Herbalist and Herbs/Shiatsu Therapy

04/13/2026

MITOCHONDRIA

The Mitochondria of the cell (a part of the cells organelles, which are of a series of small machines inside of the cell) are an interesting device that we obtained from other life forms (maybe some form of bacteria) in the
process of physical evolution millions of years ago. Mitochondria are what produce ATP. ATP is the fuel that runs the cell. As an aside:
The possibility that chemo antibiotics (Doxorubicin, Adriamycin; both commonly used) damage healthy
cell mitochondria makes sense, if the mitochondria originally came from bacteria. It is also one of the reasons for a cancer patient number 1 complaint: Fatigue). Each Mitochondria has its own set of genes (37) and its own nucleus.
Each cell varies in the amount of Mitochondria it has depending on the energy demand put on the cell.
High energy areas have higher amounts of mitochondria and in those cells Mitochondria can constitute up up to
25%of the cells volume. Two examples are liver cells which have an
average of 1000 Mitochondria per cell and heart cells which have 5000 mitochondria per cell. All mitochondria
come from the o**m not the s***m. Damage
to this area of the cell from Chemo/Radiation can be up to 10 x higher than the rest of the cell, due to
the fact that the Mitochondria has poor repair mechanisms and normally has the highest rate of free
radical production in the cell by far and in effect consumes 90% of the cells oxygen ( in the process of
producing ATP). The mitochondria has a three tiered system of producing ATP (ATP is what the cell uses
for energy): Oxidative
Phosphorylation, the Glycolytic Pathway, and the Krebs cycle. When cancer takes over the Mitochondria
of a cell , it moves toward using the Glycolytic pathway exclusively (called the Warburg Effect). The Glycolytic
pathway produces ATP the fastest, but in doing so produces a lot of waste in the process as well as
producing poor yields of ATP ( 2 molecules of ATP from 1 molecule of glucose) comparative to the Oxidative Phosphorylation( 35 molecules of ATP from 1 of glucose). The cancer uses the waste material to further its infrastructure
This is true for most cancers with the exception of early stage prostate cancers, which use fatty acids
(lipogenesis ) and Glutimate ( Glutiminosis) as fuel. Prostate cancer will eventually move to the
Glycolytic Pathways as well. Ovarian cancer switches over to this fatty acid cycle early, which is one
reasons why ovarian cancers tend to be more aggressive from the start. Most cancers will move towards
developing this Glycolytic pathway. In more advanced cancers fatty acids and glutamate can be used as
fuel rather than glucose. The glucose pathway seems the most common, in end stage cancer, where the
cancer is only using glucose and is breaking down everything to produce glucose. At this stage we are in
wasting syndrome (cachexia) and a different strategy is necessary. In general, cancer will raise glucose
and/or cholesterol levels to feed itself. Two of cancers main strengths are its ability to adapt and to take
advantage of any opportunity to advance itself.
The Glycolytic pathway produces 2 molecules of ATP per molecule of glucose: Krebs cycle produces 35
molecules of ATP per glucose molecule. That cancer chooses to use the Glycolytic pathway may seem
sloppy and without intent. Cancer does nothing without intent. All the poor by products (Lactic and
Pyruvic Acid, Superoxide and Peroxide free radicals) that appears to be waste are in fact being used by
the cancer to further its own ends. No move is wasted.
On the inner layer of the Mitochondria’s cell wall we find something called BCl 2 (named after B cell
Lymphoma). One of its jobs is to keep the cell alive. When mutated (BCL 2 is mutated in 50% of all Cancers) and owned by
the cancer, it will not allow the death signal (Capase/ Cytochrome C ) to be released in order to induce cell su***de
(Apoptosis) so that the cancer cell dies. This is part of a cancer cells drive to
immortality along with an unending production of Cancer daughter cells who will try to do the same.
Normal cells produce about 40 daughter cells before they are down regulated and die (Apoptosis). Cancer cells
produce an unlimited amount of Daughter cells and will continue to live, producing yet more cancer
daughter cells. These are things that are happening within the Mitochrondria. In order to help complete this resistance there are targets upstream (Gene Sites P53, Pten) and downstream from the Mitochondria( Survivin,Hif1) that may need to be addressed. Cancer has a strategy. Things that help Mitochondrial function and Biogenesis: Adaptogens,Phenolic
Compounds, NADH, Zinc, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Coq10, Actyl L Carnitine, Creatine, B6, B12, Folic acid.

