Catabolic Wasting, Cachexia and Cancer; Natural Remedies

December 16, 2014

Catabolic Wasting, Cachexia and Cancer; Natural Remedies

A number of chronic diseases are characterized with loss of weight among the patients of these diseases. Be it AIDS, or other severe illnesses like cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the patients are likely to experience a wasting of the body mass. This wasting of body mass is what is referred to as Catabolic wasting, or cachexia.

Old age is also common with the decline of the general body mass of the aging individual. This is however not the same as cachexia, rather, the condition is referred to as sarcopenia. Both of these are conditions of loss of both muscle and body fat tissue. Cachexia and sarcopenia both often lead to frailty of the body and these conditions adversely affect different clinical outcomes and the victims face an increased risk of infection, falls and ultimately death. Cachexia is also associated with slower healing of wounds, significantly reduced exercise and breathing capacity. The overall life quality of the individual is usually diminished.

When the term ‘catabolic wasting’ is used, a reference to both sarcopenia and cachexia is encompassed. Catabolic mentioned here refers to the tissue breakdown; just the direct opposite of anabolic which on the other hand denotes tissue-building.

How catabolic wasting results

The wasting away of body muscle and fat tissue is caused by an interplay of a number of factors. Malnutrition is often key among these factors. This is due to reduced food consumption or impaired absorption of nutrient that frequently occurs in advanced or later stages of severe and chronic diseases. This form of malnutrition can always cause manifest loss of body muscle and fat tissue. Studies indicate that cachexia, despite being typically accompanied with loss of appetite by the patient, the condition hardly ever responds to improved food intake alone.

Among patients of AIDS for instance, dehydration is one of the commonest contributors to catabolic wasting. Dehydration is a condition of severe loss of body fluid and this is known to result in reduced aggregate body weight.

Inflammation has also been noted to play a key role in deterioration of the mass of the patients of chronic diseases. Both acute and chronic and conditions can cause serious increases in the creation of inflammatory cell-signaling molecules referred to as cytokines. Cytokines (inflammatory mediators) are known to alter a number of metabolic processes in the body. As a result, there is a reduction in muscle protein synthesis and the muscle protein also breaks down in an increased rate.

The inflammatory cytokines often activate a key metabolic regulator referred to as nuclear factor kappa B. this is also abbreviated as NF-κB. The NF-κB in turn triggers a number of physiological changes which encourage tissue deterioration. The cytokines are also known to stimulate the release of hormone cortisol, the adrenal catalytic chemical responsible for body stress and other neurotransmitter hormones: catecholamines. Together, the cortisol hormone and hormone catecholamines can aggravate catabolic wasting by disrupting the metabolism of muscle cells. They also alter the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of the patient.

There are other factors that have been identified as being causative to catabolic wasting as well. These include reduced levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and testosterone in the body. These substances are often responsible for inducing of anabolic actions in bodily muscle tissue. Reducing their levels therefore will have a negative response in this regard hence can lead to reduced muscle mass.

Natural Ways of Countering Catabolic Wasting

Insulin resistance, increased inflammation, oxidative damage, breakdown of protein associated with actual reduction of protein synthesis and changes in the levels of essential hormones have so far been identified to be responsible for cachexia and sarcopenia, conditions of catabolic wasting other factors also include blood vessels dysfunction and the dysfunction of nerves as well as damage caused to mitochondria which are responsible for the production of cellular energy.

Catabolic Wasting

Advanced cancer patients are therefore likely to manifest symptoms of catabolic wasting or cachexia. Precisely this is often referred to as cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS). This is because solid tumors result in the above internal changes that eventually get noticeable through body wasting as a symptom.

Natural ways meant to counter the symptoms of cachexia resulting from cancer should be targeted at the root causes of the fat tissue and muscle wastage. Researchers stress that the application of successful therapies will depend on the ability of the therapist to determine which categories of cancer patients often experience the greatest benefit when treated with a particular therapy instead of another. As such the catabolic phenotypes in patients of cancer must first be assessed before any therapy is recommended.

