An Herb Garden to Fight Cancer

Did you know that herbs contain powerful anti-cancer protection? Using herbs for cancer prevention and treatment is by no means a novel, modern or alternative practice. Herbs have been used in the treatment of cancer for many, many years and the constituent chemicals of plants have been the starting point for research and the creation of many modern medicines. However, today’s post will be on reaping the benefits from common garden herbs.  Herbs are nature’s medicine cabinet. So whether you grow your own or stop at the local farmers market, eat them daily for a powerful anti-cancer boost.

So what’s the deal? Below are some common and delicious herbs, try to eat them every day. Please keep in mind that herbs provide the greatest benefit for prevention and healing when they are combined within an approach that considers the whole mind body system.

Rosemary. The two key ingredients in rosemary, caffeic acid and rosemarinic acid, are potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents, which help protect the body's cells from damage by free radicals.  Rosemary has been found to detoxify substances that can initiate the breast-cancer process and it stimulates liver enzymes which inactivate estrogen hormones. Rosemary can inhibit the formation of HCAS, the carcinogenic compounds that form when you cook protein.

Dill contains antioxidant properties, and it also deactivates free radicals and neutralizes carcinogens that might find their way into our bodies.

Cilantro helps to remove heavy metals like Mercury from the body.

 Mint has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory properties, helps prevent damage from radiation and it cuts off the blood supply to tumors, and may protect your liver too.

Parsley has potent anti-inflammatory and anticancer abilities. The phytochemicals in parsley can slow the speed of cell division, leaving time for the cell to correct DNA mistakes or to activate apoptosis, and recent research shows that one particular compound found in parsley and celery, apigenin, can stop certain breast cancer tumor cells from multiplying and growing.

 Basil has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It contains flavonoids that help shield cell structures from radiation and oxidative damage, and may protect liver cells. Both fresh basil and basil oil have strong antibacterial capabilities, so by adding the herb or oil to your salad, you can help ensure your vegetables are safe to eat.

Oregano possesses anti-bacterial as well as anti-inflammatory properties and encourages cell death making it a powerful anti-cancer herb; but what is really exciting is that may be particularly effective against prostate cancer and may even become part of the treatment for this cancer.  

Thyme possesses terpenoids which are recognized for their cancer preventive properties. Rosmarinic and ursolic acids are major terpenoids in thyme that possess anti-cancer properties. Thyme contains an essential oil that is rich in thymol, a powerful antiseptic, antibacterial, and a strong antioxidant.

In my house we eat a lot of tabouleh.  Tabouleh, tabouli, no matter how you say or spell it, is both delicious and good for you. What I love about it too is that it is versatile; for as many ways there are to spell it, there are just as many ways to make it. For this I head to the farmers market as I put A LOT of herbs in mine, far more than I can grow in my small garden.  Keep in mind that ideally, the salad should be green with specks of white, but make it whatever way you prefer.

Bulgur Tabouleh           

1 cup Bulgur wheat (or Quinoa, see notes below)

1 11/2 cups boiling water

1 ½ tsp salt

¼ cup lemon juice (or more)

¼ cup olive oil, plus more (I like lemon infused, but any good quality, extra virgin is fine)

Parsley, mint, dill, cilantro (several cups/bunches of these, chopped, and any combination, created to taste)

Chopped tomatoes (optional)

Chopped, seeded cucumbers (optional)

Finely chopped red onions or scallions (optional)

Chick peas (optional)

Pour boiling water over bulgur wheat and salt.  Cover wheat for 30 minus and let sit on the counter.  Stir in lemon juice and oil, chill for 2-3 hours.  Add chopped herbs, and other ingredients of your choice and toss gently, adding more oil as desired.

I add chickpeas to make this salad a meal.  You can also substitute quinoa in this recipe.  For quinoa, bring 1 cup quinoa (rinsed well), ½ tsp salt and 1¼ cups water to a boil over high heat.  Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes.  Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.  Fluff with a fork.    If you want, you can spread the quinoa out on a large rimmed platter or baking sheet; let cool.  Transfer to a bowl and mix in the lemon juice and oil, then the remaining ingredients.

I love to marinate chicken, turkey, fish, zucchini and eggplant in olive oil and rosemary, and oregano and chicken are great together too.  Thyme is delicious on eggs. Dill is fantastic on cucumbers, fish and zucchini. Basil, well who doesn’t like basil and fresh ripe tomatoes? Add some onion too!  And don’t forget pesto; make some with basil or try cilantro (or spinach, kale, or arugula); use them on grilled foods, spread them on your sandwich.  Fighting cancer never tasted so good…oh, do I love summer. 

Want to see more cancer-fighting foods and the recipes?  Please visit:

http://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/2012/03/28/cancer-fighting-farm-stand-recipes/

To see Tami’s post on this: http://www.tamiboehmer.com/2012/07/beating-cancer-can-be-delicious-2/

Like these tips?  Join me on my radio show, Survive and Live Well, for tips to treat and beat cancer. Join me weekly as we chat with the experts about treatment options and lifestyle choices that can help you not just treat cancer, but beat cancer, survive, thrive and live well.   At the end of each show I give my cancer fighting tip of the day, so tune in Tuesdays at 1pm, EST.

