Grouppe Kurosawa Natural Medicine Blog Archives

Sad News

Dear Bloggers,

It is with a sad heart that I let you know of Steve's passing on Sunday, August 2nd. His illness was far worse than even he imagined and he just couldn't recover. He and the doctors fought hard, but his liver and kidneys refused to respond to treatment. He died quietly in his sleep. At this point the reality hasn't set in and I expect him to call any minute with some silly Internet question. So I thank you in advance for giving our family a little time.

You can see a list of Steve's credentials in the About Me section of any of the blogs. What you may not know was his love of nature, cooking, organic gardening, and his family. This slideshow is a tribute to my big brother, the Steve I knew.

Thank you all for your support over the years.

Love, Carole

Grouppe Kurosawa Natural Medicine Public Blog

This is the last new post to this blog address. All future messages by Dr. Steve will be posted on the Natural Medicine Public Blog at http://grouppekurosawa.com/blog.

This blog will remain open as an archive for the many messages already posted.

Thank you,

Carole
webmaster, Grouppe Kurosawa

Mouse Thea Hardy has Died

Mouse Thea died of inflammatory breast cancer a week ago. She was a fantastic person and a great mouse who always reported her successes and failures with various treatment protocols. We will miss her.

Steve and Carole

Blog and Discussion Group Changes

Carole and I are shutting down the subscription Natural Medicine blog and discussion group in three months. We are no longer accepting new subscriptions. I will continue to post essays to the Public blog starting today. This will be the last day that I publish to this blog site.

The subscription blog has very few paying members and the discussion group is largely inactive. Maintaining these two sites is an administrative nightmare for Carole.

Currently 90% of my time is spent dealing with people who contact me through the Public blog. This blog has a significant international readership, but the subscription blog has almost none. If you "subscribe" to the free Public blog Feedburner will send you copies of my newly posted essays the next day via email. No charge.

The discussion group will not be made available to the general public. Free public forums attract lunatics who want to pick fights with everyone who disagrees with them. No thanks.

The Quality of Life blog will remain open and vastly expanded. Carole and her daughter, who is working on her nutrition degree, will be writing essays on diet, nutrition and health. I will handle the other topics, such as enhancing clitoral sensitivity, my favorite topic. The QOL blog remains private.

Happy New Year.

Steve and Carole

Prostate Cancer and Nutrition

Steve:

 I couldn't let this special day go by without sending this message off to you.  My experience with prostate cancer has been most interesting journey. I was first diagnosed with it about 9 years ago. As you know, PSA is the marker usually used to track progression of the cancer. Mine was about 4.5 at the time of initial diagnosis. The first urologist I had did a biopsy with negative results. Somehow his somber manner and prognosis did not set well with me so I found another very well qualified urologist who had an excellent reputation locally. Again the biopsy but this time a finding of cancer. This was followed by numerous x-rays and a nuclear bone scan to determine if the cancer had spread. Results of that were negative. Thus, the cancer was thought to be local and confined to the prostate. The physician recommended removal of the prostate as the best alternative. Other alternatives were the implant of radioactive seeds and x-ray therapy. There was no discussion of drugs, diet or supplements. I wasn't familiar with the whole subject of PC, so I started on a long path to learn more including visits with several other physicians. Eventually, I decided not to submit to any of the recommended therapy actions - at least not initially.

The Internet and today's searching tools provide a wealth of information. I started to learn more about the effect of diet and the possibility that some supplements might be helpful. One physician I located believed in the use of supplements and made some changes in those as well as my diet. Yet, my PSA continued to climb. Along the way, I found your web site. The information was intriguing. I followed your recommendations, at least in part. Things were going fairly well until fall of 2007 when - soon after I switched from elements of the cytotoxic protocol to the immunotherapy protocol - my PSA increased significantly over a relative short period of time to 10.2. I regrouped, went back to elements of the cytotoxic protocol and started making changes in my supplements while maintaining a fairly restrictive diet with a lot of veggies and not so much fat. I also elected to purchase blood tests from Life Extension so I could track my PSA progress as I made those changes.

