Bowel Cancer

By Phil Wade – P & J WADE CHEMISTS, LANE COVE, N.S.W.
chemwade@...


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Bowel Cancer has become the scourge of the `90's. Its incidence is
increasing. Bowel cancer now rates as one of the commonest of all
cancers.

What we know

While a familial tendency strongly exists (giving other family
members a 1 in 6 chance of contracting it without preventative
action), non-familial bowel cancer is now rated a startling 1 in 60
proposition for those with no family history.

It arises from adenomatous polyposis coli or non-polyposis causes.
The incidence of both types seems to be polygenic and multi-
factorial – exhibiting family clusters as well as high socio-economic
standards. (1 p 61)

KNOWN RISK FACTORS (2)

Cancer of the Colon and Rectum.

High-fat (especially egg) consumption
High consumption of alcohol
Cigarette smoking
Familial polyposis
Low levels of physical activity
Ulcerative colitis after 10 years
Gastrectomy
RISK FACTOR ANALYSIS

Here's where the empiricism stops and intuition commences.

You see, data only records WHAT is happening. Explaining it is
another kettle of fish.

So, why not look at the risk factors and analyse them?

Let's start by asking a few questions.

Why do people in Japan have the world's highest incidence of G.I.T.
cancer – AND YET THE LOWEST INCIDENCE OF BREAST AND PROSTATE CANCERS?
Why did a whole generation of Finnish people have nil incidence of
breast and stomach/colon/rectal cancer. (H. Adlercreutz, Uni. Of
Helsinki, circa May 1988)
Why a higher incidence in higher socio-economic societies.
What are the other physiological causes for the pathology?
It is possible that the last question might provide the best clue.

Not mentioned in some standard texts, but lurking in a set of college
Anatomy lecture notes (3) is a reference to a particular feature of
the gross anatomy of the Large Intestine called the "appendices
epiploicae – very small pouches of visceral peritoneum filled with
fat".

This interesting anatomy could relate very much to carcinogens in
drinking water – as well as in certain foods – if the following
reasoning holds true.

There are many fat-soluble additives with low water solubility–
preservatives, parasiticides, pesticides, hormone additives etc –
which are added by man in the preparation of food and in the growing
of animals and crops.
Many of these are known or suspected carcinogens – in large doses -
but supposedly harmless in small doses.
The presence of preservatives in prepared foods such as bread and
sausages, the pesticides in crops, the insecticides in fruit, the
multiplicity of agents such as sex and growth hormones and
tetracyclines used in farming beef, pork and chickens- plus whatever
they are fed when intensively farmed – are all well known
The high content of toxic trans fatty acids present in margarine is
often overlooked.
(Trans fatty acids alter the shape of cell-membrane fats, rendering
them unsuitable for many normal biological processes. Additionally,
they are a direct cause of L.D.L. forms of cholesterol).
Reputedly there are over 50 homogenised chemicals in the product
still known as milk (and that's after the intensively-farmed cows
have been fed goodness knows what, apart from grass)
Reputedly 150 or so chemicals are ingested actively - or passively -
from exhaled cigarette smoke.
Many commercial orange juices are little more that a plastic bottle
filled with a solution of chemicals, water and dyed an orange colour.
Plastic bottles and wrapping slowly leach more bi-phasic (ambiphilic)
toxins into solution - both in prepared foods and drinks.
Artificial fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides finding their way
into town drinking water, as run-off from farms (also contributing to
erosion, the silting up of rivers, fish and river-animal kills and
eventually dead river systems).
Water treatment works' chlorination of these entities makes them
substantially more toxic.
Such chemical pollutants have been collectively referred to
as "petrochemical pollutants".
However, what if these artificial, lipid-soluble substances would
concentrate in the permanent fat - contained in the appendices
epiploicae (and other places) - over time? It is a fact that – when a
certain critical concentration of this accumulate is reached - it
crosses the trigger threshold (called the "Threshold of Liability") –
which is a concentration required to activate the polygenic multi-
factorial, carcinogenic time bomb. (1, p61).

The upshot of this would be intensely irritated tissue leading to
polyp formation.

