On enzymes and diabetes

September 29, 2007

Hi Vinod and List

Here's the piece on diabetes. I've been hearing a lot about raw food diets

reversing diabetes lately from several sources...the premise being raw foods

still contain enzymes vs. cooked.

http://www.totality ofbeing.com/ ArchivedHealthAr ticles.htm

Treating Diabetes With Enzymes: What We Know Now.

By: Dr. William Wong, ND, PhD.

Up to a year ago, for anyone asking if systemic enzymes could help lessen the

load of troubles that beset Type 1 diabetic patients, I would have told them

about lowering pancreatic inflammation, and possibly helping with lower

extremity circulatory issues. I would have never

suggested that the use of enzymes could decrease the need for insulin, increase

energy or reverse the seemingly myriad of things diabetics suffer from.

Then we started getting information from Type 1 patients that amazed even me and

that have subsequently sparked new research. Here are two typical case

histories.

*Case History #1:*

A Type 1 diabetic Native American patient from Montana in his mid 40's, very

insulin dependent, with peripheral neuropathy in the

lower extremities (LE's) and presenting paresthesia as well in the

upper extremities (UE's) radiating distally to the hand. Peripheral Vascular

Disease (PVD) in the LE's had already caused several toes to be amputated.

Patient began taking therapeutic doses of fibrinolytic systemic enzymes

(Vitalzym). Within weeks, circulation was opened in

his feet and lower extremities. Skin there returned to a pink / flesh

colour. Remaining toes now have full circulation and are no longer

candidates for amputation. Lower extremity and upper extremity

pain became paresthesia (tingling and pins and needles), and as a result is much

more bearable.

The patient's insulin needs were decreased.

*Case History #2: *

86-year-old male Caucasian from Las Vegas history of Type 1 Diabetes for over 50

years. One below the knee amputation (left

side) already done due to DVP, the other leg about to be amputated due to

general lack of blood flow and arterial blockage. Poor circulation body wide and

a gray / white pallor to the skin also body wide. Neurological pain was had at

both lower extremities. Urine flow beginning to flag as patients kidneys became

laden with scar tissue (Glomerulosclerosis ). Patient was highly insulin

dependent. Above that the patient was functionally blind in one eye from a Lasix

procedure that had generated scar tissue over the retina.

After several weeks of systemic enzyme (Vitalzym) use the patient first

noticed a lessening in his lower extremity neurological pain (neuropathy) . His

skin colour in the remaining leg changed to rosy

as circulatory pathways were opening. Outer layer of whitish dead skin shed off

leaving what resembled a " body wide dandruff " , exposing new pink /flesh tone

skin beneath. The existing leg became pink with blood flow, no longer ulcered,no

longer had ischemic pain and was saved from amputation.

Urine flow increased as fibrin was lysed (eaten away) from the kidneys. If the

urine was allowed to stand in the toilet a layer

of tiny bits of fibrin (component of scar tissue) in what resembled

fiberglass floated to the top. The fibrosis that had blinded one eye was lysed

away and the patient now has better than 20/20 vision in that eye. Most

significantly, the patients own insulin production has returned (thought to be

impossible under the auto immune theory of diabetic pancreatic destruction) .

He is no longer insulin dependent. After medical testing the patient is no

longer considered diabetic at all and is off all medication.

Sound fantastic? It did to me, even as a Naturopath who expects nature to do

fantastic things. Diabetes is one of those diseases you never expect patients

to get better from. Even after several years of working with systemic enzymes I

had heard of some Type 2 patients

improving their energy and leveling off their sugar highs and lows but I had

never expected any form of improvement in Type 1 patients, the medical

literature was very clear. Once the immune system destroyed the insulin

producing portions of the pancreas, there was no getting those tissues to

function again! That medical " truth " has turned out to be merely a medical

theory.

Lets take a look at the present understanding of the root causes of diabetes and

add our own conjectures based on what we have

observed clinically. We know from the present research work being done that the

root cause of diabetes is inflammation of the pancreas. How and why this

inflammation sets in we yet do not know. As we also know from the physiology of

trauma, inflammation breeds fibrosis or scar tissue. One follows a chronic

course of the other.

Fibrosis is also the culprit in the Peripheral Vascular Disease. In this

condition, fibrin plugs form in the micro circulation (tiny blood vessels)

forming blockages to full blood flow. Fibrin also forms the matrix for arterial

plaque. Inflammation of trauma to the inner lining of an artery (intima), causes

the traumatized or weakened section

to shore itself up with scar tissue. On the spider web of scar tissue fat,

calcium and heavy metals accrue forming what we know as arterial plaque.

