ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: cedmonds on February 19, 2017, 09:30:22 pm
-
I am interested to see if anyone has been trying natural medicine in hopes of stopping the growth of or shrinking an AN. Has anyone been successful? I am an acupuncturist and am hoping I can accomplish this but realize there is a small chance but still a chance. There are cases where the AN does not grow or actually shrinks. Does anyone have any stories to share or any natural remedies that may be helpful in accomplishing this? I am currently taking chinese herbs to break up tumors, doing acupuncture, taking concentrated green tea extract and curcumin and apricot seed kernels. I will also begin soon craniosacral therapy (my friend who is a pt knows people who say craniosacral therapy can shrink ANs). I tried medical CBD but it made me depressed so I stopped that. Just curious if there are any like minded people who have had success with any natural medicine. I've read about the NZ Bio30 Propolis but not sure if this works to shrink ANs on humans (read about it with mice). Of course, I realize surgery is very possible and I'm open to that if necessary. But I'm an optimist and would like to try some natural things while I'm in the watch and wait group in hopes of a miracle happening. Thanks for sharing.
-
When I was first diagnosed with an AN my doctor recommended taking aspirin. I didn't try aspirin therapy since I chose surgery due to my many symptoms.
Here's an article that might support the aspirin theory.
http://www.hearingreview.com/2015/02/nsaids-may-halt-growth-vestibular-schwannomas/
Good luck to you!
-
I'm taking 1/4 table of aspiring per day (75 mg/day). My first follow-up MRI (6 months) is on Saturday, so we'll see what the growth profile is beginning to look like.
It was my decision to commence taking aspirin. It is well tolerated and has other benefits to do with heart health. The only concern is gastric bleeding, which is why I take a quarter tablet rather than full strength per day.
-
I'm glad you posted this article about aspirin. I shall begin with a baby aspirin tonight.
-
Thanks so much. This is really helpful and I think I'll start taking aspirin. I was not totally clear what the difference is between aspirin, sodium salicylate (NaSal), and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). Any idea? I imagine aspirin is the only one of these three that can be bought over the counter. To ANSydney, I'm hoping for good results for your MRI this Saturday. My 6 month follow up is in May. I'm curious to hear how things turned out for you. Thank you Researcher for sharing this article. I wonder if it makes a difference if we take baby aspirin vs. adult aspirin?
-
Hi All .....
Interesting discussion on natural remedies ..... Just remember to make sure your primary care doctor and/or pharmacist knows everything you are taking, including prescription meds, herbs, vitamins, and supplements, so you do not have any unwanted interactions in medications. Sometimes even the time of day we ingest something or with/without food can make a big difference in the results.
Also, a tiny reminder that this forum is made up of AN patients and caregivers, not medical professionals, so we need to be "up front" with our individual doctors when starting something new.
Clarice
-
Hi there!
Please do understand that the commercially sold Aspirin is compatible to the naturally occurring Salicylic Acid.
So what you really are talking about is synthetically made salicylic acid.
The "aspirin" is a commercial name, NOT a real chemical that exists in nature.
So now, IF one talks about about natural remedies, one should be talking of foods that contain salicylic acid.
For example:
A 100-gram serving (about 3 /4 cup) of red raspberries contains around 5 milligrams of salicylic acid.
From http://berryhealth.fst.oregonstate.edu/health_healing/fact_sheets/
Now, I understand that for most people just taking over-the- counter aspirin is the best option (and this is fine and personal choice).
But this is not really a natural remedy, to be really technical.
So I am just stating it here and now. :)
And while at it, from: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/27-foods-that-contain-natural-aspirin.html
.........consider the many fruits, vegetables, and herbs that contain natural aspirin.....
Apples
Avocados
Blueberries
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Cherries
Chili peppers
Cucumbers
Currants (including dried currants)
Dates
Eggplant
Figs
Grapefruit
Grapes
Kiwi
Licorice (the herb, not the candy)
Meadowsweet (an herb)
Paprika
Peaches
Plums and prunes
Radishes
Raspberries
Spinach
Strawberries
Turmeric (the spice)
Willow bark
Zucchini
-
Look in the analgesic aisle at drug stores for heart specific aspirin. They have different levels, I think starting at around 80 mg, but there are higher dosages besides regular, which I think is 250 mg. Children's aspirin may be less than 80.
-
At 5 mg of salicylic acid per 100 g of raspberries, you would need to eat 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) of raspberries per day to equal a quarter-tablet or baby aspirin dose [may need an adjustment between saliclylic acid and aspirin weights). That's a lost of raspberries! And perhaps expensive.
Much more convenient to just take a quarter tablet or baby strength tablet per day.
