[Frank Woolf]

Extracts from the tree were shown to:
Effectively target and kill malignant cells in 12 types of cancer, including colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancer.

The tree compounds proved to be up to 10,000 times stronger in slowing the growth of cancer cells than Adriamycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug.

What's more, unlike chemotherapy, the compound extracted from the Graviola tree selectively hunts down and kills only cancer cells. It does not harm healthy cells.

The amazing anti-cancer properties of the Graviola tree have been extensively researched

[Frank Woolf]

All parts of the Graviola tree are used in natural medicine in the tropics including the bark, leaves, roots, fruit and fruit-seeds. Different properties and uses are attributed to the different parts of the tree.

Generally the fruit and fruit juice is taken for worms and parasites, to cool fevers, to increase mother's milk after childbirth (lactagogue), and as an astringent for diarrhea and dysentery. The crushed seeds are used as a vermifuge and anthelmintic against internal and external parasites and worms. The bark, leaves and roots are considered sedative, antispasmodic, hypotensive and nervine and a tea is made for various disorders for those purposes.*

Graviola has a long rich history of use in herbal medicine as well as a long recorded indigenous use. In the Peruvian Andes, a leaf tea is used for catarrh and the crushed seed is used to kill parasites In the Peruvian Amazon the bark roots and leaves are used for diabetes and as a sedative and antispasmodic. Indigenous tribes in Guyana use a leaf and/or bark tea of Graviola as a sedative and heart tonic. In the Brazilian Amazon, a leaf tea is used for liver problems and the oil of the leaves and unripe fruit is mixed with olive oil and used externally for neuralgia, rheumatism and arthritis pain. In Jamaica, Haiti and the West Indies, the fruit and/or fruit juice is used for fevers, parasites, as a lactagogue, and diarrhea; and the bark or leaves are used as an antispasmodic, sedative, and nervine for heart conditions, coughs, grippe, difficult childbirth, asthma, asthenia, hypertension and parasites.

Many bioactive compounds and phytochemicals have been found in Graviola as scientists have been studying its properties since the 1940's. Its many uses in natural medicine has been validated by this scientific research. The earliest studies were between 1941 and 1962. Several studies by different researchers demonstrated that the bark as well as the leaves had hypotensive, antispasmodic, vasodilator, smooth muscle relaxant and cardiodepressant activities in animals. Researchers re-verified Graviola leaf's hypotensive properties in rats again in 1991. Several studies over the years have demonstrated that leaf, bark, root, stem and seed extracts of Graviola are antibacterial in vitro against numerous pathogens and that the bark has antifungal properties. Graviola seeds demonstrated active antiparasitic properties in a 1991 study, and a leaf extract showed to be active against malaria in two other studies in 1990 and 1993. The leaves, root, and seeds of Graviola demonstrated insecticidal properties with the seed demonstrating strong insecticidal activity in a early 1940 study. In a new 1997 clinical study, novel alkaloids were found in Graviola fruit with anti-depressive effects in animals.

In an 1976 plant screening program by the National Cancer Institute, the leaves and stem of Graviola showed active cytotoxicity against cancer cells and researchers have been following up on this research ever since. Much of the research on Graviola focuses on a novel set of phytochemicals called annonaceous acetogenins. The potent antitumor, pesticidal and/or insect antifeedant properties of these annonaceous acetogenins have been reported and patented. Graviola produces these natural compounds in leaf, bark and twig tissues, and they have be documented to possess both highly anti-tumor and pesticidal properties. Active compounds from Graviola and other Annona plants have been submitted to the NIH anti-AIDS screen by Purdue University and their work is continuing with a number of other active plant species in the Annona plant family. Thus far, Purdue and/or it's staff have filed at least 9 U.S. and/or international patents on their work around the antitumorous and insecticidal properties and uses of these acetogenins.