I continue to see the urologist every 6 months. There is and has been no evidence of a tumor. I ask the physician about various supplements and over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin and the answer is that from a clinical standpoint, none of those can be recommended. Want selenium? Then I should eat potatoes grown locally. They have a lot of selenium. Yet, surgery is still a good option. I have a lot of doubt about our medical community, at least from my perspective on PC. No need to go into great detail here and now, but some incremental changes in supplements seemed to help while others either made no difference or sent the trend in the wrong direction. My PSA over this year, until recently, was in the range of 9 to 10. In the last month, I made two changes. While I had been consuming dry flax seed for over 2 years, I have started mixing it in oatmeal or other hot cereals before cooking and then proceeded to get it up to temperature with the cereal. The other change, which took place just 2 days before my last PSA test (this time with a different lab) was to switch from Se-Methyl-selenocysteine to sodium selenite. I doubt two days of this could have any impact. Nevertheless, this time the PSA was back down to 8 which is were it was at one point early this year.  But, is the change due to the lab methods or perhaps one of the above mentioned changes? Time will tell. I'll proceed carefully and keep you informed. There is much more to tell, but neither that detail nor the technical content above is the purpose of this message. That last lab result was a nice Christmas present for me. But the fact is that I'd never have known about some of the supplement and diet consequences had it not been for my good fortune in locating your web site. So, here's to thank you for your efforts. Hope this brings some Christmas cheer to you as well. 

Merry Christmas! David

COMMENTARY

As cancers go, there is something unique about prostate cancer that allows it to be controlled by dietary factors. This applies to both the prevention of PC and its treatment. Consider the following.

Pomegranate juice contains a host of polyphenols that directly impair prostate cancer growth. They probably impair the growth of many cancers, but their lnk to controlling prostate cancer growth is well established.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18237460&itool=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16479165&itool=pubmed_docsum

The following article can be read online. Click the yellow box. It's a great read.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18590349&itool=pubmed_docsum

Pomegranate juice is now commonly available in stores. You can also purchase pomegranate wine from a number of suppliers. Pomegranate wine is fabulous if poured over a high quality vanilla ice cream. 

So now you know. 

Stay tuned...

Grouppe Kurosawa, Medicine in the Public Interest

http://www.grouppekurosawa.com

Methyl Jasmonate is an Effective In Body Treatment for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is the most common form of leukemia. It is considered a fatal disease due to its increasing resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18515240&itool=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18358929&itool=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18247015&itool=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18024647&itool=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18159969&itool=pubmed_docsum

A number of years ago, methyl jasmonate, a plant stress hormone, was found to selectively kill chronic lymphotytic leukemia cells in the presence of normal human lymphoid cells. The method of death was apoptosis induced by damage to the leukemic mitochondria. The mitochondria of normal cells was not damaged.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15753398&itool=pubmed_docsum

Today I received an email from Kathy, a Grouppe Kurosawa Mouse, who purchased methyl jasmonate from us for the treatment of her chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This email speaks for itself.

I was diagnosed in May of 2003 with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and tried and tried to find a 'natural cure' or something that would assist in a cure for my CLL.  My Mom had died of cancer and I swear she died because of what the doctors did to her...and the chemicals.  I didn't want to go that way.  What I have and my Mom had are completely different.  I think too many EMF's cause a lot of cancers.  And lack of sunlight or good D3 (with olive oil) or both. There is no cure for any cancers yet.  So, I did a lot of studying.  When I came accross your site, I knew that "there's a person smart enough, and caring enough to find something soon!"  So, I stuck with your 'cures' until I noticed that the MJ (an SB) seems to work.

