<6 Nov 98 From: Kathy <kashmir@ Re: Essiac Tea (was: [HOL] Hello!)>

Hi all

<<I've been reading about Essiac tea for cats with cancer and various other illnesses.  Do you know about this?  And if so, what are your thoughts?>>

I've had my best success treating Kashmir's cancer with FlorEssence, which is basically the same as Essiac (and no, don't wanna get into which is the "real" tea, for those of you familiar with the controversy). I gave it to Kashmir for somewhere around six weeks, two to three times a day. Before that time my vet was urging me strenuously to give Kashmir chemo. When her test results came back normal, we were both cautiously delighted.

There are tons of web pages devoted to Essiac and its counterparts, though many of them seem devoted to discussing whether or not a particular  brand is effective, the "right" brand, the "original", etc. Personally,(JMHO) I skip those sites altogether and just try to find the ones that will give you actual info about the blends, instructions, uses, the benefits of
each of the herbs, etc. The whole controversy thing, over whether or not a particular brand is the original (and thus the only "true" kind) or whether or not extra ingredients "adulterate" the blend, just makes me angry to no end. Information and open discussion are one thing, but it seems that this is one subject that invokes irrational / zealous / defensive talk, and not actual debate.

 I hope you're not going through cancer with your kitty!!! What an awful, horrible experience. If you are, and you want someone to talk to, let me know. :(((
Take care
Kathy and the cats

Hello Group,

Sorry if this is late on the topics-digest person here.

We have our 13 yr old Cyrus(with systemic mast cell disease and 2 tumors on intestines) on Essiac tincture. 1/4 dropperful 2Xday. We call it 'tea time' and he likes it. Much easier to give such a small amount, especially with all the other supplements etc we have him on!!! I think it is one of the most helpful things he is on (it is a looong list) Canned fud: Since I am new to the raw(since his diagnosis in May) I only dabble with raw and have stopped until I practice 'sterilizing' the meat. I am just not comfortable with raw and his so severely compromised immune system. We are trying the fat content of Ogilvie's diet.  The most important thing is that he EATS...After months of canned search, I feed: PetGuard, Spot's Stew, Wysong, some Sensible Choice and occassionally Nat'l Choice. PetGuard says it is human quality(I called), Wysong says 90% human quality, Spot's Stew is USDA!!!!, and Sensible Choice and Nutro I haven't called, but nothing in the papers they sent says human grade. Our vet says to check out 'Precise', and that he has had problems before with PetGuard(we tested well). Check the date codes on back.
By the by....Cyrus is down to 'only' 5mg pred a day (every holistic and homeopathic vet we consulted with said he MUST be on it because of the type of cancer) and weighs a WOPPING 13 pounds!!!!! The allopathic internist that gave him 4 months at the outside(6 months ago)calls him SENSATIONAL!!! His bloodwork is in the normal range. Now to get those tumors shrunk down.....He is our teacher and our love.

Phyllida

Just a few for now....

http://www.awod.com/gallery/business/just_tea/  Look under "Information" and "Things to Know"

http://www.remedies.net/   Commercial, but informative for background

http://www.healthy.net/hwlibrarybooks/options/essiac.htm  Article

http://www.all-natural.com/essiac-2.html  Article

http://hre.com/totalhealth/essiac.html  About the herbs, a little info

http://www.remedies.net/essiac7.html     Cats

http://www.remedies.net/Links.html    Cancer Links

http://www.mothernature.com/essiac.htm      Fair amount of info on the herbs, commercial

http://www.top.net/harouffd/essiac.html      Reciipes for the brew

Take care all
Kathy and the cats

hey all-

picked this up from the DVM Newsmagazine site, and thought it was worth getting out. Of special note: "25 percent of the tumors in their dataset developed in less than three months from the time of vaccination"

the DVM Newsmagazine site is at: http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/

USP presents its data on vaccine-associated feline sarcomas

        Estes, Colo. -- In October, E. Kathryn Meyer, VMD, of the U.S.
        Pharmacopeia Veterinary Practitioners Reporting Program, presented
        a summary of the data USP has collected on vaccine-associated
        feline sarcomas to a meeting of the Veterinary Cancer Society.