04/13/2026

Hello All

Here is the next chapter of PROTECTING AND STRENGTHENING THE SURGERY, CHEMO AND RADIATION PATIENT

MITOCHONDRIA

The Mitochondria of the cell (a part of the cells organelles, which are of a series of small machines inside of the cell) are an interesting device that we obtained from other life forms (maybe some form of bacteria) in the
process of physical evolution millions of years ago. Mitochondria are what produce ATP. ATP is the fuel that runs the cell. As an aside:
The possibility that chemo antibiotics (Doxorubicin, Adriamycin; both commonly used) damage healthy
cell mitochondria makes sense, if the mitochondria originally came from bacteria. It is also one of the reasons for a cancer patient number 1 complaint: Fatigue). Each Mitochondria has its own set of genes (37) and its own nucleus.
Each cell varies in the amount of Mitochondria it has depending on the energy demand put on the cell.
High energy areas have higher amounts of mitochondria and in those cells Mitochondria can constitute up up to
25%of the cells volume. Two examples are liver cells which have an
average of 1000 Mitochondria per cell and heart cells which have 5000 mitochondria per cell. All mitochondria
come from the o**m not the s***m. Damage
to this area of the cell from Chemo/Radiation can be up to 10 x higher than the rest of the cell, due to
the fact that the Mitochondria has poor repair mechanisms and normally has the highest rate of free
radical production in the cell by far and in effect consumes 90% of the cells oxygen ( in the process of
producing ATP). The mitochondria has a three tiered system of producing ATP (ATP is what the cell uses
for energy): Oxidative
Phosphorylation, the Glycolytic Pathway, and the Krebs cycle. When cancer takes over the Mitochondria
of a cell , it moves toward using the Glycolytic pathway exclusively (called the Warburg Effect). The Glycolytic
pathway produces ATP the fastest, but in doing so produces a lot of waste in the process as well as
producing poor yields of ATP ( 2 molecules of ATP from 1 molecule of glucose) comparative to the Oxidative Phosphorylation( 35 molecules of ATP from 1 of glucose). The cancer uses the waste material to further its infrastructure
This is true for most cancers with the exception of early stage prostate cancers, which use fatty acids
(lipogenesis ) and Glutimate ( Glutiminosis) as fuel. Prostate cancer will eventually move to the
Glycolytic Pathways as well. Ovarian cancer switches over to this fatty acid cycle early, which is one
reasons why ovarian cancers tend to be more aggressive from the start. Most cancers will move towards
developing this Glycolytic pathway. In more advanced cancers fatty acids and glutamate can be used as
fuel rather than glucose. The glucose pathway seems the most common, in end stage cancer, where the
cancer is only using glucose and is breaking down everything to produce glucose. At this stage we are in
wasting syndrome (cachexia) and a different strategy is necessary. In general, cancer will raise glucose
and/or cholesterol levels to feed itself. Two of cancers main strengths are its ability to adapt and to take
advantage of any opportunity to advance itself.
The Glycolytic pathway produces 2 molecules of ATP per molecule of glucose: Krebs cycle produces 35
molecules of ATP per glucose molecule. That cancer chooses to use the Glycolytic pathway may seem
sloppy and without intent. Cancer does nothing without intent. All the poor by products (Lactic and
Pyruvic Acid, Superoxide and Peroxide free radicals) that appears to be waste are in fact being used by
the cancer to further its own ends. No move is wasted.
On the inner layer of the Mitochondria’s cell wall we find something called BCl 2 (named after B cell
Lymphoma). One of its jobs is to keep the cell alive. When mutated (BCL 2 is mutated in 50% of all Cancers) and owned by
the cancer, it will not allow the death signal (Capase/ Cytochrome C ) to be released in order to induce cell su***de
(Apoptosis) so that the cancer cell dies. This is part of a cancer cells drive to
immortality along with an unending production of Cancer daughter cells who will try to do the same.
Normal cells produce about 40 daughter cells before they are down regulated and die (Apoptosis). Cancer cells
produce an unlimited amount of Daughter cells and will continue to live, producing yet more cancer
daughter cells. These are things that are happening within the Mitochrondria. In order to help complete this resistance there are targets upstream (Gene Sites P53, Pten) and downstream from the Mitochondria( Survivin,Hif1) that may need to be addressed. Cancer has a strategy. Things that help Mitochondrial function and Biogenesis: Adaptogens,Phenolic
Compounds, NADH, Zinc, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Coq10, Actyl L Carnitine, Creatine, B6, B12, Folic acid.