The effective medical treatments for cachexia often include encouraging the use of adequate amounts of liquids and food accompanied with certain drugs. These medical treatments however present serious side effects.

Catabolic wasting therefore is effectively treated by a variety of lifestyle, nutritional and innovative pharmacological interventions that may often prevent and treat cachexia and catabolic wasting in general.

Lean muscle mass may be built by taking glutamine, leucine, arginine and hydoxy-methylbutyrate (amino acids); whey protein and creatine. Omega-3 fatty acids are especially recommended by many practitioners for use in dealing with catabolic wasting. Other recommended products include conjugated linoleic acid and vitamin D which are also said to be effective in fighting lean tissue loss.

AwareMed is a perfect resurce not only to get information regarding the methods of ensuring a healthy life free from catabolic wasting, but also to purchase supplements that will help you recover from severe levels of catabolic wasting.

Catabolic Wasting, Cachexia and Cancer; Natural Remedies

Gut Inflammation Causing Your Mood Disorders?

December 8, 2014

Gut Inflammation Could Be the Source of Your Mood Disorders

As much as this may be shocking to some, it’s a proven medical fact that we all have to believe. There’s now a strong evidence showing the connection between our gut health, brain function and eventually our moods.

Like most people, I always believed that it’s only stress that can inflict much havoc with our digestive tract. However, as I later found out, problems in our gastrointestinal tract (commonly known as the GI tract) also stand a high chance of negatively impacting our brains and thus causing a lot of anxiety and depression.

Simply put, whatever goes on in your digestive tract has a lot of influence in the CNS-Central Nervous System, your neural circuitry and consequently stands a chance to influence on your behavior- which can be a positive or negative influence.

As revealed in the latest research, there’s for example, a link between how your digestive tract develops in the first few years of one’s life and his or her brain’s health. Subsequently, the influence can be seen later on in his or her future behaviors. The explanation for this hypothesis is based on the fact that a healthy gastrointestinal floral populace impacts positively on the neurons that are tasked with motor control and behavior. In fact, the research concludes that those with distinctly overwhelming population of these gut pathogens (or gut dysbiosis) stand a great chance to develop anxiety and depression in their later lives.

GI Tract Inflammation

Gut Inflammation and Mood Disorders

For deteriorating gut and intestinal health, a mechanism for the development of systemic inflammation and autoimmunity develops. This is a risky situation given the fact that both conditions of inflammation and autoimmunity have for long been linked with the birth of mood disorders.

As demonstrated in a different research, animal experiments in regards to inflammatory bowel disease proved that this disease had a strong adverse effect on the hypothalamus where it increases the sensitivity of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis– the HPA, to stress. With all these, it’s only reasonable to affirm the intimate relationship that exist between brain function, gut health and mental health.

According another study on the inflammatory process and depression, addressing inflammation concerns in women who just had their first birth could go a long way in lowering or even prevent the harsh symptoms of post-delivery depression. The research also claims of a cause and effect relationship that exist between Intestinal permeability/GI inflammation and the pathogenesis of alcoholism.

It’s now quite an irrefutable fact that our microbial symbiotic gut inhabitants and ourselves-for which I mean the central nervous system, are in a constant communication through the GABA receptors present in the vagus nerve.

Could Chronic Inflammation result in Depression?

Research has shown that depression could be as a result of gastrointestinal inflammation. The research provides several in attesting to this as below:

It’s a common knowledge that depressions are in most cases found alongside autoimmune diseases and gastrointestinal inflammations as well as with cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and type-2-diabetes, all of which chronic low-grade inflammation is a noticeable contributing factor. As a conclusion, the researchers suggested that there’s a likelihood that depression is “neuropsychiatric manifestation of a chronic inflammatory syndrome”
A dysfunction in the “gut-brain axis” is possibly the primary cause of inflammation as suggested by researchers. According to the researchers and other experts consulted during the research, the gut is literally a second brain- the same identical tissues making the brain during gestation, are the same found in the gut. The gut also has a large amount of serotonin neurotransmitter which plays a big role in mood control
A good number of clinical studies conducted over time have shown that treatment of gastrointestinal inflammation by use of probiotics, vitamin D and B, and omega-3 fats could worsen the quality of life as well as depression symptoms by offsetting proinflammatory stimuli to the brain.

