Cleansing Your BloodSharethis Article

15 1.3K

Although widely misunderstood, cleansing the blood is probably one of the most important weapons in the alternative health arsenal for achieving optimum wellness and defeating cancer. To be sure, by some measures, we seem to be doing better when it comes to cancer. The medical community touts the fact that both the incidence of--and deaths from--cancer have finally started trending down. But this actually represents a bit of illusory back slapping. The biggest declines are in lung cancer and breast cancer.1 But the decline in lung cancer has virtually nothing to do with advances in diagnosis and treatment but, rather, is the result of decreased cigarette smoking in the U.S. Unfortunately, tobacco use is growing worldwide and has even started trending back up among young people in the United States, as we now add about one million new young American smokers every year. As for breast cancer, once again, that has less to do with medical advancements than with a decline in the use of hormone replacement therapy drugsa primary factor in the onset of breast cancer. In effect, doctors are patting themselves on the back for no longer killing people.

Have there been improvements in diagnosis and treatment? Absolutelyfor some cancers. Colon cancer, for example. But overall, the simple truth is that in 2014, there will be an estimated 1,665,540 new cancer cases diagnosed and 585,720 deaths from cancer in the US alone. Cancer remains the second most common cause of death in the U.S., accounting for nearly 1 of every 4 deaths. Someday, advances in genetic therapy and scientific research will make a real difference, but until that day, youre largely on your own, and you would be wise to take advantages of the defenses that nature offers such as blood cleansing. There are actually several ways to cleanse your blood. One of the most effective is to use systemic proteolytic enzymes between meals or before bed. When taken without food, the enzymes enter the bloodstream within a matter of minutes and begin cleaning protein-based detritus, such as antigens and circulating immune complexes out of the blood, which would otherwise compromise the immune system. This can make a significant improvement in your overall health rather quickly.

What we're talking about now, though, is something quite different -- using herbal blood cleansers to eliminate systemic pathogens, remove toxic residues from the blood, stimulate the lymph system (which is essential for keeping your blood clean), and break down rogue cells to assist your immune system in minimizing the chances of malignant growths taking root in your body. The great blood cleansing herbs--in no particular order--are: red clover, burdock root, chaparral,

poke root, and sheep sorrel. These are the herbs you will find in the famous blood cleansing formulas such as the Hoxsey formula, Essiac Tea, the Dr. Christopher and Dr. Schulze formulas, and in my own version of the formula. These formulas can literally "drive" bad things out of your body -- or prevent them from entering in the first place. With that in mind, let's look at the "perfect" blood cleansing formula.What exactly is a blood cleanser?

First of all, the very name "blood cleanser" is really a euphemism. In fact, this formula and almost every herb in it is considered by herbalists to be anticancer (though not acknowledged as such by governmental agencies). Variations of this formula have been used for hundreds of years by Native American tribes. More recently, commercial versions have been available, as I mentioned earlier, such as the Hoxsey formula, Essiac Tea, and Jason Winters Tea, etc. The very fact that we can't talk openly about the anticancer property of herbs and herbal formulas except as a theoretical construct is probably the most political topic in alternative health today.

Not surprisingly, as we go through the individual herbs in my recommended blood cleansing formula--

Chaparral, Red clover, Burdock root, Poke root, Yellow dock root, Goldenseal root, Oregon grape root, Bloodroot, Mistletoe, Sheep sorrel, Cat's claw, and Cayenne.

--you will find that many of them are on the FDA cautionary list, and virtually all of them are on the Canadian list. You will also find numbers of these herbs on the warning lists of European countries such as Switzerland and Germany, and even Australia for that matter. On the other hand, you will also find that a number of studies--most of them fairly recent--actually support what herbalists have been saying for decades about these herbs' anticancer properties.

What's going on here? Why is it that the very same herbs that the great herbalists single out as being most beneficial for combating cancer are banned by government authorities as useless -- even toxic? How does this happen -- again and again?

Of course, these same authorities might have more credibility if the alternatives they pushed -- surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation -- had a better track record. But as we all know, they don't. Perhaps even more interesting is that many of the studies that support the anticancer properties of the herbs in question are being conducted with synthetic variations of the isolated key biochemicals in those herbs, not the herbs themselves.

Why?

The stated reason is that the synthetic variants are "safer" and "more effective." But we've been down this road countless times before. They are not safer. They are not more effective. In fact, they usually have much more dangerous side effects and are frequently less effective than the complete plant extract itself. What they are, though, is patentable. But that's a topic for another time.

In any case, since we can't talk about the cancer preventive properties of specific formulas, let's just talk theoretically about the herbs found in my "ideal" formula and why they are effective. Note, most of these herbs are extremely bitter and taste really horrible, but they work!Chaparral

Native Americans have used chaparral for centuries as an anticancer remedy. In fact, it is the cornerstone of most anticancer herbal formulas. Exactly how it works is open to debate, but some of its main actions are:

Chaparral is one of the most powerful anti-oxidants in nature. The primary biochemical responsible for this is NDGA (nordihydroguaiaretic acid). NDGA is so effective that it is often used as a food preservative. It is anti-pathogenic. In other words, it kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Chaparral has even shown much promise with herpes. Chaparral cleanses the lymph system. It cleanses the blood. It cleanses the liver. It cleanses the urinary tract. It's a natural chelator that clears heavy metals from the blood. Studies show that chaparral may also inhibit uncontrolled cell proliferation as well as damage to DNA. And a number of university studies have indicated that chaparral can destroy and dissolve many types of tumors.

So how could such a beneficial herb be on every government's blacklist? According to the FDA, citing a 1997 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, "Chaparral: sold as teas and pills to fight cancer and "purify blood," has been linked to serious liver damage. FDA has recorded two deaths and 10 cases of hepatitis or other liver abnormalities in users."2

The reality, though, is that the evidence for chaparral liver toxicity is anecdotal. It's not the result of any double blind studies or clinical trials. For example, one of the cases the FDA likes to cite can be found in a 1995 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.3 The details of the case concern a 60-year-old woman who developed jaundice and liver failure while taking one to two capsules of chaparral each day with a pinch of garlic in a tea made from nettle and chickweed. The authors of the JAMA article concluded it must have been the chaparral that caused the liver problems. What is fascinating is that the patient in question was also consuming atenolol, aspirin, using a nitro patch, and

occasional acetaminophen, as well as diltiazem hydrochloride - all drugs with profound hepatotoxic potential. Amazingly, none of these other substances were even considered as a possible cause of the liver problems by the authors...or the FDA. What a surprise!

Nevertheless (and despite the fact that Dr. Norman Farnsworth's extensive studies on chaparral in the 1970s and 1980s found no hepatotoxic effects for chaparral whatsoever), in December 1992, FDA Commissioner David Kessler announced, "The public should not purchase or consume chaparral."