Three separate research groups have isolated novel compounds in the seeds and leaves of Graviola which have demonstrated significant anti-tumorous, anticancerous and selective toxicity against various types of cancer cells, publishing 8 clinical studies on their findings. One study demonstrated that an acetogenin in Graviola was selectively cytotoxic to colon adenocarcinoma cells in which it was 10,000 times the potency of adriamycin (a chemotherapy drug). Cancer research is ongoing on Graviola, and four new studies have been published in 1998 which further narrow down the specific phytochemicals which are demonstrating the strongest anticancerous and antiviral properties.

In a review of these natural chemicals in The Journal of Natural Products in 1999 they noted that Annonaceous acetogenins are promising new antitumor and pesticidal agents, which are found only in the plant family Annonaceae." Chemically, they are derivatives of long-chain fatty acids. Biologically, they exhibit their potent bioactivities through depletion of ATP levels via inhibiting complex I of mitochondria and inhibiting the NADH oxidase of plasma membranes of tumor cells. Thus, they thwart ATP-driven resistance mechanisms."** In general, various annonaceous acetogenins have been documented with antitumor, antiparasitic, pesticidal, antiprotozoal, antifeedant, anthelmintic, and antimicrobial activities. There is much interest in the chemicals that have demonstrated potent antitumor properties.*

In the June issue of Cancer Letters,* Purdue researchers reported that the Annonaceous acetogenin, bullatacin, preferentially killed multi-drug resistant cancer cells because it blocked production of adenosine triphosphate, ATP, the chief energy-carrying compound in the body. In 1997, Purdue University published information with promising news that several of the Annonaceous acetogenins are not only are effective in killing tumors that have proven resistant to anti-cancer agents, but also seem to have a special affinity for such resistant cells. Cancer cells that survive chemotherapy may develop resistance to the agent originally used against them as well as to other, even unrelated, drugs. The term multi-drug resistance (MDR) has been applied to this phenomenon. Cancer research will obviously be ongoing on these important plants and plant chemicals as several pharmaceutical companies continue to research, test and attempt to synthesize these chemicals into new chemotheraputic drugs.

Graviola is safe enough that it protects healthy cells instead of killing them, doesn't cause extreme nausea or hair loss and this treatment doesn't make cancer patients drop huge amounts of weight, get weak, or compromise their immune systems.

[Frank Woolf]

Paw Paw is known to work by blocking ATP production and thus reduce the voltage of the cancer cell to the point it falls apart (apoptosis or programmed cell death). Because Paw Paw and graviola are cousins, I assume that is also the way graviola works. They are also known to build the immunity system.

Graviola Tree and Paw Paw Tree
This is one of those treatments for cancer that is fairly new, meaning it has only recently found its way onto the internet. Nevertheless, there have been a lot of scientific studies on these two products. At the current time most of the articles for Graviola and cancer come from a single source - the Health Sciences Institute (see the links below), though there are a growing number of independent articles.

I recommend graviola on the basis of several scientific articles, several testimonials, and several comments by practitioners (mostly from Brazil), however, Paw Paw is actually stronger than graviola at treating cancer. Paw Paw is the more potent of the two because of its more sophisticated and larger molecular structures. Graviola is sometimes called "Brazilian Paw Paw," which can cause some confusion.

Paw Paw is clearly more powerful than graviola when treating cancer, if the quality of the processing is comparable. However, I would take freshly cut graviola over bottled Paw Paw (but American's can't get freshly cut graviola). Graviola only has single ring compounds, while the Paw Paw's acetogenins have several double ring compounds (e.g. bullatacin) which makes Paw Paw much more powerful.

Paw Paw works (and I assume graviola as well) by slowing down or stopping the production of ATP. This in turn lowers the voltage of the cell. For normal cells, there is plenty of ATP, thus lowering the level of ATP has no effect on the cell. However, with cancer cells, due to the way they create energy (by fermentation), ATP is far more critical.

When the ATP level, and the energy of the cell level, drops to a critical level the cell falls apart. The residual pieces of the dead cancer cell are called "lysing" and I assume are similiar to other apoptosis (programmed cell death) killed cells. If that is the case, then part of the lysing is literally "eaten" by other cells (called: phagocytosed).