Free Advice: It’s of great help to understand that the bacteria in your gut form an active and integrated part of your body which essentially, heavily depend on the diet you use and are thus hugely affected by the lifestyle you lead. Too much processed foods and / or sweetened drinks impact negatively on the healthy microflora reducing their population. Sugars in general feed the bad bacteria in the gut and increase their population goes high and the end, systemic inflammation is promoted. Consequently, mood disorders creep in.

Probiotics and Their role in mood disorder

Going a step further in this discussion, could it be possible certain human strains of probiotics cause a therapeutic effect on mood? And could this further emphasize the relationship between gut inflammation and mood disorders? Through several studies conducted, this is factually true.

A particular strain known as the Bifidobacterium infantis, has been shown to considerably influence the stress response by standardizing specific measurements of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis in addition to immune response and modulation of cytokine, all in an amazing model of depression and stress.

Evidence continue streaming in through research work to support the claim that the brain- our body organ with the sole responsibility of regulating the GI’s functioning through the vagus nerve, is able to communicate directly with the various microbial that form the natural surroundings of the GI tract. In fact, one of the researches conducted claims, “Since the interactions of microbes with host leads to a complex balance of host genes, alteration of microbiota population can cause several metabolic disorders.”

GI Tract Inflammation

What all these shows is that there is a need to maintain the health of the digestive system’s bacterial interaction (environment) and check the use of probiotics

Maintaining an optimally functioning GI tract is of great significance given the profound prospect of the close relationship and communication between our brain and our gut. Also, this statement should open our eyes to give priority to the GI system when evaluating new patients, lest we wave away from the possible understanding of the causes of many chronic diseases.

AwareMed Wellness and Resource Center

An institution set up to create awareness on healthy living, lifestyle, treatment options on commonly occurring diseases like cancer, addictions etc. We share information on common medical conditions as well as offer accurate treatment to on health problems. Call us or contact us directly from here.

Gut Inflammation Could Be the Source of Your Mood Disorders

The Medical Properties of Silver Hydrosol

October 17, 2014

Properties of silver hydrosol

Silver hydrosol is a mixture of pure ware and silver particles that is used for different medical purposes. The use of this mixture for different medical purposes is based on the unique properties of silver metal. The metal has been known as a strong antibiotic agent. Besides, its reputation as a common form of treatment in the history of medicine makes its use in the current times rather popular as well. This, however, is mainly observed in the alternative and complementary form of medical practice across the world. Currently, silver hydrosol is packaged and sold as a health supplement.

Silver hydrosol

Medical uses of silver hydrosol

There are several medical uses of silver hydrosol. These are outlined in the sections that follow. What is important to note is that many of the uses of silver have been developed after extensive research. In the same manner, some of the uses of this compound are still subjects of intense research.

Silver hydrosol for microbial infections

The medical use of silver hydrosol has largely been based on its ability to kill disease-causing microorganisms. Even during the ancient times, its use was basically limited to its ability to kill bacteria and other organisms that cause infections to the human body. In its current form, silver hydrosol is usually used to limit the extent of infection of disease-causing microorganism on patients. Usually, the compound is topically applied as an ointment at the site of an infection. This form of application makes it possible for the compound to limit the extent of spread of microbes on the body of a patient.

Enhancing the efficiency of the immune system

The relationship between the action of silver hydrosol and the immune system is not new. There has been growing evidence that the treatment can be effectively used to improve the overall functioning of the immune system of a patient. It has been the general consensus among alternative and complementary medicine practitioners that silver hydrosol, when used in the colloid form, can improve the way the natural immune system of the body fights invasion of the body by disease-causing microorganisms. It has been argued that this ability of the compound to restore the immune system to its ideal state is what enables it to fight many different forms of ailments and diseases in patients.