After these allegations of liver toxicity by the FDA, manufacturers voluntarily restricted sales of chaparral for several years until the reports were investigated. Following a lengthy review, a panel of medical experts concluded "no clinical data was found... to indicate chaparral is inherently a hepatic toxin." In late 1994, this report was submitted to the FDA and chaparral was subsequently given a clean bill of health by the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA). After comparing the quantity of chaparral consumed each year (it is estimated that over 200 tons, 500 million capsules, were sold in the U.S. in the 1970's and 80's alone) to the number of product complaints, industry regulators concluded that chaparral did not pose a significant threat to consumer safety. Dr. Clark Watt and a group of scientists and doctors concluded that hepatotoxicity was most likely due to an allergic reaction rather than "inherent liver toxicity."4 And In 2001, a retrospective clinical study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found no evidence of liver toxicity from the use of low dose chaparral.5

So is this remarkable herb (the cornerstone of many great formulas) now sold freely in the marketplace and used to benefit ailing people all over the world? Hardly!

Search for "chaparral toxicity" on the web and you will see numerous articles still announcing the dangers of the herb (all citing the same cases from the early 90's.) Or try to buy chaparral in Canada or much of Europe. Right! The problem is that once an herb is labeled dangerous (even if disproved at a later date), the stigma remains and is brought up over and over and over again, acquiring truth through repetition, if not through fact.

Fortunately, despite the bad press, chaparral is at least available (for the time being) in the United States.Chaparral studies

According to a report in the May 2010 issue of the Medical Science Monitor, numerous studies have shown that the main metabolite of chaparral, NDGA, is likely effective in the treatment of multiple diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, cancers, and in the field of tissue engineering.6 The report went on to explain that several medicinal properties such as NDGA's

antineoplastic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory characteristics have been supported by in vitro and in vivo experimental studies, as well as historical reports. Studies have also confirmed that NDGA has extensive pharmacological effects and specific mechanisms of actions. It is a strong antioxidant; it can scavenge ROS (reactive oxygen species, AKA free radicals) or inhibit ROS production, stimulate (nitrous oxide production, increase immune function, enhance central nervous system function, and prevent cardiovascular or other diseases. And tissue engineering studies demonstrate that NDGA-crosslinking is an effective way to improve the mechanical properties and biocompatibility of artificial tissues and organs.

Quite simply, when it comes to cancer, there are a number of studies that show the benefits of chaparral and NDGA--and many of them recent. For example, a 2010 study published in Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters found that several synthetic variations of NDGA act as inhibitors against human liver cancer.7 The results of this study were reinforced by a study published just last month in ChemMedChem that found that eight methylated versions of NDGA were protective against liver cancer.8 Incidentally, I started with two studies on chaparral's ability to inhibit liver cancer specifically to counter any lingering concerns over its falsely rumored liver toxicity, but its anticancer benefits are by no means limited to liver cancer. As a 2012 study published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment shows, it's equally protective against breast cancer.9 And a 2008 study published in the journal Prostate shows that it might be just as effective in dealing with prostate cancer.10 And then, of course, there are the numerous studies that show that NDGA is more effective than acyclovir when it comes to treating the viruses HIV, HSV,11 and HPV12--HPV being notable as a primary factor in the onset of cervical cancer. And for that matter, studies have shown that NDGA and its derivatives are directly effective against cervical cancer itself.13Red Clover

Red Clover is another staple of herbal blood cleansing formulas and has a long history of use as a medicinal herb. It's an excellent blood purifier that over time gradually cleanses the bloodstream and corrects deficiencies in the circulatory system. But among classic herbalists, it is probably best known as one of the main herbs for treating all varieties of cancer -- anywhere in the body -- and is found as a central ingredient in many anticancer formulas, again including the Hoxsey formula, Jason Winters tea, my ideal formula, and Essiac tea.

Not surprisingly, most doctors, the FDA and many "new-school" herbalists have dismissed red clover as useless in dealing with cancer. However, researchers at the National Cancer Institute have indeed found anti-tumor properties in red clover. Genistein, a biochemical in red clover has the ability to prevent tumors from developing the blood supplies they need to survive -- thus starving them and killing them.

As it turns out, genistein is the same biochemical considered to be the main beneficial biochemical in soy. But red clover has a significant advantage over soy. It contains not just genistein, but significant levels (about ten times that found in soy) of all four beneficial estrogenic isoflavones (a special class of antioxidants) including daidzein. In addition to isoflavones, red clover contains another class of anticancer phytoestrogen compounds called coumestans -- primarily in the form of biochanin.

Soy consumption, unlike red clover consumption, does not result in any increase in biochanin in the blood.14 Is that important? Studies have shown that biochanin may significantly inhibit breast cancer proliferation.15, fn] Wang Y, Man Gho W, Chan FL, Chen S, Leung LK. "The red clover (Trifolium pratense) isoflavone biochanin A inhibits aromatase activity and expression." Br J Nutr 2008;99(2):303-310. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17761019 , fn] Mannella P, Tosi V, Russo E, et al. "Effects of red clover extracts on breast cancer cell migration and invasion." Gynecol endocrinol. 2012; 28(1):29-33. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21615235 Not unsurprisingly, for similar reasons, it may be equally protective against prostate cancer.16 And then there was the Australian study where researchers gave red clover isoflavonoids to 20 men with prostate cancer before they had surgery to remove their prostates. The men who had received flavonoids appeared to have more cancer cells that were dying in their surgically removed prostate tissue.17 Yes, it was a very small study, without a placebo group, and it did not compare survival, quality of life, or symptoms, but the researchers described the apoptosis in the specimens from treated patients as "significantly higher" than in control subjects. And it's not the first time this kind of result has been noted with red clover and prostate cancer.18Burdock root

Burdock root (Arctium lappa) is probably the most famous detoxifying agent in the herbal arsenal. It cleanses the blood by increasing the effectiveness of all the body's elimination systems. Its diuretic effect helps the kidneys filter impurities from the blood. It helps push toxins out through the skin, and it also boosts the ability of the liver to remove toxins. The bottom line is that by pushing toxins out through a variety of pathways, burdock can purify the blood with minimal side effects and with minimal stress to the body. Note: although burdock root has traditionally been used to treat diabetes, in excessive amounts, it may interfere with blood sugar medications.

Studies indicate that burdock has both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.19, fn] Chan YS, Cheng LN, Wu JH, et al. "A review of the pharmacological effects of Arctium lappa (burdock)." Inflammopharmacology. 2011 Oct;19(5):245-54. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20981575 The lignans arctiin and arctigenin, which are found in burdock root, are most likely responsible for its anti-inflammatory abilities, whereas the polyacetylenes and chlorogenic acid components are most likely responsible for its antibacterial properties. In addition, burdock root appears to be hepatoprotective,20

antidiabetic,21 and protective against mammary, colon, and pancreatic cancer.22 In fact, studies have shown that it has anticancer activity against a variety of cancers such as: ovarian cancer,23 lung cancer,24 and breast cancer,25 to name just a few.Pokeroot and Yellow dock root

These are both powerful blood cleansers and lymph cleansers, inciting and increasing the action of lymph glands throughout the entire body. Not surprisingly, both herbs are staples of many traditional herbal anticancer formulas.

