Easy Green

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" HSI - Jenny Thompson " <HSIResearch

 

Easy Green

Mon, 27 Sep 2004 08:39:48 -0400

 

 

 

 

Easy Green

 

Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

 

 

September 27, 2004

 

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Dear Reader,

 

 

Being green may not be easy – even if you're an internationally

famous frog puppet. But when it comes to the " green food "

supplement called chlorella, being green is a very good thing to be.

 

On the HSI Forum, a member named Gidget asks if anyone has

used chlorella, wonders what sort of results they had, and adds this

question: " Has anyone done any research on chlorella? "

 

The quick answer to that last question: Yes, we've seen some

research. But not nearly enough for a supplement that shows

tremendous promise as a natural detoxifier, immune system

booster, and perhaps even a cancer fighter.

 

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Pain relief

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In the e-Alert " Giving and Taking Care " (9/16/04), a member

asked for advice on how to help her father get some much-needed

nutrition after his appetite was suppressed by radiation treatments

for lung cancer. HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., suggested

chlorella, which he described as nutrient dense and easily digested

(not to mention " inexpensive and excellent " ).

 

Chlorella is a freshwater algae that contains such a wide variety of

vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids that it's considered

to be a nearly perfect whole food. Chlorella is also the richest

source of chlorophyll on earth.

 

In the e-Alert " Supplement From the Sea Can Treat Many

'Incurable' Conditions " (12/6/01), I told you how animal studies

have revealed that chlorella may stimulate the production of

immune system factors like macrophages, leukocytes, and

interferon. But in recent years, chlorella research has moved

beyond animal trials with studies that have examined the

therapeutic effects of chlorella on fibromyalgia.

 

The primary symptoms of fibromyalgia involve inflammation or

pain in joints and muscles, often accompanied by fatigue. This

chronic condition is difficult to diagnose and not easy to treat.

 

In two separate clinical trials conducted in Japan, researchers

found that daily therapy with 10 grams of chlorella in tablet form

and 100 milliliters of chlorella liquid extract brought

improvements in pain, sleep, and anxiety - all common measures

of fibromyalgia severity. After three months, 62 percent of the

fibromyalgia patients taking the chlorella scored better on pain

assessment measures - an improvement that was not seen when the

same patients took a placebo. Overall, 71 percent of the

participants said that chlorella helped to improve their

fibromyalgia symptoms, with no side effects.

 

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Inflammation relief

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In the 2001 e-Alert, I also told you about chlorella research on

patients with ulcerative colitis (inflammation of the large intestine,

characterized by abdominal pain and chronic diarrhea).

 

In a study of eight people with ulcerative colitis, researchers found

that chlorella significantly improved patients' symptoms. Each

subject took 10 grams of chlorella in tablet form and 100 milliliters

of chlorella liquid extract daily. After two months, the subjects

completed a 32-question survey, noting the supplement's effect on

four areas: symptoms related to the primary bowel disturbance,

systemic symptoms, emotional impact, and social impact.

 

The results showed strong improvement across the board. The

participants also reported that the severity of their attacks lessened

considerably soon after they began taking chlorella, and that their

symptoms continued to reduce or remained stable over the course

of the study.

 

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Cancer and chemo

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Chlorella's use as a cancer-fighting agent is still relatively

unexplored.

 

According to The Cancer Chronicles – published by the renowned

cancer researcher Ralph Moss, Ph.D. – chlorella has been shown to

significantly prolong the lives of mice implanted with cancer cells.

In one study, the benefits of chlorella were particularly strong

when chlorella was given before the cancer was introduced,

indicating a potential course of cancer prevention.

 

Dr. Moss also reports that more than 40 years ago researchers

found chlorella to be effective in reversing the fatigue associated

with chemotherapy. Chlorella has been shown to quickly restore

white blood cells that are killed by chemotherapy, without

affecting the potency of the chemo.

 

When using a natural agent such as chlorella as a therapy for

cancer, ulcerative colitis, fibromyalgia or any other health

problem, it's always best to consult a doctor or a trusted health

care professional. Chlorella is not known to cause side effects, but

its use may be associated with mild adverse reactions triggered by

the detoxification of pesticides and heavy metals stored in the

body.

 

 

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....and another thing

 

When it comes to antidepressant drugs, some people are thinking

outside the box. In fact, they'd rather not bother with the box at all.

 

The recent debate over prescribing antidepressant drugs to children

heated up this month when FDA officials announced that the

agency " generally supports " the recommendations of an advisory

panel that came right out and said what everyone (including the

FDA) has known for more than a year: Antidepressants may

increase the risk of suicidal behavior in some adolescents and

teens.

 

By an overwhelming majority, the 23-member panel voted to

recommend that the FDA require a " black box warning " on the

drug information flyer that comes with each prescription. As the

name implies, this warning is set off by a black box, designed to

catch the eye and highlight the importance of the warning.

 

But according to a Reuters report on the panel's recommendation,

some experts have expressed concerns that this type of warning

could alarm doctors and parents and discourage them from using

the drugs.

 

How's that again? Don't those experts understand the concept of

what a warning is intended to do? It's a warning! It's SUPPOSED

to be alarming.

 

Maybe they'd like the box better if it weren't so severe. Instead of

an ominous black box, maybe they'd rather see a sunny yellow

box. Or maybe a pink box with a border of yellow smiley faces.

That wouldn't be as scary at all. And gosh, we wouldn't want to

send a message that would actually make people think that there

were any DANGERS associated with these drugs.

 

In the end, all the hand wringing by experts over the size, shape or

color of the warning box is really beside the point, because earlier

this year it was reported that FDA officials had decided not to go

public with an internal analysis that showed a clear risk of suicidal

tendencies among young people who took certain antidepressant

drugs. (See the e-Alert " Safety for Sale " 4/12/04.)

 

The controversial fallout from that report did more than any

official black box could do to remind the general public that

antidepressants aren't happy pills, but rather powerful drugs with

powerful consequences.

 

To Your Good Health,

 

Jenny Thompson

Health Sciences Institute

 

 

 

Sources:

" Nutritional Supplementation with Chlorella Pyrenoidosa for

Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled,

Crossover Study " Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain, Vol. 9, No. 4,

2001, immunesupport.com

Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association; Vol. 4, No. 2,

Summer 2001,

americanutra.com

" Chlorella Shows Promise as Anti-Cancer Supplement " Ralph W.

Moss, Ph.D., The Cancer Chronicles #23, September 1994,

ralphmoss.com

" Chlorella: A Natural Wonder Food " Dr. Joseph Mercola,

mercola.com

" Chlorella " The American Cancer Society, cancer.org

 

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