Cliff's Weekly Papers Archives

Cliff's free holistic health papers -- week 4

Hi,
Dr. Stoll has suggested my posting on this BB in full my papers on holistic health each
week. This week’s offering are Paper 6D, The immune system (“Immune #1"); Paper 7D, More
on immune system support (“Immune #2").

HEALTH MUSINGS

Clifford S. Garner, Ph.D.




This month we consider the immune system. This is a very complex subject, and we can cover
here only a few aspects.
Unlike other body systems, such as digestive, eliminative, cardiovascular, neurological,
respiratory, musculoskeletal, etc., the immune system has only recently been investigated, and
there is much not yet known about it. The immune system is made up of lymphatic vessels and
organs (thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils and adenoids), leukocytes (white blood cells,
including lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, etc.), specialized blood serum factors,
and specialized tissue cells (mast cells, macrophages, etc.). The importance of the mind and of
emotional stress in immune function is now recognized in the relatively new field of
psychoneuroimmunology. The major function of the immune system is protecting the body against
cancer and infection, including from colds and flu, herpes, hepatitis, Epstein-Barr virus,
cytomegalovirus, HIV, AIDS, the deadly Ebola virus now spreading death in Africa, etc.
Suppression of the immune system has many causes, among which are junk-food diets,
devitalized and chemicalized and antibiotic-laden foods, environmental chemicals and radiations,
medical and “recreational" drug use, smoking, alcohol overconsumption, stress, and the use of
biological and chemical weapons in the Gulf War (now public knowledge despite the Pentagon's
coverup). Undernourishment is a common cause of immune deficiency. In 1965 random samples
of USA inhabitants were lab-tested for vitamin levels; 88% had at least one nutritional deficiency
and 59% had two or more, based on the ridiculously low RDA (recommended dietary allowance)
standards, which are so low that following them long-term is almost a guaranty of poor health.
Louise Hay ascribes thymus malfunction (see below for more about the thymus) to feeling
attacked by life, “they” are out to get me. She concludes spleen problems relate to being obsessed
about things. The thymus gland is associated with the Triple Warmer Meridian of the Fire
Element, for which the Chinese Five-Element Law (used in acupuncture and meridian therapy)
ascribes emotions such as despair, despondency, loneliness, hopelessness, etc. The spleen,
described below, is associated with the Spleen-Pancreas Meridian of the Earth Element, with
emotions such as feeling rejected, envious, anxiety about the future, lack of empathy, etc.
Many viruses, bacteria and fungi have become extremely resistant to medical drugs which
formerly could control them. Apparently there is only one antibiotic, Vancomycin, which still has
any action against most bacterial infections, and bets are it too will soon become ineffective. This
has come about because of the indiscriminate use of these drugs by medical doctors, including
using them for conditions for which the MDs know they have no therapeutic value, and the
ignorant demands of the public for “something to fix me." Increased travel to other countries and
the US government's penchant for sending military troops to "subdue” worldwide and other
conflicts also contribute. Hospitals routinely give antibiotics prior to surgery, and have become
excellent places to incur illness from potent microorganisms; this procedure is not particularly
effective anyhow. E.g., there were 23 million patients getting antibiotics prior to surgery, yet 1
million of them developed postsurgical infections. It is a rare MD who knows enough to use a
potent natural remedy for these problems, namely, grapefruit seed extract. Two such that have
been reported as very successful and inexpensive are NutriBiotic “Liquid Concentrate" and
NutriBiotic “Capsules Plus" (the latter also has echinacea angustifolia and artemesia annua in it),