If used improperly, pokeroot (AKA, pokeweed) can be toxic, but if used properly, animal studies have shown that it can enhance the immune system and has anticancer properties. For example, according to one animal study, pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP), a protein contained in the plant, demonstrated anticancer effects in rodents.26 Another study found that PAP, when combined with an immunotherapy drug called TP-3, holds promise as a potential treatment for advanced osteosarcomas and some soft tissue sarcomas.27 In addition, laboratory studies have suggested that certain formulations of PAP may turn out to be useful against cancer cells that depend on hormones for their growth, such as cells from prostate, breast, and ovarian cancer.28 PAP also acts against some viruses such as herpes, HIV,29 and lymphocytic choriomeningitis.30

Like pokeroot, yellow dock (Rumex crispus) can compromise red blood cells if improperly overused. Or in other words, unless used properly, it can have toxic properties. But also like pokeroot, if used properly, studies have shown that it has strong anticancer properties. In fact, a 2012 study instigated by the use of yellow dock in the Essiac formula found that yellow dock displayed "remarkable cytotoxic activities" on several tested leukemia cell lines.31Mistletoe

Mistletoe's use for treating cancer is so widespread in central Europe that it actually is estimated that as many as 60 to 70 percent of cancer patients incorporate it into their therapy. Back in 2003, I referred to the National Institutes of Health ongoing study of mistletoe's anticancer properties. According to the details of the study, "mistletoe lectin may slow the growth of cancer cells and be an effective treatment for solid tumors." In particular, the study was designed to look at how effective mistletoe extract (ME) was when injected directly into pancreatic tumors. Well, the results of that study are now in, and they are astonishing. "The results of our preclinical investigation demonstrate that intratumoural injections of a lectin-rich ME [mistletoe extract] can effect complete remissions in a pancreatic cancer xenograft."32 And since then, further studies have proven the value of mistletoe in combating cancer. There have been numerous studies in Europe, especially in Germany, that have reported the benefits of mistletoe extract in fighting several types of cancer, including pancreatic and breast cancer. A National Cancer Institute review of more than

70 studies of mistletoe's effect on cancer in humans--although they noted design flaws in a number of the studies--nevertheless found consistent results across the board: including tumor shrinkage, higher survival rates, improved blood counts, and better quality of life for the patients.33 And if nothing else, study after study found that when used in conjunction with chemotherapy, mistletoe significantly improves quality of life, as demonstrated yet again in this 2014 study published in the journal Evidenced-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.34

And as a side note, a compelling case can be made for careful investigation of mistletoe's anti-diabetic properties. African mistletoe has long been used to treat diabetes in Nigeria. In rats with diabetes, mistletoe has been shown to reduce blood glucose levels.35 And another study demonstrated that mistletoe extract stimulated insulin secretion from clonal pancreatic cells.36Sheep sorrel

Sheep sorrel, which actually comes from the same family as yellow dock-- Rumex acetosella vs Rumex crispus--shares many of its cancer fighting properties. And at least when used in combination with other herbs, it possesses potent antioxidant and DNA-protective activity, properties that are common to natural anti-cancer agents.37 It contains an antibacterial agent called rumicin that has made it a treatment for infections including staphylococcus, E. coli and salmonella. American and Canadian Indian tribes used sheep sorrel as a treatment for cancer, which is how it came to be used in the more modern versions of anticancer formulas. Ren Caisse, who popularized Essiac tea as a cancer cure, felt sheep sorrel was the most active cancer fighter among all the herbs present in her formula and made it the primary ingredient in her formula. That viewpoint was seconded by Dr. Chester Stock at Sloan-Kettering in New York. Dr. Stock studied sheep sorrel for over three years in the mid-seventies. His conclusion was that sheep sorrel was found to be responsible for the destruction of cancer cells in the body, and inhibited metastasis by actually causing cancer cells to return to the original tumor site. Not surprisingly, this information was not made available to the public. But even more disturbing, when the Canadian Ministry of Health & Welfare saw the study, they immediately banned sheep sorrel from sale and distribution!

Sheep sorrel contains high levels of phytoestrogens with significant estrogen receptor binding activity, similar to the isoflavone phytoestrogens common to red clover and soy.

Published studies on sheep sorrel are few and far between, but those that do exist support Dr. Stock's work. For example, a 2009 study published in Toxicology in Vitro found that sheep sorrel, along with several other herbs, induced toxicity on cancerous cell lines.38Cat's Claw

The Ashaninka tribe of Peru uses cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) for a variety of purposes, including to support cellular health. Other indigenous tribes use cat's claw as well. The Cashibo tribe of eastern Peru believes that cat's claw normalizes the body and have used it since ancient times to cleanse the system. Other documented indigenous peoples in Peru use cat's claw for blood cleansing and for irregularity of the menstrual cycle.

Nowadays, the plant is recognized by herbalists mainly due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and diuretic properties. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, cat's claw is frequently found in formulations designed to treat rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The plant also has a very beneficial influence on our immune system, and is used in the treatments of various types of tumors--specifically, brain tumors, leukemia, cervical carcinoma, melanoma, medulloblastoma. And it is also used as an herbal supplement for HIV patients.39

The antitumor activity of Uncaria tomentosa has been verified in a number of studies, but the exact mechanism of that activity is open to debate, with the pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids found in its bark given most of the credit. For example, one 2013 study found that the pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids found in the bark seemed to be responsible for tomentosa's effectiveness against bladder cancer cells.40 Whereas a second study published the same year found that cat's claw exerts its extensive anti-neoplastic effects against the Walker-256 tumor by modulating oxidative stress and not by alkaloid activity.41 Then again, a 2009 study concluded that the alkaloids pteropodine and isopterpodine found in tomentosa exhibited a significant pro-apoptotic (caused cancer cells to die) effect on medullary thyroid carcinoma cells, whereas the alkaloid-poor fraction inhibited cell proliferation but did not show any pro-apoptotic effects.42 The ball bounces back in the other direction, however, in a 2007 study that concluded that it was pteropodine and isomitraphylline that were responsible for tomentosa's antiproliferative activity against leukemia cells.43 Go figure.

The bottom line is that study after study confirms the ability of cat's claw to fight cancer, even though researchers can reach no agreement as to which components in the bark are most responsible. Fortunately, not knowing which part to isolate and patent may be a problem for researchers and pharmaceutical companies but not for us as long as we use an herbal extract that contains all components rather than isolates.Bloodroot

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) has been researched and found to be a potent cellular support agent, in addition to being a potent anticancer agent. Outside of the laboratory, it has been used to treat tens of thousands of people over the last century and a half. Many of these (according to some estimates as many as 80%, which is probably greatly exaggerated) experienced remission of malignancy and longer life expectancies than people with similar conditions who

chose different treatments. Nevertheless, research supports the general direction of the anecdotal evidence. Peer reviewed studies indicate that, like cat's claw, it is the alkaloids in bloodroot--particularly, sanguinarine--that are most likely responsible for its cancer protective benefits. In fact, laboratory studies have shown that it can help with prostate,44 breast,45 and pancreatic cancer,46 as well as many other types of cancer, by causing cancer cell apoptosis.47 In other words, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy cells.Oregon grape root and Goldenseal

Oregon grape root is frequently used by herbalists as a blood cleanser and, as its extremely bitter taste would suggest, to stimulate the liver and gallbladder. It purifies the blood and cleanses the liver by helping to stimulate bile flow and releasing toxins and helping purge the spleen. It also helps the liver metabolize wastes and toxins and, because of its anti-pathogenic properties used by natural healers in the treatment of chronic hepatitis-B.