My WBC's got as high as 485k before I submitted to the Fludarabine last year.  Its 'cure' only lasted six months.  I thought to use just that after reading the horrid side effects of the other chemicals. In July, before I used the MJ, my WBC was at 285k.  I decided to get to it.  Within the next week or two, the numbers dropped by about 10k or so.  That was at 1x/week (as a steam aerosol treatment).  I got really sick in August and Sept with a throat ailment (cankers in the Esophogus) and my neck nodes swelled to where I looked like a football player.  It was hard to breathe.  Sept., the many docs at the hospital gave me 12mg steroids per day, along with painkiller and antibiotics.  They kept threatening me that if I didn't take my chemo, I'd probably suffocate.  My oncologist lied to me-she said that I would not loose my hair with PCR, Cytotoxin being the culprit.  I'm checking out other docs.  I had taken the steroids and allupurinol for four weeks (approx).  I swelled up like a Campbell Soup doll and was crazy mentally with this stuff.  I did taper off, but I swear that the effects of getting off made me sicker. 

My nodes didn't go down unt il I started doing the MJ more often.  The doc said they wouldn't go down without chemo.   I started using MJ every 3 days, with leftovers in the arm pits with DMSO when there were leftovers.  MJ does irritate my throat.  But, right now, and for three blood tests in a row, my WBC's are down to 23k.  This doesn't usually happen.  It usually shoots back up, and fast.   Every other night, I take a teaspoon of organic bicarbonate of soda and mix with well water.  Usually at bedtime.  Drink fast...it's nasty/salty.   An Italian oncologist says that tumors are fungi gone crazy and to wash them with SB.  I don't have a doc that will give it to me in IV (I have the blood tumor CLL) yet.  It's great for the kidneys if you don't have Allupurinol. But, considering that Linus Pauling uses SB to buffer his high-dose C IV to cure some breast cancers, and that Italian doc, maybe SB and/or MJ is the answer.  Maybe most cancers are just that simple.  After all, MJ is also a fungus killer.  Most synthetic fungal drugs are not only bad for side effects but they don't really work. But, I think my side effects are either from the steroid withdrawal, or the CLL or the MJ, but I can take it...with pain killers sometimes.  It feels like my shoulders are being dislocated.  Maybe it's something different altogether.  I'll be finding a neurologist soon. Since getting off the steroids, I still get a fever almost every day.  Never had that happen.  Usually I sweat it off at night.  Of course, being socked in with over two feet of snow and being freaking freezing...that probably doesn't help.  :) But, this is all I have...and it seems to work.  I think we're on to something...I really do.  Thanks so much for being you, Steve.  Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kathy, Kurosawa Mouse and New Englander

COMMENT

MJ is a plant defense hormone that does kill fungus. Fungal infections are very difficult to treat in humans, especially in those with damaged immune sytems such as AIDS. Maybe MJ could be useful as a treatment for fungal treatments in humans. I have no idea. Only time will tell.

Stay tuned...

Grouppekurosawa, Medicine in the Public Interest

http://www.grouppekurosawa.com

Sodium Selenite Blocks HIV Latency and Promotes Cell Mediated Immunity

HAART, highly active antiretroviral therapy, is the current gold standard for the treatment of HIV infections. Unfortunately, these drugs are very expensive and somewhat toxic, especially to normal liver functioning. HAART drugs can reduce the level of HIV virus in the blood to very low levels, but they cannot "sterilize" the body of the HIV virus. Very early in all HIV infections, a state of viral latency is established in many immune cells. Latency means that the virus has infected various cells, but these cells do not produce virus. HAART cannot kill latently infected immune cells. The virus DNA, integrated into the DNA of the cells, remains inactive. This might seem like a good idea, but it is clearly not. If HAART therapy is terminated, many of these latent cells begin producing virus. As such, HAART therapy must be taken forever if an HIV "virus rebound" is to be prevented. This is unacceptable. HAART drugs are out of the price range of the poor. Secondarily, the body eventually develops a resistance to the efficacy of these drugs over time.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17845138&itool=pubmed_docsum

In reading "between the lines" of some scientific studies, we have developed a better treatment protocol for HIV infections.

