
They use something called Controlled Amino Acid Therapy (CAAT), the only scientifically supported bio-nutritional cancer protocol available today. This battery of amino acid pills and dietary adjustment works to “feed the body and starve the cancer.”
The Institute, which has been foremost in alternative therapies, has helped make diet and vitamins a part of any cancer regimen.
“We strongly believe integrative and complementary medicine will become mainstream within the next decade. More and more physicians will continue to recognize the benefits for their patients and will be ‘prescribing’ these therapies routinely, while being reimbursed for both conventional and complementary medicines. You will no longer have to wonder if you’re doing the wisest thing by going to an MD or a doctor of herbal medicine, or chiropractor, or naturopath, etc. You’ll get the best of all possible worlds with integrated medicine and conventional medicine living together in harmony.”
For more info on the A.P. John Cancer Institute go to apjci.com or call toll free at (877) 260-1588.
One local proponent of over-the-counter medications and natural remedies is pharmacist Gill Weise Sr. He’s a consulting pharmacist, which means that he is licensed to not only fill prescriptions but also to advise patients on what they should be taking. Today, the pharmacy includes a nutritional bar, a small market and a compounding pharmacy. The store is one of the oldest in Jacksonville; his family has been providing healthy alternatives since 1939. Weise helps patients to customize their diet, homeopathic and prescription regimen, for integrated treatments of cancer and other diseases.
“We do a lot of natural remedies,” says Wiese “which have a broad range…anywhere from supplemental vitamins to homeopathics…to enzymes….and foods.”
He’s a resource for preventative measures against cancer of all types, as well as complementary care. Many of the remedies employed aren’t necessarily approved as treatments, but they are things that anecdotal evidence, some science and years of experience can back up.
“These are things that we have done for years…Right now the literature says that salmon is a good preventative of breast cancer. It also says shark cartilage is good for breast cancer—prevention and while you’re on medication [in treatment] for it.”
Weise is a wealth of information when it comes to interesting preventatives that are easy to attain or part of an ACESZ program, a special formulation that Weise’s father made to help current cancer patients and keep the susceptible healthier.
Here are just some of the things that Weise says you can eat to prevent cancer: olive leaf extract, garlic, shitake mushrooms, cold pressed flaxseed oil, broccoli, soy, citrus and a host of other foods.
Weise can help any patient formulate a diet and battery of vitamins that works with their current medications. They also have a number of books available for purchase.
For more info on the Weise Prescription Shop go to their location at 4343 Colonial Ave in Riverside, check out their website at weiserx.com or call (904) 388-1564.
Weise, as well as many other scientists, agree that a Raw Diet is one of the healthiest things you can do to prevent cancer and to mitigate the spread of cancer.
According to rawchef.com “Living (or Raw) Foods are those plant-based foods that are still abundant with living, active enzymes. When we heat up foods to anything above 116 degrees Fahrenheit, we breakdown and destroy these living enzymes, stopping all enzymatic activity within the food.”
Most foods, in their raw form, contain everything we need to run our bodies efficiently. Cooking foods breaks down some important enzymes and nutrients that can keep us healthy. Also, when food is cooked, that changes the food’s makeup on a molecular level. Overcooking food or even cooking it to regular specifications often introduces carcinogenic elements, particularly in the case of meat.
Although most Raw Foodists are often vegans or vegetarians, there are many different types of Raw Foodists, some of whom do eat meat. Many cancer survivors (or those who are just looking to follow a more healthy diet) will sometimes incorporate a Raw Food diet into their regular diet, with Raw Food accounting for about 60-80% of their overall diet.
Raw doesn’t have to mean boring though; well-prepared Raw dishes can be more flavorful, potent and vibrant than their cooked counter-parts. See the review of Present Moment Café, a St. Augustine Raw Vegan Food restaurant on page 15.
Here’s Wikipedia’s breakdown of the types of Raw food diets:
Instinctive eating (anopsology) – fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and meat (typically excludes dairy).
Fruitarianism – fruit, nuts and seeds (including sprouts)… grains & legumes.
Primal diet – fatty meats, dairy and vegetable juices.
Raw foodism – unheated food from all food groups.
Raw Paleolithic diet – “wild” game/meat, fish, plants, fruit, nuts, seeds, honey and eggs.
Raw veganism – fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and sprouts (usually includes grains and legumes but excludes ANY animal byproducts).
Raw vegetarianism – fruit, vegetables, sprouts, nuts, seeds, grains, legumes, dairy, eggs and honey.
Wai diet – fruit, nuts, fish, and eggs.
The Garden Diet – fruit, vegetables, sprouts, nuts, seeds, honey, Celtic sea salt, olive and flax seed oils.
|
EU Critic’s Choice Awards