The primary active biochemical in Oregon grape root is berberine. And when it comes to cancer, there have been a large number of studies that have highlighted berberine's ability to suppress the growth of a wide variety of tumor cells, including breast cancer, 48 leukemia,49 melanoma,50 pancreatic cancer,51 oral and tongue cancers,52 and prostate cancer.53, 54, 55

Goldenseal root is a multipurpose type of herb that provides immune system support and cleanses vital organs. It works both in the intestinal tract and systemically. It promotes the functioning capacity of the heart, the lymphatic and respiratory system, the liver, the spleen, the pancreas, and the colon. The primary biochemical in goldenseal is berberine, which appears to have antimicrobial actions that can kill different types of yeast, parasites, bacteria, and even MRSA. 56 It is useful as part of a blood cleansing formula because of its ability to remove pathogens from the bloodstream. And since one of its primary components is berberine, all of the studies we saw for Oregon grape root apply to goldenseal as well.Cayenne

The hot fruit of the cayenne plant has been used as medicine for centuries. It is extremely beneficial for the circulatory system, helping to improve the elasticity of the walls of both the arterial and venous systems, maintain normal blood platelet function, and to help maintain normal blood pressure if already within a normal range throughout the body. Cayenne is also used in many herbal formulas, such as this one, as a "driver" -- to "push" the other herbs in the formula into the bloodstream more quickly. As a side note, there are some studies that indicate that capsaicin, the "hot," active component in cayenne, may have the ability to induce apoptosis in some cancer cells all on its own.57Conclusion

These are the herbs found in my "ideal" blood cleansing formula. The roots (no

pun intended) of this formula go back decades, long before there was any research to support it. As we have seen, though, in the last decade, research has begun to catch up with it, and most of the herbs used in the formula have now been identified in multiple studies (test tube, animal, and human) as having strong anticancer properties.

Although most people use this formula as part of their biannual liver and gallbladder flush, it should be considered in its own right as an important formula to be used in maintaining optimal health. When used regularly, it will work to purify and optimize your blood, cleanse your liver, kill viruses, destroy cancer, and much more. Note: this is a very powerful formula that is strongly therapeutic in nature, which means that it should only be used for detoxing or on an as needed basis. One bottle every six months is adequate for detoxing and basic maintenance. Taking one or two bottles to clean out the blood when sick is also reasonable. And one bottle a week for up to three weeks is acceptable in special circumstances. (Then take a couple of weeks off before repeating.) But this is not a nutritional support formula. You do not want to take this formula on a daily basis for weeks on end like a multivitamin. In this case, more is not necessarily better. Remember, some of these herbs are extremely potent and can actually break down red blood cells if used in excess. If overused, it could be counterproductive and could have a negative health impact. In other words, follow directions; don't adlib. But when used properly, this is one of the most powerful formulas in the alternative health arsenal.

So, will this formula prevent or reverse cancer? Sorry, it doesn't work like that. Quite simply, there is no magic bullet cure for cancer--traditional or medical--that works on all types of cancer and for every individualat least not yet. But that said, this formula is a primary anticancer tool. It is not insignificant that the foundations of this formula were established years before there was any scientific data to back it up--just thousands of anecdotal stories. And now, as we see, in the last decade alone, study after study now supports the anticancer bona fides of 12 of the 12 herbs in this formula--even cayenne, which was actually used as a driver for the formula, not as an anticancer herb. This is an important formula!

Note: To get past the taste (very bitter, very hot), I recommend adding it to 2 oz of thin, sweet undiluted juice such as apple or pear, downing it in one gulp like a shot of liquor, and then swishing some plain juice in your mouth to clear the taste. (By the way, although normally not a fan of bottled juices, this is one place where they actually work because they are so convenient and because you drink so little at a time.) Thick juices such as peach or orange, on the other hand, tend to coat the mouth, which makes the taste linger -- not good. And diluting it simply means you have to drink more, rather than getting it all down in one quick gulp,

Bottom line: a minimum of two bottles a year--one every six months--should be considered a core part of your personal health program.