Elyn

www.elynjacobs.wordpress.com

Twitter@elynjacobs

Facebook @Elyn Jacobs Consulting

LinkedIn @Elyn Jacobs

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs.  She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. To learn about Elyn’s coaching services, please visit:  http://elynjacobs.wordpress.com.  To tune into the Survive and Live Well radio show, please visit www.W4CS.com, Tuesdays at 1pm (EST). To view info on upcoming topics and guests, please visit: http://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/elyns-blog/.

Introducing ... Champions for the Pink Vaccine

More from Dr Kathleen Ruddy....Thank you Dr Ruddy for getting this ball rolling!

July 16 2012

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To the best of my recollection, this is how it happened.

I read about the world's first preventive breast cancer vaccine, developed by Professor Vincent Tuohy of the Cleveland Clinic in 2010.  I read his paper, published in "Nature Medicine" May 2010, and called his lab to introduce myself  as Founder and President of the only breast cancer foundation whose mission is primary prevention of the disease - and, so, his vaccine was like a dream come true!  I left a message with Tuohy's secretary and twenty minutes later, as I was grocery shopping, he called.  We talked for over an hour.

Then Toni Turchi, a breast cancer survivor who lived in Cleveland, found out about Tuohy's vaccine and started a foundation to support his work.  Tuohy told Toni to get in touch with me, which she did; we talked and became friends and colleagues.
Then Elyn Jacobs, a breast cancer survivor living in New York City, found me on the Internet, contacted me through Facebook, and we met in NYC to chat.  She had never heard of the breast cancer virus or Tuohy's vaccine.  And so we became friends and colleagues in the fight to change the tawdry race for the cure into something more substantial - primary prevention of the disease.  Elyn introducted me to Janet Hanson, who invited me to join 85 Broads - which I happily did.  Thank you Elyn and Janet, and all the wonderful, wonderful women I've met through 85 Broads.
Then Judy Fitzgerald got breast cancer.  Shei's a retired teacher in Rhode Island.  She learned about Tuohy's vaccine, contacted Tuohy to tell him she was going to help suppport his work, and he told her to get in touch with me.  Judy and I became friends and colleagues in this enlarging grassroots movement to fund Tuohy's vaccine.
Then Elyn Jacobs invited me to join her on her weekly radio show two weeks ago, and Cindy Sullivan, a breast cancer survivor living in Colorado was listening in and went berserk when she learned of Tuohy's vaccine and the total lack of funding for it.  Cindy got in touch with me and suggested that this small band of women supporting Tuohy's vaccine gather together on a Skype conference call to put our heads together to what would happen, which we did this past week.  Thank you Cindy, that was brilliant.  So obvious, but so brilliant.
And now, three days later, we have organized ourselves to support each other's individual efforts, but with the common goal - to see that Tuohy's vaccine gets funded.  And here in the United States not in China.
We've got a brand:  the Pink Vaccine.   It's the world's first preventive breast cancer vaccine.  It doesn't need reinventing as the National Breast Cancer Coalaition would like you to think.  It already exists.  It's in Cleveland.  It just needs to be funded to see if it's safe in women; and if safe, whether it is effective.
We've chosen a name for our group:  Champions for the Pink Vaccine.
We have a domain:  pinkvaccine.com
We have  a Pinterest site:  The Pink Vaccine.
We've got groups on Facebook and LinkedIn:  The Pink Vaccine.
And we're going to create a CPU for information about the Pink Vaccine:  a blog where the Champions can post and share hard facts, dispel falacies, promote awareness, and generate ideas for how to fund the Pink Vaccine - the world's first preventive breast cancer vaccine.
Stay tuned.  According to complexity theory, it only takes two individuals to move a crowd in any one direction.  (Did you know that? It's true.)    But we have five women who intend to move the crowd toward the Pink Vaccine.  Think how fast we can move it now.
Please join us.  We're going to have a blast; we already have.  And we're going to do great things for the world, starting with funding the world's first preventive breast cancer vaccine.
Take a break from racing.  Take a peek at us.  Thanks!

Dr Kathleen Ruddy

Read more at http://www.85broads.com/public/blogs/kathleen-ruddy/articles/introducing-champions-for-the-pink-vaccine#wGmCke7Bhf9f1Eud.99

Breast Cancer Survivor Is Tired of the Race for the Cure: She Wants Prevention

The following is a guest post by Dr Kathleen Ruddy. I am proud to be part of a special group of ladies dedicated to funding a breast cancer vaccine that is both preventive and curative.

Breast Cancer Survivor Is Tired of the Race for the Cure: She Wants Prevention

April 30th, 2012 at 8:13pm

Toni Turchi is a woman who’s been running for more than thirty years, but she’s not interested  in a race for the cure; she wants prevention of breast cancer.
As a woman who always maintained a healthy lifestyle, and faithfully had her mammograms every year, she knows that prevention is more than a just smoothie word you paste across other slick words like “awareness” – for she was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 7, 2011 – and she knows that prevention, like love, is something you do, not something you say.

