WE APOLOGIZE IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS EMAIL IN ERROR. CLICK HERE IF YOU WISH TO UNSUBSCRIBE. PLEASE DO NOT USE YOUR REPLY BUTTON TO RESPOND TO THIS NEWSLETTER--USE THIS LINK INSTEAD. If you can't see the graphics, click: https://sparkyfightsback.com/newsletter/current-issue.html

Vol. I, Issue #6    Free Newsletter    Published Monthly by SparkyFightsBack.com

  December, 2005          medicine from trees...

Recent News, Events and Tips on Animal Cancer
Compiled For All Animal Caretakers by Josée Clerens and John Clifton, Co-Authors of "Sparky Fights Back: A Little Dog's Big Battle Against Cancer"
   Click to subscribe or unsubscribe.            Forward this newsletter to a friend!
 


in this issue

Authors' Corner

Artemisinin and Cancer

Vaccination Caveats

Sparky For Christmas!

Subscribe

Archives



 

fact of the month:
In the 1970's a typical dog received 2 vaccinations by the age of six months.  By 1995 the number had risen to as high as 45.

AUTHORS' CORNER

Warmest Wishes

We sincerely send you all our best wishes for this holiday season. Consider this newsletter our gift to you. We work very hard to provide the most useful information that we can find on preventing and treating canine cancer. If it helps you in any way, we'll feel good about that. 

It would be nice if we could afford a large staff and had funding to pay for the time and effort spent, but your reactions and expressions of appreciation keep us going on a volunteer basis. We continue to resist taking on any advertising, since we feel that would compromise the information we provide.

This issue covers a herb called "artemisinin" and more info regarding the dangers in vaccinations. The artemisinin article is a little long, but we feel that the topic deserves the attention.

Thanks to all who have taken advantage of the Sparky Fights Back holiday promotion. This sale (nearly over, whew!) has kept the three of us (including Sparky) busy signing all those copies!! Also, you might have noticed that Sparky Fights Back has just been released as an e-book. We did this to provide the book instantly to those who'd rather not wait for the postman or their local bookstore. We also made it printable - so you can have a copy to take around.

Again, thanks to all for your support. Merry Christmas, and wishing you success in all your battles,

-- Josée and John

Got ideas? Please continue to e-mail news items to us at authors@sparkyfightsback.com .  


NEW USE FOR AN OLD HERB 

Artemisinin and Cancer 

While we are affirmatively open-minded about alternative medicine, we're usually suspect of herbal cures, the main reason being that there is very often little scientific data to back up the claims made for them. One of our readers recently made us aware of a compound derived from the wormwood tree ("sweet Anne") called "artemisinin." This one seems to have some pretty amazing science behind it.

Artemisinin has been traditionally used in Asia to treat malaria, and it was only a decade or so ago that this compound became a standard recognized cure for this disease. Asians had been making a tea of the stuff, and curing their malaria with it. In 1993 a researcher at the University of Michigan discovered what made artemisinin tick. In a nutshell, when artemisinin comes into contact with iron in the blood's "hemozoin", it converts the iron into a toxic chemical that attacks and kills the malaria parasite. You may have read recently about the anticipation of a malaria vaccine within a few years. This vaccine, as we understand it, will be based upon artemisinin.

In 1999, two research professors at the University of Washington at Seattle, Henry Lai, Ph.D. and Narendra Singh, M.B.B.S, became interested in the way artemisinin reacted with iron molecules. Cancer cells, like malaria parasites, collect and store iron. 

The following is quoted from an article published on the Web site of the Northeast Herbal Association:

"Cancer cells need extra iron to replicate DNA when they divide," explained Professor Lai. "As a result, cancer cells have a much higher concentration of iron than normal cells do. When we began to understand how artemisinin works, I wondered if we could use that knowledge to target cancer cells."

In research published in 1995 in the journal Cancer Letters and in the November 2001 journal Life Sciences, Professors Lai and Singh found that artemisinin killed all of the human leukemia and breast cancer cells in a test tube within 8 to16 hours while leaving nearly all of the normal cells unharmed.

Here is the part that particularly piqued our interest:

In 1999, Professors Lai and Singh pioneered canine research on artemisinin when, in collaboration with Tejinder Sodhi, DVM, of the Animal Hospital of Lynnwood in Lynnwood, Washington, they treated a male Golden Retriever whose bone tumor caused acute lameness. 

Despite a very low dose and short treatment time (artemisinin was then expensive and the project lacked funding to buy more), the dog recovered after 10 days of treatment, gaining weight and walking normally, with x-rays showing signs of bone remodeling. 

In another case, a 7-year-old male Basset Hound was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma of the lymph nodes. After three 5-day treatments separated by intervals of three to five days, the diameter of inguinal and submandibular, right and left, lymph nodes were reduced to half. 

Both dogs recovered without further treatment.

We informed Sparky's veterinarian about this work coming out of the Washington project. She contacted the researchers and they provided her with the information she requested. As a result, she has begun prescribing artemisinin for some of her cancer patients. Apparently, this treatment works better on animals whose cancer is not too far along, compared to those with advanced cases. We understand that artemisinin is generally safe, with few or no side effects. Still, if you are interested, do your homework first and/or consult with your vet.

For information regarding cancer research and treatment using artemisinin, contact Professor Henry Lai, Ph.D., University of Washington, Seattle. Phone 206-543-1071, email hlai@u.washington.edu .

For information regarding canine cancer research using artemisinin, contact Kristen Kellar-Graney, Washington Cancer Institute, Washington, DC. Phone 202-877-3390, www.sarcoma.org , email kporkchop@hotmail.com.