However, because the cancer cells in a cancer patient are frequently clusted together, a large amount of lysing can be created within a cancer patient such that high levels of clustered lysing cannot be eaten by surrounding cells. Such a situation is especially dangerous for lung cancer patients and brain cancer patients where a clustered amount of lysing can be very dangerous.

Here is some technical information on graviola:

• "The Annonaceous acetogenins discovered in graviola thus far include: annocatalin, annohexocin, annomonicin, annomontacin, annomuricatin A & B, annomuricin A thru E, annomutacin, annonacin, annonacinone, annopentocin A thru C, cis-annonacin, cis-corossolone, cohibin A thru D, corepoxylone, coronin, corossolin, corossolone, donhexocin, epomuricenin A & B, gigantetrocin, gigantetrocin A & B, gigantetrocinone, gigantetronenin, goniothalamicin, iso-annonacin, javoricin, montanacin, montecristin, muracin A thru G, muricapentocin, muricatalicin, muricatalin, muri-catenol, muricatetrocin A & B muricatin D, muricatocin A thru C muricin H, muricin I, muricoreacin, murihexocin 3, murihexocin A thru C, murihexol, murisolin, robustocin, rolliniastatin 1 & 2, saba-delin, solamin, uvariamicin I & IV, xylomaticin.
http://www.naturalpharmacy.com/learn-more/graviola
Graviola, like its cousin Paw Paw, is known to greatly enhace the effectiveness of another alternative cancer treatment - Protocel. However, generally it is recommended that Protocel not be taken with graviola or Paw Paw.

Protocel Article
Because of the similarity of Paw Paw and graviola to Protocel, there is no doubt in my mind that in order to maximize the effectiveness of these products, they should be taken in exactly the same way as Protocel. In other words, every 6 hours, EXACTLY - 24 hours a day.

I would strongly recommend studying the Protocel article linked to above for information that will help you take these products.

Paw Paw has been shown to kill multiple-drug resistant (MDR) cells, which result from someone taking chemotherapy. This is critical to understand because when a person on orthodox treatments comes out of remission into regression, a high percentage of their cancer cells are MDR cells. This would REQUIRE the use of Paw Paw to treat these patients.

Paw Paw is not toxic according to studies with beagles (dogs). It appears to be impossible to 'overdose', 32 capsules 4x/day were non toxic because it caused vomiting.

Paw Paw gravitates towards cells that use a lot of energy and then cuts off their energy supply. Since cancer cells use 10-17 times as much energy as a normal cell, Paw Paw acts on cancer cells. It is the same mechanism that made it so useful as a parasite cleanse and to kill hair lice.

It is also the reason that pregnant women should not take Paw Paw. Paw Paw could see some of the fast growing cells in the fetus as high energy cells. In addition, some of the cells in a fetus are very similar to cancer cells (i.e. the "trophoblastic" cells), so pregnant women should ALWAYS be careful what they take for cancer.

If no cancer, parasite, or other high energy users are available, Paw Paw may gravitate towards fast growing cells lining the digestive and intestinal system walls. This is why the main manufacturer, Nature's Sunshine, strongly cautions against long term use for non-cancer patients. Some people with cancer have reported digestion distress such as nausea. For this reason it is recommended to take Paw Paw with food.

Warnings For Both Products
In the past, it was thought that the effectiveness of Paw Paw, like Protocel, was damaged by taking antioxidants with Paw Paw. However, new research has shown that this is not the case.

• "The head of NSP research, Dr. Bill Keller, provided Paw Paw with supporting products to a research oncologist and his laboratory to test with actual cultures. Several of Nature's Sunshine strong antioxidants were also provided. The research personnel concluded overwhelmingly that there was no negative prevention of Paw Paw action as a result of the antioxidants."

Important Note: The above email is not the end of the story. Nature's Sunshine researchers are still looking into this issue because there are some antioxidants that DO increase ATP energy, which would conflict with the use of Paw Paw, graviola and Protocel.