        As of August 7, 1998, 169 reports of suspected vaccine-associated
        feline sarcomas resided in the U.S. Pharmacopeia's (USP) database.
        Meyers says . The USP suggests that the profession re-evaluate
        recommendations to wait at least three months before biopsy.

        Read the presentation "Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcomas: A
        summary of USP Data" at: http://www.usp.org/practrep/vpr_speech.htm

        Practitioners can assist the research community in getting to the
        bottom of VAFS by participating in Dr. Glenna Gobar's online
        practitioner survey at: http://sarcoma.ucdavis.edu

        The Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force recently
        announced larger grants and an extended grant deadline for its
        1998 research funding: http://www.avma.org/vafstf/default.htm
--
Vick and company: Skippy, Sam, Max and Jezebel

Lew Olson has some information on her web site concerning supplements for cancer in d**s and a cancer starving diet designed by Dr. Ogilvie at Colo. State. Probably with some changes in the diet, it could be used for cats. I have not looked at it, since, thankfully, I haven't needed it yet. Here's the web site: http://b-naturals.com/lews/sum98.htm

Leah

Ann wrote:
<<Why didn't the Immunoregulin series of shots followed by monthly  boosters and the Interferon given every other week keep Gretchen well?  I didn't think it would make her felv-, but shouldn't all that medication have at least given her more immunity against this cancer that is common  in felv+ cats?>>

Hi Ann,

Very sorry to hear about Gretchen's troubles. You have done a lot for her and now the question is whether she can have any quality of life with chemo. With our Sam, he had several good months once treatment started, but his original tumor was not in such a vulnerable spot as Gretchen's.

As for why Immunoregulin may not have helped much -- when I asked my vet about it, she indicated it was not the preferred treatment. She explained that in the current theories of how the immune system works, if you want to stimulate a response to counter a virus, the stimulus should be in the form of a (killed or very weak) viral agent. Immunoregulin isn't; it contains a killed bacterium. So it may help in the wider fight against secondary infections, but it is probably not much good against the FeLV per se. And, in broad terms, cancer is also thought to be the product of viral agents. So Immunoregulin doesn't offer protection there, either.

<<Why didn't the vet tell me not go keep the cats together when Gretchen was  on amoxicillin?  Also, Immunoregulin was given intramuscularly, could  that have made the difference?  When I questioned the vet about this he said  that it stresses the cat out too much to give it intravenously.  What if's,  what if's, that is all going around in my head.>>

That's one of the worst parts of all this, the way it's so easy to blame yourself. But, in truth, all we can do is to try our best, and sometimes that's not enough to save our kitties from these awful scourges.

<<I'm crying as though I had already lost her, darn it, this is so hard to  bear.  Does anyone have any advice for Gretchen at this point?  She is my  sweet little "Gitchy Girl" and the thought of not seeing that cute little face peering out at me from her hiding places is unthinkable.>>

I assume the vet you saw is a vet oncologist. Before you decide, ask him or her whether they think Gretchen can have any quality of life while on chemo, and what the chances are that chemo can eliminate the tumor or keep it from growing. She might yet have some quality time. Good luck, and whatever you do, it will be the right thing.

Cary

Hi Susan

At 12:29 PM 98/12/28 -0600, you wrote:
<<Hi, everyone,
I offered to post this query to the list to see what you all think. Bonnie's cat Phillipe is FeLV+ and is symptomatic (lethargic & weak). Bonnie is trying to boost his appetite, energy before she tries something more drastic (i.e., prednisone).  Susan

Quote:
 bought "Essiac Tonic" made by Herbs Etc.at the health food store tonight. The woman in charge of that area of the store said, I think, because it contains alcohol I ought heat it or boil it first and let it cool down. This would to something to the alcohol so that it wouldn't affect a kitty negatively. Does this sound right? Bonnie, sleepless in Wisconsin...and it shows in my attention span..>>

Essiac, I'm assuming, is offered in two forms: a ready-made liquid and a tea. The ready-made liquid is preserved by alcohol (wonderful preservant and transport for the medicine).

Usually, the alcohol in the liquid is no more than 15%, and it poses no problem to the person/being taking the medicine. The alcohol also helps transport the botanical into the bloodstream quickly for a faster medicinal effect.