1. "Cancer Facts and Figures 2014." American Cancer Society. (Accessed 5 June 2014.) http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@research/documents/webcontent/acspc-042151.pdf 2. Sheikh, N. M.; Philen, R. M.; Love, L. A. "Chaparral-associated hepatotoxicity." Arch Intern Med, 157(8), 913-919. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/Plantox/Detail.CFM?ID=28 3. Dafna W. Gordon, Gayle Rosenthal, John Hart, et al. "Chaparral Ingestion, the Broadening Spectrum of Liver Injury Caused by Herbal Medications." JAMA. 1995;273(6):489-490. 4. Watts, C. Final Report to the American Herbal Products Association. Special Counsel, Ford and Ferraro, LLP, Austin, TX. 6 Sept 1994. Unfortunately, there do not appear to be any internet accessible copies available at this time. 5. SILENA HERON, N.D., and ERIC YARNELL, N.D. "The Safety of Low-Dose Larrea tridentata (DC) Coville (Creosote Bush or Chaparral): A Retrospective Clinical Study. THE JOURNAL OF ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE. Volume 7, Number 2, 2001, pp. 175185 http://larrearx.com/images/JournalofAlternativeMedSafetyofLarrea.pdf 6. L JM, Nurko J, Weakley SM, Jiang J, et al. "Molecular mechanisms and clinical applications of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and its derivatives: an update." Med Sci Monit. 2010 May;16(5):RA93-100. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2927326/ 7. Hwu JR1, Hsu CI, Hsu MH, Liang YC, Huang RC, Lee YC. "Glycosylated nordihydroguaiaretic acids as anti-cancer agents." Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2011 Jan 1;21(1):380-2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21123067 8. Hsu MH1, Wu SC, Pao KC, Unlu I, et al. "Hepatocellular carcinoma targeting agents: conjugates of nitroimidazoles with trimethyl nordihydroguaiaretic Acid." ChemMedChem. 2014 May;9(5):1030-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24648164 9. Zhang Y1, Xu S, Lin J, Yao G, Han Z, Liang B, et al. "mTORC1 is a target of nordihydroguaiaretic acid to prevent breast tumor growth in vitro and in vivo." Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2012 Nov;136(2):379-88. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23053656 10. Ryan CJ1, Zavodovskaya M, Youngren JF, Campbell M, Diamond M, Jones J, Shiry L, et al. "Inhibitory effects of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) on the IGF-1 receptor and androgen dependent growth of LAPC-4 prostate cancer cells." Prostate. 2008 Aug 1;68(11):1232-40. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18491370 11. Chen H1, Teng L, Li JN, Park R, Mold DE, et al. "Antiviral activities of methylated nordihydroguaiaretic acids. 2. Targeting herpes simplex virus replication by the mutation insensitive transcription inhibitor tetra-O-methyl-NDGA."J Med Chem. 1998 Jul 30;41(16):3001-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9685239 12. Zhao J1, Zhao Y, Chen W, Li YM, Bian XW. "The differentiation-inducing effect of Nordy on HPV-16 subgenes-immortalized human endocervical cells H8." Anticancer Drugs. 2008 Aug;19(7):713-9.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18594213 13. Gao P1, Zhai F, Guan L, Zheng J. "Nordihydroguaiaretic acid inhibits growth of cervical cancer SiHa cells by up-regulating p21."Oncol Lett. 2011 Jan;2(1):123-128. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3412500/ 14. Peterson G1, Barnes S. "Genistein and biochanin A inhibit the growth of human prostate cancer cells but not epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine autophosphorylation." Prostate. 1993;22(4):335-45. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8497428 15. Lai K. Leung, Ho Yee Chan, Huan Wang. "The red clover (Trifolium pratense) isoflavone biochanin A modulates the biotransformation pathways of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene." British Journal of Nutrition / Volume 90 / Issue 01 / July 2003, pp 87-92. http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=6&fid=1044284&jid=BJN&volumeId=90&issueId=01&aid=1043644&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S0007114503002472 16. Stephens FO. "Phytoestrogens and prostate cancer: possible preventive role." MJA. 1997;167:138-140. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9269268 17. Jarred RA, Keikha M, Dowling C, et al. "Induction of apoptosis in low to moderate-grade human prostate carcinoma by red clover-derived dietary isoflavones." Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2002;11:1689-1696. http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/11/12/1689.full 18. Stephens F. O. Phytoestrogens and prostate cancer: possible preventive role. Med. J. Aust., 167: 138-140, 1997. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9269268 19. Zhao F, Wang L, Liu K. "In vitro anti-inflammatory effects of arctigenin, a lignan from Arctium lappa L., through inhibition on iNOS pathway." J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Apr 21;122(3):457-62. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19429312 20. Lin SC, et al. "Hepatoprotective effects of Arctium lappa Linne on liver injuries induced by chronic ethanol consumption and potentiated by carbon tetrachloride." J Biomed Sci 2002 Sep-Oct;9(5):401-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12218354 21. Lu LC, Zhou W, Li ZH, et al. "Effects of arctiin on streptozotocin-induced diabetic retinopathy in Sprague-Dawley rats." Planta Med. 2012 Aug;78(12):1317-23. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22753037 22. Hirose M, Yamaguchi T, Lin C, et al. "Effects of arctiin on PhIP-induced mammary, colon and pancreatic carcinogenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats and MeIQx-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in male F344 rats." Cancer Lett. 2000 Jul 3;155(1):79-88. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304383500004110 23. Huang K1, Li LA, Meng YG, You YQ, Fu XY, Song L. "Arctigenin Promotes Apoptosis in Ovarian Cancer Cells via the iNOS/NO/STAT3/Survivin Signalling." Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2014 May 19. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24842412cancer 24. Susanti S1, Iwasaki H, Inafuku M, Taira N, Oku H. "Mechanism of arctigenin-mediated specific cytotoxicity against human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines." Phytomedicine. 2013 Dec 15;21(1):39-46.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24021157 25. Hsieh CJ, Kuo PL, Hsu YC, Huang YF, Tsai EM, Hsu YL. "Arctigenin, a dietary phytoestrogen, induces apoptosis of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cells through the ROS/p38 MAPK pathway and epigenetic regulation." Free Radic Biol Med. 2014 Feb;67:159-70. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24140706 26. Ek O, Waurzyniak B, Myers DE, Uckun FM. "Antitumor activity of TP3(anti-p80)-pokeweed antiviral protein immunotoxin in hamster cheek pouch and severe combined immunodeficient mouse xenograft models of human osteosarcoma." Clin Cancer Res. 1998 Jul;4(7):1641-7. http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/4/7/1641.full.pdf 27. Anderson PM, Meyers DE, Hasz DE, Covalcuic K, et al. "In vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity of an anti-osteosarcoma immunotoxin containing pokeweed antiviral protein." Cancer Res. 55: 1321-7, 1995. http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/55/6/1321.full.pdf 28. Qi L, Nett TM, Allen MC, et al. "Binding and cytotoxicity of conjugated and recombinant fusion proteins targeted to the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor." Cancer Res. 2004;64:2090-2095. http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/64/6/2090.full 29. Wimer BM, Mann PL. "Mitogen immunotherapy for HIV infections exemplified by phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen." Cancer Biother Radiopharm. 2001;15:629--44. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11190495 30. Fatih M Uckun, Larisa Rustamova, Alexei O Vassilev, et al. "CNS activity of Pokeweed Anti-viral Protein (PAP) in mice infected with Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV)." BMC Infect Dis. 2005; 5: 9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC554105/ 31. Wegiera M1, Smolarz HD, Bogucka-Kocka A. "Rumex L. species induce apoptosis in 1301, EOL-1 and H-9 cell lines." Acta Pol Pharm. 2012 May-Jun;69(3):487-99. http://www.ptfarm.pl/pub/File/Acta_Poloniae/2012/3/487.pdf 32. Rostock M, Huber R, Greiner T, Fritz P, Scheer R, Schueler J, Fiebig HH. "Anticancer activity of a lectin-rich mistletoe extract injected intratumorally into human pancreatic cancer xenografts." Anticancer Res. 2005 May-Jun;25(3B):1969-75. http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/25/3B/1969.long 33. "Mistletoe Extracts (PDQ) - Human Clinical Trials." National Cancer Institute. (Accessed 31 May 2014.) http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/mistletoe/HealthProfessional/Page5#Section_35 34. Trger W, Zdrale Z, Tima N, Matijaevic M. "Additional Therapy with a Mistletoe Product during Adjuvant Chemotherapy of Breast Cancer Patients Improves Quality of Life: An Open Randomized Clinical Pilot Trial." Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:430518. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3950471/ 35. Adaramoye O, Amanlou M, Habibi-Rezaei M, Pasalar P, Ali MM. "Methanolic extract of African mistletoe (Viscum album) improves carbohydrate metabolism and hyperlipidemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats." Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2012 Jun;5(6):427-33.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22575973 36. Gray AM, Flatt PR. "Insulin-secreting activity of the traditional antidiabetic plant Viscum album (mistletoe)." J Endocrinol. 1999 Mar;160(3):409-14. http://joe.endocrinology-journals.org/content/160/3/409.full.pdf 37. Stephen S. Leonarda, Deborah Keilb, Tracey Mehlmanb, et al. "Essiac tea: Scavenging of reactive oxygen species and effects on DNA damage." Journal of Ethnopharmacology Volume 103, Issue 2, 16 January 2006, Pages 288--296. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874105006239 38. Soroush Sardari, Mohammad Ali Shokrgozar, Ghazaleh Ghavami. "Cheminformatics based selection and cytotoxic effects of herbal extracts." Toxicology in Vitro, Volume 23, Issue 7, October 2009, Pages 1412-1421. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887233309001866 39. "What is the mechanism by which Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) can increase the blood concentrations of the protease inhibitors, atazanavir (Reyataz), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir, (Invirase) used for the treatment of HIV?" Pharmacology Weekly. (Accessed 1 June 1014.) http://www.pharmacologyweekly.com/articles/cat-claw-herb-concentrations-protease-inhibitors-HIV 40. Kaiser S, Dietrich F, de Resende PE, Verza SG, Moraes RC, et al. "Cat's claw oxindole alkaloid isomerization induced by cell incubation and cytotoxic activity against T24 and RT4 human bladder cancer cell lines." Planta Med. 2013 Oct;79(15):1413-20. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23975868 41. Dreifuss AA, Bastos-Pereira AL, Fabossi IA, Lvero FA, et al. "Uncaria tomentosa exerts extensive anti-neoplastic effects against the Walker-256 tumour by modulating oxidative stress and not by alkaloid activity." I. 2013;8(2):e54618. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3567083/ 42. Rinner B, Li ZX, Haas H, Siegl V, Sturm S, Stuppner H, Pfragner R. "Antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of Uncaria tomentosa in human medullary thyroid carcinoma cells." Anticancer Res. 2009 Nov;29(11):4519-28. http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/29/11/4519.long 43. Pilarski R, Poczekaj-Kostrzewska M, Ciesiolka D, Szyfter K, Gulewicz K. "Antiproliferative activity of various Uncaria tomentosa preparations on HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells." Pharmacol Rep. 2007 Sep-Oct;59(5):565-72. http://www.if-pan.krakow.pl/pjp/pdf/2007/5_565.pdf 44. Sun M1, Liu C, Nadiminty N, Lou W, Zhu Y, et al. "Inhibition of Stat3 activation by sanguinarine suppresses prostate cancer cell growth and invasion." Prostate. 2012 Jan;72(1):82-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3938016/ 45. Malikova J, Zdarilova A, Hlobilkova A. "Effects of sanguinarine and chelerythrine on the cell cycle and apoptosis." Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. 2006 Jul;150(1):5-12. http://mefanet.upol.cz/BP/2006/1/5.pdf 46. Haseeb Ahsan, Shannon Reagan-Shaw, Jorien Breur, Nihal Ahmad. "Sanguinarine induces apoptosis of human pancreatic carcinoma AsPC-1 and BxPC-3 cells via modulations in Bcl-2 family proteins." Cancer Letters Volume 249, Issue 2 , Pages 198-208, 8 May 2007.

