I read about many methods of making the tea. One says that alcohol must be used to extract the beneficial substances. Another says to boil the bark vigorously in water. Another says to steep in water <125 degrees F (< 52 degrees C), and soak for 24 hours. I decided on the third method.
Just for example, I may have had either no result, or a negative result, from using curcumin when I was still at the MGUS stage. My first light chain protein test was 800. The doctor had me back for another test in 3 months. My light chains jumped to 5000, bone marrow biopsy showed 90% plasma cells. I quit the curcumin, started RVD (Revlimid, Velcade, dexamethasone) chemo, and the light chains have dropped from 5000 to 2000 after the first cycle.
I'm not necessarily blaming the curcumin for the jump in proteins. It may have happened in spite of the curcumin, or because the particular supplement I used was ineffective. But I sometimes wonder about the logic of using powerful antioxidants while cancer cells are proliferating. Are these "smart" enough to see through the chemical "camouflage" that cancer cells wear? I'd hate to think that the curcumin protected the new cells from damage
On chemotherapy, aren't we trying to KILL cells?Back to the chaga. I searched for the most skeptical information I could find, and the ONLY negative comment I did find was from a Famous Cancer Hospital's website which said that it "may interfere with the action of some medications". That's all it said. Chaga's advocates claim that it DOES recognize cancer cells, among various other claims of heath benefit.
Any experiences?
BTW, I also quit smoking, figuring that if anything might interfere with chemo, it might be the hourly toxin dump I was subjecting my body to.
