Laura A. James, ND, FABNO Janile Martin, ND, ARNP, LAc

Laura A. James, ND, FABNO
Janile Martin, ND, ARNP, LAc

What is Complementary
Medicine?
1980’s “alternative” medicine as
opposite to “mainstream”
Either/Or approach1 1990’s termed “complementary”
medicine
Patients used the two systems of health
care—mainstream and alternative—
simultaneously2 1. Furnham A. Social Science Medicine 1988;26(7):685-689.
2. Eisenberg DM. NEJM 1993;328:246-252.
JAMES & MARTIN

What is Complementary
Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine
Biofeedback
Massage and other types of bodywork
Visualization and hypnotherapy
Healing touch
Counseling
JAMES & MARTIN

What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Science-based holistic approach treats
body, mind, spirit
Use of body’s innate healing power
Use of natural substances to promote
healing
Herbs, nutrition, supplements, physical
therapies, natural drugs, counseling,
homeopathy and biofeedback
Pharmaceutical drugs if needed
Complementary to and supportive of
conventional treatment for cancer
JAMES & MARTIN

Complementary Medicine Use by Oncology
Patients
Up to 83% of cancer patients use CAM
nationally 1
Women more likely to use than men
Breast cancer patients more likely to use CAM therapies
70 .2% of cancer patients use CAM in
western Washington 2
Nutritional, massage, herbs, spiritual, relaxation, imagery, exercise,
lifestyle, diet
(1) Richardson MA. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2000;18(13):2501-2504
(2) Patterson RE. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2002:8 (4):477-485.
JAMES & MARTIN

What is Naturopathic Medicine
for Cancer?
Symptom management during treatment
Nutritional and metabolic support
Restoration of health post active treatment
Provide the tools for proactive survivorship
Focus on prevention and reducing risk of
recurrence
JAMES & MARTIN

Frequent Symptoms Post-Cancer
Treatment
Dysregulated metabolism: Insulin resistance,
weight gain
Chemical Menopause, Infertility
Fatigue
Digestive disruption
Insomnia, depression, anxiety
Cardiovascular impact
Neuropathy
Cognitive impairment
Reduced bone density
7

Focus on Natural Compounds
Curcumin
Green Tea
CoQ10
Carnitine
JAMES & MARTIN

Curcumin
Curcuma longa; spice from ginger family used
in Eastern cuisines
Curcuminoids
JAMES & MARTIN

Curcumin
JAMES & MARTIN

Curcumin
Anti-tumor: anti-inflammatory, pro-apoptotic,
inhibits tumor cell proliferation, anti-angiogenic
Inhibits NFkB, EGFR activation, TK activity of
HER2/neu receptor, chemokines (IL-8)
JAMES & MARTIN

Curcumin
Regulates NFkB gene products, COX-2,
cyclin D1, adhesion molecules, MMPs,
inducible nitric oxide synthetase, Bcl-2,
Bcl-XL,
and TNF.
Radiosensitization of cancer cells and
radioprotection of normal cells
JAMES & MARTIN

Curcumin
Curcumin administration increased body weight,
decreased serum TNF-alpha levels, increased
apoptotic tumor cells, enhanced expression of p53
molecule in tumor tissue, and modulated tumor
cell apoptotic pathway in patients with colorectal
cancer.
He Z. Cancer Invest. 2011, Mar;29(3):208-13.
Combined isoflavones and curcumin lowered PSA
levels and suppressed androgen receptors in
patients with prostate cancer.
Ide H. Prostate. 2010 Jul 1;70(10):1127-33.
JAMES & MARTIN

Curcumin
Bioavailability
of pure
curcumin is
poor
When
combined with
a fat, it’s
better
absorbed
JAMES & MARTIN

Green Tea
•
•
•
•
Most beneficial compound is EGCG or
epigallocatechin-3-gallate
Enhancement of apoptosis, suppression
of cell proliferation, and inhibition of
angiogenesis
EGCG helps with DNA repair
Can act as a strong topoisomerase
inhibitor like the drugs etoposide and
doxorubicin
JAMES & MARTIN
Camillia sinensis

Green Tea
Significant reduction in serum levels of
PSA, HGF, and VEGF in men with prostate
cancer after brief treatment with EGCG,
with no elevation of liver enzymes.
McLarty J. Cancer Prev Res. 2009 Jul;2(7):673-82.
Associated with a slight reduction in body
weight and improved HDL and glucose
homeostasis in overweight breast cancer
survivors.
Stendell-Hollis NR. J Hum Nutr Diet 2010 Dec; 23(6):590-600.
JAMES & MARTIN