http://www.cancerletters.info/article/S0304-3835(06)00526-X/abstract 47. Shin Kim, Tae-Jin Lee, Jaechan Leem, Kyeong Sook Choi, Jong-Wook Park, and Taeg Kyu Kwon1. "Sanguinarine-induced apoptosis: Generation of ROS, down-regulation of Bcl-2, c-FLIP, and synergy with TRAIL." Journal of Cellular Biochemistry Volume 104, Issue 3, pages 895--907, 1 June 2008. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcb.21672/abstract 48. Kim JB, Yu JH, Ko E et al. "The alkaloid Berberine inhibits the growth of Anoikis-resistant MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines by inducing cell cycle arrest." Phytomedicine 17 (6): 436--40. PMID 19800775. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19800775 49. Lin CC, Lin SY, Chung JG, Lin JP, Chen GW, Kao ST. "Down-regulation of cyclin B1 and up-regulation of Wee1 by berberine promotes entry of leukemia cells into the G2/M-phase of the cell cycle." Anticancer Research 26 (2A): 1097--104. http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/26/2A/1097.long 50. Serafim TL, Oliveira PJ, Sardao VA, Perkins E, Parke D, Holy J. "Different concentrations of berberine result in distinct cellular localization patterns and cell cycle effects in a melanoma cell line." Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology 61 (6): 1007--18. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17661039 51. Pinto-Garcia L, Efferth T, Torres A, Hoheisel JD, Youns M. "Berberine Inhibits Cell Growth and Mediates Caspase-Independent Cell Death in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells." Planta Medica 76 (11): 1155--61. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20455200 52. Ho YT, Lu CC, Yang JS et al. (October 2009). "Berberine induced apoptosis via promoting the expression of caspase-8, -9 and -3, apoptosis-inducing factor and endonuclease G in SCC-4 human tongue squamous carcinoma cancer cells". Anticancer Research 29 (10): 4063--70. http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/29/10/4063.long 53. Mantena SK, Sharma SD, Katiyar SK . "Berberine, a natural product, induces G1-phase cell cycle arrest and caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in human prostate carcinoma cells." Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 5 (2): 296--308. http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/5/2/296.long 54. Muralimanoharan SB, Kunnumakkara AB, Shylesh B et al. "Butanol fraction containing berberine or related compound from nexrutine inhibits NFkB signaling and induces apoptosis in prostate cancer cells." The Prostate 69 (5): 494--504. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pros.20899/abstract;jsessionid=8C7ECF1334147D7FA87EA0985ED96766.f02t01 55. Choi MS, Oh JH, Kim SM et al. "Berberine inhibits p53-dependent cell growth through induction of apoptosis of prostate cancer cells." International Journal of Oncology 34 (5): 1221--30. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19360335 56. Cech NB, Junio HA, Ackermann LW, Kavanaugh JS, Horswill AR. "Quorum quenching and antimicrobial activity of goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)." Planta Med. 2012 Sep;78(14):1556-61. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22814821 57. Anandakumar P1, Kamaraj S, Jagan S, Ramakrishnan G, Devaki T.

"Capsaicin provokes apoptosis and restricts benzo(a)pyrene induced lung tumorigenesis in Swiss albino mice." Int Immunopharmacol. 2013 Oct;17(2):254-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23747734

Click for Related ArticlesBlood CleansingDetoxing & Full Body DetoxDietary SupplementsSharethis Article

15 1.3K

If you found this article interesting, you will love Jon Barron's newsletter!FREE NewsletterAlso subscribe me to Daily Health TipsFirst NameLast NameEmail*Comments

Submitted by AM on August 22, 2011 - 4:44pm

I'm looking for something to help with high colesterol reply Submitted by BaselineFoundation on August 22, 2011 - 5:28pm

Wow, this is a big topic! I would got to our heart health section and review all the articles on this website about the topic. Click here: http://www.jonbarron.org/heart-health/topic-special-report-cardiovascular

reply Submitted by raheela on September 10, 2014 - 1:33pm

I NEED TO Know HOW I CAN CLEAN MY BLOOD reply Submitted by BaselineFoundation on September 15, 2014 - 6:24pm

Looks like you came to the right place. Did you read this article? reply Submitted by Guest Muhammed on October 14, 2011 - 4:07pm

need some help on blood cleansers for myoscitis . reply Submitted by lino c salazar jrGuest on March 26, 2012 - 3:38am

very nice and educational reply Submitted by Guest on April 18, 2012 - 8:22pm

My husbund has hep c and liver cirrhios what is a good detox for his body and blood stream reply Submitted by Guest on May 25, 2012 - 5:00pm

Did you read the article lady?!? Geeezz!! reply Submitted by Guest on June 18, 2012 - 9:43am

He does not need detox. Simply keep him out of the pub. reply Submitted by Guest on May 11, 2012 - 2:35pm

People have to stop behaving like sheep, I have just ordered Chaparral based on this info, I gave my own mind and take responsibility for my own health. I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, a month before this I watched a program called 'forbidden cures for cancer' and i transcribed it for my blog as the cures were fascinated and of course banned by the medical profession and the cancer research groups!! then a month later BAM a check up of some lumps that I had turned out to be just hormonal but they found another lump elsewhere and it was cancerous. I had surgery and I refused radiotherapy and hormone treatment

because the effects of both and they tried to talk me into removing all lymph nodes which I refused the surgeon permission. All of this to the Surgeons and the consultants utter amazement. I took all natural products after surgery including essiac tea. After 3 months they were amazed that I was doing fine and they told me to come back in 6 months for a check up, had a blood test everything was fine, had a little scare on the mammogram in that they thought I had a lump on my other breast but was a false alarm, and told me to come back in a year. I still take essiac. But I have psoriasis and there are good people who have linked psoriasis with cancer - a fungus type disease. I aslo found that candida was found in all patients who had passed from cancer this was a study which was carried out and still ignored by the medical profession. No one ever asked me about my life style or diet in any consultation that I attended and I think this would reveal some amazing results. I try to stay away from fungus foods and commercial bread as it is high in yeast and I stay away from things that have yeast in it. Knowledge is most definitely power and we as a human race should stop being brainwashed into believing mainstream hype and do our own research. lets prove Einstein wrong and use all of our brain. Light and Love

