Fruit or Fasting

Treatment of disease by fasting has come into fashion of late, and there is really no lack of proof as to the benefits to be obtained from abstaining entirely from food for a short period. I know of an elderly man who fasts for a fortnight every spring, and gains, not loses, weight during the process! He accounts for this by explaining that certain stored up, undigested food particles come out and are digested while he fasts. Whether this is the correct explanation I do not know, but the fact remains, and it is not by any means a solitary case. Of course, the majority of people lose weight when fasting, but this is very quickly recovered. Now I do not think fasting should be undertaken recklessly, but only under competent direction. But an excellent and safe substitute
for a fast is an exclusive fruit diet.

The Simple Life

We hear a great deal about the "Simple Life" and "Returning to Nature" nowadays, but most of us are so situated that the proposed simplicity simply spells increased complexity. The "vegetarian chop" costs the housewife more than double the time and labour involved in preparing its fleshly namesake. And when it comes to illness some of the systems of bathing and exercising prescribed by the "naturopath" are infinitely more troublesome to the patient and his friends than the simple expedient of sending for the doctor and taking the prescribed doses. I do not want to be misunderstood here. I am not condemning treatment with water and exercises. On the contrary, I hope to pass on what I have learnt about these methods of treatment. But so many people lack the time, help, and conveniences necessary to carry them out successfully. It is to these that I would say that the patient's cure may be effected just as surely, if more slowly, by means of fruit alone.

Florence Daniel

A Pioneer of Food Remedies

The pioneer, in England, of the treatment of all sorts and conditions of disease by means of a vegetable (chiefly fruit) dietary was Dr. Lambe, a contemporary of the poet Shelley. His last book appeared in 1815, and in it and the one preceding are recorded some wonderful cures, especially in cases of cancer. It is only fair to add here that in Dr. Lambe's opinion no system of cure is completely efficacious so long as the patient is allowed to drink the ordinary tap or well water. Distilled water was the only drink he advised. But he held it better still not to drink at all if the necessary liquid could be supplied to the body by means of fresh, juicy fruits. He contended that man is not naturally a drinking animal; that his thirst is a morbid symptom, the outcome of a carnivorous diet and other unwholesome habits. And I think that anyone may prove the truth of this for him or herself if he or she will adopt a fruitarian dietary and abstain from the use of salt and other condiments.

I have cited so out-of-date a personage as Dr. Lambe for two reasons. The first is that I know many of the so-called new and unorthodox ideas are more likely to appeal to some readers, if it can be shown that they originated with a duly qualified medical practitioner who recorded the results of his observations and experiments in black and white. The second is that the principles and practices of Dr. Lambe are incorporated with those of the Physical Regeneration Society, a large and ever-increasing body of enthusiasts having its head-quarters in London, to whose annals I must refer those readers who desire up-to-date instances of the efficacy of the use of fruit in disease. Lack of space will not allow me to quote them here.

Florence Daniel

Objections to Fruit

Some vegetarians object that it is possible to eat too much fruit, and recommend caution in the use of it to people of nervous temperament, or those who seem predisposed to skin ailments. It is true that the consumption of large quantities of fruit may appear to render the nervous person more irritable, and to increase the external manifestations of a skin disease. But in the latter event the fruit is merely assisting Nature to throw the disease out and off more quickly, while in the former case the real cause lies not in the fruit but in some nerve irritant, tea, for example, the effects of which are more acutely felt under the new "régime". The nervous system tends to become much more sensitive upon a vegetarian, especially fruitarian, diet, and people often attribute their increased nervousness and irritability to the diet when it is simply that they now react more quickly to poisons. This is not a bad thing, on the contrary, it shows that the system has become more alert. Under the old "régime" we tend to store up poisons and impurities in the body, but the effect of a vegetable diet, especially when united with the use of distilled water, is to cause all our diseases and impurities to be expelled outwards and downwards. Tea is a slow poison, and so is coffee except under exceptional conditions
when it is used as a medicine, and then it should always be pale-roasted.

Fruit should always be eaten at the beginning of a meal. Again, when the diet consists of a mixture of cooked and uncooked foods, the uncooked should always be eaten first. Also when the meal consists of two courses, a sweet and a savoury dish, sufferers from indigestion should try taking the sweet course first. I have known several cases where this simple expedient has resulted in a complete cessation of the discomfort of which the patient complained.

Florence Daniel

Fruit is a Food

Until quite recently the majority of English-speaking people have been accustomed to look upon fruit not as a food, but rather as a sweetmeat, to be eaten merely for pleasure, and therefore very sparingly. It has consequently been banished from its rightful place at the beginning of meals. But fruit is not a "goody," it is a food, and, moreover, a complete food. All vegetable foods (in their natural state) contain all the elements necessary to form a complete food. At a pinch human life might be supported on any one of them. I say "at a pinch" because if the nuts cereals and pulses were ruled out of the dietary it would, for most people, be deficient in fat and proteid (the flesh and muscle-forming element). Nevertheless, fruit alone "will" sustain life
if taken in large quantities with small output of energy on the part of the person living upon it, as witness the "grape cure."[2] The percentage of proteid in grapes is particularly high for fruit.

Those people who desire to make a fruitarian dietary their daily "régime" cannot do better than take the advice of O. Hashnu Hara, an American writer. He says: "Every adult requires from twelve to sixteen ounces of dry food, "free from water", daily. To supply this a quarter of a pound of "shelled" nuts and three-quarters of a pound of any dried fruit must be used. In addition to this, from two to three pounds of any "fresh fruit" in season goes to complete the day's allowance. These quantities should be weighed out ... and will sustain a full-grown man in perfect health and vitality. The quantity of ripe fresh fruit may be slightly increased in summer, with a corresponding decrease in the dried fruit."

Florence Daniel

FOOTNOTE:

[2] Recent years have witnessed a modification of the original cure. Other food is now included, but I have not heard that the results are better.

Fruit and the Teeth

I mention the above because one of the objections that I have heard cited against the free use of fruit is that "the acids act injuriously upon the teeth." Until I became a vegetarian I used to visit a dentist regularly every six months. I had done this for ten years, and nearly every tooth in my gums had its gold filling. The last time I visited the dentist I told him that I had become a vegetarian, and he replied that he rather thought my teeth would decay quicker in future on account of an increased consumption of vegetable acids. But from that day, now nearly six years ago, to the present time, I have never been near a dentist. My teeth seem to have taken a new lease of life. It is a fact that the acids in fruit and vegetables so far from injuring the teeth benefit them. Many of these acids are strongly antiseptic and actually destroy the germs that cause the teeth to decay. On the other hand, they do _not_ attack the enamel of the teeth, while inorganic acids do. Nothing cleanses the teeth so effectually as to thoroughly chew a large and juicy apple.

Florence Daniel

While there is Fruit there is Hope

by Florence Daniel

While there is life--and fruit--there is hope. When this truth is realised by the laity nine hundred and ninety-nine out of every thousand professors of the healing art will be obliged to abandon their profession and take to fruit-growing for a living.

Many people have heard vaguely of the "grape cure" for diseases arising from over-feeding, and the lemon cure for rheumatism, but for the most part these "cures" remain mere names. Nevertheless it is almost incredible to the uninitiated what may be accomplished by the abandonment for a time of every kind of food in favour of fruit. Of course, such a proceeding should not be entered upon in a careless or random fashion. Too sudden changes of habit are apt to be attended with disturbances that discourage the patient, and cause him to lose patience and abandon the treatment without giving it a fair trial. In countries where the "grape cure" is practised the patient starts by taking one pound of grapes each day, which quantity is gradually increased until he can consume six pounds. As the quantity of grapes is increased that of the ordinary food is decreased, until at last the patient lives on nothing but grapes.[1] I have not visited a "grape cure" centre in person, but I have read that it is not only persons suffering from the effects of over-feeding who find salvation in the "grape cure," but that consumptive patients thrive and even put on weight under it.