And what Toni is doing is this:  she’s going to give prevention the boost it needs to get itself out of the mouths of Madison Avenue mad men and into the clinic, for she’s thrown her weight behind Professor Vincent Tuohy’s preventive breast cancer vaccine developed at the Cleveland Clinic the year before she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, a vaccine that has yet to be funded by large breast cancer foundations or the federal government.
Toni is not going to race for the cure, she’s demanding prevention.  She created the Toni Turchi Foundation several weeks ago and has been tirelessly working to get Tuohy the recognition, support, and money he needs to take his vaccine off the shelf at the Cleveland Clinic, where it has been parked for the past two years for lack of funding, and into clinical trials and on to women as soon as possible.
Did you know it only takes two people to move a crowd?  Yes, that’s right:  it only takes two people to move a crowd in a particular direction.  For details on this remarkable phenomenon, Google “complexity theory” and read all about it.  In the meantime, there are now two people who have officially taken on the task of moving a crowd of women who don’t want breast cancer in the direction of funding Tuohy’s vaccine – Toni Turchi and I.
All we need is a crowd.  Please help us get one.  And please take a look at the Toni Turchi Foundation website and donate to this very worthy cause.
http://toniturchifoundation.org

Healing Cancer Naturally, Dental Toxins and More!

Choosing the best path for treatment is a very individual process.  Many people choose conventional treatment for their cancer, and many do not.  It’s all about finding and choosing the right treatment for you, for your body and your cancer.  Knowing your options is key, but equally as important is knowing the pros and cons of each treatment.  While there are no guarantees, we need to know –what are the chances the protocol will treat the cancer? And will it come with temporary or life threatening side effects?  I don’t like that word, side effect.  If treatment can cause serious damage, I am not so sure the damage can be referred to as a side effect.  But anyway, can these so called side effects be avoided? What are the chances for recurrence?  Will the treatment encourage or discourage the return of the cancer or new cancer? The recent news about Robin Roberts only brings awareness to the subject; sadly, she is hardly alone in her plight. Last week we spoke about a potential vaccine for cancer, but until we have that, we still have to treat our cancer. So today on the show, my guest, Bill Henderson, talked about healing cancer naturally, by means of a gentle, non-toxic therapy with no side effects (other than improved health and less cancer.)

Cancer is not a symptom, a random tumor that must simply be removed.  It is an imbalance in the body, a cry for help, if you will, that we need to take care of ourselves; that our body and soul require attention.  If we do not fix the imbalance or the reason for the cancer, the cancer will likely recur and/or spread, and certainly will not go away. 

I loved Bill’s answer to “If your wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, what would you recommend she do?” First, he would send her to the dentist. Routine dental work, such as root canals, tooth extractions (especially the removal of wisdom teeth), etc. can cause massive infections in the mouth that spread throughout the lymph system and contribute to cancer, especially breast cancer. To learn more about dental concerns and cancer, please view: http://www.cancertutor.com/Other/Breast_Cancer.html.  He also spoke at length about choosing the right dentist, one who is trained in the safe correction of dental culprits. “In the U.S., there are 160,000 dentists in the American Dental Association and another 7,400 dentist who are oral surgeons.  Of those, there are less than 50 I would trust.”  For a list of dentists that Bill recommends, please email me. 

Second, he would address her stress issues, as often times repressed stress can lead to and fuel cancer. This stress-reaction can stem from an event that took place years prior to our diagnosis. He strongly recommends that we read Dr Brad Nelson’s The Emotional Code, to uncover and resolve stress issues or events that are causing our cancer, and preventing us from healing.
Lastly, he would change her diet, although he avoids that word “diet” as it implies something temporary. Eating well is a lifelong commitment, not something we do for just a few weeks.

 All of these actions are important in our quest for wellness.

What he stressed was the importance of addressing the cause of the cancer as a means to cure it. What he didn’t do was suggest that his wife head off to a cancer clinic.  For some people, some cancers, this may be the way to go.  However, no matter what treatment we choose, if we don’t change the environment in which our cancer was permitted to grow, it will be very difficult to cure it. Bill’s argument for treating cancer naturally is a compelling one.  To learn more about it, please visit Bill’s website or read his book, Cancer-Free.

The best thing we can do is to consider the origin of our cancer, address it, and choose the best possible treatment for our cancer, our body, our needs.

To read more on changing the cancer environment, please visit: http://elynjacobs.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/changing-the-cancer-environment/.

Please join me next week on Survive and Live Well as I talk with my guests about two important topics: mesothelioma and early detection of lung cancer. 

Have a happy 4^th and see you next week!
Elyn

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs.  She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. To learn more about Elyn’s coaching services, please visit:  http://elynjacobs.wordpress.com.  To tune into the Survive and Live Well radio show, please visit www.W4CS.com, Tuesdays at 1pm (est).