Holley Pharmaceuticals (1400 North Harbor Boulevard #550, Fullerton CA 92835, phone 1-866-8HOLLEY or 714-871-7070, www.holleypharma.com ) sells artemisinin in 50-mg capsules (60 for $24.99, retail price) and 100-mg capsules (60 for $42.50). Holley offers wholesale prices and discounts for health care professionals.

Holley Pharmaceuticals artemether (40-mg softgels and tablets), artesunate (50-mg capsules), and other products derived from artemisinin are available only to healthcare professionals, research scientists, or customers living outside the United States. For information on these products, contact manager@holleypharma.com .

Allergy Research Group in Hayward, CA (phone 1-800-545-9960, www.allergyresearchgroup.com ) offers three supplements derived from Sweet Annie that are sold in health food stores. Artemisia capsules contain 500 mg powdered Artemisia annua (120 capsules, $27, retail price); Artemisia Forte II capsules contain 150 mg Artemisia annua, 10 mg artemisinin, and 125 mg citrus seed extract (90 capsules, $40); and artemisinin capsules contain 100 mg artemisinin (90 capsules, $24).

For further information, you and your vet can check out the following websites. There are three extracts from the wormwood that have medical applications: artesunate, artemether, and artemisinin. The websites contain full information and sources for purchasing the compounds:

http://www.northeastherbal.org/articles/articleartemisinin.htm

http://www.dogaware.com/specific.html 


VACCINATIONS: DISEASE FIGHTERS? OR DISEASE INVITERS?

A Few More Facts

Our August 2005 issue dealt with the dangers of vaccinations in some depth. We think this vital topic bears constant attention. If you missed that August issue, we think it would be worth your while going back and reading it.

For those familiar with the controversy, we present a few more points to consider. The dangers of over-vaccinating were recognized back in 1995 by Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown, DVM, in their book The Holistic Guide For A Healthy Dog. Some of their thoughts are presented here - it's amazing that after ten years, many owners and veterinarians seem to be unaware of the following:

  • Immunizations lower the immune system, opening the door for allergies and serious diseases such as cancer.

  • Multiple shots should not be given. Allow at least three weeks between shots, and four weeks before and after rabies shots. 

  • Avoid shots that combine 5 or more vaccines in one.

  • Most shots last much longer than one year, some for the life of the dog. 

  • Rabies shots should not be given yearly. Annual boosters should always be questioned, as they are almost never necessary. (But have that annual general check-up!)

  • Wait till a puppy is six months old before the first rabies shot (notwithstanding any local law requiring earlier inoculation).

  • You can help the dog's immune system by not giving vaccines during times of stress. If the dog is to be kenneled, give vaccines four weeks in advance, so the body won't be fighting tow stresses - one by the vaccine and one by the separation. 

  • Vitamin B complex (bolstered with Vitamin C) can be given several days before vaccinations and continued for several weeks afterwards.

Unnecessary Shots

Many shots are simply not necessary due to the fact that your dog may never encounter the disease that he's being immunized against. These may include the following, depending on your locale and lifestyle:

  • Kennel cough (Will your dog be left in a kennel? Is she around other dogs much?)

  • Leptospirosis and Hepatitis (Caused by contact with rat and deer urine - does that apply to your pooch?)

  • Corona (Some consider the disease easier to deal with than the vaccine.)

Media Tour In 2006

Let your veterinarian know about your concerns! John will be speaking on radio and TV programs during the first quarter of the year. He'll be talking about this very topic: "Your Dog's Annual Booster Shots - Protectors? - Or Potential Killers?" We'll be posting the locations and times of the interviews on our Web site and in upcoming newsletters.


OUR HOLIDAY SALE ENDS DECEMBER 7!

Give "Sparky Fights Back" This Year.

Our sale on Amazon.com is nearly over. In case you missed the announcement, Foley Square Books is holding a special promotion for this Holiday Season. In order to "spread the word" about this Amazon Best-seller, the price has been cut to $8.97 per book through December 7. Foley Square wants the general dog-loving public to know about the book, in addition to cancer dog caretakers. Hence, this sale.

This offer is only good when purchased from Foley Square on this page on Amazon's Web site. All royalties will go to the Animal Cancer Foundation, as usual. 

Order now for delivery by December 23rd.
Details here.


MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
This newsletter is for informational purposes only, and the intent is to provide sources of possible veterinary assistance, treatments and other help for owners of animals with cancer. The authors do not in any way endorse or make claims for any of the medical personnel, medical facilities, treatments, therapies, medicines, or methods recommended, described or quoted herein. Nothing herein should be deemed to be medical or veterinary advice, since no doctors or veterinarians are employed by or connected with this publication. Visitors are directed to consult with licensed veterinarians for all medical advice. Although every effort is made to avoid factual errors, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of any of the content of publication.

 

Find out more about our book.To order 

"Sparky Fights Back: A Little Dog's Big Battle Against Cancer,"
  
go to our Book Page
Signed copies still available!


NOW AVAILABLE IN MOST BOOKSTORES! 
(Ask for it)

Email us at: authors@SparkyFightsBack.com 

Click to subscribe or unsubscribe

We apologize if you have received this email in error. We do not want to send our newsletter to people who don't want it. Please unsubscribe if you don't want any future emails from us.

Forward this newsletter to a friend!

Copyright 2005, Foley Square Books / P.O. Box 20548 / New York, NY 10025
All rights reserved

Free Hit Counter