The Herald of Health stated, some few years back, that in the South of France where the "grape cure" is practised consumptive patients are fed on grapes alone, and become quite strong and well in a year or two. And I have myself known wonderful cures to follow on the adoption of a fruitarian dietary in cases of cancer, tumour, gout, eczema, all kinds of inflammatory complaints, and wounds that refused to heal.

H. Benjafield, M.B., writing in the Herald of Health, says: "Garrod, the great London authority on gout, advises his patients to take oranges, lemons, strawberries, grapes, apples, pears, etc. Tardieu, the great French authority, maintains that the salts of potash found so plentifully in fruits are the chief agents in purifying the blood from these rheumatic and gouty poisons.... Dr. Buzzard advises the scorbutic to take fruit morning, noon, and night. Fresh lemon juice in the form of lemonade is to be his ordinary drink; the existence of diarrhoea should be no reason for withholding it." The writer goes on to show that headache, indigestion, constipation, and all other complaints that result from the sluggish action of bowels and liver can never be cured by the use of artificial fruit salts and drugs.

Salts and acids as found in organised forms are quite different in their effects to the products of the laboratory, notwithstanding that the chemical composition may be shown to be the same. The chemist may be able to manufacture a "fruit juice," but he cannot, as yet, manufacture the actual fruit. The mysterious life force always evades him. Fruit is a vital food, it supplies the body with something over and above the mere elements that the chemist succeeds in isolating by analysis. The vegetable kingdom possesses the power of directly utilising minerals, and it is only in this "live" form that they are fit for the consumption of man. In the consumption of sodium chloride (common table salt), baking powders, and the whole army of mineral drugs and essences, we violate that decree of Nature which ordains that the animal kingdom shall feed upon the vegetable and the vegetable upon the mineral.

FOOTNOTE:

[1] This was the original treatment; now other food is added, although excellent results were obtained under the old régime.

Korean Ginseng FAQ

1. What is Ginseng?

Ginseng is the root of a plant that is considered an elixir in Oriental medicine. The scientific name of ginseng is Panax, which means "cure all" in Latin. The ginseng root is shaped similar to that of a human body. Known worldwide for its general health enhancing effects on the body and mind, ginseng is a natural way of increasing the quality of human lives through the many positive effects that it provides.

2. What are the benefits of consuming ginseng products?

The main benefit of consuming ginseng products is that it has a positive effect on overall health. Intake of ginseng on a daily basis will help improve metabolism and balance the various bodily functions, bringing about harmony of the mind and body. It helps many biological functions and helps the body build resistance to various diseases by strengthening the immune system.

3. How does ginseng promote health?

The almost magical ability of ginseng to cure the body of various ailments is due to the presence of ginsenosides, which is the active ingredient in the ginseng root. Ginsenosides have been proven to have strong positive effects on human metabolism, improving vitality, mental capacity and increasing strength and stamina. Fatigue and debilitating effects of senility are negated. Ginsenosides are adaptogens, they encourage the body to adapt to biological stress naturally, and Korean ginseng is among the best sources of ginsenosides in the world.

4. What is Korean Ginseng?

Ginseng is a particular strain of ginseng that is cultivated in Korea and is considered the superior variety among all types of ginseng. Studies conducted on Korean ginseng have made observations stating that it improves stamina and performance as well as reflex times in older people. It has highly beneficial effects on mood and energy levels by consuming recommended amounts.

5. Why should I consume ILHWA Korean Ginseng?

ILHWA Korean Ginseng is considered the most effective of all ginseng varieties available in the market.

Ginseng contains minerals, vitamins, amino acids, essential oils and enzymes. Korean Ginseng root takes a longer time to mature and therefore contains more active ingredients than any other variety of ginseng. It contains thrice the amount of ginsenosides than any other ginseng varieties. That makes it an incredible source of nutrients for the human body.

Korean Ginseng has positive effects not only on the body but also on the mind. It improves brain activity and promotes psychological health by a mechanism that fuels and calms the mind.

6. What is the scientific, biological reason for the health benefits of Korean ginseng?

Ginsenosides are the active ingredients of Korean ginseng. They are phytochemicals that are like steroids, and possess adaptogenic properties which help the body counter stress. The glycosides present in ginseng act on the adrenal glands, preventing adrenal hypertrophy and excess corticosteroid production which is usually the natural response to stress.

Panaxtriol, a steroid contained in Korean ginseng is very similar to the anabolic steroids found naturally in the body, thus making it ideal for athletes and body builders.

Ginsenosides also increase neurotransmitter activity and protein synthesis in the brain. It improves blood circulation in the brain cells by stimulating formation of blood vessels.This, in turn, leads to better blood circulation in the brain resulting in improved memory and cognitive abilities. Ginseng is also effective in treating diabetes, infections, migraine, and reducing the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy.

Ron Knight is an avid reader of Herbal Medicine. Through his articles he wishes to inform and educate public about herbal treatments for various medical ailments. He believes that natural remedies are the best remedies unless there is no other alternative, and the situation calls for modern allopathic remedies like Ginseng.

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A Natural Approach to the Treatment of Arthritis

by Dr Shaun Hutchinsons

There are numerous types of arthritis. I am only going to be covering 2 of those. These are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA), which is also known as osteoarthrosis or degenerative joint disease (DJD), is a progressive disorder of the joints caused by gradual loss of cartilage and resulting in the development of bony spurs and cysts at the margins of the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and deformity of the joints. Other problems throughout the body (systemic problems) may also develop, including inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis), the development of bumps (called rheumatoid nodules) in various parts of the body, lung disease, blood disorders, and weakening of the bones (osteoporosis).

Natural treatment of Arthritis

Natural treatment of arthritis would be similar regardless of whether it is osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. The aim would be at reducing pain, inflammation and to help the body to heal and regenerate the joints. However, when treating rheumatoid arthritis the treatment would also have a component targeted at the autoimmune component of the disease.

Homoeopathy can help tremendously in the treatment of arthritis; especially because it targets the individual symptoms each patient experiences. I shall not make any recommendations for the Homoeopathic treatment of Arthritis as it is best to consult a Homoeopath when treating this condition with homoeopathic medicines. I shall however make recommendations on nutraceuticals, herbs, and diet in the treatment of arthritis.

When discussing the natural treatment of arthritis I am first going to discuss the specific treatment of the auto-immune component of rheumatoid arthritis, and then I will discuss the general treatment of both types of arthritis.

Treatment of the autoimmune component of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The number one nutraceutical I would recommend in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis would be glyconutrients. This is because of their ability to enhance and correct the cellular communication between organ systems in the body. This is vitally important in treating autoimmune conditions, as the body needs to get the immune system to recognize that the tissues of the body are not foreign and to turn off the immune response and thus the autoimmune condition.

Ashwagandha modulates and regulates the immune system, which is important in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis have low level of CD8 cells in comparison to healthy individuals. CD8 cells are important in modulating an overactive immune system as is the case in most autoimmune diseases. Ashwagandha helps to boost CD8 cell production in the body.

General treatment of Arthritis

Here I am going to discuss first the substances that will be of benefit in controlling pain and inflammation. That will then be followed by nutrients that will help to regenerate and heal up the cartilage.

Pain and inflammation. Capsaicin applied to the joints in a ointment form can be of great benefit in treating the pain of arthritis (be careful to wash your hands after applying the ointment, to avoid accidentally touching your eyes afterwards and having them burn from the capsaicin).

Proteolytic enzymes such as Bromelain (1200-1800mg/day) and Papain reduce the inflammation associated with arthritis.

Cetyl Myristoleate (CMO) is highly effective in the treatment of arthritis. It reduces pain as well as lubricates the joints. Other beneficial nutrients you may add to this are Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and Curcumin.

Fish Oils (18 grams per day) alleviate Arthritis (by reducing elevated Interleukin 1 and Leukotriene B4 levels which are implicated in Inflammation in Arthritis patients).

Green-Lipped Mussel extract (1,000 mg per day) alleviates Arthritis (due to the Glycosaminoglycans and Eicosatetraenoic Acid content of Green-Lipped Mussels).

Herbs that will be of benefit are Boswellia, Devil's Claw, Nettle, Turmeric and Yucca.