CoEnzyme Q10
COQ10 resides in the
energy-producing part of
cells and is involved with
producing a key molecule
known as adenosine-5triphosphate
(or ATP).
18

Co-Enzyme Q10 & Cardioprotection
Commonly Needed With: Adriamycin, Herceptin
79 patients treated with Adriamycin or Daunorubicin
CoQ10 administered day before, day of and 2 days following
chemo (40 pts)
No significant differences in complete remission and mortality
No significant differences in alopecia, fever, nausea and vomiting
Incidences of diarrhea and stomatitis were significantly reduced
EKG: Depression of ST waves and changes in T waves found in
20 of 40 patients given CoQ10 (50.0%) and in 18 of 25 receiving
none (72.0%)
29 patients received chemo for 8 weeks or more: 17 were treated
with CoQ10; 64.7% vs. 91.7% EKG aggravation
- Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 1984 Jul;11(7):1420-7.

CoQ10 & Tamoxifen
Tamoxifen therapy is found to cause
hypertriglyceridemia by reducing activity of
lipolytic enzymes on triglycerides, and
thereby increasing the risk of
cardiovascular disease.
Recent study has found that coadministration
of Coenzyme Q 10 (100 mg)
along with tamoxifen (10 mg, twice a day)
to breast cancer patients reduced the level
of angiogenesis markers and lipid levels.
Biofactors. 2008;32(1-4):151-9.
20

CoQ10 & Tamoxifen
84 breast cancer patients were randomized
to receive a daily supplement of 100 mg
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), 10 mg riboflavin
and 50 mg niacin (CoRN) one dosage per
day along with 10 mg tamoxifen (TAM)
twice a day.
Patients supplemented with CoRN for 45 d
(group IV) and 90 d (group V) along with
tamoxifen significantly reduced CEA and
CA 15-3 levels.
Biol Pharm Bull. 2007 Feb;30(2):367-70.
21

Acetyl L-
Carnitine
Acetyl-L-carnitine is an amino acid (a
building block for proteins) that is naturally
produced in the body. It helps the body
produce energy.
22

Acetyl-L-carnitine & PN
Neuroprotective and Neurotrophic; no chemo
interaction.
1000mg IV for 10-20 days with pts receiving Cisplatin
and/or Paclitaxel. 73% pf pts showed at least one
grade of improvement.
Tumori. 91:135-138, 2005
1000mg IM for 10 days, then 2000mg PO for 20 days
demonstrated benefit in cancer patients with persisting
neurotoxicity induced by different origins.
Promoted recovery of nerve conduction velocity,
induced analgesia and restored the mechanical
nocioceptive threshold. Safe, no interference with
metabolic pathways.
Clinical Drug Invest. 1998:15(2)73-79
23

Acetyl-L-Carnitine & PN
Study: Human Trial for 8 weeks in 25 patients with
neuropathy grade > 3 during paclitaxel or cisplatin
therapy, or grade > 2 persisting for at least three months
post drug infusion
○ Acetyl-L-Carnitine: 1 gram TID for 8 weeks
○ Patients were evaluated by an independent neurologist
Sensory neuropathy improved in 60% of patients
Motor neuropathy in 79% of patients
Total neuropathy score improved in 92% of patients
○
Symptomatic improvement persisted in 12 of 13 patients
after 13 months.
European Journal of Cancer. 2005 July;41:1746 –
50.

Board Certification in
Naturopathic Oncology
FABNO
Stringent credentialing process to
ensure compentency in naturopathic
oncology
Application of art and science of
naturopathic medicine to the field of
cancer care and treatment
JAMES & MARTIN

A Note About Product Quality
Formulation of product
Does it deliver what
you want it to?
Evidence
Scientific theory
Clinical anecdote
Clinical pilot study
Clinical trial
Clinical practice
Final product quality
Is what’s in the bottle
what’s on the label ?
USP – United Sates
Pharmacopoeia
GMP – Good
Manufacturing
Procedure
26

Quality Standards
Participating Organizations
27

Laura A. James, ND, FABNO
Janile Martin, ND, ARNP, LAc
Red Cedar Wellness Center
www.redcedarwellness.com