available from the Vitamin Shoppe, 1-800-223-1216, and many health food stores. The thymus is
the primary gland of the immune svstem. Among the functions of the thymus is the production of
T-lymphocytes (a form of white blood cell which cell-mediates immunity) and several hormones
which regulate immune activity. The thymus is highly susceptible to oxidative and free-radical
damage arising from infections, radiations, chronic sickness and stress, and tends to shrink and be
much less effective with increasing age.
Vitamins A, B6, C, and zinc as picolinate, citrate or carbonate, appear to be the most
important nutrients for the thymus. Vitamin E (as d-alpha tocopherol, or better, Standard Process
Labs Cataplex E2), beta-carotene (if the person is able to convert it to vitamin A) and selenium
(as picolinate, say) are also very helpful. Various thymus protomorphogens and extracts can help
substantially. One that I have found very good is the Carson Burgstiner, MD, creation,
“Complete Thymic Formula and Vitamin/Mineral Complex,” 1-800-556-5530. Terry Beardsley,
Ph.D., has recently isolated a protein from calf thymus cells which is apparently identical to
human thymus protein and which some holistic doctors claim is the most powerful natural immune
system enhancer discovered. This thymic protein is now available as "BioPro Thymic Protein A,"
in 4 microgram packets. The suggested dosage is 1 to 3 packets daily, taken under the tongue to
prevent destruction by stomach acid. Herbs which support the thymus include echinacea
angustifolia (Gaia Echinacea Supreme is especially good), astragalus, fo-ti (polygonum
multiflorum), European mistletoe (visum album), red clover, pau d’arco, cat’s claw (unicaria
tomentosa), and licorice (glycyrrhiza glabra).
There are some fast energy-balancing techniques to activate the thymus. One, the “Diamond
thymus thump," after its creator, John Diamond, MD, simply requires thumping the thymus 10 to
15 times (the thymus is about 2 to 3 inches below the notch under the adam's apple). This may
need to be done every 15 minutes or so with some people. Rubbing the neurolymphatic reflexes
described below for 30 to 60 seconds often lasts much longer. One such reflex is between ribs 2
and 3 (rib1 is beneath the collarbone) just off to each side of the breastbone. Another is between
ribs 5 and 6 about 3 inches to each side of the breastbone. Another is on each side of the chest,
just under the armpits.
The spleen constitutes the greatest mass of lymphatic tissue in the body, and not only makes
certain lymphocytes and antibodies, but also destroys worn-out blood cells, and acts as a blood
reservoir. Bovine spleen tissue (Standard Process Labs Whole Desiccated Spleen and Spleen
PMG) and/or Standard Process Labs Immuplex, Calsol, and For-Til B12 can help to activate the
spleen, as does rubbing for 20 to 30 seconds a neurolymphatic reflex between ribs 7 and 8 on the
left chest (locate by imagining a line from the left nipple straight down to the bottom of the rib
cage, then going back up 2 fingerwidths). Try the Vitamin Shoppe for Standard Process
supplements, 1-800-223-1216.
Lymph nodes contain B-lymphocytes, a form of white blood cell which initiates antibody
formation when bacteria, viruses, yeasts, etc., are present. Exercise and diaphragmatic breathing
stimulate lymph function, as do herbs such as echinacea angustifolia, goldenseal (hydrastis
canadensis) and Korean ginseng (panax ginseng).
The chemistry of blood cells as they relate to immune function is more complex than we want
to take up here. Suffice it to say, nearly all vitamins and minerals appear to be needed for normal
function of these cells. Herbs mentioned above help.
An underactive thyroid can contribute substantially to immune deficiency (medical lab tests
for thyroid malfunction are unreliable; we will discuss better tests and how to help the thyroid in a
future issue).
Other nutrients besides those mentioned above that can increase immune activity include
Chinese green tea, bromolain (see the previous issue of ETR), kelp, garlic, quercetin, coenzyme
Q10, and dimethylglycine (DMG, also called vitamin B15 and pangamic acid). Another