Harry Chrissakis
HerbalistandHerbs.com
530-933-8244

01/25/2026

PROTECTING AND STABILIZING STEM CELLS
Both Chemo and Radiation can irritate and activate cancer stem cells to produce a stronger, more
aggressive cancer cell line recurrence that is resistant to the chemo/radiation and is more proliferative
as well.
Recurrence is a large problem in present day Oncology. Statistics have it that 40% of localized cancer
(post treatment) will recur and that 80% of cancers that have metastasized will recur post treatment. Most
recurrence happen between 2 and 5 years post treatment. Recurrence is no accident, cancer is no
accident. They are the result of laws playing themselves out. Remembering that 30% (I believe this is
underestimated) of patients that walk into an oncologists office will have died within 3-5 years, it really
behooves the patient to become pro active. Once you are out of treatment, you are out of sight out of
mind. Unfortunately cancer does not necessarily see it that way. It continues, quietly, but not invisibly.
Blood testing is of huge benefit in tracking cancer and keeping ahead of it. Never trust Cancer. An aside:
It is true that radiation reduces local recurrence. The problem is that recurrence happens in 3 ways: I.E.
Local : I.E. Breast cancer recurrence in the same breast. Regional: I.E. In the lymph surrounding the breast
tissue. Metastatic : the cancer has metastasizes and recurred in a different area. The majority of
recurrence is not local. Using the Breast Cancer example again, recurrence generally happens in Bone, Brain, Lungs
and Liver. Bone is the leading area for Breast Cancer metastasis and occurs up to 50% of the time as the first area of spread and up to 80% of the time in a already metastasized Breast Cancer. If we remain vigilant in blood testing post treatment, than signs of the cancer trying to make a move will start to show. So once again radiation comes into question. Tissue Fibrosis and Secondary
Cancers (Induced by the Radiation) are a very real consequence of Radiation Therapy.

Cancer Stem Cells
Cancer stem cells constitute 1% of the cancer
cell population in a tumor and are responsible for recurrent cancers post treatment Chemo and or Radiation.
Cancer stem cells are found mostly in bone marrow, which is where cancer stem cells can hide. Stem
cells need to be treated differently because their proliferative rate is much slower than aggressive
cancer cells. Chemo and
Radiation are designed for fast dividing cells. In effect the do not destroy stem cells they only irritate and activate them, which is exactly
what we do not want.. Under normal circumstances, stem cells are the basis of cell regeneration as they are
pluripotent (they have the ability to become many different types of cells as well as reproduce themselves). When cancerous, they
serve the cancer and not the host, which means they produce cancer cells which acquire what’s
called “gain of function” and in doing so become more aggressive and proliferative. It is now thought that Cancer stem cells are the cells that break away from the
host tumor and initiate and drive metastasis, often producing stronger cancers than the original strain.
This is a very complex process. It is now being postulated that metastasis occurs way earlier than
previously thought. A different model says cancer infrastructure and metastasis has been well arranged far
before we notice it and it seems
quite possible due to the fact that when many cancers are detected they are already 20-40 years old.
All cells have protective mechanisms, however
cancer stem cells have an enhanced enzymatic repair system (which can
repair possible damage from the chemo or radiation)and have a pumping system to pump out
the chemo from the cell. Cancer cells also use something called heat shock proteins to protect
themselves from attack and or other environmental shifts that may occur. There are more protective
mechanisms in both normal and cancer cells. In cancer cells these same devices protect the cancer cell
as well as helping the Cancer in producing a micro environment that is hostile to the immune system and opportunistic to the Cancer Both
slower cycling and survival signal activation help the stem cells resist the treatment. Stem cells and their
progeny possess a quality called plasticity. I.E the Cancer cells that are produced by the stem cells can, under the influence of chemo/radiation or
other pressures in the cancer micro-environment, revert back
to cancer stem cells/ and or produce more daughter cancer cells. These stem cells need to be stabilized and weakened and normal cells protected when using Radiation or Chemo. If Aldehyde
De Hydrogenase and or Ill8 and Chemokine 1 and 4 are elevated than cancer stem cell renewal
is in progress (recurrence is brewing). These markers also indicate that the cancer is gaining function and is now enhancing its strengths to resist chemo and proliferate unchecked. Three pathways that affect stem cells directly or indirectly are
WNT, Hedgehog and Notch (WNT is mutated in 30% OF Breast Cancer patients) Stabilizing these pathways is of great importance in controlling recurrence
and level of aggressiveness if recurrence happens. There are 2 sub-class of plants within the Phenolic
family known as Stilbenes and Pterostillbines, both of which have a normalizing and protective effect on Stem Cells. Stilbenes and Pterdtilbenes are deep acting and window in at protecting us and enhancing normal function. Many of the chemical components developed in these plants were created by the plant to protect the plant. When we ingest the plant as a food, spice or supplement we get a similar effect from those same plant components.
Surforafphane (extract of broccoli sprouts), Resveratrol (extract Japanese Knot w**d), Cabbage sprout
extract, extract of Wasabi and Horseradish are some of theStilbene/Pterstilbene items I would be employing. The Cardiac
Glycosides like Pluresey Rt, Lilly of the Valley, Fox Glove and Scotch Broom have a strong stabilizing
effect on stem cells. They are also excellent for reducing a powerful clotting agent called HIF1. Medicinal Mushrooms (Reishi, Turkey Tail, Chaga ect) are excellent for this purpose also. Adequate
amounts of Vit D (50+ in blood testing) will help in normalizing the cascades (Went, Notch). Adaptogens
and tonics would be added to this protocol. Being that inflammation is a driving force in cancer it is also
very important to use strong heat clearing herbs ; Scutellaria Baicalensis, Rabdosia, Feverfew, Andrographis,
Boswellia.