What the woman at the store was probably getting at is that, if you want to evaporate the alcohol from the liquid, this is what you do: boil a cup of plain water, pour it into a container, and then pour the dose of essiac into the water and let it sit for two minutes or until it's cool enough to drink. DON'T boil the essiac because you can kill off some of the more volatile phytochemicals in the product.

wendy, ch
mdalsin@

Susan,

Regarding the Essiac.  Originally it was formulated as a tea but then some companies got on the bandwagon(money bandwagon that is) and found that if they tinctured it, people would buy it.

The idea of putting the tincture into warm water to dissipate the alcohol, as our furry friends don't need the alcohol, is a good one.  I also tell my  recovering alcoholic clients to do the same with tinctures that have alcohol.

It is my understanding that it is the 'tea' action that works, along with combining the daily dosage with spring water (water that is alive) that facilitates the healing.  The water added to the Essiac for each dose should be warmed, not boiled, and never heated in a microwave.

I make up the tea in smaller batches (Essiac is only good for 2 weeks after it is made up) and give it to my Missy who has Feline Aids.  I am also treating her homeopathically and she is doing splendidly.

Just my 2 cents worth on Essiac.
Sandi

Hi all

<<Those of you who give or have given Essiac to your kits, how much do you give?  In _The Encycl. of Natural Pet Care_ p. 303, Puotinen says 1 tsp per 10 lbs of body weight, but is that straight Essiac or Essiac diluted w/ equal parts water???>>

Susan, I gave more than that, I think. If I remember properly, it was 1 ounce *I think*. That was diluted.

<<Do I give this dose only on an empty stomach ( as I do for myself) or is it okay to put in the kit's food if she/he is *very* difficult to dose by syringe?>>

In the a.m. I mixed it with a teeny bit of food, or catnip, or whatever I thought she'd eat. In the afternoon I'd catch her while she was sleeping and wake her, and syringe her while she was still too groggy to protest.

<<And lastly, have any of you seen negative side effects (mild or otherwise)>>

Nope! It was the only medicine I've ever been able to give Kashmir where she didn't "get wise" to me. She took it with only mild protest. As for side effects, I didn't really see anything either way. I mean, I saw very subtle  improvements, and I think she played more. That's about it. Does this help at all?

Take care
Kathy and the cats

Hi Sherry,

<<Caboose is a 13.5 yr old, 17.4lb Maine Coon X with diabetes, and now  fibrosarcoma. I discovered the pea-sized lump under his jaw in late  October '98, but the diabetes was discovered in the pre-op blood panel  and  the vet said we had to get the diabetes under control before he'd remove  the lump. Now the diabetes is fairly well regulated, but the tumor is the  size of half a golf ball and dx as fibrosarcoma. The vet and the  oncologist recommend against surgery, radiation or chemo due to his age
 and diabetes.  Does anyone have any suggesstions regarding  holistic/naturopathic/herbal/  Traditional Chinese therapies that might offer any chance of improvement;  reducing the tumor/increasing lifespan/quality of life?   Boo is doing ok at this point; he seems to be suffering little if at all  from either the diabetes or the tumor. His appetite is great. His diet is  MediCal Fiber Formula and NutroMax Senior and NutroMax Lite-Fiber canned  food, and MediCal Fiber Formula dry. He's on 10U Humulin U insulin in the  morning and 6U in the evening.   I've had Boo since birth, and I really, really need to do whatever I can  to fight this cancer, to give Boo the very best chance I can.   Any and all information is greatly appreciated.>>

There is a product - derived from the aloe plant - called Acemannan, from Carrington Labs, that has shown to be effective in treating fibrosarcomas in cats.  Their web site is at:  http://www.carringtonlabs.com/ This will give you the address, phone #, e-mail etc.  If you scroll to the bottom of the page and click on 'Research and Developement' it will take you to the page with the Acemannan info.  Have your vet call them directly, they will be very helpful and give him/her all the info needed. They also ship overnight express.  You may also want to check out Essiac Tea, but my 1st choice would be the acemannan. I'm no expert on feeding, so I'll let the others give you their recommendations on food.  I have a Maine Coon X too, and Melody and I will be sending healing vibes to you and Boo.

Kat (Mew Jersey)

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