Sunshine to Supplements

One needs more than a healthy diet to boost an immune system that has been practically annihilated by aggressive chemotherapy. I am talking of supplements in its broadest sense: vitamins, minerals, herbs and what is know as superfoods. From the instant I knew that Ranjan had cancer, I began my hunt  for such supplements across the board. There are many options that you get whilst surfing the net. Some of those one commonly comes across are: reishi, shitake and maitake  mushroom, cacao, bee pollen, maca, spirulina, goji berries, coconut oil,  garlic, echinacea, ginseng, turmeric, gingko biloba, cat’s claw, elderberry and astragalus. The ones highlighted are already on Ranjan's menu.

In addition to these I have also included some less conventional options that seem to be working well. Some strengthen the immune system, others target remaining cancer cells. I have talked about them in previous blogs but will run through them again giving links that confirm their benefits. Let us keep in mind that my search has always been for cancer preventive options and immunity boosters.

Soursop or graviola tea was one of the first supplement I added to Ranjan's diet plan. Soursop tea helps in preventing and fighting cancer. It is also known to strengthen the immune system. Three cups of soursop tea are sufficient. Soursop has many benefits and is now available in India. I have been giving Ranjan soursop leaves tea for over 8 months now and have been taking a glass myself. I have not seen any adverse side effects, quite the contrary as Ranjan had very few side effects during his chemotherapy and I believe that soursop tea did have its role to play. It is now believed that soursop has many health benefits. This article is worth a read. It is for you to decide whether you want to give it a try. Ranjan and I are living and kicking after 8 months of soursop.

Apricot seeds are the other supplement that has been part of Ranjan's diet for the past 8 months. Whereas he has about 15 seeds a day I have 6. They are meant to kill cancer cells without touching healthy cells. Apricot seeds are also called B17 or Laetrile. This article gives a comprehensive description of the way laetrile works. This is the recommended dosage: The usual recommendation for prevention is around 5 to 7 over the course of a day. For actual cancer cases use 2 to 3 times that. Some say one kernel for every 10 lbs of body weight. For maintenance after a cure, go back to 5 to 7 per day. Again I believe one should give it to try.

Mushrooms are big component of my treatment approach. I have been able to find fresh shitake mushrooms but reishi and maitake not being available fresh, I have added a mushroom supplement to his diet. It is known that these mushrooms can fight cancer. Ganoderma or Reishi has many benefits. It enhances and helps regulate the immune and endocrine system, prevent tumors, improving the circulation and eliminating harmful free radicals. It is available on line in India.

Cannabis is somehow a strange option to add on my list. It was suggested my a very dear friend. The benefits of cannabis leaves for curing cancer is now a known fact. The benefits of drinking cannabis leaves juice is available on many sites. To those who associate cannabis to pyschotropic drugs, let it be known that raw cannabis is actually loaded with a non-psychoactive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer nutrient compound known as cannabidiol (CBD) that is proving to be a miracle “superfood” capable of preventing and reversing a host of chronic illnesses. I have not gone into cannabis juicing as yet as I lack resources, but on the advise of my friend, Ranjan and  I have 6 to 7 cannabis leaves crushed with some sugar and some cardamon seeds. I will try and grow more on my terrace!

Hemp seeds and oil are also supper foods. They are available in India on line. And what's more is that they can be turned into great recipes. Hemp seed and oil pesto is out of this world. In India they have been used to make chutneys for ages. Hemp seed oil is reputed to be the most unsaturated oil derived from the plant kingdom. Hemp seed oil has been dubbed "Nature's most perfectly balanced oil", due to the fact that it contains the perfectly balanced 3:1 ratio of Omega 6 (linolei/LA) to Omega 3 (alpha-linolenic/LNA) essential fatty acids, determined to be the optimum requirement for long-term healthy human nutrition. Hemp oil cures cancer as the essential and non-essential amino acids are present in abundance in the oil and thus when hemp oil is regularly used by cancer patients, there are chances of cure. Hemp seeds are gift from nature. They are a complete protein. This is one of the most potent foods available, supporting optimal health and well being, for life. Raw hemp provides a broad spectrum of health benefits, including: weight loss, increased and sustained energy, rapid recovery from disease or injury, lowered cholesterol and blood pressure, reduced inflammation, improvement in circulation and immune system as well as natural blood sugar control. Need I say more.

It is my search for vegan proteins that brought hemp seeds my way. I also brought quinoa and chia seeds. They are now available in India but slightly expensive. Quinoa has a very hight protein content and many other nutrients. Chia seeds are also a real superfood. They are packed in protein and have many more nutrients. Both these are excellent to boost the immune system.

These are some of the supplements I have been using. They seem to have worked!