Please use your web browser to print this document or select sections and copy/paste, so that you can bring the information to your doctor for approval.  Nothing in this article advocates self medicating with supplements as this can be dangerous when undergoing treatment for a medical condition.  

When my daughter Kayla was diagnosed with Leukemia, at the ripe age of 7, I decided that it was my job to find things that could possibly stack the cards in our favor. In other words, what actions could I take that would be of benefit to her body, but not detract from the actions that the chemo was doing for her cancer?

As an aside, I NEVER looked for cures and I am against any company or product that states they have a cure for cancer. I do not believe in conspiracy theories or any similar propaganda that tries to tell people the medical industry is wrong. There are thousands upon thousands of medical man-hours, which have resulted in improved survival rates for many cancers and especially leukemia. Fifty years ago, Leukemia was a certain death sentence. In the present, low risk Leukemia has cure rates of 87 percent. These are proven statistics. My view is that one does the standard medical protocol for their particular cancer, while working with your doctor to include alternatives that will not counteract chemotherapy.

Several years ago I was first introduced to wheatgrass when a dear friend of mine, Virgil, was diagnosed with adult onset Leukemia. He apparently researched wheatgrass and asked me to grow it for him. This I did for many months. He said that the wheatgrass juice gave him energy. He never spoke of a cure and both of us knew that his case was terminal. The fresh wheatgrass juice is very powerful and strong. We would mix pear juice with the grass juice, but it was still quite potent and could make you feel sick. Despite the taste, we did notice a difference when drinking the wheatgrass juice, mainly more energy.

History

In the early 1900’s a man named Edmund Bordeaux Szekely discovered an old biblical manuscript. He was so enthralled with the information contained in this biblical writings that he formed a society to promote these biblical teachings, which promoted a different way of eating. His translations of the manuscript were published very inexpensively and titled The Essene Gospel of Peace. Apparently the Essene’s learned from Christ, laws of good health. Essene Book One’s main lesson is: do not kill your food by cooking it. The main teaching of Essene Book IV is: all grasses are good for man and wheatgrass is the perfect food for man. These little books can be purchased at any health food store. [1]

Drs. Hughes and Latner fed several doses and forms of chlorophyll to anemic rabbits in 1936. Extremely small doses of purified chlorophyll or large doses of “a crude chlorophyll extract” produced “a very favorable effect on hemoglobin (blood) regeneration”. They suggested, “the chlorophyll is acting as a physiological stimulant of the bone marrow and is not really concerned with the actual chemistry of regeneration of the porphyrin” (is something found in blood, chloraphyll and certain enzymes.) This means that components of chlorophyll found in foods or when fed in very small, purified amounts may stimulate the synthesis of red blood cells in the bone marrow. [1]

In 1936, Dr. Arthur Patek reported the results of an interesting study. Fifteen patients with iron-deficiency anemia were fed different amounts of chlorophyll along with iron. It was already known that iron alone cures this condition, but Dr. Patek found that when chlorophyll and iron were given together, the number of red blood cells and the level of blood hemoglobin increased faster than with iron alone. No such results for this type of anemia were obtained with chlorophyll alone, as stated by Dr. Patek. [2]

Sometime during the 1940’s a lady by the name of Ann Wigmore healed herself of cancer from the weeds she found in vacant lots in Boston. (See Why Suffer by Ann Wigmore.) She began a study of natural healing-and with the help of a friend, Dr. Earp Thomas, she found that there are 4700 varieties of grass in the world and all are good for man. With the help of her pets, she arrived at the conclusion that wheatgrass was the best of the medicinal grass. She started an institute in Boston (Ann Wigmore Institute) and since then has taught people from all over the world about the grasses and the living food healing program-and helped them get well from some very serious diseases. She has written over 35 books telling about wheatgrass and living foods. [2]

I found an article in the New York Times from Monday July 22, 1940. This article starts with the saying that every housewife knows that red-blooded human beings must eat green leaves and a Dr. Guskin wanted to see if there was any truth to this saying by experimenting with chlorophyll.

After many patients and treatments with chlorophyll Dr. Guskin announced in the American Journal of Surgery that chlorophyll treatment had been used in 1,200 cases of infection, ranging from peritonitis to pyorrhea and the common cold. For lung and brain abscesses, abdominal infections like peritonitis, a solution of chlorophyll in salt water was applied directly to the infected surfaces, either in wet dressings or through soft rubber tubes. “Indolent” ulcers and “weeping” skin diseases were treated with a paste of chlorophyll and lanolin. Since chlorophyll is bland and soothing, said Dr. Gruskin, it has a great advantage over many standard antiseptics, which are harsh and irritating. [3]