Once the fibrosis blockages become extensive enough, the patient

presents the signs of PVD, which are cold extremities, intermittent

caludication (pain on walking from lack of oxygen supply to the tissues known

as ischemia), non healing ulcerations of the skin and eventual death of tissue

creating gangrene leading to amputation.

The high blood sugar levels had during diabetes damages the body's organs. One

of the first organs to be damaged are the nerves to the legs and then the arms.

Wherever the circulation is poorest the

nerve damage follows and radiating nerve pain is had (neuropathy) . The damage

begins with, you guessed it, inflammation and progresses with, you guessed it

again, fibrosis. It is this inflammation into fibrosis that seems to be a

recurring theme in diabetes.

For a moment lets do some education on orally administered systemic enzymes.

They have a 5 decade history of wide spread medical use in Germany, Central

Europe and Japan with over 150 million patients in Europe alone having undergone

enzyme therapy in the last 4 decades. There are over 200 peer-reviewed studies

proving the absorption, therapeutic action and total lack of toxicity (no LD-50)

of systemic enzymes. Their primary action is anti-inflammatory, (though not

through a COX 1 or Cox 2 action. The enzymes

instead " eat " pro inflammatory cytokines). The enzymes also have a proven

lysing action on all types of fibrosis and scar tissue leaving normal or

endogenous tissue entirely intact and un-bothered.

This is due to the body " tagging " excesses of fibrin as exogenous proteins.

(The subject of protein tagging and its discoverer won the Nobel Prize in

biology in the late

90's). Entering the key words: systemic enzyme, serrapeptase, nattokinase,

bromelain, pancreatin, papain, trypsin, chymo trypsin into the search engine at

Pub Med will bring up some of the current research on systemic enzymes and their

applications. A search in the " medical fields " section of www.mucos.cz will

show abstracts of the extensive older research done with the first systemic

enzyme blends of the 50's and 60's. It has to be said that there is nothing,

no drug or substance, in either the allopathic medical world or in the natural

health world that can remove scar tissue but highly fibrinolytic systemic

enzymes. Current thinking on diabetes is that the body's immune system attacks

the pancreas creating inflammation. This may be so. Further, the current

thinking is that the inflammation brings about the destruction of the Islets of

Langerhans and its Beta Cells, the places where insulin is made. This may not

be so. If the studies that are currently being

planned and executed further demonstrate what we are seeing clinically with

Type 1 patients on systemic enzymes, then this point will have to be re-thought.

Clinically most of the Type 1 patients have a significantly lower need for

insulin while some no longer need the insulin at all. This would suggest that

the Beta Cells and the Islets are not destroyed. I conjecture that they are

merely clogged by the fibrosis created by the inflammation. Once the causative

inflammation is reduced and once the fibrinolytic action of the enzymes has

eaten away the fibrosis and reopened the channels, then what ever production the

Islets can make can actually get into the system. I believe that the global

(body wide) non-toxic, anti-inflammatory effects of highly fibrinolytic systemic

enzymes and the scar tissue eating effects of the same enzymes are the reasons

we are seeing the decrease in pancreatic inflammation, decrease in diabetic

neuropathy, in it's associated Peripheral

Vascular Disease, and the decrease in insulin dependence we are seeing

clinically in Type 1 patients. Let's see if the research further verifies the

observed findings and gives us more insight into the pathways of action. -

Author of " Nutrition & Supplements in Major Mental Illnesses " ;

- M.A. (Psychol), Postgraduate Diploma in Medical & Social Psychology, Ph.D.;

- Certified Behavior Therapist (from late Prof. J. Wolpe's Unit, Temple

University Medical School, Philadelphia, USA);

- Hypnotist, Biofeedback and Meditation Therapist.

- Family, Marital and Sex Therapist.

->Consultant Nutritional & Clinical Psychologist in Jaipur Hospital, India.

psych_58 ,

www.jaipurmart. com/trade/ meditationandhea lth

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September 29, 2007

Chinese Traditional Medicine , Twyla <twylahoodah wrote:

>

> Here's the piece on diabetes. I've been hearing a lot about raw

food diets reversing diabetes lately from several sources...the

premise being raw foods still contain enzymes vs. cooked.

>

> http://www.totality ofbeing.com/ ArchivedHealthAr ticles.htm

>

> Treating Diabetes With Enzymes: What We Know Now.

> By: Dr. William Wong, ND, PhD.