In fact, this does occur and is due to the fact that the petroleum
products mentioned above have an Irritant effect on tissue. One
effect is the well-known free radical attack on lipo-proteins
contained in cell membranes and elsewhere. The second is a much
lesser known oestrogenic effect. This causes abnormally rapid
reproduction of mucous membrane cells – and immature cells at that.
This is a recipe for neoplastic formation – which eventually happens.

SO TELL SOMEONE WHO CARES

That means that it is the job of the community health team to both
educate its customers in how to overcome the toxic effect of these
substances and/or help prevent their ingestion. I MEAN, IF HELPING
IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH AND ASSISTING IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER ISN'T
OUR MAIN CONCERN, THEN WHY BOTHER TURNING UP FOR WORK?

As far as education is concerned, there appears to be a strong case
here for pharmacy to become directly involved in advising patients
and customers on the benefits of pursuing non-contaminated food.

PREVENTATIVE ACTION

Workplace accident prevention officers have access to a dossier of
suspect chemicals, harmful to humans. Let's think about being agents
for the wider distribution of this list. And while we're about it,
why not demand that the health authorities raise the crossbar and
insist on the declaration of pesticide types and levels appearing in
all fresh food (as – I believe – happens in Europe)?

In the meantime there are a number of "givens" that you can actively –
and authoritatively – promote.

RECIPE FOR INSTANT, VALID ACTION.

AVOIDANCE ACTION

Advise people to minimise their exposure to such polluting toxins by
the avoidance of such foods.
To clarify this, Official Pharmacy should demand that all foods be
graded in accordance with pesticide (and other toxin) levels
contained (as mentioned).
Similarly, the current town water supplies should be graded according
to their own levels of the various toxic pollutants.
Advise the use of reverse-osmosis water filters (the most efficient
way of removing water-soluble, chlorinated hydrocarbons.
POSITIVE ACTION:

To minimise the effect of these free radicals etc., the regular use
of antioxidants, soluble fibre and un-tampered sources of cis-fatty
acids (such as "clean" butter and vegetable oils, oily ocean-grown
fish and some food oils – such as linseed oil etc.) would be a good
place to start. (Intensively farmed fish are filled with just as many
toxins as the above examples and – until assurances can be given that
their levels of toxic residual is insignificant – should be avoided).
Not only that, but also regular ingestion of certain foods, such as
those prepared from soy beans and rye (4) have been shown to
dramatically reduce the incidence of the cancers of the bowel, breast
and prostate – and other – types (referred to by Adlercreutz
as "hormonic cancers").
But most immediately – the very best thing that you can do for your
at-risk customer (and they'll have to decide on their risk) is to
recommend a suitable bitter digestive stimulant, such as Mist Gent
Alk or Acid.
SUPPLEMENTS

Additionally, you might advise them to supplement with concentrated
soy or rye preparations (e.g. Phyto-soy & Oralmat).

(The soy and rye products, on analysis, contain phyto-oestrogens
which are presently coming into commercial prominence– although
researchers have known of them for over a decade (4).

(Briefly, these protect the oestrogenic receptors – present in all
tissue – from being activated by the various hydrocarbons emanating
from the plethora of petroleum - AND OTHER PLASTIC - products
(including pesticides etc) now commonly appearing in our food chain).

As these concentrate in the appendices, epiploica. – and perhaps
other permanent fat-beds in the body (as discussed)- phyto-oestrogens
(also largely fat-soluble) would also concentrate here, negating
their effect to a large extent.

So, phyto-oestrogenic preparations will come into prominence as great
inhibitors of polyp-formation – and other hormonic cancers.

The Bitter – the Rationale.

What else cuts down on the chances of fat-soluble irritants
accumulating?

It is a fact that bitters, such as Gentian, stimulate the vagus nerve
reflex (activated by bitter receptors at the back of the tongue) to
secrete digestive juices. As a result, digestive enzymes such as
Cholecystokinase and hormones like Inhibin - stimulated in this
process - induce satiety and bile production. This reflex therefore
both prevents over-eating the at-risk food and HELPS EMULSIFY and
digest FATS which store the irritants.

(Interestingly, a high-fat, sweet food - like the buns used by major
hamburger chains - have the opposite effect. Not only that, but the
current observation is that a commonly-available cooked cheese-bun
will have a self-preserving ability of some months. This would
indicate a high level of preservative – again an undesirable element
in the proposed food model).