Chlorophyll’s most spectacular success was in the relief of sinus infections and common colds. In more than 1,000 cases treated at Temple University Hospital by Drs. Robert Ferguson Ridpath and Thomas Carroll Davis, there was “not a single case recorded in which either improvement or cure . . . [did] not take place.” [3]

Blood Disorder

Here are the results of an actual study for patients afflicted with thalassemia (a blood disorder.) “A beneficial effect of wheat grass juice was defined as decrease in the requirement of packed red cells (measured as grams/Kg body weight/year) by 25% or more. 16 cases were analyzed. Blood transfusion requirement fell by >25% in 8 (50%) patients with a decrease of >40% documented in 3 of these. No perceptible adverse effects were recognized.” [4]

Breast Cancer

In a breast cancer study, 60 patients with breast cancer and on chemotherapy were enrolled and assigned to intervention or control arm. Those in the intervention arm were given 60 cc of wheat grass juice orally and daily during the first three cycles of chemotherapy. Side effects related to wheat grass juice were minimal, including worsening of nausea in six patients, causing cessation of wheat grass juice. In conclusion it was found that wheat grass juice taken during chemotherapy (a certain regimen called FAC) may reduce myelotoxicity, (toxic to bone marrow) dose reductions, and need for white blood cell stimulation without diminishing efficacy of chemotherapy. These preliminary results need confirmation in a phase lll study. [5]

Radiation

One of the more problematic side effects of radiation therapy is the incidental damage to normal tissues. Damage to normal tissues, in some cases, can be sufficiently severe to stop radiation treatment. For example, acute radiation skin toxicity (Wheat, Currie & Coulter 2007) can cause such debilitating skin breakdown that the full course of radiation therapy cannot be completed. Wheatgrass extract has been shown to decrease the time to onset of the most severe grading of acute radiation skin toxicity, improving treatment compliance (Wheat, Currie & Coulter 2007) [6]

Another Point of View

I could bore the heck out of you with many more scientific articles regarding wheatgrass and or chlorophyll. But I am not going to. My whole role with our daughter’s cancer is the mitigation of side effects and also to try and maintain health while undergoing rigorous chemotherapy. From what I have heard, some people have had success using alternatives and not using medical at all. From my own observation of people that I knew personally, when they decided to treat their cancer with alternative only, they did not survive. In the least, with standard medical care, I am given actual statistics of survival rates and successes. These are documented and proven. In our daughter’s case, the leukemia was progressing so rapidly, that without treatment, she would have died within eight weeks. Many years ago I read a quote that has always stayed with me. It said that with standard care one has a 50/50 chance of survival. With alternative care the statistic is the same 50/50 for survival. But if a person uses standard medicine and integrates complimentary therapies and alternatives, the survival chances raise to 80%. Since I read this, I have searched everywhere to try and find any information that backs up this quote but this has been to no avail. Personally, I believe that this statement has some unproven validity.

Note: Some products on the market like Spirulina, are algae products that have a large amount of chlorophyll in them. Warning, know your ingredients and check with your doctors. Each cancer can be unique and have it’s own quirks. For instance, with the Leukemia that Kayla has, she cannot have any products with the B vitamin, folic acid. It has been medically proven that folic acid makes leukemia cells reproduce much faster and its use has been linked to relapse. I researched Spirulina and was going to include it as part of Kayla’s daily regimen until I found out that Spirulina is high in folic acid.

In my research for answers, I found a website www.drwheatgrass.com this site was developed by Doctor Chris Reynolds, M.B., B.S., who started to use wheatgrass on his patients decades ago. Dr. Chris has formulated products using wheatgrass extracts. When I found his site, and read everything on it, I decided to try the products for Kayla (I had already gotten approval from the oncologist when I placed my order). Honestly, when I made my purchases, I was hoping like hell that I was not going to be ripped off. When the products arrived, Kayla started taking the Wheatgrass Super Shots every day. She liked the taste and there were no negative effects when taken. Months later, Kayla started to exhibit eczema, which was painful and red. I used the Skin Recovery cream on this patch of her skin, and much to my surprise, it healed in two days. Now at the start of an angry patch of skin, Kayla will ask for the cream so that it can be nipped in the bud. We also noticed, after about four months, that Kayla’s blood counts were more stable and she did not need as many transfusions. Some chemo’s can play havoc on the skin. One of Kayla’s chemo’s caused Kayla’s skin to peel on her face hands and feet. This is also the reason why I was looking for a product to help the skin because cracked and bleeding skin can be a source of infections. Since being on Wheatgrass Super shots Kayla has not had any repeats of the cracked and peeling skin.

Again, this is not a cure and no claims are made here. The two products that I recommend and use are Wheatgrass Super shots and Wheatgrass Skin Recovery cream. Both of these are available through www.grassfactor.com or www.drwheatgrass.com A month supply of the Wheatgrass Supershots is about five ounces and costs around $32.00, I highly recommend this product!

