(NaturalNews) Researchers from the University of Nottingham have found that a rare, wild mushroom called
cordyceps is an effective treatment for cancer. Commonly used in Chinese medicine, the cordyceps fungi inhibits the growth, division, and proliferation of cancer cells in the body.
Cordyceps was originally formulated into a cancer drug called cordycepin back in the 1950s. Though the drug version was ultimately found to be ineffective because of rapid degradation inside the body once it was administered, the active components from the mushroom continue to be effective
cancer fighters.
Depending upon dosage levels,
cordyceps mushroom extracts directly impact the process of cell
protein development, impeding the production of the mRNA molecules that create them. At high doses, cordyceps inhibits protein development directly, essentially eliminating the ability of
cancer cells to function and survive.
Since the study focused on the pharmaceutical
drug formulation derived from cordyceps, called cordycepin, lead scientist Dr. Cornelia de Moor and her team specifically sought ways to improve the effectiveness of that particular drug. Their only solution was to suggest giving another drug alongside cordycepin in order to prevent it from degrading in the
body. The team warned that the other drug causes serious side effects which may discourage its use.
Though the
research focused primarily on cordycepin, it ultimately revealed the powerful effects of cordyceps in preventing and treating cancer. The study is set to be published in the
Journal of Biological Chemistry and its authors hope that the findings will spark further research into the potential uses for cordyceps as a
cancer treatment.
Comments by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
What's really fascinating about these "new" findings are that they aren't really new at all -- this is the same information you can read in ancient
Traditional Chinese Medicine texts... if you can read ancient traditional
Chinese writings, of course.
I know many TCM practitioners and several of them can actually read the ancient texts. One book written 2,000 years ago -- yes, that's 1,900 years before
Big Pharma even existed -- teaches the healing powers of medicinal mushrooms like cordyceps.
Much of Big Pharma's modern effort has been focused on trying to isolate, pirate and patent ancient Chinese Medicine molecules. This is, of course, a form of "biopiracy" where U.S. corporations steal intellectual property from China and never pay a royalty to anyone. Interestingly, U.S.
companies don't even consider this a form of stealing. I guess "our" theft is okay but "their" theft is illegal, huh?
It's particularly interesting that China is often under fire for pirating software from U.S. companies like Microsoft, but the U.S. consistently gets away with the mass-pirating of
Chinese medicine. (Personally, I'm completely against patent protection for medicines, seeds, human genes, foods and animals.)
The truth about cordyceps is that you don't need some fabricated
cordyceptin drug to experience the benefits of cordyceps -- all you need is cordyceps itself!
Sources for this story include:http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/media/releases/2009/091223-new-insights-mushroom-d...
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health researcher, author and award-winning journalist with a passion for sharing empowering information to help improve personal and planetary health He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, reaching millions of readers with information that is saving lives and improving personal health around the world. Adams is an independent journalist with strong ethics who does not get paid to write articles about any product or company. In 2010, Adams launched NaturalNews.TV, a natural health video site featuring videos on holistic health and green living. He also founded an environmentally-friendly online retailer called BetterLifeGoods.com that uses retail profits to help support consumer advocacy programs. He's also the CEO of a highly successful email newsletter software company that develops software used to send permission email campaigns to subscribers. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and practices nature photography, Capoeira, martial arts and organic gardening. He's also author a large number of health books offered by Truth Publishing and is the creator of numerous reference website including NaturalPedia.com and the free downloadable Honest Food Guide. His websites also include the free reference sites HerbReference.com and HealingFoodReference.com. Adams believes in free speech, free access to nutritional supplements and the innate healing ability of the human body. Known as the 'Health Ranger,' Adams' personal health statistics and mission statements are located at www.HealthRanger.org
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Friday, March 19, 2010
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