Joint regeneration. S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and Glucosamine Sulfate stimulate the growth and regeneration of cartilage inside joints. Silicon facilitates the removal of the arthritic nodules and spurs associated with Osteoarthritis.

Vitamin C retards the erosion of cartilage that occurs during the course of Arthritis and increases the synthesis of the endogenous Glycosaminoglycans that are necessary to repair damaged osteoarthritic Joints.

Supplements and herbs to avoid

Do not use iron supplements, as they may worsen inflammation.

Dietary suggestions for Arthritis patients

Please refer to my article on the natural treatment of Lupus as some of the dietary recommendations will be similar for Arthritis.

Excessive consumption of meats is speculated to be an underlying cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Excessive consumption of Sodium contributes to Osteoarthritis (by accelerating the loss of Calcium from the Bones).

General Consideration and Recommendations

Regular (light) exercise is a recommended treatment for Arthritis. In fact the best forms of exercise I would recommend for would be Tai Chi and Yoga.

Excessive Stress can be one of the underlying causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis. This can be effectively managed by exercises used in Tai Chi and Yoga.

Exposure to Sunlight alleviates Osteoarthritis (by stimulating the endogenous manufacture of Vitamin D).

Dr Shaun Hutchinsons,
Homoeopathic Practitioner,
Glyconutrient Consultant,
Tai Chi Instructor,
Massage Therapist,
http://drhutchinson.weebly.com

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Dr Shaun Hutchinson - EzineArticles Expert Author

Does Ginseng Cure Cancer?

Ginseng is an herb that is extensively used in oriental medicine to treat all kinds of diseases. Korean Ginseng, also known as Panax or Chinese Ginseng, is considered the most efficacious among the different types of ginseng available. It contains a group of compounds called ginsenoids which are said to be responsible for the preventative and curative effects of ginseng.

Because of the potency of the herbs in combating many different conditions like diabetes, cancer, fatigue and stress, and others, several studies are performed the world over to understand the secret behind the efficacy of this herb. A group of researchers studied the effects of ginseng, especially its potential to cure cancer, and published their findings in the Chinese Medicine Journal. They opined that ginsenoids act as functional ligands to activate different steroid hormone receptors. Through such mechanisms, ginseng acts on the body in a similar way as steroid hormones.

Ginseng has demonstrated therapeutic effects on the cardio vascular system, central nervous system, immunity, metabolism, endocrine functions, stress and aging. Ginseng has also been extensively used in oriental medicine to treat cancer.

Studies reveal that the pharmacological effects of ginseng are due to its bioactive constituents like ginsenoids, saponins, peptides, polysaccharides, polyacetylenes, fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. According to a report published in the Chinese Medicine Journal, ginsenoids have anti-tumor effects and has the ability to induce apoptosis or death of the tumor cells, anti-proliferation, anti-invasion and metastasis, as well as anti-angiogenesis.

Metastasis is the process by which cancer spreads from the place where it first formed as a primary tumor to other parts of the body. Metastasis is caused due to the cancer cells acquiring two distinct abilities - increased motility and invasiveness. It involves a complex process of angiogenesis (the process of developing new blood vessels) and cell interactions. By inhibiting tumor induced angiogenesis, ginsenoids control metastasis. Ginsenoids are also useful in inhibiting invasiveness of cancer. They have been shown to inhibit lung metastasis, and reduce the bulk of tumors in melanoma, breast, gastric and lung cancers. The only way to cure cancer is to control metastasis and destroy the tumor cells.

Ginseng contains several compounds that have been found useful in inducing cell death in ovarian cancer cells, prostrate cancer cells and lung adenocarcinoma cells. The researchers say that the way in which ginsenoids help in elimination of tumor cells may be by inducing cell death.

Ginsenoids also demonstrate preventative effects. They inhibit the cell cycle progression and have been known to stop the cell growth in tumor cell lines of lung tumor, prostrate cancer, leukemia and liver cancer.

Researchers say that ginsenoids called Rg3 and Rh2 have emerged in China ad Taiwan as anti cancer drugs. Rg3 suppresses tumor angiogenesis, prevents adhesion, invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. It was also found that chemotherapy supplemented with Rh2 was 60% more effective than chemotherapy alone. Rh2 also showed promise to mitigate adverse effects of chemo like hair loss, nausea, anemia and poor appetite.

Both Rg3 and Rh2 are extracted from Korean red ginseng. This magical herb continues to astound scientists all over the world and provide people with daily miracles.

Ron Knight is an avid reader of Herbal Medicine. Through his articles he wishes to inform and educate public about those herbal treatments to cure cancer, as well as other herbal treatments for various ailments. It has been a great help to patients who want to get treated for cancer, especially restricting cancer using ginseng as the medicinal herb.

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Systemic Enzyme Therapy (Supplement to The Art of Getting Well)

"Medical data is for informational purposes only. You should always consult your family physician or one of our referral physicians prior to treatment - The Arthritis Trust of America

Article provided by: The Arthritis Trust of America

Systemic Enzyme Therapy
Supplement to The Art of Getting Well

Sources are given in references.


Authors of contributions\quotations are alphabetically arranged; major author, if any, is underlined.
John Beard, Herxheimer, Dr. Inderst, Kleine, Dr. Kunz, Jaeger, Prof. Seifert, Hector E. Solorzano del Rio, M.D., D.Sc, Ph.D, Prof. Wolf, Dr. Wrba/Responsible editor/writer Anthony di Fabio. This remarkable doctor sits in the only chair for Alternative Medicine, in the Second largest university in Mexico, University of Guadalajara.

All rights reserved by the The Roger Wyburn-Mason and Jack M.Blount Foundation for Eradication of Rheumatoid Disease AKA The Arthritis Trust of America,
7111 Sweetgum Road, Suite A, Fairview, TN 37062-9384
Copyright 1994

People must know that the correct medical name for the therapeutic use of natural enzymes is "Systemic Enzyme Therapy." This means that enzymes flow throughout our body, producing the desired healing effects.

For an accurate description of Systemic Enzyme Therapy, one needs to know a little bit about the structure and function of enzymes, in general.

You must know that without enzymes, there is no possibility of life, in animals, plants or persons. Enzymes are essential for each and every reaction in a living organism.

We could even follow the arising of life on earth, if we think of enzymes that were necessary for the evolution in each stage. Oxygen from the air arose because certain new enzymes were formed by single plants that released oxygen. These plants had learned to produce certain enzymes that separate oxygen from carbon dioxide in the air. Today, we accurately know how this works. Every second we change; every second we become a new human being. This is because more than 2,700 different enzymes act with an incredible speed to keep our vital functions in order.

Since ancient times it was known by Egyptians and the Arabians that there was an invisible force which made all living things shift. It was a mysterious force that transforms one substance into another; milk became a cheese, grapefruit to wine, etc.
Enzymes are catalysts, or rather we should say, "biolcatalysts." We are dealing with determined substances whose presence causes the transformation of an organic substance and it also accelerates it, just as a catalyst would do it. Today we know what these enzymes are and how they act.

Catalysts produce, with a small effort, a big effect. Nature can not waste energy. In technical terms, enzymes are albuminoid, macromolecular bodies, with a complex structure and are active biocatalytically speaking. These albumins are made of 20 different amino acids. Each enzyme is specific not only in its substratum (the place where they react) but also in its effect. In 1930 we only knew 80 enzymes. In 1993 we know more than 2,700 enzymes. However, we do not know how many are left to be discovered.

Enzymes are necessary for the adequate functioning of our whole metabolism. In our body, every part of it is related to all the rest; that is, that even one tiny disturbance, biochemically speaking, can result in a complete imbalance. Diseases are the consequence of this disorder.

In biochemistry, when something is designated with the ending "ase," one can almost be sure that we are talking about an enzyme. In the early stage of the discovery of the enzymes, they were known with names that ended usually with an "in," like the well known pepsin and trypsin.
 
Enzymes are constantly produced within our body. Described in a simple way, there are certain organic molecular pieces that in small quantities are required to form these enzymes. These pieces are the vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Altogether they are called "co-enzymes."