supplement which deserves special mention is “squalene," which substance exists naturally in our
skin and has been known in Germany and Japan for at least 50 years. Commercially it is isolated
from the liver of a rare species of deep-sea shark. Virgin or extra virgin olive oil is a rich food
source of squalene. It helps the immune system greatly against autoimmune diseases, bacteria and
viruses, and also has anticancer and antifungal properties and some protective power against
otherwise lethal doses of gamma radiation. It also helps lower cholesterol (for those who think
high cholesterol is bad) and triglycerides. Robert Atkins, MD, recommends 1 to 3 grams daily
for general health enhancement. No long-term adverse effects are known. This supplement may
not be available in health food stores. Thorne Research makes squalene (a bottle of 90 gelcaps of
0.5 gram each sells for $14.90 plus shipping through some health professionals, including me).
Henry Dreher authored an interesting article titled “Immune Power Personality," which
appeared in the Autumn 1996 issue of the Noetic Sciences Review. He reminds us that
psychological factors influence the immune system and the body's network of defense and healing.
We blame much on stress, but stress is inevitable and sometimes a positive force. It is not stress
itself, but how we cope with it that determines how our bodies are affected. How we cope is
largely dependent on our personalities (and I would add, on our spiritual beliefs). Dreher
presents the findings of seven researchers each of whom has studied one immune power trait.
These are given below.
1. Psychologist Gary Schwartz, Ph.D., addresses what he calls the "ACE factor," attention,
connection and expression. He showed that people who are in tune with their mind-body signals
of fatigue, pain, discomfort, distress, anger, sadness and pleasure cope better psychologically,
exhibit a better immune profile, and have a healthier cardiovascular system.
2. Psychologist James Pennebaker, Ph.D., focused on the capacity to confide. He found that
people who confide their feelings, traumas and secrets to others and to themselves have healthier
psychological profiles, greater immune responses, and fewer incidences of illness.
3. Psychologist Suzanne Ouellette, Ph.D., developed the concept of personality hardness,
which includes a sense of control over one’s life, health and social conditions, a strong
commitment to one's work, creative activities and relationships, and looks at stress as a challenge
rather than as a threat. These people have stronger immune systems and fewer illnesses.
4. Psychoneuroimmunologist George Solomon, MD, studied assertiveness. His finding was
that people who assert their needs and feelings have stronger immune responses, and the ability to
overcome a range of diseases usually associated with immune dysfunction. He also noted that the
ability to find meaning in “stressful circumstances" also promoted immune enhancement.
5. Motivational psychologist David McClelland, Ph.D., focused on what he called affilliative
trust or the motive of unconditional love. He showed that people who are strongly motivated to
form relationships with others based on unconditional love have enhanced immune function and
reduced illnesses.
6. While heading the Institute for the Advancement of Health, Alan Luks carried out a large
survey which showed that altruistic people who commit themselves to helping others suffer fewer
illnesses.
7. Psychologist Patricia Linville, Ph.D., focused on self-complexity. People who explore
many facets of their personalities, so-called "self-aspects," are better able to handle stress,
depression, physical symptoms, etc., and have fewer illnesses. These people have strengths to fall
back on when one aspect of themselves is wounded or lost. Incidentally, one of the co-editors of
the ETR, Rev. Reba McDougall, is a clairesentient person gifted in using MCH™
(Multidimensional Cellular Healing) and other techniques to assist clients in recognizing their self-
aspects, reincarnational fragments, etc., and removing blocks in them.