Help in treating chronic diseases

Generally, many chronic diseases cannot be successfully treated by any single therapy or method. What usually happens is that a combination of different methods of treatment is used to manage the disease over the course of time. However, there are certain cases in which chronic diseases have been successfully treated using a combination of different therapies.

There are different types of chronic diseases which include cancer, diabetes and even Aids. Silver hydrosol plays an important role in the process of treating these diseases. This is to say that the compound does not directly work to treat the diseases; rather, it has been shown that silver hydrosol has specific properties that can help to limit the extent of diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

Benefits of using silver hydrosol

There are several benefits that a patient gets when silver hydrosol is administered as a health supplement.

First of all, the amount of nutrients in the body of a patient is greatly enhanced following the use of silver hydrosol. This can be greatly beneficial to patients who are suffering from diseases that inhibit the functioning of the immune system.

Second, use of silver hydrosol has been known to boost the efficiency of the physiological processes in the body of a patient. Usually, disease interferes with many physiological processes in the body. One important process that is interfered with is the removal of waste products in the body. Interference with this process contributes to accumulation of toxins within the body of a patient, thus undermining the healing process. However, following the use of silver hydrosol, the overall efficiency of physiological processes in the body of a patient is greatly improved.

Possible risks of using silver hydrosol

Just like any other treatment method, use of silver hydrosol for medical purposes is not without any risks. There are several issues that may arise in the course of the treatment. The good news is that medical practitioners who use this compound as an alternative treatment understand these risks and are in a position to offer valuable advice n how to avoid them altogether.

First, there is a complicated relationship between this treatment and occurrence of anemic conditions in patients. When particular therapies of silver hydrosol are used on patients, it has been observed that this may contribute to development of anemic conditions. The good news is that this is usually a temporary condition that can be handled quite easily.

Second, all the different forms of therapies of silver hydrosol are completely unsuitable to persons who are allergic to silver. Therefore, before getting silver hydrosol, it is important for one to consult the doctor for advice. The doctor will perform simple tests to determine whether or not the person is Alaric to silver.

Here at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Centre, we use different forms of therapies to complement conventional treatment methods that our patients are using. Our use of alternative therapies to treat chronic diseases is based on the fact that chronic diseases are best tackled by an integrated approach. Furthermore, we have personalized our services to such an extent that the needs of our patients take the center stage. Visit us in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for such services.

The Medical Properties of Silver Hydrosol

Immune Stimulation Therapy

October 5, 2014

What is immune stimulation therapy?

This is a form of treatment for cancer in which the immune system of a patient is stimulated in order to effectively combat the effect of invading cancer cells. Immune stimulation therapy is closely related to immunotherapy or biotherapy. However, it is accurate to view immune stimulation therapy as a component of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy can be seen as a method of treating cancer in which the immune system plays a leading role. The practice of immunotherapy is carried out using two major ways. In the first one; which is what we are concerned with; the immune system is stimulated to act against the effects of cancer cells. In the second method, additional compounds are introduced into the body to help fight cancer cells. This is what is commonly referred to as biotherapy.

The immune system and cancer

There is an interesting relationship between the immune system and how cancer develops in the body of a human being. The immune system is a complicated collection of processes, structures and connections that provides the much needed protection for the body. The environment we live in is full of foreign bodies in the form microorganism that are toxic to the body. It is the primary function of the immune system to not only prevent the entry such microbes into the body but also kill them in case they get in.

In destroying foreign bodies, the immune system makes use of white blood cells. Entry of foreign microbes into the body triggers a complex response process that leads to an increase in the production of white blood cells. The cells are able to engulf disease-causing microbes thus neutralizing the danger of the body being invaded and ran over.

To do this, white blood cells are able to detect the proteins that are found on the microbes. Since they understand the composition of all cells that are found in the body, entry of cells that have different compositions automatically triggers a defensive response.

immune stimulation therapy

The immune system is not efficient in destroying foreign antigens all the time. That is why treatments are sought for different diseases all the time. Cancer, in particular, presents serious complications to the immune system. First of all, cancer cells develop from normal healthy body cells. Through the process of mutation, erstwhile normal body cells develop cancer-like properties and set off on their own path with a different agenda: abnormal and unregulated growth. Because of their origin, cancer cells manage to evade the detection mechanism of the immune system.