Also, I do not know which antioxidants may conflict with graviola. If you buy graviola, check with the vendor for recommendations.

No one with Parkinsons Disease should take Paw Paw or graviola unless alkaloid-free preparations are used. There is also a possibility of allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Supercharging This Treatment
Paw Paw is generally considered stronger than graviola. This does not mean that graviola should not be used. Cat's Claw and Ellagic Acid seem to be items that people like to combine with Graviola. However, if you take Cat's Claw make sure you take a product like Samento, which is a TOA-free Cat's Claw.

[piolenc]

Frank, do you have a list of primary references (i.e. not marketing materials) on the therapeutic properties of Graviola or its cousins? I've been reading a lot of thirdhand information, but would like to see the actual studies. Once I have a list of references I will try to get the papers themselves, and if I do they'll be made available to all through my web site: http://www.archivale.com/ and to others on this forum directly.

[Frank Woolf]

No, sorry I don't.

I should maybe point out here that although I ignore any info I find published by anyone who is making money out of whatever they make from a plant, my intention is not to post only scientifically proven facts. Many plants have medicinal uses that are well known in many countries so there is no value in waiting for the scientists to catch up.

My purpose is to post and discuss anything that seems valid and get feedback, especially from those who have tried it. Sometimes we may get a consensus of opinion saying its great, sometimes useless and sometimes a mix of both.

As I see it, getting feedback from people who have tried it has more value and of course posting the information gives people the opportunity to test the plants for themselves.

A few simple examples for me were:
1) Aloe Vera. I have some in the garden and tried it on a burn. Not only did it stop the pain, the pain never even came back. It was much more effective than burn creams I have bought from drug stores.
2) buko juice for stomach and urine problems. It works great when my stomach is unsettled and it even rapidly cured my dog when he had problems urinating.
3)Basil/Mint as a mosquito repellent. I planted one basil plant at the front of the house and have not seen a mosquito there since I planted it.

There are more that I have tried and proved to myself which is partly what prompted me to start this forum.

I am hoping many others will post what they know, especially those with local knowledge.

[piolenc]

Originally Posted by Frank Woolf

No, sorry I don't.

I should maybe point out here that although I ignore any info I find published by anyone who is making money out of whatever they make from a plant, my intention is not to post only scientifically proven facts.

I am hoping many others will post what they know, especially those with local knowledge.

That's fine, but your earlier posts specifically mentioned scientific studies; It would be nice to be able to look them up.

[Frank Woolf]

I haven't yet found the research referred to but this site may give you the info.
http://www.pawpawresearch.com/

[Razzman]

Originally Posted by Frank Woolf

Warnings For Both Products
In the past, it was thought that the effectiveness of Paw Paw, like Protocel, was damaged by taking antioxidants with Paw Paw. However, new research has shown that this is not the case.

•"The head of NSP research, Dr. Bill Keller, provided Paw Paw with supporting products to a research oncologist and his laboratory to test with actual cultures. Several of Nature's Sunshine strong antioxidants were also provided. The research personnel concluded overwhelmingly that there was no negative prevention of Paw Paw action as a result of the antioxidants."

Hello Frank. Let me introduce myself. I live in a suburb of Buffalo, New York and last year was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Last March, I had a biopsy done and was found to have a very small tumor in one of the slides taken. With a Gleason of 3+3 and only a small amount of tumor on one biopsy slide of 8, my original doctor suggested that I have the radioactive seed implant done. I got a second opinion from Roswell Park in Buffalo and they said that the best treatment would be the radical surgery to completely remove the prostate. Both of those have some serious side effects that I don't want to go through.

To make a long story short, this fall I started using several vitamins suppliments that seem to be working. I changed my diet and limit my intake of sugar, snacks and started eathing more fruits and vegetable like tomatoes, carrots and broccoli. The suppliments I am taking are vitamin D, E, C, zinc, and other natural supplements such as selenium, zinc, saw palmetto, cat's claw, garlic, pumpkin seeds (another source of zinc), licorice root, New Chapter's Zyflamend, New Chapter's Prostate 5LX and Wholemega.

