Tag: Cancer

Cancer Prevention: Understanding the Facts About Cancer

Cancer Prevention: Understanding the Facts About Cancer

Cancer has a fearsome reputation. Not without reason either. It is a disease that has not yet fully yielded to the skills and intelligence of medical scientists and doctors.  And, as if the pain from the disease is not enough, the treatment for cancer, too, inflicts heavy suffering on the body.  Cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled and abnormal cell division. Cancer spreads in the body and destroys tissues when the cancer cells travel through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system.  The runaway growth of cells is caused by mutations to the DNA in the cells that makes the cells unable to control cell division.  This mutation can either be inherited or acquired. The mortality rate in cancer depends…

The History of Treating Disease: Herbs or Medicinal Plants

The History of Treating Disease: Herbs or Medicinal Plants

Herbs or medicinal plants have a long history in treating disease. In traditional Chinese medicine, for example, the written history of herbal medicine goes back over 2000 years and herbalists in the West have used “weeds” equally long to treat that which ails us.  We are all familiar with the virtues of Garlic, Chamomile, Peppermint, Lavender, and other common herbs. Interest in medicinal herbs is on the rise again and the interest is primarily from the pharmaceutical industry, which is always looking for ‘new drugs’ and more effective substances to treat diseases, for which there may be no or very few drugs available. Considering the very long traditional use of herbal medicines and the large body of evidence of their…

Free Radicals: The Benefits of Antioxidants & Highly Sourced Foods that Fight Agin

Free Radicals: The Benefits of Antioxidants & Highly Sourced Foods that Fight Aging

Ever wondered how you get all those wrinkles? Those annoying crow’s feet at the corners of your eyes? Or those laugh lines around your mouth?  Sure, these things are but part of the normal aging process. But what causes aging anyway? And is there anyway to retard it? In biological systems, the normal processes of oxidation are what lead to aging. Oxidation causes the production of substances called free radicals which are highly reactive.  These free radicals can readily react with and damage other molecules. Note that it says “molecules” so that means free radicals don’t make the distinction between foreign bodies and healthy cells.  And when free radicals start attacking the body’s own cells, you can guess what the…

The Breast Cancer Dilemma: Stress, Stressors, Trauma and Shock

The Breast Cancer Dilemma: Stress, Stressors, Trauma and Shock

Cancer is only a physical symptom of underlying emotional stress on the body and the body’s cells.  However, does emotional stress cause cancer in the body? And why does emotional stress only cause cancer in some people, while not in others?  For the majority of people, coping with stress and highly stressful or traumatic events or conflicts is dealt with, with relative ease.  Although those in this larger group feel the devastating effects of stress, stressful events, trauma, and conflicts, including grief and loss.  Stressful events are seen as part of life’s challenges, life’s ups and downs, and they are for the most part anticipated and not completely unexpected. These people are able to move on with their lives quickly…