That means that the fatty deposits in the appendices epiploicae are
turned over at regular intervals and the toxic levels of fat-soluble
carcinogens are less likely to reach the Threshold of Liability.

Could it be then that this humble herb, Gentian - that pharmacy used
to routinely provide to its customers – could hold the key to helping
to reduce the incidence of cancers of the bowel and rectum?

Let's take a closer look at Gentian.

Botanic name
Gentiana lutea

Common Name
Gentian /Yellow gentian

Description
Occurs in commerce as cylindrical pieces 2-4 cm in diameter.
Yellowish-brown or brown externally. The upper part often bears leaf
scars and the lower part is longditudinally wrinkled. Fracture short
hard, showing a transverse surface which is orange-brown with a ring
of cambium. Taste – initially sweet and then bitter – often
characteristic.

Parts Used
Root and rhizome

Active constituents
Bitter principle
Iridoids including 4% gentiopicrosides ( gentiopicrin and
amarogentin - main bitter principle) and swertiomarin.(1,2)
Alkaloids, gentianine and gentialutine(1,2)
Xanthones such as gentisein, gentisin, isogentisin, gentioside; (2)
1,3,7,-trimethoxyxanthone(2) and others (providing yellow root
pigment.(2). Pigments usually indicate anti-oxidant activity –
Author).
Phenolic acids (including caffeic acid (in coffee), gentisic,
protocatechuic, syringic and sinapic acids.
Miscellaneous sugars such as gentianose and gentiobiose
Traces of volatile oils

Actions
(The most bitter tonic known)
Stimulating bitter tonic (Gentian has a bitterness dilution of
1:12,000. Pure Amarogentin has a bitter dilution of 1:50,000) (2)
Anti-inflammatory to intestinal mucosa
Sialagogue (increases saliva)
Mild laxative
Anthelmintic
General fortfying effect
Major influence on digestive organs
Promotes peristalsis and facilitates assimilation (of nutrient)
Normalises mucous membrane production, facilitating
Detoxifying of M.M. per mucin production
Stimulant to portal circulation
Choleretic (stimulates bile production) and therefore
Hepatic (improves liver activity)

Indications
Convalescence and debility
Food allergies, sensitivities and intolerance
Any forms of anorexia
Atonic or sub-acid states
Portal congestion
Conditions of chronic inflammatory disease with deficient digestion
To prevent intestinal infection and help rebalance intestinal flora
(2)
Poor appetite
Poor digestion (e.g. food allergies)
G.I.T. disorders, including dyspepsia, gastritis, heartburn, nausea
and diarrhoea.
In Chinese medicine, other species of Gentian have been used. These
are referred to as "longdan" and have similar constituents. They are
used for the same indications as well as jaundice, hepatitis,
conjunctivitis, urinary tract infections, pruritis and eczema.

Preparations
Powdered root, dose 0.5-2G
Alkaline Gentian Mixture BPC, dose: 10-20 mls
Conc.Cmpnd. Gentian Infusion BP dose: 10-20 mls




DISCUSSION

i) DIGESTION. Mist Gent Alk. is a USEFUL mixture - commonly
prescribed up to the seventies era - which has been abandoned by
pharmacy AND MEDICINE. It was once the first mixture of choice for
any disorders relating to the digestive tract or indirectly
attributable to its malfunction.

More complete digestion induced by this herb should help reduce the
incidence of food allergy and in that way help arrest the alarming
rise in incidence of immune disease syndromes (many of which may be
fundamentally related to food allergy).

The problem is that Mist. Gent. Alk. NEEDS TO BE MADE FRESH. So,
unfortunately for them, supermarkets will probably never be able to
compete with the practice of Pharmacy on this issues – and others
like it. There is also a little job satisfaction in making it and you
are even financially rewarded for your efforts for a change.

I'm sure that a little lobbying might also see it back on the P.B.S.
if there was enough interest from our profession. (I'd be happy with
that – provided the extemp. fee was increased to reflect the skills
and knowledge involved).

Gastric HCL is also stimulated by Gentian. We know that a steadily-
increasing percentage of people (around 40% as we write) are now
hypochlorhydric. This further complicates mal digestion and
exacerbates food allergy. In such cases, the Mist Gent. Acid may be
indicated.