DISCLAIMER:
Procedures described in this and other “Health Musings” are reported solely for educational
purposes. The author is not directly or indirectly dispensing medical advice. Although the author
believes this information and these procedures to be valuable, persons using them do so entirely at
their own risk.

HEALTH MUSINGS
by Clifford S. Garner, Ph.D.

In Paper 6D we considered some aspects of the immune system. We now call attention to
several more nutritional supplements that are recently reported to have a major impact on
enhancement of the immune system and the overcoming of cancer and various infections.
One of these is lactoferrin, an unique iron-binding protein present in colostrum, the mother's “first
milk" following childbirth, and which is the baby's main source of immune system protection against
infections at that time (despite nutrients added to synthetic baby formulas such formulas do not
promote the immunological and nutritional qualities of mother's milk, let alone the important emotional
bonding and development that comes from the baby's suckling at the breast). Lactoferrin is beneficial
for people of all ages.
Lactoferrin appears to stimulate immune function in two ways. It activates specific strands of
DNA to turn on genes that promote the growth of immune cells and the immune response. Lactoferrin
also binds iron in the blood so strongly that bacteria, viruses, fungi and other pathogens, all of which
need iron to grow, are inhibited. Incidentally, lactoferrin transports iron to parts of the body that need
it while at the same time it makes the iron unavailable to harmful bacteria, etc. Lactoferrin tends to
block cancer cell nourishment, having been found effective in treating mesothelioma (a form of lung
cancer), solid tumors, and metastasis (the transfer of cancer cells to sites distant from the initial cancer
site).
Lactoferrin is also a powerful antioxidant and inhibits harmful free-radical production. In early
stages of an HIV-infected immune system elevated levels of an immune-depressant called isoferritin
are produced; the presence of enough lactoferrin suppresses the harmful isoferritin, allowing the
immune system to function normally. Because people who have leukemia, breast cancer, celiac or
kidney disease have elevated levels of isoferritin, it may be that lactoferrin can successfully treat such
diseases. Lactoferrin also has anti-inflammatory properties and can be helpful in arthritis. Lactoferrin
also inhibits blood platelet aggregation (clumping together of blood cells) and may be useful for stroke
prevention, etc. Lactoferrin has been shown to increase survival rates of persons suffering from
otherwise lethal septic shock while in hospitals by 330%. Lactoferrin is non-toxic and is tolerated well
even by nursing infants.
At present, lactoferrin is commercially isolated and freeze-dried from cow’s milk and is not
identical to human lactoferrin. However, it is close enough to give all the iron-binding and most of the
immune system benefits of human lactoferrin. It is unlikely that lactoferrin will be of interest to
pharmaceutical companies for it is 100% natural, and by law no natural substance can be patented as
is. Accordingly, probably few of the orthodox MDs will either know about or make use of lactoferrin.
Two sources of lactoferrin supplements of which I am aware are The Right Solution, North Las
Vegas, Nevada, l-800-411-5795, ext 101, and Advanced Nutritional Products, Rockville, MD, 1-888-
436-7200. Some holistic MDs recommend taking the daily dose at one time just before bedtime.
Another immune supporting supplement is calcium enolate, an olive leaf extract used for malaria
treatment as long ago as 1827. Reports state that olive leaf extract is far superior to quinine for
malaria. Calcium enolate is the hydrolyzed form of oleuropein, the active constituent of olive leaf
extract isolated in 1957. Calcium enolate directly stimulates phagocytosis, the immune system process
in which phagocytes in the blood engulf and digest harmful foreign micro-organisms. Calcium enolate
also stops the production of enzymes that a retrovirus, such as HIV, needs in order to change the RNA
of a healthy cell, stops viral replication processes, and retards the growth of harmful bacteria and other
pathogens. It also increases circulation, reduces high blood pressure, and supports heart health, as
well as normalizing blood sugar levels. No toxicity or side affects have been observed, and animal
experiments suggest that the dosages below would be safe even if raised several hundred fold.
Dosages suggested by holistic MDs are to begin with one or two 500-mg capsules per day for two
weeks, then increase to six to eight daily until improvement is observed, then taper off to one or two
daily as maintenance.
Calcium enolate is available from the same source as lactoferrin, as well as from Nutricology, 1-