The deficiency of any of these co-enzymes will result in a specific medical condition. For example, vitamin B1 deficiency will elicit "beri-beri." The vitamin B12 deficiency causes a special anemia called "pernicious anemia." The same thing happens with deficiency of essential minerals and trace elements. Basically, in these cases, we are speaking of an illness elicited by a disturbance in the enzymatic balance.

These co-enzymes, in fact, are different from the enzymes. It was already said that enzymes are made of albumin and the co-enzymes are not. The enzymes are rather large molecules. On the other hand, co-enzymes are rather small. Enzymes are not consumed in the true sense during their activity, while co-enzymes are consumed in it and they must be replaced through our diet.

To act adequately, enzymes must be exposed to certain physical conditions. Each of them needs a specific temperature and pH, which causes them to have different speeds of action. To have an appropriate idea of the speed, you must know that lysozyme (an enzyme that helps in the elimination of bacteria) produces a change of approximately 30 molecules of substratum per minute, that is, every 2 seconds. On the other hand, the fastest degrader among the enzymes is quite different, it is carboanhydrase, which changes an incredibly 36 millions of substratum in only one minute.

Some enzymes live only 20 minutes and must be replaced by new enzymes of the same type, recently produced. Other enzymes remain active for a period of several weeks before they are eliminated and when they are, they are eliminated because of their age.

At the Program for Studies of Alternative Medicines of the University of Guadalajara (Mexico), we have researched the therapeutic value of these natural proteolytic enzymes in the treatment of acute and chronic clinical conditions. We have had the opportunity of reaffirming that enzymes are catalytically active polymer compounds made of amino acids. They are involved in virtually all of the vital metabolic processes. They set metabolic conversions in track (in train), control energetic processes and regulate syntheses. Without enzymes, nothing goes on at all within an organism.

It is therefore normal to use enzymes for therapeutic purposes. Substitution in intestinal enzyme deficiency conditions is a classical treatment modality that no one would dispute. 

External use of enzymes for impaired wound healing (e.g. in the presence of varicose ulcers) has been part of the armamentarium of medical practitioners for centuries. Parental lytic therapy with streptolinase or urokinase for cardiac infarct or for vascular occlusions is today standard throughout the world.


Enzymes are very highly substrate specific. Due to their different places of action, it is therefore reasonable to use mixtures of enzymes in the treatment of diseases. One important enzyme is called the hydrolases, which cleave complex compounds (esters, peptides, and glycosides).

There are some substances that are very similar to co-enzymes. They look so similar that our body can not distinguish between them. In fact, our system does not see the difference and tries to use them as real active enzymatic centers. Of course, the enzyme compensated by such substances (not the true co-enzyme) do not work and the biochemical error makes us sick. For example, when poisoning rats, these poisons very frequently contain an aromatic, vegetal substance known as cumarine. The animal and the human organism see the cumarine as if it were co-enzyme vitamin K. This vitamin K has a definitive role in the production of the enzymes necessary for coagulation. If the body receives cumarine, it incorporates it into the enzymes, instead of incorporating vitamin K, and so the necessary enzymes for coagulation stop functioning. The blood liquefies in a way that causes the rats to bleed to their death.

When we get sick, particularly in the case of an infectious disease, our temperature rises. This is an intelligent way by which nature accelerates the activity of our enzymes to try to get rid of the problem.

To bring about certain tasks of great importance within our organism and to keep our system in a perfect equilibrium between too much and too little, the enzymes work most of the time in continuous steps, that is, in what is called "enzymatic cascades." One enzyme activates the next enzyme, and, in turn, that enzyme activates another enzyme, until one last enzyme finally produces the desired effect. This happens due to nature's design to conserve energy, because these small individual steps require much less energy than big complicated ones. On the other hand, nature desires safety, in that our bodies must be sure that these enzymatic cascades are not activated unless really necessary. That is why there are two security systems. If one enzymatic cascade is wrongly activated, there can be dangerous consequences that may lead to death.

The first lock of the security system is to produce new enzymes, but the characteristic of these enzymes is that they are active. That is, they will not work until they are activated by certain changes in the structure of the amino acids. Thus, the innocuous enzymes flow all over the lymphatic system and the bloodstream. Whenever the body needs to have a certain effect, a corresponding enzymatic cascade is activated accordingly.

The inhibitors of the enzymes are the second security system. In biochemistry they are so-called "enzymatic inhibitors." These proper enzymatic inhibitors of the organism can avoid the activation of the enzymes when the quantity of enzymes is too large.

Other several substances have been discovered to help to neutralize certain enzymes, and by this means we can intentionally act on the process of metabolism. The most famous drug in the world, "acetylsalicilic acid," works according to this principle. During a very long time, the fact that acetylsalicilic acid neutralized enzymes was unknown. We used the substance as a pain killer simply because we knew it worked. This acid can be stored firmly as a foreign substance in an enzyme with the complicated name of "cyclooxigenase." Cyclooxigenase plays an important role in the processes of coagulation and inflammations. Thus, the acid inhibits the coagulation of blood and then blood becomes more liquid. It also inhibits the processes of inflammations, and this way the inflammations and pains are diminished.

Think about antibiotics, for example, penicillin; or about steroids, that is, cortisone. These substances also are enzymatic inhibitors. What medical science is doing, then, is using this knowledge in the symptomatic treatment of diseases.

Enzymes are widely used in the food industry. Enzymes are essential in the manufacture of beer. But our interest is in three medical fields. So, in this area, enzymes are used in: (1) analysis, (2) pharmaceuticals and, (3) therapy.

Enzymes are very important in paraclinical diagnosis. For example, in the past it took a long time to determine the blood sugar level. Today, we can use a special tape, wet it with some blood or urine, and in 60 seconds know our blood sugar level. What we are doing, is using our knowledge about the way enzymes react.

In the pharmaceutical area, it was already mentioned that many of the drugs used today are in reality enzymatic inhibitors, such as cytostatics, antibiotics, steroids, etc. Everybody knows that these medicines have different adverse side effects. It would be better to help our body to react, instead of inhibiting it.

After many years of experience in analysis and pharmaceutical areas, it was thought that these powerful enzymes could be used in the therapeutic field, too. This way, a new area of enzymatic therapy began. It was applied to alleviate disturbances in the metabolism, that is, impairments in the functions of the organs and to repair genetic faults.

Soon scientists concluded, thanks to these new biochemical tools, that the genetic defects could be corrected or neutralized by means of the application of enzymes. Besides, the genetic defects are enzymatic defects. So far there have been reported in the medical literature more than 150 diseases that are due to enzymatic faults genetically conditioned. This means that the patient's organism does not form a specific enzyme or it manufactures and places a similar enzyme which has only weak activity. This weak enzyme replaces the right one.

An enzymatic defect genetically conditioned is found also especially in certain human races. For example, the black population is affected by an enzymatic defect genetically conditioned that can lead to the so-called anemia of falciform cells, while half of the Japanese people suffer from another hereditary metabolic error. They lack an enzyme, so-called aldehyde dehydrogenase. This enzyme is required to degrade alcohol. This is the reason why Japanese people are more sensitive to drinking alcohol. Most women have the same enzymatic defect.

Some of the enzymatic defects genetically conditioned have different kinds of consequences that are hardly noticed, while others have a remarkable effect in the display of disease.

DIGESTION

We can say that in spite of the different foods we eat, they all are made of carbohydrates, proteins and fat.

To be able to transform these three basic food substances into biochemical substances, so that our body can take advantage of them, we need also three groups of enzymes; the proteolytic, enzymes (proteases), degraders of proteins, the lipolytic enzymes (lipases), degraders of fat and the amilolytic enzymes (amilases), degraders of carbohydrates.
This enzymatic transformation begins in the moment we place a piece of food in our mouth. As always seen in nature, there is an order. Carbohydrates are first degraded, then albumins and finally fat.

But enzymes not only degrade foods. They also play a specific role in the process of absorption of substances. There are several enzymes that are essential as transporters of the nutrient substances.