01/09/2026

WHEN YOU HAVE CANCER; YOU HAVE CANCER; RECURRENCE AND REALITY by Harry Chrissakis Herbalist/Natural Medicine

Sitting back and watching friends/clients/relatives play dangerous games is tough for me. What do I mean?
There is an illusion that Standard Practice Oncology is making great progress in Cancer relative to Longevity and Quality of Life. Research, Diagnostic Tech, Drug development, Surgical Technique and more have progressed as a result of great work. This progress, along with the mapping of the genome is impressive.
That being said, the most important bottom line results for the patient l is in 2 areas: Longevity and Quality of Life . My view is that some progress has been made in these 2 areas and it is generally modest in most cases and fair to good in a few specific areas. Once again I am speaking specifically about Longevity and Quality of Life. This is where statistical gaming goes on. If you take new information and put it into an archaic paradigm (one that continues to fail) what can be expected.
It’s the clients that need to be educated. Recurrence rates in the 4 major Cancer killers; Lung, Breast, Prostate and Colon range from 40-70%. Ignorance is not bliss. In dealing with Cancer you can see that recurrence is common. So if you are a cancer patient and have gone through treatment and now all your numbers look good, you may believe you can go back to your pre cancer diagnosis lifestyle. This normalizing of your cancer markers/ blood work/imagery work is what is known as a honeymoon period. Sweet, but unfortunately short. Average rate of recurrence for those mentioned cancers is 45-50%; average amount of time before recurrence is between 2-4 years. Generally these patients have done very little to prevent a recurrence due to possible ignorance, laziness and perhaps being told (post treatment by their Doc) that cancer is no longer detected. Recurrence rates prove that perspective is incomplete. Post treatment testing and client education is minimal and wishful thinking replaces it. Oncology does not have fine enough tools to determine if cancer cells are alive and well post treatment and waiting for opportunity. Neither does Natural Medicine.
One of the strengths of Natural Medicine, in this area, is in its consistent use of testing post treatment. The majority of the testing done is through the bloodstream. Post treatment testing needs to be done consistently. If there are overt cancer markers, as in Breast Cancer Ca 27-29, CEA, CA 15-3, they need to be followed. Setting baseline and then testing again later on gives you a comparison. So if numbers are moving up in those areas, we need to flesh that testing out to see if the cancer is expressing itself in other possibly predictive ways. Cancer likes thickened blood and testing Fibrinogen and D-Dimer are tests that window in on that. Cancer uses Glucose and excess Cholesterol for fuel . Checking Glucose, Insulin, and HbA1C will cover the Glucose. Cholesterol needs finer tuning with a VAP or NMR test, as both those tests yield much more information than just using gross readings of Cholesterol alone. There is more that can be seen through testing, much more. More details on a patient’s general health (this area is almost completely ignored by Docs) the cancer’s micro environment, and the behavior of the cancer itself (Live Tumor Testing, Molecular and Genomic Testing) is necessary. Blood testing is grossly under estimated relative to Cancer. Follow up post treatment is almost nonexistent. This is not about being paranoid, it is about being intelligently cautious: Like looking both ways before you cross a busy 2 way street.
Cancer is highly adaptable and can change its fuel source relative to scarcity or abundance of that fuel source(one simple example and there are many). Remembering that Cancer is opportunistic and really has a party if we help give it that green light through poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, lack of proper sleep, pathological stress response ect.. Combining this kind of negligence, along with zero to almost no testing post treatment, with an adversarial life form like Cancer is a bad bet. Luck is good, but most people lose their money at Casinos. Testing consistently catches things early if you know what to look for. Catching things early relative to the original diagnosis or recurrence gives us more opportunity to affect the cancer. As Cancer goes down the line, unimpeded in its evolutionary path, it drags many more systems into its orbit gaining evermore capacity, becoming evermore more complex and harder to treat. If you are diagnosed with Cancer, remain vigilant. I mean for years and years after. Never trust Cancer.