The HIV gene is inactivated, i.e. it remains latent, if certain gene sequences become over methylated. DNA methylation is caused by the enzyme DNA methyltransferase.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=8496786&itool=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=2323336&itool=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=3469417&itool=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=8496786&itool=pubmed_docsum

The immune hormone TNF, a pro-inflammatory hormone that promotes HIV synthesis, activates latent HIV infections by inducing a demethylation of the HIV gene.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17034647&itool=pubmed_docsum

HIV viral proteins, early in infection, induce the synthesis of DNA methyltransferase enzymes resulting in the methylation of a wide variety of genes. One of these genes is the HIV gene itself, resulting in a state of viral latency. In addition, the gene for gamma interferon, a major activator of cell mediated immunity, is also methylated. This results in the inactivation of the gamma interferon gene and an impairment of a cell mediated immune response against virally infected cells.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=9710601&itool=pubmed_docsum

Since the over methylation of genes, specifically those of tumor suppressors, is a major factor in the development of cancer, a great deal of research has been conducted on the development of synthetic DNA methyltransferase inhibitors. The following study shows that sodium selenite, a common supplement, is a specific inhibitor of DNA methyltransferase activity.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18676679&itool=pubmed_docsum

The dose is one milligram of sodium selenite a day, 5x 200 micrograms doses spread over 24 hours or so. Sodium selenite is the ONLY form of selenium that is acceptable.

When combined with HAART therapy, sodium selenite should be able to reactivate HIV latently infected cells. In addition, it promotes cell mediated immunity via the activation of the gamma interferon gene. Sodium selenite can also be used without HAART therapy as an inexpensive stand alone treatment for HIV infections. Only time, and volunteers, will be able to report the efficacy of sodium selenite as a treatment for HIV infections.

Stay tuned...

Grouppe Kurosawa, Medicine in the Public Interest

http://www.grouppekurosawa.com

Zinc Promotes the Degradation of the Pro-inflammatory, Pro-Cancer Molecule NF-kappaB

Zinc deficiency is very common throughout the world. There are three basic reasons for this deficiency. First, many diets are zinc deficient. Second, the excessive ingestion of cereal grains complexes zinc and prevents its uptake into the body. Third, chronic illness appears to deplete body stores of zinc by unknown mechanisms.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18754861&itool=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18311051&itool=pubmed_docsum

Zinc is a known activator of both the innate and adaptive (genetic) immune responses. This will be discussed in another essay. This essay will concentrate on the protein A20, a zinc binding protein, that promotes the degradation of pre-activated NF-kappaB in both the proteasone and lysosomal systems.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18952128&itool=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15258597&itool=pubmed_docsum

When NF-kappaB is activated, it migrates into the nucleus where it activates the A20 gene. This is a feedback response which prohibits a prolonged NF-kappaB response in cells.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=1381359&itool=pubmed_docsum

In A20 deficient mice, inflammation cannot be controlled due to prolonged NF-kappaB activity.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11009421&itool=pubmed_docsum

A20 is a zinc finger protein. These proteins bind zinc which induces conformational changes that promote maximal biological activity. Over 300 zinc finger proteins have been identified to date. A20 must bind 7 zinc molecules in order to be biologically active. Even small or marginal zinc deficiencies can promote inflammation due to inadequate A20 biological activity. 

A therapeutic dose of zinc is 50 milligrams of elemental zinc a day. Most zinc supplements report how much elemental zinc is contained in each capsule. 

Stay tuned...

Grouppe Kurosawa, Medicine in the Public Interest

http://www.grouppekurosawa.com

Methyl Jasmonate Directly Inhibits the Enzyme Necessary for Prostate Cancer Growth and Survival

Recently, CNN produced a great segment on the poor diet of Americans. They cited American Heart Association studies which showed that Americans consume 10% of their calories from soybean oil. If you look on a package of almost anything in a store, it contains hydrogenated soy oil. This is an omega six oil which is extremely unhealthy. The high linoleic fatty acids present in soy, corn, and safflower oils is converted to arachidonic acid in the body. Arachidonic acid is the precursor to prostaglandins and leukotrienes.

