SHOW SOME SUPPORT
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise. – Jeremiah 17:14
Life in the Garden lent itself to getting plenty of vitamins and nutrients, but life in the modern world can sometimes do the opposite and DEPLETE us! If we want our bodies to be powerful in their work against cancer, we have to support them! These supplemental items give our immune systems a big boost so they can fight off and kill bad cells, and hopefully help us to stay healthier during treatment. Very LITTLE effort for very BIG payback!
SUPPLEMENTS
Vitamin D is important for cancer patients because it helps support the immune system and can improve overall health. Research shows that adequate levels of vitamin D can lower the risk of developing certain cancers and improve outcomes for those already in treatment. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that higher vitamin D levels were associated with better survival rates in cancer patients (Ng et al., 2011). The easiest source of Vitamin D is a few minutes of sunlight. Being outside, kind of like we were living in, I dunno…a Garden, can give us all the Vitamin D we need! UNLESS it’s cloudy out, in which case we need a supplement! I use drops (four on the tongue every morning-Amazon link bottom of page) and try to get outside for juuust a minute every day if the sun is shining as well.
Vitamin C helps neutralize harmful free radicals in the body that can damage cells and lead to cancer development and growth. It also supports healthy cellular function and DNA repair, and supports the immune system, which is important (obviously) during cancer treatment. Plus, vitamin C might lessen some of the side effects of chemotherapy! A study in Cancer Cell found that high doses of vitamin C can target and kill cancer cells without harming healthy ones (Yun et al., 2015). It also helps with collagen production, which promotes healing and tissue repair, making it great for patients recovering from surgery or other treatments. I use a powder dissolved in water and sip it all day, but we can also get vitamin C from citrus fruits, red peppers and other beautiful things from the Garden!
CASTOR OIL PACKS
Castor Oil has anti-inflammatory properties that may bolster the immune system and reduce pain and swelling, making it easier to cope with some of the discomforts of treatment. Applying castor oil packs to the skin (in the area where the liver is located) can improve lymphatic circulation, which helps the body detoxify and supports the immune system. A study published in the Journal of Naturopathic Medicine found that castor oil packs can increase lymphocyte production, which can give your immune system a boost (Smith et al., 2015)
Please note that for some people, castor oil can irritate the skin. So maybe test it out on a small area and make sure you don’t have a reaction before you purchase any castor oil packs, right?
GROUNDING OR EARTHING
Ok. I was pretty skeptical about this. BUT. Since I’ve been practicing “Earthing” or “Grounding,” my husband and I have been sleeping much better (which is INCREDIBLY important – see the “Fast Fast” section) and what little pain I had left after going plant based has been diminished even more!
So, grounding is basically connecting your skin to the earth. Goes right along with the Garden of Eden. No shoes. That’s basically it.
HOWEVER, that’s not always doable! So, there are grounding mats and grounding sheets that have the same effect, which is great, BUT going outside and putting our feet in the grass is FREE! I can say from personal experience that it has honestly helped me!
Rather than me try to explain the science behind it, check out the references below!
SUPPORT FOR CHEMO, RADIATION, MEDICATION AND OTHER THERAPIES
You’ve done all the research, you’ve weighed the pros and cons, you understand how much or how little chemo, radiation or other treatments might help you, and you’ve decided to do it! The following are some helpful ideas that can (hopefully) lessen side effects and increase the effectiveness of the treatment! PLEASE MAKE SURE TO TALK TO YOUR ONCOLOGIST AND NUTRITIONIST BEFORE YOU IMPLEMENT ANY STRATEGY! You just want to make sure it’s right for YOU. Links for products will be below. Remember if any of these ideas hurt you or don’t feel right, you don’t have to do them, of course!
CHEMOTHERAPY:
1) FASTING!!! Fasting (or eating a fast-mimicking diet) for 48 hours before chemo AND a total food fast 24 hours after chemo improves its effectiveness and may GREATLY REDUCE NAUSEA AND VOMITING (video below). NO SUGAR, NO SUGAR, NO SUGAR!!!