>

This is a very important understanding that the western researchers

are discovering - it has been a basic premise of traditional medicine

for centuries. In Ayurveda it is proposed that almost all accquired

disease has it's origins in the production of the substance which is

called Ama in Sanskrit - English speaking people usually call this

mucus - the Chinese term is most often translated as phlegm although

it's original form is often referred to as the turbid - the turbid

which descends becomes the stool and the turbid which gets absorbed

into the blood rises and becomes phlegm. This is caused by bad

digestion - mainly meaning stomach defeciency - although there may be

other patterns present. There are so many factors involved in why

digestion is poor and most people have several bad practices that

interfere with digestion - the stomach is extremely sensitive to

insult - so excesses of almost any kind can harm it - excess hot,

cold, dry, wet, sour, bitter, sweet, excess food, excess oils, eating

wrong combinations, eating at wrong times, etc. all can disturb

digestion - the substances which cause the most problem if not

digested properly are proteins - it is these poorly digested proteins

which play a major role in mucus formation - phlegm is a combination

of proteins and carbohydrates bound to each other through a process

called glycation - these form very strong bonds which are difficult to

break in an acid environment.

Throughout history there has been an understanding of the importance

of this substance in the development of disease and many methods to

resolve the issues have been developed. Improving digestion is the

starting point in all ancient systems by correcting bad eating habits

and instituting healing eating patterns - but along with this there

have been medicines and therapies for achieving this developed. In

modern times many substances have been discovered that break the bonds

of these substances like Enzymes (pancreatic and vegetable)-

Nattokinase - Serrapaptase, carnatine, many newly discovered

antioxidents, vitamin C, vitamin E, etc. Many commonly used herbs thin

these substances like Ginko, Reishi, Cordyceps, Schizandra,

Vinpocetene, etc. In fact a major medicinal effect of many of the most

important herbs used in the world is their ability to thin mucus and

blood. All antioxidents can do this in one way or another.

My father who follows a Naturopathic and Yogic system always says the

best way to deal with this kind of issue is to get the blood over

toward a more alkaline condition which means in practical terms eating

more vegetables and non acidic fruit in relation to grains.

In Ayurveda there is a basic concept named Rasayana - this means path

of the fluids or path of the rasa which in English is the lymph. This

is often translated as recovery from disease or rejuventaion - my

father calls it recovery of youth. The idea here is that when the rasa

(lymph) is clean and clear we are healthy and to recover health we

must resolve the toxic, sticky thick quality of the rasa and bring it

back to it's pure prestine state clear and freely flowing. It is a

symbol of health as well as the process of recovery of health. This is

an ancient concept coming evidently from before historical records

since it appears as a fully described concept from the earliest

records. It is a basic premise of Ayurveda and Yoga. In TCM this is

referred to as 'the clear' the rightious part of food that gets

sperated by the stomach/spleen and which engenders Qi. When the clear

becomes turbid it becomes toxic.

There are many disease processes that are directly caused by this

thick sticky quality of the blood and clear fluids of the body - when

this condition is there it is everywhere - indeed it becomes the very

nature of the fluids - they become thick and sticky - we can see

this in our secretions - saliva, nose and eye secretions, genital

secretions, etc. - all become thick and sticky - and when this is

present we can know that the blood and the lymph have also become

thick and sticky. I wrote a couple of days ago about the role this

quality of the fluids has in the development of diabetes. Most states

of stasis have this as a basic cause. In TCM and Ayurvedic terms the

issue begins in the Stomach and Spleen with vacuity (defeciency)states

which I will go more into later in a posting on diabetes. Vinod

September 29, 2007

Another point to be made on that article Twyla sent concerns raw food

as a source of enzymes. Unfortunately most people should not follow a

raw food diet since they have severe yin and yang Jing defeciencies as

well as spleen/stomach defeciency and raw food makes the cold caused

by these defeciencies worse. In general the Chinese feel that food

should be cooked becuase although we may lose some nutritional

qualaties in the food the trade off in easier digestion more than

compensates for that. Since most people have some form of stomach

weakness raw and cold foods ahould be avoided. Cold in temperature and

in energetics. The subject of raw food is a very big one and it would

be difficult to go into all of it's ramifications here but suffice to

say for most ill people raw and cold foods should be avoided. We can

keep our blood clean and flowing in other ways than eating raw food. Vinod

September 29, 2007

I just wanted to emphasize this. (The entire post in fact.)

And can I have your permission to forward this to a friend.