[] + More reply Submitted by Vanessa Brewer on May 27, 2014 - 4:47pm

Thank you for your beautiful post. It was very uplifting. reply Submitted by Debra on June 9, 2014 - 3:47am

Excellent comment, thanks! Also glad you are so much better! xxx reply Submitted by Guest on May 29, 2012 - 3:49am

Good article, now I'm confused. How does 'redbush tea' rate as a detoxer and blood cleanser? reply Submitted by S. Williams on July 8, 2012 - 3:50pm

Mr. Barron, I am an allopathic med student in the States. I'd like to take this

article more seriously, however (regarding the section on chaparral, which is the only one I read).... 1) Where is this article by Dr. Clark Watt et al? Can't find it anywhere. Why do you not cite it directly? 2) You cite ONE JAMA article, that is inaccessible to the public in its entirety, so I cannot verify that the 60yo patient in question was also taking the other potentially hepatotoxic medications (until I go to school and look it up). Why don't you quote the relevant parts in your article? 3) Where are the publications from the 70's and 80's studies that found no association between chaparral use and hepatotoxicity? I did find these articles from the 2000's; I can't access them in their entirety either, but the abstracts alone make a pretty strong case: http://archsurg.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=395286 http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00365520410007926 Of course they cite the articles from the 90's; all publications cite relevant past articles as references. The second article seems quite specific about how it was chaparral in particular that seemed to cause the problem (in that it apparently resolved after ceasing to ingest specifically chaparral...). I'm not a big fan of the FDA or Big Pharma, but I'm also not a fan of shoddy science and manipulating facts to sell products to people with no scientific background (who are thus less able to objectively analyze various claims). The ability to adeptly interpret scientific data is a learned skill that requires a sufficient base of knowledge. It sucks, but that's the way it is. Too much of anything is bad; even oxygen. At the right dose, it can be beneficial. Thus I don't totally write off your claims; but it seems to me you may be doing a bit of twisting facts to suit your own agenda. I hope you will prove me incorrect. I challenge you to step up your game, sir.

[] + More reply Submitted by BaselineFoundation on July 17, 2012 - 6:05pm

We forwarded your question to Jon Barron, and were able to catch him while participating in a series of meetings on the other side of the country. He responded as follows:

Dear S. Williams:

I understand the intent of your question, but the specifics are confusing. You claim that the cited studies are inaccessible to the public, but as a medical student, you would have free access to all such studies in your school library. But that said, any of these studies are available to anyone from the public willing to pay on average about $30 per article which is what I do to read them. And of course, as you would be well aware, I cannot then publish articles in their entirety to support my quotations from them, as that would be a violation of copyright. Like everyone else, I am obligated to restrict my references to citations, pointing

in most cases to abstracts. And if nothing else, you are holding my article to a far higher standard than any article published in any medical journal, as they all rely on citations that point to abstractsif they point to anything at all.

Incidentally, the Gordon study that you want to see and that refers to the hepatoxic drugs used by the patient is actually available in its entirety from JAMA (I have provided a link below.) Its easily found on the JAMA website.

As to the JAMA article you cite below as pretty convincing, you stopped reading too soon. The link you provided opens the entire article, not just an abstract. If you check the citations at the bottom used to support the claims against chaparral, you will find they are all the old studies I mentioned in my original article, including the Gordon articleah yes, always the Gordon study. Nothing new here. Just a repetition of the same previously discredited studies.

Incidentally, instead of citing the studies from the 70s and 80s, I referenced below a more recent study, one subsequent to cited studies in the JAMA article you referenced and that points out their flaws.

With that said, let me elaborate on the history behind chaparral.

Dietary supplements containing Larrea tridentata, as a raw herbal ingredient, were the subject of scrutiny for a brief period in the mid-1990s. The cause of this concern was thoroughly investigated, and no official regulatory action was initiated. This scrutiny was initiated by the published anecdotal case mentioned above (Gordon 1995), whereby severe liver toxicity in an elderly patient was supposedly related to the consumption of raw chaparral herb. Although this case was published, it has been widely scrutinized as an attack against the herbal industry since major facts of the case, especially the fact that the patient had been taking many prescription drugs, including several prescription drugs that were well known to cause severe liver damage, were buried without note within the report, and the findings as a whole did not support the cause and effect conclusion that chaparral was responsible. When the report was subsequently published by Gordon, the hepatoxic drugs diltiazem hydrochloride, atenolol, and acetaminophen were in fact listed in the first paragraph although they were subsequently dismissed as a possible cause of the liver damage because they didnt fit the clinical and histological features to support such a diagnosis. But neither did chaparral, and yet it was afforded the singular honor of being blamed in the report.

During this period of investigation by the FDA, the major herbal products associations, the National Nutritional Foods Association and the American Herbal Products Association asked their members to institute a voluntary moratorium on the sale of chaparral-containing products. The American Herbal Products Association also cooperated with the FDA in their investigation and commissioned a panel to perform a medical review of the four initial cases of

hepatotoxicity reported by FDA, allegedly associated with chaparral ingestion including the case mentioned above. This investigative panel was headed by Dr. Clark Watts M.D., J.D., of the law firm, Ford and Ferraro (Austin, TX), and included, Stephen Schenker, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology and Chief, Department of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio; Atilla Ertan, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Associate Chief, Gastroenterology Division, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston; and Boris Yoffe, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Molecular Virology, Hepatitis Research Laboratory, Baylor College of Medicine.

After reviewing the case reports, three physicians concluded that the reported toxicity was due to idiosyncratic reactions in persons with pre-existing liver conditions. To quote from the report published in September of 1994, "In summary, this review did not reveal evidence that Chaparral is inherently hepatotoxic. Shortly afterwards, AHPA, which had voluntarily withdrawn chaparral from the U.S. market pending the results of the medical review, released chaparral for sale, with the provision that chaparral products intended for internal use carry an informational label statement.

Note: There is still a prevalent misconception that the FDA banned chaparral. In fact, the FDA has never banned any products containing this herb. Let me repeat: the FDA has never banned any products containing this herb.

References

The citation for the Watts Report is: . Unfortunately, there do not appear to be any internet accessible copies available at this time.

The Gordon study can be found in its entirety in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

And In 2001, a retrospective clinical study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found no evidence of liver toxicity from the use of low dose chaparral. It is available in its entirety at:

http://larrearx.com/images/JournalofAlternativeMedSafetyofLarrea.pdf>

[] + More reply Submitted by Paul Gerst on June 8, 2014 - 4:44pm

Although it is wise to be skeptical, to a point, it is even wiser to recognize when your beliefs fall in-line with a programmed way of thinking. I was raised in a western medical family and was heading down that path myself, until I figured out what I truly wanted to do in regards to healing and chose a path that would really allow me the freedom to do just that.

I still believe in "right tool for the right job," but after reading your attack on Jon, not to say he's infallible and unbiased, I found your inability to recognize that the biggest pile of junk science comes from your very own allopathic medicine! Wake up and stop drinking the kool-aid, you will be a far bigger service to your Patients if you stop believing you have all the answers.