Second, cancer cells do wage war against the immune system. By producing chemicals that inhibit the way the immune system works, cancer cells can be seen to be making preemptive strikes against the immune system, thus guaranteeing their own survival in the body.

It is these cells invest a lot in battling the immune system of a person that research in cancer treatment has discovered how important the immune system is in winning this war. The immune system is the major battlefield in the war against cancer.

Types of immune stimulation therapies

There are different types of immune stimulation therapies that are in use. Their common characteristic is that they work by stimulating the ability of the immune system to attack and act against cancer cells.

One of the methods by which they work is boosting the ability of natural enemies of cancer cells that are found in the body. For example, the body produces special chemicals called interleukins. These are compounds that play a crucial role in coordinating the way white blood cells work in the body. Also, interleukins are known to stimulate the production of white blood cells in general. Immunotherapy makes use of this relationship by increasing the level of this hormone in the body of patients. This way, the immune system is stimulated to act against cancer cells quite effectively.

Interferons are another type of compounds that are naturally made by the body to fight against cancer cells. Their ability to fight off virus infections and possible cancer development has been known for a long time. In immune stimulation therapy, their production in the body is highly boosted, thus empowering the immune system to fight against cancer cells in the body.

The fight against cancer cells is usually directed towards inhibiting their process of growth and development. Through angiogenesis and metastasis, cancer cells are able to develop, grow and spread across the tissues of the body. Interferons and interleukins work against them by undermining these processes.

Another way in which the immune stimulation therapy is used to treat cancer is special drugs that stimulate the immune system in specific ways. Usually, the cancer cells are able to evade attacks from the immune system because they disguise themselves as normal body cells. The immune system has an in-built mechanism that prevents it from attacking normal body cells. Therefore, theoretically, when this mechanism is stopped, the immune system is able to attack cells with fury. The good thing is that the fury is usually directed towards cancer cells. In practice, drugs have been made which do exactly this; temporarily stop the inbuilt mechanism of self-defense to give the immune system time to attack cancer cells. However, since the immune system attacks normal body cells as well under such conditions, these drugs usually have serious side effects on a patient.

Immune stimulation therapy holds promise as a way of helping the bodies of patients to fight off the effects of cancer cells naturally. There are several natural methods that are used to stimulate the immune system. The good thing in using such methods is that they do not produce side effects on patients. Here at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, we offer different forms of natural methods of stimulating the immune system to help it fight against cancer. we understand the method as one that arms the immune system with weapons that it is best familiar with.

What is immune stimulation therapy?

Nervous Tension and Stress Causes Cancer

September 28, 2014

Discover How Nervous Tension Causes Dancer at the Cellular-Level

Introduction

Nervous tension

In this article, we shall learn how nervous tension and stress causes cancer at the cellular level. Quite specifically, we shall learn how prolonged stress levels are the root cause of a complex physiological process that ultimately leads to cancer. Of course this is a complicated process but before we get into the complex specifics, it is important that we summarize the process here so that you can visualize how exactly things unfold during this process.

Summary of How Nervous Tension Causes Cancer at the Cellular Level

Physiological and psychological stress triggers a process in which the cells of the body lose their normal levels of adrenaline. When this happens, there is a sharp and uncontrolled increase in the amount of sugar within the cells. The corresponding effect is that there is a decrease in the levels of oxygen within the cell. It is this condition that makes it quite easy for normal body cells to turn cancerous and set off the process of metastasis. This is so because cancer cells are anaerobic in nature and as a result; thrive quite comfortably in environments that are characterized by low levels of adrenaline and oxygen against high levels of sugar.

Of course there are many other complex steps that occur in – between this. Let us now look at exactly how this happens. We have divided it into steps so that the process is completely clear.