Thanks,

Victoria

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Vinod Kumar " <vinod3x3

wrote:

>

> This is a very important understanding that the western researchers

> are discovering - it has been a basic premise of traditional

medicine

> for centuries. In Ayurveda it is proposed that almost all accquired

> disease has it's origins in the production of the substance which is

> called Ama in Sanskrit - English speaking people usually call this

> mucus - the Chinese term is most often translated as phlegm although

> it's original form is often referred to as the turbid - the turbid

> which descends becomes the stool and the turbid which gets absorbed

> into the blood rises and becomes phlegm. This is caused by bad

> digestion - mainly meaning stomach defeciency - although there may

be

> other patterns present. There are so many factors involved in why

> digestion is poor and most people have several bad practices that

> interfere with digestion - the stomach is extremely sensitive to

> insult - so excesses of almost any kind can harm it - excess hot,

> cold, dry, wet, sour, bitter, sweet, excess food, excess oils,

eating

> wrong combinations, eating at wrong times, etc. all can disturb

> digestion - the substances which cause the most problem if not

> digested properly are proteins - it is these poorly digested

proteins

> which play a major role in mucus formation - phlegm is a combination

> of proteins and carbohydrates bound to each other through a process

> called glycation - these form very strong bonds which are difficult

to

> break in an acid environment.

(snip)

September 29, 2007

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " victoria_dragon "

<victoria_dragon wrote:

>

> And can I have your permission to forward this to a friend.

>

> Thanks,

> Victoria

>

Hi Victoria - hope all is well.

As I told you before for me this is a public forum and feel that what

is written here can not be controlled even if one had the inclination

to do so which I do not. VK

September 29, 2007

Thank you very much for the article you posted on diabetes, Twyla. I've

been struggling with diabetes issues...have been on a new med called

Byetta for several months...but would dearly like to find non-allopathic

methods to treat my problems.

Dr. Vinod...may I join the other members of the list in welcoming you

back. What a pleasure to see your posts again. I would like to thank you

and Victoria for the help you have given me. About a year ago, you both

participated in a thread about mind/body connections. I learned so much

from your comments...I can't express in words how much they have helped

me. I identified with many things that were said in that thread...have

been working hard to use what I learned from all of you to live in a

more healthy way.

I thank you with all my heart.

Warmest regards,

Nancy Hugo

September 30, 2007

Here are my two cents on raw foods. But first welcome to Dr. Vinod, we all

missed your very knowledgeable and thoughtful postings. It is very rare that one

is so knowledgeable about Ayurveda, TCM and western med. You have enriched our

understanding of body, ailments and medicine. Thanks again. May you live for at

least 100 years and continue to teach us basics of swasthya (health for

dummies).

I have suffered from damp heat for a long time. Tried everything. Started with

western med and was a big looser. It complicated everything, made things worse

Tried TCM, and got 50% relief. But TCM treatment took a very long time to show

permanent results. Some more relief came from Ayurvedic med, in fact Ayurvedic

meds became more effective after TCM medication. Probably body was able to

assimilate them better. Then started practicing breathing excercises (Ramdev's

Pranayam), in two months I started feeling a lot better in particular my memory

and concentration showed marked improvement. 90% ok after 6 months of Pranayam

practice. But still had bad breath. TCM doctor treated me for this problem for a

very long time, she called it hot liver condition resulting from stagnation.

Then one day there was nothing for me to eat except salad. I ate only salad for

lunch, 80% of it was lettuce. Next day I felt better, bad breath appeared a lot

better. Continued to eat lettuce in fairly big quantity before lunch with

nothing else or only fresh lemon juice and salt with it. After two months of

eating lettuce I am fully cured of my bad breath.

So my recommendation is do not say complete no to raw foods. For some health

conditions that may be the right food. But start with a small quantity and

if body feels good, go ahead with more. But important thing is moderation and

listen to your body when you try something new.

In fact all TCM recommendations are not ok for everyone, example is dairy

products. In India milk and home made yogurt are the main source of protein

for millions. And people feel very comfortable with it. My father in law is 90

years of age and was very very healthy till recently. For the last thirty years

he has been taking only milk for dinner, milk never caused any dampness to him.

I know so many people in India who take only milk for dinner and have excellent

health.

I think eating only a small quantity of food also helps them.

Food habits in countries like India and China have evolved over thousands of

years and appear to take into typical local climatic conditions. Probably

chinese climatic conditions made it difficult to have cows for milk or it was

uneconomical.

In short moderation, listen to body, do'nt say no to anything without trying.

Atul

Vinod Kumar <vinod3x3 wrote: Another

point to be made on that article Twyla sent concerns raw food