Harry Chrissakis, Herbalist, Natural Medicine
HerbalistandHerbs.com
530-933-8244

09/25/2025

Hello All

This is the fourth article/video on the subject PROTECTING AND STRENGTHENING THE SURGERY, CHEMO AND RADIATION PATIENT

21.Cancer is a thinking, opportunistic adversary. Everything it does is calculated and fits into a larger
strategy. Cancer is also a metabolic disease that takes over different systems and changes how they
work in order to attain its goal. The cell’s energy metabolism is a good example.

11. Short t Term Side Effects of Radiation: Treatment is usually for 4-6 weeks 5 x a week
A. Fatigue Takes 2-3 weeks of treatment before sets in
B. Skin Reactions;
C. Hair loss if head or neck area hit.
D. Nausea /Vomiting
E. Head/neck sore throat, difficulty in swallowing
F. Depending on where it hits in digestive tract; Mucositis, Enteritis, Proctitis
G. Low Blood count (White, Red, Platelets)
H. Dry mouth
G. Any area that radiation touches needs protection

25. Many of these same side effects of radiation also are part of chemotherapy’s side effects and they
will be addressed when chemo is addressed. Right now I want to cover 2 long term and very damaging
down sides of Radiation. Tissue Fibrosis and Stem Cell response. The third large problem is the Radiation
itself inducing cancer. If we control the first 2, recurrence will be minimized and if recurrence does
happen, the cancers are much less aggressive.

26. As mentioned, the type of long term damage Radiation induces is very unforgiving in the area of
Fibrosis. Fibrotic tissue is damaged tissue and the complete damaging effects may take a few years
before full fruition. Presently there is a drug to help named Trental (it is given with Vit E). It
works quite well but is hard on the gut in terms of nausea and vomiting. It is given to patients for up to 1
1 year. One of the main drivers of fibrosis is TGFb1. Trental neutralizes that growth factor.
Along with the use of this I would still be using a Natural Medicine protocol to avoid fibrosis and reduce
nausea. Without help, radiation helps create and promote solid tumors of the Lung, Bladder, Pancreas
and Colon.
Radiation on the prostate can induce Bladder cancer as a long term side effect. Radiation
increases CTC (Circulating Tumor cells) and pushes the growth factor TGB1 which is often elevated in a
metastasising cancers and the development of fibrotic tissue. It tends to make stem cells less stable
(these are the cells responsible for recurrence of cancer)

27. Natural Medicine to reduce or mitigate Fibrosis

If markers TGFb1, Gal 3, and Fibrinogen are elevated, chances are fibrosis is in progress.
Cancer, Radiation and Chemo thicken blood by inducing the production of excess fibrin. The system
that cancer takes over in this case is designed for wound healing and is known as the Fibrinolytic
System. There are two major growth factors that will induce this blood thickening scenario and they are
Hif1 and VEGf. The first leads to the second because HiF1 is upstream from Vegf. Both growth factors
are amplified/upregulated by the cancer. If we go a step further upstream from these growth factors we
can see that they are both controlled by the Tumor suppressor gene Pten. Because of the important
areas that PTEN covers, it is considered one of the main protectors of normal cells. Pten is mutated in
50% of all cancers and a mutated Pten begins to promote cancer instead of suppressing it via Hif1 and
Vegf (there are more pieces to this cascade and more ways a Pten mutation favors the cancer). This
happens when both copies of the Pten gene have been mutated, that is when Pten moves from being a
Tumor Suppressor gene( protecting the cell) to become an Oncogene (Promotes cancer cells) One other marker to check is D-Dimer( to determine blood viscosity). D-Dimer is the result of plasmin breaking down the excess fibrin and producing D-Dimer as a result. The greater the amount the more pronounced the problem.


