The Gifts of the Magi - Cancer's Triple Threat!

If you’re stumped by what to get the cancer patients on your gift-giving list this Christmas, well, you just might wish to consider the very same offerings brought to the Christ Child Himself.

Frankincense, myrrh, and gold may very well be just as appropriate a gift today as it was in the days of old.

FRANKINCENSE
Frankincense, (Boswellia), is a respected herb which has been used in Egypt, China and India for about 5,000 years. It is an ingredient used in incense and perfumes for thousands of years. For religious purposes it has been used in the ritual of anointment.

 
Frankincense contains various boswellic acids shown to cause apoptosis (cell death) of cancer cells, particularly brain tumors and cells affected by leukemia or colon cancer.

 
The cool thing about boswellia is its propensity to help calm and de-stress the mind, making it a soothing agent for all cancer cases. Come to think of it, it would make a soothing agent for ALL of us who are caught up in the pre-holiday frenzy!

MYRRH
Myrrh also has been used for centuries. This yellow gum, bitter tasting and fragrant, has been found in ointment, perfume, incense, and embalming fluid.

 
Researchers have discovered a property of an extract from myrrh that is a potent anti-cancer compound called commiphora myrrha. It has been shown to zap breast tumor cells in the lab, even those resistant to certain anti-cancer drugs.

 
One of the special “gifts” of this gift is its ability to activate the blood, making it less “sticky” and less viscose. This has particular implications when it comes to cancer because when blood is less sticky, circulation is improved and cancer is less likely to develop, or metastasize when cancer is already present. Herbs such as myrrh, (and frankincense, too, for that matter), dilate the capillaries, improving the micro-circulation to bring nutrition to cells and remove waste.

GOLD
The bright and shiny metal that is gold is an appreciated gift by many.  Agree? Particularly if it is fashioned into a fine piece of jewelry… a ring, a watch, a necklace. And cancer patients probably love these things as much as you and I.

 
However, they just might find the humble golden spice version, in the form of turmeric, even more valuable. Here’s why:

Turmeric is an Indian spice which contains curcumin, an anti-cancer substance.

 
It interferes with the cancer process and facilitates with the cancer healing process in about twenty five marvelous ways!

 
It may be interesting to note that the incidence of the top four cancers in the U.S. and Canada – colon, breast, prostate, and lung – is ten times lower in India.

 
In a Phase II clinical trial at MD Anderson Center, where 8 grams of turmeric a day were given for 2 months to 25 patients with pancreatic cancer, the study showed it to be about as effective as the 2 FDA approved drugs for this type of cancer.

 
In animal studies, when turmeric was combined with fish oil, tumor growth was reduced by 70%. Black pepper helps increase its absorption.

 
Although curcumin is not recommended with most chemotherapies, it is very useful in radiation therapy, improving safety and efficacy.

 
So, those are some gift suggestions. Another might include, simply, your presence. We all love that.