LACK OF HCl AND ULCERS

(There is a school of thought that says that the problem with
hypochlorhydria is that too little HCl à fermentation of undigested
products (by many flora – INCLUDING HELICOBACTER and yeast) à
irritant fermentation products à more carcinogens and the likelihood
of GASTRIC DISTRESS à ULCERS à the prescribing of HCl-reducing
agents à further fermentation…).

LIPID PEROXIDES

Peroxidated fats (lipid peroxides – "free radicals") are known to
induce cell death, increase likelihood of mutant genes and hence are
a major risk-factor in cancer.

We have see how the appendices eplipoicae will concentrate undigested
fats. Ergo, the accumulation of undigested and non-emulsified fats in
these areas will promote derangement of normal cells in the bowel
(and rectum) which may ultimately lead to the formation of localised
cancer cells.

Gentian induces bile flow and production of lipases, which will
digest and emulsify the peroxidated fats and prevent them from
accumulating in the fatty structures of the bowel.

The peroxides themselves will then be attacked by taurine ( a common
sulphurated amino acid and a principal component of bile) and reduced
to non-toxic moieties.

So it may be concluded that Gentian is a critical tool in prevention
of bowel cell derangement and in fact SHOULD be used on a regular
basis by ALL members of society as ONE WAY of helping to prevent the
scourge of Colon and Rectal cancer.

WORMS

All classes of worms respond to Gentian. While there are stronger
vermifuges (Artemisia absinthium is one such herb – and another one
of interest due to the current research on anti-malarials being
conducted on some of its constituents) it is clear that regular use
of any vermifuge will prevent infestation of worms from developing.

It is possible that worm infestation is another cause of cell
derangement. They are certainly a threat to general health in a
number of ways. Presently there is no orthodox strategy in place for
the regular prevention of worm infestation and the current popular
treatments all leave something to be desired – either in the growing
tolerance of worms to anthelmintic pharmaceuticals (clinical
observation) or the side-effects of the current pharmaceuticals (well
documented).

PRURITIS AND ECZEMA

Chinese literature refers to the use of Gentian in the treatment of
these complaints. Western herbalists have long used hepatic herbs
(such as Gentian) to treat most skin conditions where it is believed
that liver toxicity or poor digestion/elimination are possible
underlying causes. Additionally, gentian is seen as a "cooling" herb –
presumably for the reason that having been detoxified, the
inflammatory process is no longer invoked by the homoeostatic
response.

ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS

We have addressed all questions except – why the higher incidence of
stomach and prostate cancer in Japanese, while their general life
expectancy is so much higher that the rest of the world – AND where
menopausal illness is almost unknown?

There is one characteristic of the Japanese food shops that is
unique. That is their classification into 4 grades. It has been said
that the cooking oils are passed down to each grade of shop
successively – for re-cycling purposes.

If that is the case, then the oils used by the 4'th grade shops will
have been subjected to much free-radical attack. (Oxygen under hat
will combine with unsaturated oils and easily form free radicals. So,
unless all the oxygen has been destroyed – e.g. by use of an open
fire – then the customers of grade 4 restaurants will be continually
subjected to free-radical attack.

This would explain the higher rate of G.I.T. cancers and contribute
to prostatic cancers (free radicals appearing in sperm lipo-protein
and lubricant fatty acids).

SUMMARY

We have discussed:

Advising the use of organic food.
Supplementing with pure oils.
Supplementing with Soy or Rye pharmaceuticals (such as Phytosoy etc.
or Oralmat)
Taking mist. Gent. Alk. On a regular basis
References

1. Heuther,S.E. & McCance, K.L., Understanding Pathophysiology,
1996,. Louis: Mosby.

2. Haubrich,W. Sehafner,F. & Berke,J.E. (1995). Bockus
Gastroenterology (5'th Ed'n.). Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.

3. Naturecare College of Naturopathic and Traditional Medicine, S't.
Leonards: Anatomy and Physiology, 1B. Lecture Notes for Students
1997. P79

4. Adlercreutz, Hermann et al, University of Helsinki, Colorectal and
other cancers (table…urinary excretion of lignans and isoflavanoids…
in urban Finnish and Japanese men) 1993c.

5. John Archer,The Water You Drink, 1996, Pearl Beach, Pure Water
Press.


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