TREATMENT to help reduce fibrosis
A. Normalize Blood LDH and Urine PH. Potassium and Sodium Bicarbonate, Quercetin, Green Drinks, Cider
Vinegar ( PH 7-7.5) Alkaline diets
B. Proteolytic enzymes ( Bromelain, Nattokinase, Serrapeptase, Lumbrokinase) and Essential Fatty acids.
C. Move Blood and Lymph. Chinese have a group of herbs called Blood Vitilizers and in the West we have
Lymphatics. We need to keep fluids moving.TCM Chinese think Cancer is a disease of stagnation and
inflamation.
D. Blood Vit: D**g Qui, Red Peony Root, Chinese Sage (Salvia Miltiorrhiza),Myrhh, Tienchi, Corydalyis
E. Lymphatics: Red Root, Colonsonia, Polk, Safflower Stamen
F. Increase oxygen exchange to tissue: Ginko, Saffron, Hawthorn, Gotu Kola, Green drinks (Vegetable
based juices and Green powder Shakes)
G. Arginine/Citruline , Agmatine Sulfate ( Dialate Arteries via nitric oxide)
H. Applying Adaptogens and Tonics. Ginseng, Shizandra,Aswaganda, Holy Basil
I. Phenolic Compounds to reduce inflammation Turmeric, Green Tea Extract,Ginko, Hawthorn

When setting up protocols, we are choosing from the herbs and supplements that fit best, which does
not have to include everything listed. However dosages of the chosen herbs and supplements are
higher than most people think. i.e. Essential fatty acids are excellent modulators of inflammation (Cox
and Loxs pathways) and to be effective in that way we need to take 3 caps 2x a day or 2 caps 3x a day( those caps
need the to contain the right amount of DHA, EPA ect. To take it a little further, in order for the essential
fatty acids to work we need adequate amounts of B6, B12, Folic Acid, Zinc and Magnesium, which are
fundamental nutrients that many patients are low on. Once again the importance of blood testing for
the patient’s general health and trying to bring it up to a optimum level so that treatments can be
effective.

Following is a short list of Medicinal Plants

List of Adaptogens List of Tonics List of Phenolic Compounds

American Ginseng D**g Qui Green Tea
Siberian Ginseng Astragalus Amla
Panax Ginseng Rehmanhia Hawthorn
Aswaganda Codonopsis Ginko
Deer Horn Asparagus RT Japanese Knotw**d
Shizandra Bacopa Rose Hips
Rhodiola He Shu Wu Tumeric
Rapunthcum Reishi Rooibois
Mumie (shilijit) Avena Elderberry

15. Keeping a person on this protocol, before, during and for a while after radiation is a necessary step
to preventing fibrosis . Keeping an eye on the markers that would indicate that fibrosis is
starting/accelerating is wise. These markers are Fibrinogen, TGB1, Gal 3.

16. Reducing resistance to Radiation follows a similar path as preventing fibrosis. Normalize the
aberrations found in the bloodstream like Insulin Resistance, excess copper; Sensitize the Cancer cells
to radiation with supplements and plant medicines like: Resveratrol, Ginko, Green Tea extract, Curcumin
(phenolic compounds), along with Adaptogens like American Ginseng, Siberian Ginseng, Aswaganda.
Supplements like Carotinoids, OPC’s and Arginine are very helpful as well. Keeping the blood and lymph
moving , increasing oxygen exchange and normalizing blood PH.
These plants help reduce Cancer cell resistance by reducing the internal defensive mechanisms of the
cancer cell as well. Some of these defensive mechanisms are things like Heat Shock Protein, Multi Drug
resistance proteins, P-Glycoprotein pump. Another results of this approach is that these programs can
selectively reduce the cancer cells Glutathione levels (primary antioxidant). If we reduce the cancer
cells repair mechanisms and anti oxidant system than if the chemo or radiation hits the cancer cell, it
cannot recover and will die. Interestingly, these natural compounds do not do these same things to
normal cells (the plant medicines are selective and cover lots of bases ). In fact they strengthen a normal
cells resistance to the damaging effects of Chemo and Radiation by up regulating their protective
capacities.