Supershots

• Concentrated with natural antioxidants 200% – 300% more than fresh wheatgrass juice.
• Half the price of fresh wheatgrass juice, each bottle contains a one-month supply.
• No refrigeration required, you could take your wheat grass juice with you.
• Delicious citrus flavor without wheatgrass odor or taste.
• Supershots remain active up to two years after opening.
• Wheatgrass is grown organic and extracted fresh.
• Safe for children, elderly, pregnant, and the infirm.
• This product is quality controlled by state-of-the-art human genome technology.

Note: For optimum benefit, hold your daily Supershot in your mouth for at least one minute so that the bioactives can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream – then swallow.

What other benefits are there?

Dr Wheatgrass Super-Shots organically grown wheatgrass sprouts are juiced at their peak of biological activity and nutritional value. They contain the Grass Juice Factor or Growth Factor Activators essential to maintaining strong, healthy cells and tissues. There are also naturally occurring antioxidants, vitamins, phytosterols, amino acids and minerals vital to the maintenance of good health and well being.

 

Antioxidant Skin Recovery Cream Price $34.95

The most significant advance in natural skin recovery this century!

• Concentrated with natural antioxidants 200% – 300% more than fresh wheatgrass juice.
• Stimulates growth factor production which can help slow the skin’s ageing process.
• Natural – our wheatgrass extract is derived from fresh, vital, organically grown wheatgrass sprouts.
• Contains naturally occurring vitamins A, C & E, phytosterols, amino acids and minerals plus the all-important Grass Juice Factor. Gluten and lanolin free.
• Safe – for children, the elderly and infirm, during pregnancy, breastfeeding and those trying to conceive.
• Quality – Our wheatgrass extract is quality controlled by state-of-the-art human genome technology

The brainchild of the world’s leading wheatgrass therapist, Australia’s Dr. Chris Reynolds, Dr Wheatgrass Antioxidant Skin Recovery Cream is revolutionizing skin recovery and repair and the enhancement of normal and ageing skin.

Indications: Dry or troubled skin, skin recovery and repair. Natural moisturizer, blackhead cleanser and anti-ageing.

Directions: Apply once or twice daily as required. In some cases, extended regular application may be required. May be safely applied to raw, chafed or cracked skin.

This cream has many skin-related uses. For more information, explore www.drwheatgrass.com Medical research and extensive clinical experience shows that wheatgrass can often assist when nothing else works. Because it is safe to use at all ages, it is always worth trying. Although improvement may occur after a very short time, it may take a while to get the desired result, so most often, it pays to persevere.

What is the Dr Wheatgrass secret for healthier skin?

This cream has substantial benefits compared with other skin care products because it contains high levels of the Grass Juice Factor. This Factor contains powerful molecules essential for cell growth, tissue renewal and enhancement of the natural recovery process.

Ingredients: Triticum aestivum/vulgare, purified water, capric/caprylic triglycerides, vegetable glycerin, cetearyl alcohol, stearic acid, sunflower oil, ceteareth 20, glyceryl monostearate, phenoxyethanol, methyl, ethyl, propyl & butyl paraben, benzyl alcohol, tea tree oil, tocopherol acetate, xanthan gum.

• Lanolin and gluten free.
• No animal products or testing.
• Wholly produced in Australia by Wheatgrass Pty. Ltd. Melbourne.

 References

1. THE HISTORY OF WHEATGRASS by KK Fowlkes www.wheatgrasskits.com/issue1.htm www.wheatgrasskits.com
2. Cereal Grass – What’s in it for you! CEREAL GRASS WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU! The Importance of Wheat Grass, Barley Grass and Other Green Vegetables in the Human Diet Edited by Ronald L. Seibold, M.S. PINES International, Inc. Lawrence, Kansas www.wheatgrass.com/book/titlepage.php
3. New York Times Archive Monday July 22, 1940.
4. Wheat Grass Juice reduces Transfusion Requirement in Patients with Thalassemia Major: A Pilot Study R.K. Marwaha, Deepak Bansal, Siftinder Kaur and Amita Trehan From the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatric Center, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160 012, India.
5. Wheat Grass Juice May Improve Hematological Toxicity Related to Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study Authors: Gil Bar-Sela a; Medy Tsalic a; Getta Fried a; Hadassah Goldberg a Affiliation: Division of Oncology, Rambam Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel DOI: 10.1080/01635580701308083 Publication Frequency: 6 issues per year Published in: Nutrition and Cancer, Volume 58, Issue 1 June 2007, pages 43 – 48
6. The Internet Journal of Alternative Medicine TM ISSN: 1540-2584 – Link