We can understand now that when we eat too much, we can help our body to digest more easily our foods by taking some medicine, which contains digestive enzymes.

ENZYMES, GREAT HEALERS

When someone gets sick of any disease we can be sure that something is wrong with his/her enzymes. If the enzymes had been able to eliminate the cause of the disease, then the person would not have become sick.

What we logically must do, in almost any disease, is to replace the type and quantity of the required enzymes as soon as possible. Our body will automatically do the rest.
It is so simple, we just take some enzymatic tablets to help ourselves. In emergency situations, we can administer them in great quantities through injections or even rectally.

The defense mechanisms of the organism are fortified by the enzymes. They are important for all the inflammatory processes, they take care to keep a good blood circulation, they help in wound healing of any kind and even in the case of abnormal cells they regulate cellular growth and fight against viruses. These features are impressive. They embrace almost all the conditions which we nowadays call "chronic diseases."

Of course, enzymes can be taken as a preventive measure against many diseases.
One great problem is obtaining an effective formula of enzymes, as some governmental authorities do not permit the use of a mixture of active substances. It is essential to have a mixture, otherwise the therapeutical effect desired will not be produced. In the literal sense, any food has a mixture of "drugs" [or chemicals] such as vitamins, minerals, trace elements, amino acids, etc. And, we combine these more complexly when we combine foods.

There are some monoenzymatic preparations, but their therapeutic effect is very limited. Many studies have been done regarding the effect of an enzyme used alone and also used in a mixture. There is a clear synergistic effect when combined with more than one enzyme. For example, bromelain, we'll say, has an effect factor of 1, but if we combine bromelain with papain -- which we'll say also has an effect factor of 1 -- the resulting effect will not be their sum of 1+1 = 2, but rather 1+1 = 3, or perhaps even 1+1 = 4. This is due to their natural ability to act synergistically.

In reality, it is difficult to get a monoenzymatic preparation, since, for example, pancreatin itself is composed of at least 12 enzymes.

Enzymes are very safe. A lethal dose (LD-50: the LD-50 is the measure of the dosage necessary to kill off one-half of a trial group of rats, and is a standard used to measure safety of most drugs) could never be found. Rats, for example, were fed with the equivalent of 2,500 tablets for 6 months, with no significant changes and no harmful effects. Horses were also fed with the equivalent quantity of 250 tablets daily for 6 months, too, with no problems. No toxicity has ever been found.

Since enzymes are natural agents, they can be included in the category of the biological response modifiers (BRM). This means that they do not alter the physiology of our body, instead, they just stimulate our bodies to act according to its own inner wisdom. This is really fascinating. Enzymes will work only if they are needed to do so.

Caution must be taken in certain specific cases. Hemophilic patients should not take enzymes. We can say the same thing concerning the patients who have a risk of hemorrhage. The reason is that enzymes liquefy blood and make coagulation slower. In case of pregnancy, we must ponder the risk. But all the studies in animals have demonstrated no teratogenic effect by enzyme mixtures.

Scientific research has proven that enzymes not only have a synergetic effect, as a mixture, but also elicit the same kind of effect when they are combined with antibiotics, sulfonamids, steroids and other drugs or medicines. Regarding synergy with chemotherapy, we have seen an increase in the effect of the chemotherapy from 8% to 40%. This is wonderful, because it means that we can diminish, in certain cases, the dosage of cytostatic medicines without decreasing their therapeutical effect. About 5% of the patients who take enzymatic mixtures will have a mild side effect. It consists simply in a change of the odor in their stools.

Systemic enzyme therapy is a form of therapy that has been taken over from naturopathy. 

Today it has a firm place in the spectrum of treatment available under the aegis of mainstream medicine -- despite all hostilities. Extensive research made this possible.
It has always been believed that enzymes do not reach the whole organism. This is because it is thought that enzymes are not absorbed in the intestines. The reason for this belief is that enzymes are macromolecules. A macromolecule has a weight of at least 1,000. Enzymes have a weight between 16,000 and 60,000 atoms per molecule.

Everybody knows that new born babies get antibodies from their mothers through the mother's milk. These antibodies must cross the barrier of the intestines' walls to reach the lymphatic vessels and the bloodstream. These antibodies are also macromolecules that have a size similar to that of enzymes. The antibodies are also called gammaglobulins.

Prof. Seifert (Chirurgischen Universitat-Klinik) in Kiel, fed rats and dogs with equine gammaglobulins radioactively marked to demonstrate on a scientific basis the absorption of these macromolecules. These equine gammaglobulins have a molecular weight up to 12,000 atoms; that is, they are extremely large.

These gammaglobulins were absorbed. This means that they arrived through intestines to the blood and could be found all over the organism of the rats and dogs.
Nowadays, there is no doubt about the absorption of enzymatic mixtures.

HOW DO ENZYMES WORK?

It is very important to remember that medicine does not heal, neither does any other remedy. We know that doctors do not, in the strict sense of the word, cure any disease. All of them can contribute through very different ways of supporting the body, but the healing and the maintenance of health is a task done by one's own defense system of the body.
We cannot speak about the treatment of diseases, or detoxification of the organism, without also including the immune system. We begin with grippe and finish with AIDS, and there is nothing that could be done without taking into consideration the field of immunology.
It is difficult to explain in simple words what the immune system is all about, but I will try to make it simple.

The cells, such as bacteria and viruses, are recognized by our body as enemies, that is, as "antigens," but also some other chemical substances and mutated cells act as antigens. In response to the presence of these antigens, our body produces "antibodies." The antibodies that couple with an antigen form an "immune complex." Macrophages are in charge of destroying these immune complexes enzymatically. But these macrophages look for large immune complexes, so sometimes the medium size immune complexes are ignored. These ignored complexes begin to flow through our lymphatic system and bloodstream until they finish sticking on a tissue wall, penetrating that tissue. Eventually they are stored there. From that moment on, these immune complexes become pathogenic, that is, they can cause a disease.

During this situation, we also find macrophages less active because the more immune complexes we have, the more inhibited is the activity of the macrophages. We have then arrived at a vicious circle, where one bad situation produces the other bad situation, and that one in turn producing the first situation.

When the number of immune complexes is so high, the second defense system of our body is alerted. The second immune system is called the "complement system." It is also made of a cascade of nine enzymes activated one by one. When the whole enzymatic cascade has been activated, a huge dissolvent activity of albumins begins and this causes an inflammatory reaction. In consequence, the tissue is destroyed and suddenly that which we call an "auto immune disease" arises; the organism attacks itself.

If, for example, the immune complexes are fixed in the renal tissue, then through the activation of the complement system, an inflammation can occur in the kidney, resulting in what we know as glommerulonephritis. In this particular case, clinical trials have been undertaken and so now we know that what the enzymes do is to interrupt the enzymatic cascade of the complement system.

There are many similar diseases elicited by the activation of the complement system. All of them are so-called "autoimmune diseases." Until recently they were considered as incurable diseases, because they could only be influenced medically very little, if any, that is, chronic inflammations of the intestines, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. This kind of sickness is due to the immune complexes in the intestinal tissues.

The interruption of the complement system cascade always works to avoid damage upon ourselves. To achieve this, we dilute enzymatically the pathogenic immune complexes and we activate the macrophages. This way, we are interrupting the vicious circle that leads to chronic degenerative diseases.

Depending on the organ where these immune complexes are fixed is where the disease is produced. For instance, if the lung is involved, then the result is pulmonary fibrosis. If the pancreas is involved, then we will get a pancreatitis, and so on. The list of the diseases of autoagression caused by immune complexes is very long. The type of disease does not depend only on the place where the immune complexes are fixed, but also on the origin of the antigen.

Among the typical diseases of autoagression, we can find chronic articular rheumatism, glommerulonephritis, and ulcerative colitis. The diseases due to virus, bacteria or certain parasites can also lead to autoagression diseases; for example, as in infectious hepatitis, herpes zoster, toxoplasmosis, etc.