Harry Chrissakis, Herbalist, Natural Medicine
HerbalistandHerbs.com
530-933-8244

09/19/2025

06/19/2025

Hello All
this is the third Video in the series PROTECTING AND STRENGHTENING THE SURGERY,CHEMO AND RADIATION PATIENT

06/19/2025

ISSUE 3: PROTECTING AND STRENGTHENING THE SURGERY CHEMO AND RADIATION PATIENT

The following is a quote from the former director of the NIH, Dr. Vincent DeVita (Dr. DeVita is also editor and chief of The Cancer Journal and author of The Death of Cancer) on the current direction of cancer treatment in the U.S.
“At this date, we are not limited by the Science; we are limited by our ability to make good of the information and treatments we already have. Too often, lives are tragically ended not by Cancer, but by the bureaucracy that came with the nation’s investment in the war on cancer, by review boards, by the FDA, and by doctors who won’t stand by their own patients or are afraid to take a chance”
15. In order for Chemo and Radiation to be most effective, the Cancer must be relatively active (rapid cell division). A Ki67 test (which is part of a biopsy report) needs to be above 15% for chemo and radiation to work well. Ki 67 measures how fast the cells are dividing. It is only present in cells that are cycling into cell division, producing a daughter cell. Another testing method, to see how active the cancer is or has become (and to measure possible metastasis as well) is a SUV (Standard Uptake value) on a Pet Scan.
16. RADIATION. Widely used up until the late 40s, Radiation applied to diseased conditions became popular in the 1920s. Oncology as a separate medical field began in 1972. Two types of Radiation used in Cancer are External beam and BrachyTherapy. External beam being most common.
17. Length of Radiotherapy is usually 4-6 weeks; 5 days a week
18. Radiation’s success is dependent upon 2 things; First: That the cells being hit are rapidly dividing
cells (biopsy/ pathology test looking at Ki67 > 15% or S Phase, both of which indicate the rate of division
of the cancer cells. Both radiation and chemo are designed to damage fast dividing cells.
Second: That the Cancer cell is using oxidation-reduction in its energy metabolism. That is because
Radiation induces severe oxidative damage in the cell that causes it to die. Radiation directly damages
DNA and ionizes the liquid portion of the cell causing severe oxidative damage. Radiation has a
particularly damaging effect on cell lipids which are a big part of the cell’s walls as well as the
membrane that surrounds the Nucleus (where the DNA is) and the membrane that encapsulates the Mitochondria (makes the ATP for the cell). However Radiation may only succeed if the cancer cell is still using oxygen in one of its energy cycles
Part of cancer’s evolutionary plan is to mutate to the point where the cancer cell no longer uses oxygen as part of its energy cycle. This is true of most cancers with some exceptions (ovarian cancer, melanomas and early stage prostate cancers). At this point the cancer cell will only use glucose (Glycolytic pathway) as its energy source. An obvious difference between normal cells and cancer cells is that normal cells use 30% glucose and 70% oxygen as fuel and cancer cells use 70% glucose and 30% oxygen, moving towards using glucose exclusively. If there is no oxygen available (due to this Cancer induced metabolic change known as the Warburg effect) damage to
the cancer cell will be minimal to non-existent. Only normal cells will be hurt. Both radiation/chemo are
designed to damage fast dividing cells. Many normal cells have a relative fast dividing rate; Bone
Marrow, Te**es, Ovaries, Skin, Gut Lining, hair cells are also rapidly dividing cells and because of this get
caught in the crossfire. That crossfire damage can be extreme. Once tissue damage reaches fibrosis
there can be no recovery of that tissue. It becomes a burden to the body. The environment that cancer
prefers is low to no oxygen (anaerobic), with an acidic blood PH (LDH + Urine PH test) and to move
towards using glucose as its only energy source.
Cancer also prefers thickened, slow moving blood (Hypercoagulation). If these things are in place there
is a good chance that the cancer will be radio resistant.

We can test in advance to see if this is the case.
If Ca 9 (Carbonic Anhydrase 9) is elevated, Radio- resistance is likely. When Ca 9 is elevated EGFR, HER2, VEGF and MUC1 (growth factors that are 10 times higher in cancer patients) are also elevated. These are all growth factors that the cancer is controlling and using to further its evolution as well as contributing to multi drug/radio resistance. Elevated Ca9 is also indicative of micro vessel density within a tumor, which in turn means it is more resistant. To reduce Multi Drug Resistance as well as Radio Resistance the following 5 principles need to be implemented. Reduce Inflammation, Reduce Hyper-coagulation, Reduce Oxidative damage, Normalize Blood P.H. and Increase Blood Flow and Oxygenation of tissue.
To measure areas of blood quality that add to resistance, we would be looking at the following
tests. Blood thickening (hyper coagulation) can be measured through Fibrinogen, D-dimer,PAI1, Hif1.
Chemo and Radiation as well as the cancer itself all push toward hyper coagulation (Thalidomide and
Platinum based drugs are the worst). Due to this fact many cancer patients die as a result of throwing a
clot (second leading cause of death in cancer patients, first leading cause is Cachexia, which is a form of
auto digestion). This is completely avoidable. The tests just mentioned, done before getting chemo or
radiation can help avoid patients dying from throwing a clot. To measure Blood Acidity we would look at
LDH (Lactate dehydrogenase and Urine PH). If LDH is very high treating any cancer patient aggressively
(with chemo or radiation) is dangerous as the detox (cancer cell die off) could overwhelm the patient.
For measuring Inflammation in general, use a CRP, Fasting insulin, Homocystiene and Sed Rate.
Measuring over all oxidative load on the body with the tests; HbA1c, Glutathione Peroxidase, and Beta
Glucuronidation