Step One: Initial Stress and Nervous Tension

At this step, a completely normal person is subjected to emotional or psychological nervous tension for an extended period of time. Now, there are several things that happen to the body of a person who is subjected to such conditions. What is important to us though, is that when a person is subjected to such conditions, the production of the melatonin in the body subsides. Stress & nervous tension interferes with the special mechanisms that are responsible for production of melatonin. Yet melatonin is a highly important hormone in our body since it plays a key role in stimulating and sustaining the functioning of the immune system. Also, melatonin is responsible for preventing possible development of cancer cells in our bodies. Therefore, its inhibition by exposure to extended nervous tension predisposes the body to the process that definitely leads to development of cancer.

Another process that occurs in the body during this stage is increased production of cortisol. This is a special hormone that is automatically released by our bodies when we are exposed to intense stress and nervous tension. Although cortisol seeks to help us cope with the level of stress we are subjected to, its effect on the body is always undesirable. The hormone leads to depletion of adrenaline within the cells of the body.

Step two: Effect of Stress & Nervous Tension on the Immune System

At this stage, the effect of the stress and nervous tension on the immune system begins to be apparent. It was stated before that suppression of melatonin production leads to the immune system being compromised. Although this is true, it is not accurate. Low production of melatonin does not directly lead to a decline in the efficiency of the immune system. There are several steps involved in the process. What actually happens is that when melatonin levels in the body get depleted as a result of extended nervous tension, production of an important hormone called interleukin 2 is suppressed. Since this is the hormone that is directly responsible for strengthening the immune system, its depletion directly leads to suppression of the immune system. This is a necessary condition for the onset of cancer.

Depletion of adrenaline at the first stage also leads to a number of consequences that are experienced at this stage of the process. For instance, a low level of adrenaline in the body cells of a person directly leads to a decrease in the levels of two important hormones: dopamine and tryptophan. Since tryptophan and dopamine, just like interleukin 2, are important hormones for the normal functioning of the immune system, their depletion directly leads to the immune system being completely compromised; therefore creating the right environment for cancer to develop.

Step Three: Low Immune System to Cancer

At this stage there are three key processes that occur and lead to cancer. The first two are directly linked to the development of cancer in the body while the third one occurs through a series of interconnected steps.

In the first process the highly compromised immune system, as a result of the consequences of depletion of melatonin, directly predispose the cells of the body to development of cancer.

In the second process, the low levels of adrenaline that have been discussed in step two above lead to depletion of vitamin C in the body. When Vitamin C is depleted in the body, the body cells are in the risk of undergoing mutation at any time. Therefore, adrenaline depletion leads to depletion of vitamin C which leads to mutation of body cells thus causing cancer to develop.

In the third process, low levels of adrenaline causes the oxygen available in the cell to be broken down. This process triggers a complex reaction in the form of fermentation within the cells and an increase in the amount of lactic acid in the cells. It is this environment that leads to somatids giving rise to cancer causing microorganisms, resulting to the onset of cancer within the body.

Conclusion

Nervous tension

We have discussed how exposure to intense stress and nervous tension sets the stage for the process of cancer development. It is important to note that with the right methods, this process can be arrested and cancer development nipped in the bud. This is the motivation that drives Dr. Dalal Akoury of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Having served fellowships in oncology and years of experience handling a diverse clientele, she understands the importance of health and fitness in helping you manage your stress levels. It is this approach that has helped many to reverse the process of cancer development. Feel free to contact us at any time and book an appointment with Dr. Dalal Akoury.

Discover How Stress & Nervous Tension Causes Cancer at the Cellular-Level

Fantastical World of Hormones
What Is Melatonin?
Ozone Therapy in a Cancer Management Protocol
More ways to fight Cancer Naturally
Research Reveals How Sugar Causes Cancer
Chelation and Cancer Treatment
Stress Causes Cancer
How Yoga Can Help Prevent Cancer
New learning mechanism for individual nerve cells
Hot or Cold: Recovering Quickly The Right Way

Tag Archives: Immune system