[] + More reply Submitted by Marcus on August 2, 2012 - 3:16am

And the student who thinks he knows everything has been served. I can only blame the university system that instills selfish pride in students by abusing them mentally and overwhelming them with an impossible amount of work. Thanks for the info doc. reply Submitted by nechelle woods on February 4, 2013 - 12:04pm

how do I get these stuff reply Submitted by BaselineFoundation on February 4, 2013 - 12:42pm

If you check out our "Products" page above, you can see all of Jon Barron's recommendations and where to buy. Note that most formulas can be found at http://www.baselinenutritionals.com

reply Submitted by esther ryan on April 6, 2013 - 9:43am

I have kidney disease and I am on dialysis. I am on the home treatment. what I am looking for is a cleanser that will work along with the treatment that I am already taking. I am going to try the Burdock root. I hope that it works reply Submitted by regina on May 8, 2013 - 9:03am

Is there anything that I can take along with this blood cleanse that will help with the increase in acne that I usually get when I'm on some kind of detox. I already have hormonal acne to begin with which subsides throughout my cycle. Which product would you recommend? reply Submitted by BaselineFoundation on May 8, 2013 - 12:17pm

Have you seen Jons article on acne? http://www.jonbarron.org/article/acne-pimples-blackheads-bacteria? reply Submitted by Dana Ritchie on May 15, 2013 - 3:37pm

Hi, Thank you for your article. I treat people with Lyme disease & Morgellons. I am also looking for a herbal remedy to heal the skin from outside together with blood cleansing. If you had any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you, Dana Ritchie reply Submitted by BaselineFoundation on May 15, 2013 - 4:58pm

Hi Dana,

Just do a seach on Lyme on our site and you can see all the articles that come up. I would suggest reading this one: http://www.jonbarron.org/article/lyme-disease-bacteria-borrelia-burgdorferi reply Submitted by Dena on

September 25, 2013 - 9:18pm

I have Hep C and stage 2 cirrhosis and have been taking a lot of herbal supplements. The past 3 years have been really sick, all the usual symptom's, bloating in the tummy, along with pain in the tummy, swelling in the feet, legs and hands, horrible brain fog, and depression. To the point that it took everything I had to get up and go to work. Naturally the Doctor told me I shouldn't be sick. I have been taking all the natural herbs that is recommended for this diagnosis and this year have been feeling much better, to the point that I am actually cooking, sewing and doing things I enjoy again. I have refused their interferon medication that is not that much of a chance of a cure. It will be my last resort. But went to have my blood drawn thinking that all my numbers would be better, to my shock they were worse. My viral load has doubled in 2 years. I want to know if I need a blood cleanse. Just this year I have started taking yellow dock along with burdock, dandelion root, cumin, there are a few more in there. I am now wondering if I should look into a blood cleanse if that would help a great deal?

[] + More reply Submitted by BaselineFoundation on September 30, 2013 - 9:26pm

For obvious legal reasons, we cannot diagnose or prescribe for specific medical conditionsmerely provide information. With that in mind, you might find the following useful. http://www.jonbarron.org/detox/liver-cleanse-Hepatitis-C reply Submitted by Dee on December 21, 2014 - 1:02pm

Do some research on BHT and Hep C. Yeah, the BHT that is a food additive and has been used successfully as an antiviral for herpes and hepatitis.

It's interesting how smoking gets blamed for lung cancer when other countries such as Greece have a higher population of smokers yet have lower rates of cancer. Could it be the added ingredients to the tobacco? Are USA brands different than European brands? I don't advocate smoking but one has to wonder about the campaign to get everyone to quit. Is it because the government loves it's citizens so much?

[] + More reply

Submitted by CeCe White on April 17, 2014 - 1:50am

Do you have a website that provide information on Diabetes, I understand the blood cleansers, but I don't like taking Metformin, and Insulin, I want to find a herb to prevent Kidney and Liver failure, heart disease and I'm having Neuropathy Nerve problems in my toes and heel. All I AM GETTING FROM MY DOCTOR IS INCREASED DOSAGE each time I go to see him. Oh yes I'm in my 50's.

Wow I just notice your HEALTH TOPICS AND PROGRAMS

Thank you

CeCe

[] + More reply Submitted by BaselineFoundation on April 17, 2014 - 10:44am

Yes, we have a lot of information on these topics, just even do a search on any topic and have fun with all the detailed articles available. I also highly recommend Jon Barron's latest version of his book since he has several new chapters on these problems and gives step by step guidelines on what you can do naturally. reply Submitted by Daniel teo on June 8, 2014 - 4:51pm

I read with interest n have given some of my farm land f a herbalist to plant some herbs which are similar to those u listed n may like to order some char pariah to try, please respond . D teo reply

Pages

1 2 next last

Add New CommentYour name *E-mail *The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.Comment *CityStateWhat is your favorite Baseline article?

Home Free Book Products How To Detox Health Articles Programs Media About Us

Health Articles

Newsletter Archive Barron Reports Health Blog Jon's Lessons Book Herbal Library

Reader Testimonials

I'm grateful for your columns and your tutorials on how the body works, your debunks on mainstream studies, and the "Lessons from the Miracle Doctors." You are an inspiration. Daniel ArnaudRead more testimonialsRelated Content

Your Own Blood Might Heal You Oat Grass PFCs Causes Infertility

Jon's Guide to Supplements

Check out Jon Barron's comprehensive guide on supplements. Learn what you should consider taking, when, and why. Also gives a list for special health needs.

Read the GuideSuggested Health Products

Baseline Nutritionals' promise:

USP grade nutraceuticals Organic and wild crafted herbs Liquid extracts made using the Barron Effect cGMP Compliancy & 3rd Party Validated Baseline Nutritionals offers a 100% guarantee on all products.

www.baselinenutritionals.com

Lessons from the Miracle Doctors Order Today!

"Quite simply the best book ever written on alternative health" Aris Awitan, MD Houston, TX

2008 Expanded Hardcover Edition. Retail Price $24.95

$14.95

Visit the Health Blog Follow Our Pins Follow Our Podcasts Become a Facebook Fan Follow Us on Twitter

Health Topics Cancer Weight Loss Diabetes Enzymes All Health Topics Programs How To Detox Colon Detox Kidney Detox Liver Detox Baseline Natural Anti-Aging

Strong Immunity Weight Loss Heart Health Diabetes Athletic Performance Health Articles Free Health Book Newsletter Archive Barron Reports Health Blog Products Digestive Enzymes Proteolytic Enzymes Best Super Foods Probiotics Antioxidants Anti-Aging Formula Joint Pain & Inflammation Sugar Metabolic Enhancers Cold & Flu Busters About Us Jon Barron Facts Jon Barron Biography Foundation Mission Foundation FAQS Press Room Content Share Program Contact Us Legal Disclaimer

The statements found within these pages have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. If a product or treatment is recommended in these pages,it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information contained herein is meant to be used to educate the reader and is in no way intendedto provide individual medical advice. Medical advice must only be obtained from a qualified health practitioner.

Copyright 1999-2015 The Baseline of Health Foundation. All rights reserved. SitemapBaseline of Health is a Registered Trademark of Jon Barron