800-454-8482.
Another immune-enhancing supplement is modified citrus pectin (MCP), not to be confused with
natural citrus pectin often found in health food stores; the latter does not have the immune-enhancing,
cancer-killer effects. MCP appears to be the first nontoxic substance that has been found to interfere
with the metastasis or spreading of cancer cells, at least for prostate cancer and skin cancer in rats. In
order for metastasis to occur in rat prostate tumor cells galectin-3 must be present in the adjacent
healthy cells. MCP competes with the galectin-3, thus counteracting the metastasis, and because
human tissues have galectin-3 also, there is a good probability that MCP will work in humans also.
MCP has significantly improved immune system killer cells and other aspects of immune system
function.
The dosage suggested in the literature is 15 grams daily (1 rounded tablespoon).
It appears to be available from the same sources as lactoferrin.
Still another immune-stimulating supplement is uña de gato (Cat's Claw, the herb uncaria
tomentosa found in the Peruvian rain forests). This herb has been touted as beneficial for arthritis,
allergies, herpes, candida, PMS, ulcers, etc. Hank Oswald, M.D., who operates a clinic in Amsterdam,
has cured sixty cases of Crohn's disease (chronic ileitis or inflammatory breakdown of the wall of the
ileum or last part of the small intestine, a serious disorder) with Cat's Claw. Here our interest in Cat's
Claw is that it has an alkaloid called isopteropodine that stimulates phagocytosis (the ability of white
blood cells to engulf and digest harmful micro-organisms, such as viruses, tumor cells, etc.).
It is available in many health food stores. Some brands will have fake herbs or the less efficient
uncaria guianensis, etc. A brand I have found reliable is Rainforest Bio-Energetics Uña de Gato, 1-
800-835-0850. .his company claims it works with the native Peruvians to harvest it in a way that
avoids destruction of the rain forests there. See the instructions on the bottle for dosages.
A not-unrelated item of interest is a recent study made at Battelle Memorial Laboratories for the
Environmental Protection Agency on the wearing of shoes in the home. They found that the very toxic
herbicide 2,4-D commonly used on lawns for weed control is tracked into home interiors on the shoes
(or bare feet) of anyone walking on a treated lawn for up to a week after the spraying. This chemical
can accumulate in carpet/rug dust up to 100 times as great as on the lawn itself. Removal of the shoes
before entering the home reduced the 2,4-D residue by more than 90% (wiping the shoes reduced the
herbicide carried in by 25% to 33% - no statement as to how the wiping occurred). The 2,4-D is
highly toxic and acts like an estrogen or other steroid sex hormone- - the effect of such substances on
wild life (we're discussing nature, not parties here) where these "pseudo-hormone" chemicals have
accumulated has been devastating in some cases, with male birds developing female organs and vice-
versa, e.g., and sexual development messages in other wild life being garbled. The obvious concern in
the home is that small children playing on carpets can breathe in the herbicide or ingest it when they
put their fingers in their mouths. An earlier study in one community found that 23% of the children
tested had 2,4-D in their urine. Small children have less developed immune systems and are more
susceptible to toxins of various kinds. Even adults could be at some risk in a room during or
immediately alter vacuum cleaning the carpets.
In a personal note, my wife and I spent several weeks on our own in Japan in 1963. Among other
customs we found, and enjoyed there, was the removal of shoes before entering a home, or even on
entering a ryokan (a Japanese inn with Japanese customs and styles). We thought "What a great idea!"
and since then we have always taken our shoes off as we enter our home and exchange them for house
slippers. Not only does this prevent problems like the herbicide above, but it is more hygienic in other
ways (no animal droppings tracked in, no mud, etc.).
Why not give this a try?

DISCLAIMER
Information and procedures described in this and other “Health Musings” are reported solely for
educational purposes. The author is not directly or indirectly dispensing medical advice. Although the
author believes this information to be valuable, persons using it do so entirely at their own risk.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Cliff's free holistic health papers -- week 4 ARCHIVE! Walt Stoll 10:21:04 1/11/00 (0)

In Reply to: Cliff's free holistic health papers -- week 4 posted by Cliff Garner on January 10, 2000 at 11:41:32:

Thanks, Cliff.

Once again, wonderful stuff. You have definitely done your homework. I hope you are seriously considering putting all this in a book for everyone to see.

Namaste`

Walt