-
Also, you need to discontinue aspirin before surgery (but then if you've elected for surgery, you no longer need to try stop your tumor from growing).
-
Thanks for sharing the list of fruits and vegetables containing naturally occurring salicylic acid. I already eat many of them but will for sure add some others. And yes, I started this post about natural remedies but aspirin came up in it which is not from nature yet it is an alternative treatment in a sense compared to surgery or radiation and I would much rather take a daily dose of baby aspirin than have surgery. Thanks again.
-
I can think of a million things I would prefer to having a hole drilled into my skull!
-
I started the aspirin today. Bought the 81mg chewables to take one daily. Not sure if the regular pill is better but these remind me of the baby aspirin I took when I was a kid. Nothing to lose!
-
At 5 mg of salicylic acid per 100 g of raspberries, you would need to eat 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) of raspberries per day to equal a quarter-tablet or baby aspirin dose [may need an adjustment between saliclylic acid and aspirin weights). That's a lost of raspberries! And perhaps expensive.
Much more convenient to just take a quarter tablet or baby strength tablet per day.
Agreed; I stated exactly this.
However, people must be aware that they already consume some Salicylic Acid in their foods (diet dependent, of course).
I, for example, have my own small raspberry plantation and raspberry tea is pretty much a winter staple for us (the leaves have some of that too).
But also, keep in mind, that the dry raspberries are much more concentrated per the weight.
The dry raspberries are well-known old time remedy for cold symptoms due to their significant amount of Salicylic Acid.
This make a great tea, btw, for every day use.
The raspberries are so easy to grow, I highly recommend to just have them in your backyard
-
I wonder how much sugar is in the tea. Dried fruits have a pretty high concentration, which is not good for those of us with a tendency for insulin resistance. Perhaps in a tea form the sugar is less.
-
I wonder how much sugar is in the tea. Dried fruits have a pretty high concentration, which is not good for those of us with a tendency for insulin resistance. Perhaps in a tea form the sugar is less.
Tea from dry raspberries is really tart.
I would not worry much of sugar there; just do not add any.
-
I did two months of transfer factor. It's a form of immunotherapy. I don't think I was on it long enough for it to have any effect. My wife's aunt is in immunotherapy and she said she's had cases where tumors have shrunken from this stuff. I'm still taking it everyday in hopes it won't grow back.
-
I suppose now that I am in the "wait-and-see" mode, might as well research into this exact topic.
It would be great to find some magic natural tea, what not, to stop and/or reduce my AN.
-
So in general does not hurt to consume lots of berries:
"Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and suppression of TNF-induced activation of NFkappaB by edible berry juice"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17465224
"Berries for Cancer Prevention and Treatment "
http://www.newsmax.com/Health/Dr-Blaylock/berries-cancer-anthocyanins-angiogenesis/2016/08/03/id/742019/
Conveniently, I am an avid gardener and grow a small plantation of black currants, gooseberries, raspberries, and aronia.
All of these are really easy to grow and propagate and I highly recommend for a backyard project.
These are also compact. The black currants and aronia are totally usable as landscaping bushes/hedges as well.
Never need to spray (do need to cover raspberries from Japanese beetles where these are a problem).
I suppose I will expand now that I have a more valid reasons to grow and harvest these.
Especially, I am fan of black currants; totally recommend.
Nothing to lose, everything to gain!
-
Dear CEdwards,
I read your post with great interest as I am both taking aspirin, (325 mg) per day and getting acupuncture treatments, and taking Chinese herbal medicines in an effort to break up the tumor and help with ringing in the ear.. Because we can't see the tumor expand or contract, it's hard to know what works. I too have the same question as you. Can it work? Has anyone tried it? So far, I can't tell. My tumor is about 2 cm in size (just under, actually). It makes me feel woozy, causes ringing in the ear, inhibits learning and decreases use of vocabulary and causes pressure on my face. I'm living with it for now because as one physician stated, "Doctors should do no harm," and since I'm functional, treatment or surgery would just leave me worse off.
Donna
-
I have spent hours reading posts on the forum and thus far have come across only 3 posters that have experienced spontaneous AN shrinkage. All 3 have posted what steps they have taken in regard to diet, supplements and alternative medicine. They are; LisaM, Derek and RodneyD. You can find their posts on the forum by putting their names in the search box.
-
I've been taking 81mg aspirin each day since 2014. Mine has been stable with no growth.......no idea if that's the reason but I'll keep doing it!
-
I have been doing routine 81mb aspirin since about my last postings here.
Keep doing it.
And of course, I have lots of frozen black currants to eat too.
As well, I now have a good crop of Canadian Haskap berry.
Stable and "wait and see".
-
What kind of Chinese herbal medicine do you all use for the treatment? Is it working?