We already know that the prostaglandin PGE2 is immunosuppressive in addition to stimulating the growth and survival of cancer cells. But this is only part of the story. The enzyme 5-lipoxygenase produces a leukotriene called 5-HETE which has been linked to cancer growth of all kinds. In a culture dish, 5-HETE will stimulate the growth of cancer cells all by itself.

Many cancers over express the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme, including prostate, bladder, breast and lung cancers. Prostate cancer is known to substantially over express this enzyme. When the activity of this enzyme is inhibited, the cells die of apoptosis.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11241241&itool=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=9199209&itool=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11511519&itool=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12460891&itool=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16903934&itool=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17552358&itool=pubmed_docsum

The last article is quite interesting because it shows that the simultaneous inhibition of both Cox-2 and 5-lipoxygenase synergistically kills lung cancer cells. This makes perfect sense.

The following study is one of my favorites. It shows that the specific inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase in both hormone-dependent and independent prostate cancer cells die of a MASSIVE apoptosis within hours. Specific inhibitors of Cox-2 and other enzymes do not induce a comparable apoptosis response. Since 5-HETE, a product of the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme, is a growth factor for prostate cancer cells, this data makes perfect sense.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=9789062&itool=pubmed_docsum

Methyl jasmonate binds directly to the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme and inhibits its activity. The main anti-cancer properties of methyl jasmonate concern its ability to damage the mitochondria of cancer but not normal cells. Now a new dimension of MJ's ability to kill cancer cells has been linked to the direct inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase activity.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/queryd.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18038760&itool=pubmed_docsum

Stay tuned...

Grouppe Kurosawa, Medicine in the Public Interest

http://www.grouppekurosawa.com

The Medical Administration of the Anti-Cancer Plant Hormone Methyl Jasmonate

Through the efforts of Grouppe Kurosawa, methyl jasmonate is now being used by many people throughout the world to treat their cancers. Physicians in many countries are administering this plant hormone to their patients and keeping records of their clinical progress.

MJ is an oil like substrance. The most effective method of introduction into the body is via the lungs. The lungs contain the highest concentration of blood vessels of any organ for obvious reasons.

MJ is introduced into a small personal steamer such as that manufactured by Vicks. The steamer is filled with distilled water, the MJ is floated on the top of the water, the heat is turned on and people breathe the MJ into their lungs via the steamer mask. Although some minimal irritation has been reported, this can be minimized by breathing through the mouth and nose. AT THE VERY LEAST, we feel that MJ is the ONLY hope for the treatment of lung and brain cancers. Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world.

MJ CANNOT be introduced into the lungs with a nebulizer. Nebulizers, such as those used in the treatment of asthma, are designed to introduce specifically formulated compounds into the lungs. Nebulizers ARE NOT designed to volatilize oils such as MJ. The MJ will clog up the nebulizer and ruin it. The steam is necessary to get the MJ into the lungs and the blood stream.

Although MJ can be dissolved in 70% DMSO gels for topical applications, this is meant for specific applications. This method of entry cannot possibly duplicate the efficacy of direct entry of MJ into the lungs.

Skin Alive is a registered trademark of our skin cream. This cream has amazing medicinal properties, including desensitizing skin to topical allergies, such as nickel, and it includes methyl jasmonate. MJ is a direct inhibitor of the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase, a pro-inflammatory enzyme involved in many skin conditions and diseases. Skin Alive (R) is not available commercially because we do not have the money to manufacture and promote the product on a large scale. Skin Alive (R) is not a treatment for cancer.

I hope this essay answers some of your questions.

Stay tuned...

Grouppe Kurosawa, Medicine in the Public Interest

http://www.grouppekurosawa.com