Orthodox medicine frequently uses two kinds of remedies. One is the kind of anti-inflammatory drugs which only suppress the symptom but not the disease. The other kind are so-called immune suppressors. These drugs weaken the body's own defenses.
More scientists are taking an interest in the biochemical method of systemic enzyme therapy. Enzymes are adequate to dissolve and to eliminate immune complexes. They also stimulate the body's defenses and accelerate inflammatory mechanisms.

In the beginning of the treatment, an apparent impairment may occur, since the enzymatic mixtures can destroy the immune complexes that are fixed in the tissues. So, enzymes take the immune complexes back to the bloodstream. Because of this, there is a greater quantity of circulating immune complexes and this temporary increase can temporarily increase the symptoms in the patient. [Herxheimer effect.] However, the enzymes, in a short time period, if they are administered in the right dose, will certainly eliminate the titurated immune complexes that have once again entered the blood stream.

During the Second Mexican National Congress on Enzyme Therapy, Dr. Kunze reported fascinating findings of his immunolgical research. He says that there is no disease where the immune system is not involved. Now we know that enzymes can help to avoid the formation of autoantibodies. They can inhibit the production of immune complexes. They are useful in avoiding the activation of the complement. They mediate the action of the citoquines, as well as the fibrin.

Clinical trials have been done on the systemic enzymatic treatment of many, many diseases. There are two main ones to be discussed herein. When one speaks about hope in the case of Multiple Sclerosis, one must be sure of what one is saying. We all know how terrible this disease is. According to Dr. Hector E. Solorzano del Rio, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., chairman of the Program for Studies of Alternative Medicines of the University of Guadalajara, it has been scientifically proven that enzymes indeed help MS patients.

The etiology of MS is unknown. We know that there is a demyelinization, that is, the nerve fibers lose their myelin and the symptoms arise. There are certain factors that seem to influence the appearance of this medical condition, such as is the case of hereditary factors, dietary factors, etc.

Another factor found in MS patients is a deficiency of unsaturated fatty acids.
One final theory says that viruses can be the etiological factor for MS. Different clinical trials around the world have confirmed that the MS patients have higher levels of circulating immune complexes.

Dr. Solorzano tells about one of his MS patients, named Jose. He is 40 years old, in a wheelchair, and desperate. He had received all known orthodox treatments with no results. So, he took the enzymatic treatment. In one month Jose felt more strength in all of his muscles. He could again take care of himself regarding dressing himself. In three months he could walk, but with some difficulty. After six months of enzymatic treatment, he was no longer sick. He is very happy and now lives a productive life.

Hundreds of patients have been treated with enzymatic therapy, with good results, not only in Germany or Mexico, but in many other countries.

It is important to remember that patients also have dietary care, and that they are also given unsaturated fatty acids. Most of them have a deficiency in selenium, and so we prescribe accordingly.

The sooner the patient receives enzymatic treatment, the faster the improvement will be noticed. Of course, if the patient has not taken immune suppressors, then, again, the response will be seen earlier.

We can also talk about a very frequent but not cured disease by orthodox medicine. This is Rheumatoid Arthritis. Its etiology is not yet known. There are many theories. Some scientists say that it is an autoimmune disease.

There are millions of people suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis.

In this kind of disease we find high levels of circulating immune complexes. So, this points out that we are really dealing with an autoagression disease. Here the immune complexes are fixed in the articular capsule, that is why eventually the joint will be destroyed.
The regular (traditional) medical treatment is a symptomatic one. The patient receives a prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesic drugs, gold, cortisone and in the worst cases, cytostatic drugs; i.e., methotrexate, etc.

All that these drugs provide is temporary relief. They will not stop the arising of immune complexes, except cortisone. Besides the side effects are not mild and innocuous (including the use of cortisone). Sometimes the side effects are quite dangerous.

Some double blind clinical trials have been done in Germany using, on one side, enzymatic mixtures, and on the other side, gold salts. One main study lasted six months. The scientists were surprised when they knew that they got the same good results using any of them. (In a double-blind clinical trial, the doctor does not know which tablets are whose, and neither does the patient). The great advantage was that the enzymes were very much better tolerated and had no side effects.

INFLAMMATION

Enzymes are not anti-inflammatory drugs, instead, they promote the inflammation; this is, inflammation is the marvelous response from our body to a noxious stimulus. Most times we look at inflammation as something bad and to be avoided. It should not be so. It is the way our body is trying to get rid of the harmful foreign agents.

The classical signs of inflammation are; pain, tumor, heat and blush. When inflammation ends, the body repairs the area affected. So, if the inflammation finishes sooner, then the repair will begin earlier. That's the reason why enzymes are promoters instead of inhibitors of inflammation.

If we try to think of a disease which has as a feature inflammation, we'll find that such diseases are those that their names finish with "itis." Such as tonsilitis, colitis, otitis, dermatitis, etc. Thus, we can easily conclude that enzymatic mixtures are excellent for any of these "itis" diseases. Enzymes will help our body to heal itself.

In studies made at the University of Guadalajara, Dr. Solorzano has used enzymes not only to treat sports injuries, but also -- read this carefully -- TO PREVENT them. This means that patients will take enzymes before playing their sports. When they become injured, the injury heals in a significantly shorter time period. Some times it is almost half of the regular time. It's incredible!

One very frequent and elective wound is one made by the surgeon. Although a surgical operation is for the good of the patient, it is still an aggression to our body. Our system will react the same way if it had been produced by any other harmful agent. Those patients who receive enzymatic treatment before and/or after surgery will have some important advantages. They will stay in bed less time, the risk of a thrombosis will be much less, the patients have a better psychic state, the pains will go earlier. During surgery the operation field will be better. Patients under enzymes will have a better and faster wound healing, and last but not least, they will spend less money because of hospital costs.

The area where enzymes work the best is in vascular diseases, such as thrombosis, phlebitis, and varicose veins. Enzymes avoid the formation of thrombosis. They lower cholesterol levels and triglycerides.

Dr. Inderst (1990) has reported on the effect of enzyme therapy in vascular disease and found that enzymes cause a definite reduction in symptoms (pain, cramps) and a measurable improvement of objective findings (e.g. swelling) even when lymphedema was present for many years.

Until now the treatment of venous and lymphatic vessel diseases, especially when combined with edema, gave insufficient results. Compressive therapy is rejected by many of the patients suffering from these diseases, so it may be necessary to treat the main symptoms with drugs. Systemic enzyme therapy is a proven method; it diminishes the edema, activates the fibrinolytic system, and stimulates cells like macrophages. The pain and the cramps disappear, swelling goes away, and blood flow increases in a short time. The efficacy of certain enzyme mixtures has been tested by double-blind studies.

CANCER

About 100 years ago, a British embryologist, John Beard, decided to treat cancer patients. 

He knew that the important enzymes are produced mainly by the pancreas. He had a theory about the etiology of cancer, where pancreatic enzymes were involved. He wanted to try some clinical research with terminal cancer patients, so he extracted the pancreatic juice of the pancreas of pigs and calves just born. His solution had then a high concentration of these useful enzymes.

Almost immediately after the extract was ready, he injected it into his cancer patients.These injections were applied slowly intravenously or intramuscular. Sometimes, when the tumor was available near the surface of the body, he injected right into it.

Of course, not all of these treatments were a success, due to the lack of purification of his extract, as it contained strange albumins which in some cases elicited allergic reactions and even some anaphylactic shock. You can easily imagine that this provoked an immediate reaction from his colleagues. He was seen as a quack.

Eventually Dr. Beard had the opportunity to observe how certain tumor masses really disappeared due to the effect of these enzymatic injections. He also noticed how many of his cancer patients survived longer than the expected, according to the orthodox expectancy rates.

He treated a total of 170 patients with this method. In 1907 he wrote a book describing his experiences with these patients. Some patients were totally recovered, some improved, and some lived longer with a better quality of life.

Almost everything about Dr. Beard was forgotten until Prof. Wolf, who had an office in New York, decided to research enzymes. After reading literature that was written and researched on enzymes, Prof. Wolf wanted to continue the study of these wonderful biological agents.

Prof. Wolf noticed that by using purified mixtures of enzymes there were no risks of frequent allergic reactions.