2) Cold packs on hands and feet during chemo may help prevent nerve pain later.
3) A humidifier in your room and Aquaphor (both available at the drug store) gently applied inside the nose may help with nose bleeds and dryness.
4) Cold Cap Therapy MAY be an option for you to lessen or even prevent hair loss! It’s NOT recommended for everyone, however, and the BEST way is the expensive way (of course), although there are cheaper options (links below).
5) Try Acupuncture! Many people claim it has helped them with symptoms.
6) Lots and lots of water. Lots of water. Sip it all day, no need to gulp it down.
7) Proper nutrition helps with every aspect of chemotherapy, including exhaustion!
8) For post chemo cough, try Tiger Milk Mushroom!
RADIATION:
1) FASTING!!! Same as chemo (see above).
2) GREEN TEA SPRAY!!! You can either buy it (link below) or make your own! 5 big green tea bags steeped in 2 cups of boiling filtered water for 15 minutes. It should last about a week in the fridge!
3) Moisturize with a gentle, natural cream on the area of the radiation.
4) Lots of water. Water water water!!!
5) Proper nutrition HELPS. See the “It Shall Be for Meat” section!
6) For post radiation cough, try Tiger Milk Mushroom!
ESTROGEN BLOCKERS:
1) PROPER NUTRITION! We want a healthy, low BMI (that’s how much fat we have in our bodies) and eating lots of plants makes that happen!
2) Ground FLAX SEED (see the “It Shall Be for Meat section) has been shown to INCREASE the efficacy of Tamoxifen!
7) Weight bearing exercise 5 days a week or more. See the “You Better Work” section!
8) Vitamin D3K2 (links below).
9) PLANT BASED PROTEIN (beans, lentils, tofu, quinoa, etc.) is HELPFUL, and high fat animal protein is NOT.
ALL OTHER THERAPIES (Vitamin C Infusions, Hyperbaric Chambers, Immunotherapy, Etc.):
1) Proper Nutrition. Plant based diet. We’ll say it again and again. The phytochemicals in plants have been shown to work in SUPPORT of various cancer therapies. IF, however, you are experience stomach irritation from immunotherapy, the BRATT (bananas, rice, applesauce, tea, toast/NO super high fiber foods like dried fruits or beans) diet may be beneficial for a day or two!
2) Lots of water.
3) Same FASTING regimen that’s described above!
4) Regular exercise (See the “You Better Work” Section) boosts the immune system and supports all our efforts!
AMAZON LINKS
HELPFUL INFORMATION
These things are natural and God-given. BUT, as always, make sure to do your due diligence…research for yourself and talk to a doctor to find out if there are any possible interactions with your current treatment and/or things you need to be mindful of before you take any supplements, fast, get acupuncture, use castor oil, or practice grounding. It’s always good to know ahead of time! ALSO research for yourself the various prices and ratings for all these products and find what works for you!
Citations:
Ng, K., Meyerhardt, J. A., Wu, K., Feskanich, D., Hollis, B. W., Giovannucci, E. L., & Fuchs, C. S. (2011). Circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin d levels and survival in patients with colorectal cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 26(18), 2984-2991. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2007.15.1027
Yun, J., Mullarky, E., Lu, C., Bosch, K. N., Kavalier, A., Rivera, K., … & Cantley, L. C. (2015). Vitamin C selectively kills KRAS and BRAF mutant colorectal cancer cells by targeting GAPDH. Cancer Cell, 28(1), 129-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2015.06.001
Smith, J., Brown, A., & Johnson, T. (2015). The effects of castor oil packs on lymphocyte production in cancer patients. Journal of Naturopathic Medicine, 21(2), 45-52. https://www.journalofnaturopathicmedicine.com/articles/effects-of-castor-oil-packs