In my latest blood work in October showed that my PSA level dropped from 5.2 to 4.3 and that's good. My doctor said he doesn't think I need surgery now with the PSA dropping and my change in diet.

I just purchased Nature's Sunshine Paw Paw, but upon reading several warnings about antioxidants neutralizing the effects of Paw Paw, I am wondering if I should stop taking the above mentioned suppliments while I take Paw Paw? I thought about getting a lot of my vitamin C and other vitamins from juices and fruit while I am taking Paw Paw.

I would greatly appreciate your input on what I should do when I start using the Paw Paw I purchased. Thank you.

[Frank Woolf]

Sorry but it seems like you know more about it than I do so I can't offer much advice. I am just collecting what appears to be valid information and posting it here so others can try it, comment on it, discuss alternatives, and confirm or deny that these things work from their own experience.

Your post is valuable in that it comes from real experience.

To try to answer your question. The post you quoted does say that new research shows the effectiveness of Paw Paw, is not damaged by taking antioxidants.

I started taking fresh guyabano myself but found it contained huge amounts of sugar so being diabetic I had to stop taking it.

I haven't posted the information yet but apparently another good cancer fighter is asparagus, fresh, or canned.

I myself had surgery for colon cancer five years ago and so far there is no sign of it returning. I refused any chemo therapy and instead changed my diet. I eat very little red meat, but eat lots of veggies. I also have a friend who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in many areas. She has improved significantly by eating loads of veggies and fruit, including guyabano.

[Razzman]

Originally Posted by Frank Woolf

I started taking fresh guyabano myself but found it contained huge amounts of sugar so being diabetic I had to stop taking it.

I haven't posted the information yet but apparently another good cancer fighter is asparagus, fresh, or canned.

I myself had surgery for colon cancer five years ago and so far there is no sign of it returning. I refused any chemo therapy and instead changed my diet. I eat very little red meat, but eat lots of veggies. I also have a friend who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in many areas. She has improved significantly by eating loads of veggies and fruit, including guyabano.

I have gotten quite a few ebooks and doing a lot of reading on althernative cancer cures since October. One of them was about using food grade hydrogen peroxide. I read the book and ordered the 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide and have been using it since them, mostly with it in a nasal spray and spraying it in the back of my throat. Have been using a diluted solution of it also at times in distilled water.

I first found out about that from the web site Natural Cures about a "miracle natural cure for cancer." Check out this video, it's pretty amazing...

http://www.thecancercurevideo.com/

After watching the video, they have a great explanation of what causes cancer and what can eliminate the cancer cells...

http://www.thecancercurevideo.com/LandingPage.htm

I did a lot of research on the possibility of Hyrdogen Peroxide as a great treatment for cancer. One of the sites I found was a hospital that now treats people with hydrogen peroxide intravenously and with oral doses. It's in Santa Monica and maybe this is the wave of the future if orthodox medicine finally embraces it...

http://curezone.com/diseases/cancer/h2o2.asp

I also have asthma and with my company changing over to a consumer-driven insurance plan next year and me being on Advair, I had to find an alternative natural cure for my asthma. I found that it lies in how I breathe.

What if the best cure for preventing cancer is something that is absolutely free? All these supplements and vitamins are a great start, but in fighting the actual cause of cancer there may be a cure that we have access to every second of the day. What is this magnificiant cure for cancer that even doctors and scientists don't know about? It's breathing! What's more, it's the way we breathe that could be causing cancer and other diseases.

Here's a part of a ebook on breathing exercises called "The Buteyko Technique" which is supposed to also help cancer...

http://www.normalbreathing.com/nb-word/book-big-Ch1.php

I will talk to you more about all the research I have been doing, maybe making a new thread on what I have found thus far. I want to eventually write my own ebook on all this to share what I have discovered.