We know that the war against cancer has not been won. Many people around the world die of cancer every day.

There are many non-toxic approaches to treat cancer, but since our aim in this paper is to speak about enzyme therapy, we'll concentrate on how they are beneficial in the treatment of this disease.

Each cancer cell has on the surface of its membrane, specific antigens. It is naturally ideal when the body can recognize these markers -- by being released from the fibrin -- because the cancer cell can be destroyed after this. Although the cancer cell is destroyed, however, the antigen remains. By means of a change in its membrane, the cancer cell can sometimes throw off its antigen. It seems that cancer cells do this, so that our defenses go in the wrong direction. Regrettably, this trick really works. If the number of formed immune complexes is kept within the normal limits and our defenses are alright, then our macrophages can embrace and dissolve these immune complexes. If the number of immune complexes is superior to the strength of the macrophages, then some immune complexes remain not dissolved in the blood, as well as in the lymph.

By means of a complicated mechanism -- we talk about activation and aggregation of thrombocytes -- it promotes a greater formation of fibrin, by depositing the not dissolved immune complexes in the tissue. This normally diminishes defenses. And this fact in turn is especially dangerous in the case of an organism threatened by cancer.

The immune complexes can weaken the body's defenses in another way. Too many immune complexes inhibit the activity of the macrophages, which are the main destroyers of the cancer cells. Their capacity to destroy and to clean out the system is paralyzed. Thus cancer cells can grow without being bothered by macrophages.

What the enzymes do to help is that they discover the receptors. Enzymes also facilitate the reaction of recognition. Another important action of the enzymes is to improve immunity, which is done by breaking the circulating immune complexes by activating the natural killer cells and the T-cells, and also by inducing mediators and cytokines, such as TNF, Tumor Necrosis Factor.

Enzymes have the ability to reduce the thick fibrin layer which is abnormally 15 times thicker than normal. By reducing this fibrin layer the stickiness of the cancer cells is also diminished, and by this means we can prevent metastasis.

One advantage of using enzymes is that we can combine them with orthodox treatment, that is, chemotherapy and/or radioactive therapy. As a bonus, the patient will have less side effects by combining these natural enzymes.

The world-famous professor and doctor from Vienna, Dr. Wrba, states that enzymes are a new approach to cancer treatment. There are two main factors in the treatment of cancer cells (1) defense of the host and (2) virulence of the cancer cells. As has been already said, systemic enzyme therapy increases the defense mechanism, that is, improves the recognition reaction of the cancer cells, plus lowers its virulence. In doing so, Wrba feels that this action causes modulation of the cell membrane, uncovers the cell surface and receptors, improves immunity, facilitates the recognition reaction and reduces the stickiness of the tumor cells.

VIRAL DISEASES

Jaeger (1990) investigated the use of hydrolytic enzymes in the treatment of HIV infection and stated that there are increasing indications that autoimmune processes are involved in the destruction of the immune system that is fundamental to the pathogenesis of HIV infection.

According to Jaeger, a number of autoimmune mechanisms have been replicated in the pathogenesis of HIV infection, particularly in the more advanced clinically symptomatic stages of the diseases. Thus, different auto-antibodies and increased levels of circulating immune complexes have been described.

Thus, enzyme therapy becomes an adjuvant form of treatment. As mentioned earlier, the immune complexes can be eliminated by the hydrolytic enzymes. Results indicate that this form of treatment was well tolerated, patients improved in functional ability and also gained weight. The clinical symptoms typical of the HIV infection were reduced.

Kleine (1990) states that in herpes zoster patients there are typical dermatological findings in the distribution area of one or several peripheral nerves. Pain in this area exist almost always, and internal organs may also be involved. The course of the disease is relatively invariable. The nerve pain can out last the cutaneous manifestation for a long time (post zoster neuralgia). Elderly people and those who are immunodeficient due to diseases or drugs are especially at risk. Systemic enzyme therapy represents a new principle of therapeutic action.The studies indicate a positive influence of the enzymes on the acute form of herpes zoster as well as on the complications.

SUMMARY

Enzyme therapy has long been part of the methods of treatment of traditional medicine. Meanwhile, enzymes have even become one of the most innovative and expanding drug groups, and systemic therapy with proteolytic enzymes has become an important method of treatment in natural medicine.

There is hardly any regulatory system in our body which does not depend on enzymes. Enzymes control coagulation and fibrinolysis, inflammation and complement activity, phagocytosis, wound healing and tissue regeneration as well as the specific and non-specific defense systems. Here the enzymes function as biocatalysts.

The idea of supporting the weakened or stressed human body in fighting disease by administering enzymes seems very reasonable. After all, the structures and various functions of some 2700 enzymes have already been discovered in the human organism.
The most important enzymes used in therapy are hydrolases, which split ester, peptide and clycoside bonds by introducing a water molecule.

The tasks and goals of enzyme therapy are manifold. Enzymes are used to support the body in stress situations, such as chronic or acute inflammations, digestive disorders, vascular or malignant diseases. A further field of application for enzymes is substitution in enzyme defect disorders. The classical examples of this are pancreatic insufficiency or blood clotting disorders due to deficient clotting factors.

Each enzyme has different effects. It is therefore reasonable to use combinations of enzymes to ensure a sufficiently broad spectrum of effects and via synergism for greater efficacy.

The absorption of enzymes

The pharmacological principle of systemic enzyme therapy depends on the absorption of enzymes as intact molecules after oral administration. Thus their biological effects are fully preserved. The tablets or coated tablets must resist gastric secretion, to prevent destruction by the acid milieu of the stomach. Once in the small bowel, the large enzyme molecules, like all macromolecules, may be absorbed in two ways:

1. They may bind to specific receptors in a particular area of the intestinal mucosa, and be transported through the gut's epithelium (pinocytosis).

2. They may be taken up by lymphocytes "roaming" in the lumen of the bowel, and be released again after passage through the gut wall.

In this way about 25% of the administered dose may find its way into the circulation and the lymph system still in an active form.

As already stated, it is important that the structure responsible for enzymatic activity remain largely intact so that the enzyme retains its activity.

In the blood, enzymes do not exist in a free form but are bound to a carrier, e.g., the antiproteinase, a2-macroglobulin. This protects the enzyme from interactions with other molecules and "neutralizes" potentially allergenic properties of these proteases. In spite of this carrier binding, the enzyme remains active.

The fact that, after absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, these enzymes reach their site of action via the blood and lymph systems, is referred to as "systemic action."

Enzymes promote the body's own regeneration processes.

Certain proteolytic enzymes possess pronounced anti-inflammatory and anti-oedematous properties. They promote the breakdown of toxic metabolites and inflammatory products and thus contribute substantially to the detoxification of the human body. Simultaneously, the additional fibrinolytic activity of the enzymes and the "vessel-sealing" effect of rutin accelerates the blood flow. Together with the dissolution of fresh blood clots (microthrombi), this allows normalization of the microcirculation.

Therefore, the inflammatory products that mediate pain are eliminated more quickly, the improved blood supply enhances local oxygenation, and tissue tension decreases in parallel with the reduction in oedema. All of this provides some analgesic effect.

In sharp contrast to the mechanisms of action of conventional non-steroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, systemic enzyme therapy thus does not block the natural healing processes of inflammation.

It is also characteristic for some enzymes, that they activate or stimulate macrophages and natural killer cells (NKcells). These cells have a well-recognized essential role in the body's own immunological defense. They are part of a larger system, the reticulo-endothelial system.

Therefore, enzymes also affect the whole of the body's immune system as a "biological response modifier." Macrophages stimulated by the enzymes secrete tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and other cytokines. For these two reasons, enzymes are predestined to become a future chemotherapeutic agent, they do not lead to the destruction of all cells with high mitotic activity, but only of those that are actually malignant.