19. As an example of how capable cancer really is; If the immune cells called Neutrophils are above 3.5 times greater than Lymphocytes in a cancer patient, it is showing that the cancer is advancing by capturing, altering (deadening parts of the Neutrophil that can harm the cancer while accentuating the parts that can serve the cancer) as well as multiplying the Neutrophils (front line immune cells, which when captured by the cancer become known as Tans, Tumor Associated Neutrophils) to use for its own purpose. At the same time the cancer is suppressing Lymphocyte production, because the Lymphocyte population poses a threat to the cancer. Cancer can develop the ability to capture immune cells and then deaden the parts of that immune cell that could be threatening to the cancer and accentuate parts of the same cell that it can use for its criminal enterprise. Some tumors have up to 50% of their weight consisting of captured immune cells. That ratio of Neutrophils to Lymphocytes can be seen on a simple CBC/Chem/Lipid/Metabolic test (which are common front line tests a Dr. gives to their patients). Checking this ratio post chemo can also act as an important diagnostic indicator of whether the chemo is being effective or not. If it is working (checking after 3 sessions) that ratio will approach normalcy (below 3.5:1). Cancer has a wide plan and relative continuous testing can help us see which way this opportunistic disorder is trying to move to gain further access.

20. An example of the combination of Fu Zheng therapy, based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), combined with Modern Oncology (from one of my teachers in Natural Medicine Donnie Yance) are the following paragraphs. This is one example of the many possibilities of combining herbs/natural medicine with chemo/radiation.
Stagnation of blood in a tumor has been confirmed as a significant factor in tumor development not only in the TCM model, but also in the western allopathic model.17, 18, 19 The microcirculation within a tumor is distorted, and there are regions within the tumor where the blood flow is sluggish. The impaired blood circulation leads to areas of poor oxygenation in the tumor. Cancer cells thrive in this hypoxic state, which promotes glycolysis and angiogenesis(the use of glucose as fuel exclusively, and the growth of veinous and arterial structures to feed the cancer cell ). Cells that survive in a low oxygen tension environment also are found to be more resistant to radiotherapy and some types of chemotherapy.20, 21
The therapeutic approach to this situation requires agents that move blood and regulate platelet aggregation. The use of anticoagulants, such as heparin, coumadin (warfarin), and even aspirin as an adjunctive treatment to chemotherapy has been shown not only to prevent blood clots, but also prevent the development of blood-borne metastases in animal laboratory studies and to improve the survival of cancer patients in clinical studies.22 There are many herbal agents that can aid in this situation, either replacing certain drugs entirely or augmenting the drug action, thus requiring less medication and therefore reducing the risk of side effects from the drugs. In a 1998 clinical trial, 90 patients received combined herbal and radiation treatment compared with 98 patients who were randomized to receive radiation treatment alone. Herbs included Astragalus membranaceous, Paeonia rubra, Ligusticum lucidum, and Angelica sinensis. The combined treatment group showed a statistically significant increase in local tumor control and overall five-year survival as compared with the group treated with radiation alone (p < 0.05). The rate of local recurrence in the intervention group was halved from 29 percent in those receiving radiation alone to 14 percent in the group receiving the herbs as well. The five-year disease-free survival was increased from 37 percent in the control group to 53 percent in the group receiving the herbs. It is postulated that this herbal formula may have improved tumor microcirculation and increased tumor blood flow, leading to an improvement in the oxygen tension inside the tumor.23
Interestingly, there also is a clear correspondence with the TCM model of cancer predisposition being associated.

Harry Chrissakis Herbalist, Natural Medicine
HerbalistandHerbs.com
530-933-8244