Each person follows his own path to find alternative medicine. Some are raised with it from childhood. Some learn about it as adults, maybe through the experiences of a friend or colleague. But in my years in the CAM community, I’ve noticed something worth pointing out: Most people turn to alternative medicine when conventional medicine fails them.
When you’re healthy, with only the occasional cold or pain to worry about, mainstream medicine seems just fine. Take two pills and call me in the morning. But when your unexplained symptoms just won’t go away, and doctor after doctor fails to help, that’s when a lot of people take matters into their own hands.
There are dozens of chronic conditions for which conventional medicine has no cure and no treatment. And time and again, the people that suffer with them turn to CAM for answers.
Just this week I came across a study about one of those answers. It’s a safe, all-natural, supplement that has been proven to address some of the most common “incurable” diseases.
It’s called chlorella pyrenoidosa, and it’s a type of green algae that has naturally grown in fresh water for over 2 billion years. It’s the richest plant source of chlorophyll on earth, and it also contains a whole host of essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. In animal studies, chlorella has been shown to stimulate the production of immune system factors like macrophages, leukocytes, and interferon and may also be able to fight cancer and prolong life. Based on these promising results, researchers in Japan set out to see how chlorella could help people respond to some of the most challenging health problems. And here’s what they found out
Secret from the bottom of the sea may relieve symptoms of fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is one of the worst of the “incurables.” People with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) suffer with constant aches and pains, sleep disorders, fatigue, headaches, and stiffness. Worst of all, they may go undiagnosed for years, as mainstream doctors doubt their symptoms or tell them it’s “all in your head.” Conventional medicine has little or nothing to offer these people – but new research shows that chlorella may offer them hope.
In two separate clinical trials, researchers found that daily therapy with 10 grams of chlorella in tablet form and 100 milliliters of chlorella liquid extract brought improvements in pain, sleep, and anxiety – all common measures of FMS severity. After three months, 62 percent of the FMS patients taking the chlorella scored better on pain assessment measures – an improvement that was not seen when the same patients took a placebo. Overall, 71 percent of the participants said that chlorella helped to improve their fibromyalgia symptoms, with no side effects.
Seaweed extract can treat symptoms of ulcerative colitis
It’s another one of those horrible conditions that conventional medicine just can’t seem to treat. People with ulcerative colitis endure abdominal pain and chronic diarrhea, which can strike at any time. As you can imagine, this disease can seriously impact sufferers’ quality of life, and can lead to more serious complications like anemia, dehydration, and malnutrition. Prescription drugs offer relief to some, but thousands of people still live their lives just waiting for the next attack.
According to this research, chlorella could help them prevent their next attack before it hits. In a study of eight people with ulcerative colitis, scientists found that chlorella significantly improved patients’ symptoms. Each participant took 10 grams of chlorella in tablet form and 100 milliliters of chlorella liquid extract each day for two months. Then, participants completed a 32-question survey, noting the supplement’s effect on four areas: symptoms related to the primary bowel disturbance, systemic symptoms, emotional impact, and social impact. The results showed strong improvement across the board. The participants also reported that they felt the severity of their attacks lessen considerably soon after they began taking chlorella, and that their symptoms continued to reduce or remained stable over the course of the study.
It’s always rewarding to find another option for those who suffer from these painful and challenging conditions. But studies have shown that chlorella may have broader applications, as well. In other human research, chlorella has shown promise in fighting cancer, lowering cholesterol, and lowering blood pressure. In one study, chlorella was found to be as effective as prescription drugs in lowering blood pressure for the majority of hypertensive patients. As research continues, I’m sure we’ll hear more about how chlorella’s antioxidant powers and immune-boosting properties can impact a whole host of health concerns.
But if you suffer with fibromyalgia or ulcerative colitis, you want to find relief right NOW. Luckily, you can order chlorella on-line or over the phone and have it delivered to your home within days. Both the fibromyalgia and colitis studies used a chlorella formulation called Sun Chlorella, which uses a patented process that improves the algae’s bioavailability without compromising its nutritional value. You can order directly from Sun Chlorella by visiting their website at sunchlorella.com, or by calling their toll-free customer service line at 1-800-829-2929 ext. 55.
For all of us at the Institute, let me say we’re glad to be a part of your alternative medicine journey. We hope we’ve helped point you in some new directions, and we hope that we’ve helped you find some answers – answers that conventional medicine couldn’t offer.
Source:
Journal of American Nutraceutical Association; Vol. 4, No. 2, Summer 2001 pg. 31-38.
Copyright 1997-2002 by Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C.