A further characteristic feature of enzymes is their carrier function. Enzymes are able to transport antibiotics and cytostatic drugs to sites which would be nearly impossible for them to reach otherwise. Enzymes can therefore be used as "transportmedia," e.g., in the therapy of sinusitis, prostatisis, bronchitis or specific tumours.
Enzymes destroy immune complexes

Immune complexes arise from the combination of an antigen with an antibody. If the antigen is formed by the body itself, as, for instance, in rheumatism, or if very large complexes form through the conglomeration of several antigen and antibody molecules, pathogenic immune complexes may result. This may subsequently lead to autoimmune disease, especially if these complexes activate the complement system. In conventional medicine, pathogenic immune complexes are eliminated via plasmapheresis, lymphopheresis and cryoprecipitation. It is much easier, however, to remove the pathogenic immune complexes using enzymes that activate the "phagocytic macrophage system," or by breaking down the large complexes into smaller ones which can be eliminated far more efficiently.

These mechanisms of action justify the large number of indications for systemic enzyme therapy; it is, therefore, the basis of treatment in acute and chronic inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases such as polyarthritis, states of impaired resistance (viral and neoplastic diseases), and also for vascular conditions, in which the additional improvement in blood flow is of great importance. There is also increasing evidence for their prophylactic efficacy (prevention of tumour metastases.)

CONCLUSION
(Instructions for side effects during use)

Orally administered enzymes should not be taken with food. They should be taken at least one hour before or 1-1/2 hours after meals. Otherwise, there is a risk that some of the dose will merely help to digest the food.

From the start, relatively high doses must be used in systemic enzyme therapy, since enzymes are large molecules and their absorption, transport and distribution are different from those of small molecules.

It is worth emphasizing, that even with large doses taken over prolonged periods of time, no immunological dysregulation will occur.

Concomitant oral administration of vitamin preparations represents an ideal adjunct to systemic enzyme therapy. For this purpose, emulsions are particularly suitable, especially in higher dosages.

RESOURCES
In Mexico, for further information, including clinics, organizations or referral to practitioners, you can contact:
Dr. Hector E. Solorazano del Rio, M.D., D.Sc.
Programa de Estudios de Medicinas Alternativas
Universidad de Guadalajara
Calle Escuela Militar de Aviacion No. 16
Guadalajara, Jal. MEXICO
Mailing address:
Dr. Hector E. Solorazano del Rio
Universidad de Guadalajara
Apartado Postal No. 2-41
44280 Guadalajara, Jal.
MEXICO
Tels. (3) 637/7237, 6515476
Fax (3) 637/0030, 619/3722
REFERENCES
1. Systemische Enzymtherapie in der Rheumatologie. 15 Abeitstagung in Munchen am 15 Juni 1991.
2. Systemic Enzyme Therapy, Medizinische Woche, 27th October to 4th November, 1990 Baden Baden, Germany.
3. Adjuvant therapy with hydrolytic enzymes in oncology -- a hopeful effort to avoid bleomycinum induced pneumotoxicity? by M. Schedler. 432 J. Cancer Res Clin Oncol 1990.
4. Absorption of Intact orally ingested protein molecules from the Gut. Cichoke Anthony. Nutritional Perspectives. 1992.
5. Seminario de Terapia Enzimatica Sistemica. Universidad de Guadalajara. Programa de Estudios de Medicinas Alternativas, 1992.
6. Segundo Congreso Nacional de Enzimoterapia. Mexico City, March 1993.
Explanation of Alternative Medicine by Dr. Hector Solorzano del Rio, M.D., , Ph.D., D.Sc.
To facilitate comprehension for the patients who come to me on their first visit, I always explain to them through a leaflet, and when I see them, the following:
1. We claim that there is no cure-all medicine. All the different treatments may be good, but the secret is to find which ones to use and how to combine them. Most of the physicians are fanatic about the medicine they particularly practice. This is an error. There are cases in which surgery is unavoidable. We never put in danger the life of our patients. I still practice surgery when necessary. Now you can understand how I can combine many therapies. I take the good part of them all.
2. There are no sicknesses but sick ones. In (conventional) allopathic medicine, we try to find the diagnosis and consider everyone the same. It is like putting a label on each patient. In alternative medicine, everyone is different, so, although many patients can have the same allopathic diagnosis, we can treat them in a different way, because of the distinct imbalance found in each of them. The same thing happens within nutritional therapy. I can have many patients suffering from arthritis but maybe one has a subclinical deficiency of boron. Another can have a subclinical deficiency of magnesium and so on.
3. When we treat a patient, we treat the whole body. In alternative medicine, we do not divide the patients into parts, that is, there are no specialties. You know, in allopathic medicine a specialist can give you a medication that will disturb another organ. Then, you have to see another specialist, who will give you another medicine, which, in turn, will disturb another organ and so on. All medications, in allopathic medicine, have side effects; most of them are adverse.
4. To find out the micro-bioelectronic imbalance of the patients, I use different machines, such as the Dermatron invented by Dr. Voll to measure the electrical potential of the cells. We do this in certain points, so called measurement points. The normal reading is 50 in a scale of 100. Readings below indicate a degenerative process and readings above, mean an inflammatory process.
5. According to the imbalance, I choose the treatment "individually." There are 216 alternative medicines and I recommend to patients the treatments that I think are best for their case in particular.
6. As patients look for good doctors, doctors look for good patients, that is, we need our patients to indeed want to help themselves. We, the doctors, are only the instrument by which God will heal them.
7. Every patient receives a diet in quality, not in quantity, based on the principle by Hippocrates, "let your food be your medicine and your medicine, be your food." We design the diet according to the microbiolectronic readings of each person.
8. We also keep the premise from Hippocrates "first, do not harm." Sometimes, the allopathic treatments are more aggressive than the clinical condition itself.
9. I follow the Hippocratic philosophy that says Natura Vix Medicatrix, that is, Nature Heals. What I do, then, is only to stimulate the homeostasis (natural force to keep our body in order) of the patients. This way, I can say that they heal themselves. I am giving them a little push to help them.
Brief Curriculum Vitae
Hector E. Solorzano del Rio, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc.
Medical Doctor (Surgeon) from Universidad de Guadalajara
Master of Acupuncture Degree from Chinese Culture University, Taiwan
Doctor of Science from Open International University for Complementary Medicines
Professor of Pharmacology at Universidad de Guadalajara
Professor of Traditional Practices at the Specialty on Public Health Course at Universidad Guadalajara
Coordinator of the Program for Studies of Alternative Medicines at Universidad de Guadalajara
Organizer of more than 150 seminars on Alternative Medicines at Universidad de Guadalajara
Lecturer in several congresses domestic, as well as national and international ones
Author of many articles for different magazines for laymen and for doctors
President of la Sociedad de Investigacion de Acupuntura y Medicina Oriental, A.C.
President of La Sociedad Medica de Investigaciones Enzymiaticas, A.C.
Co-author of the book Enzyme Therapy published by Universidad de Guadlajara
Co-author of the book Tunia (Infantile Massage)
Breve Curriculum Vitae
Medico Cirujano y Partero egresado de la Universidad de Guadalajara
Maestria en Acupuntura en la Chinese Culture University de Taipei
Doctorado en Ciencias en la Open International University for Complementary Medicines.
Profesor de Farmacologia de la Universidad de Guadalajara
Profesor de Practicas Tradicionales en la Especialidad de Enfermeria en Salud Publica en la Universidad de Guadalajara
Coordinator del Programa de Estudios de Medicinias Alternativas de la Universidad de Guadalajara, donde se han hecho muchas investigaciones sobre varias diferentes medicinas alternativas.
Organizador de mas de 150 seminarios sobre medicinas alternativas.
Ponente en varios congresos tanto locales, como nacionales e internacionales.
Autor de mas de 100 articulos para varias revistas tanto legas como medicas.
Presidente de la Sociedad de Investigacion de Acupuntura y Medicina Oriental, A.C.
Presidente de la Sociedad Medica de Investigaciones Enzimaticas, A.C.

Nature's Pharmacy

It's been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish.. All before making a human. He made and provided what we'd need before we were born. These are best & more powerful when eaten raw. We're such slow learners...

God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body! God's Pharmacy! Amazing!

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... And YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.




A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research showstomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.




Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.





A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.


Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.




Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.


Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.





Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries





Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.


Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.