Immunity: Herbal Remedies for the Immune System

Eight hundred years ago, St. Hildegard of Bingen wrote that cancer is caused by a miniature organism that she called "vermes" which has been translated "viruses" by the medical doctors who have investigated her work and made it available in English. At almost the same time in Tibet, the monks described a tiny copper-colored object that can only be seen with spiritual vision, i.e., clairvoyance.

When I began studying cancer, back in the early 70s, a viral link to cancer was suspected by a few investigators but denied by most. The only study showing a clear viral link and transmissibility involved a single type of cancer found occasionally in dogs. In more recent years, immune deficiency or failure of the immune system to function as needed has been suspected as a contributing factor to cancer. Then, about twenty years ago, cases of infections that became malignant began to attract the attention of cutting edge immunologists. Around the same time, Len Horowitz published his research and drew worldwide attention to the epidemic of lymphatic cancers associated with the polio vaccine; and, in the last couple of years, more and more similar links have been found, for instance with human papilloma virus and cancer of the uterus and H. pylori and stomach cancer. This is by no means the complete list, but researchers have long believed that the immune system does not fight cancer—at least not effectively—so long as there is infection.

This theory actually harmonizes well with much more ancient classifications of disease into acute and chronic. Basically, acute conditions demand the immediate mobilization of resources to protect life against infection. Our physical bodies probably retain a sort of primordial memory of survival after being exposed to all sorts of epidemics, everything from the Plague to influenza. In short, the message to the immune system is to allocate its resources to the life-threatening condition and worry about cancer next week or next month.

Personally, I am sure that the reason it is so easy to generate pandemonium among people globally over fast-spreading microorganisms is that we do all share in some sort of group memory of terrible infectious diseases—and these memories are very much at odds with the education we received in the 20th century that suggested that miracle cures for these bugs are readily available . . . which we know now is not quite true.

In addition to pandemics, there are silent epidemics of staggering proportions: unrecognized infections stemming from countless inoculations; untreated dental infections; overuse of antibiotics; chlorinated water; parasitic and mold infections; and suppressed immunity due to toxic metals such as mercury and aluminum and lead. The problem with some of these conditions is that unlike classic acute afflictions, the risks do not necessarily subside leaving a residual immunity such as with measles; in many cases, the infections are actually chronic or at least not self-limiting as with many highly contagious diseases. This poses a very heavy burden on the immune system.

Because I have had the opportunity to observe a lot of darkfield microscopy, I have had had the privilege of watching exactly how the immune system works and what it prioritizes.

Most people do not really understand how their immune systems work. Think of white blood cells sort of the way you would firemen. They are always prepared but they may be sitting around playing cards unless an alarm is sounded. Then, they mobilize with incredible speed to address the emergency.

Likewise, you can prick your finger and white blood cells will be right there to protect the wound from infection. However, the more emergencies there are, the less efficient the response. From the perspective of the white blood cells, certain chemicals and drugs probably constitute an emergency. For instance, some chemicals are so harsh that the white blood cells try to escape. I have also seen dangerous parasites and mold that white blood cells avoid, but when the parasite is immobilized by red blood cells acting under the direction of white blood cells, the white blood cells will attack the parasite. In the case of mold, white blood cells avoid the mold, but when herbs are administered that act on the hyphae, the white blood cells will attack the hyphae once the hyphae are no longer viable. It's fascinating to watch, but it also gives one an appreciation of why immunity decreases to such a low level after certain protocols are administered to patients, for instance why patients undergoing chemotherapy may develop pneumonia.

Unlike the skeletal system or muscular system, the immune system is actually composed of a variety of mechanisms that together act to protect individuals from biological harm. For instance, when membranes are thicker or more viscous, they are less penetrable and this confers a measure of protection for the patient. When areas exposed to foreign substances are more acidic, they kill off intruders. You might include the mouth, stomach, and vagina as places that are protected by acids. The core of the immune system is, however, the white blood cells. These come in a number different forms and their functions vary. In a very healthy person, you do not see clusters of white blood cells in a blood sample. You see these cells scattered throughout the sample. They are very active and mobile and perform many services, including cleaning the surfaces of red blood cells. They eat debris, bacteria, and viruses and they spray misty substances on fibrin and sometimes on parasites to reduce the burden on the host individual.

Some years ago, I met an interesting doctor in Tijuana named Geronimo Rubio, MD. He developed a technique for "educating" white blood cells by removing some from the body and teaching them to attack cancer. At the time, I said, sort of under my breath, "Simonton in a needle" because years earlier Dr. O. Carl Simonton had developed techniques for visualizing the white blood cells as Pacmen who would round up and devour enemy cells. The fact is, the white blood cells seem to understand their tasks perfectly, and I am totally convinced that we cannot augment their knowledge in any significant way. This said, we can learn to understand and appreciate their work and devise ways to render this work more efficient and effective.

Before I develop this point further, let me report a couple of observations. First, the white blood cells perform an extraordinary amount of very important work. For instance, when a parasite dies, it is attacked by bacteria. When the bacteria have finished lunching on the dead parasite, white blood cells eat the bacteria and then spray a mist on the parts the bacteria could not devour. If white blood cells did not do this, we would probably host an explosion of bacterial populations and die of endocarditis or a bleeding ulcer.

In emergency situations, white blood cells are very busy and incredibly well organized. If one has ever watched them in action, one becomes practically awestruck by their strategies and skills. Moreover, when you think about it even just a little, you realize that they have a system of communication that allows them to respond anywhere in the body in record time.

The picture to the left was taken in Europe. The patient had a mouth full of mercury amalgam fillings. She had been operated on for colon cancer.

There are far too many white blood cells here. What you see are red blood cells (smaller circles and not as bright) and many white blood cells.

White blood cells are, however, vulnerable. When they are exposed to substances that are toxic to them, they become fuzzy and die. When the blood pH is out of balance, they die. They also die when exposed to chlorine and fluoride in water. Antibiotics kill them. Many pharmaceutical drugs destroy them, and some parasites seem to produce secretions that are toxic to white blood cells. Mold is, as one might expect, totally lethal as are toxic metals such as mercury and aluminum. In short, when the immune system is laboring under all the external stressors of modern sanitation and medical hygiene, it becomes ineffective and therefore incapable of protecting the individual from microbial dangers.

This is the same patient's blood. These photos are difficult for lay persons to interpret, but the white blood cell in the upper left quadrant is dying and one to its right has died as has the one below it. The cause is shown clearly: toxic agents that I believe are from metals rather than organic substances. You see many very faint small circles, smaller than red blood cells, and the white blood cell died in its valiant attempt to defend the patient.

Herbal Immune Enhancers

The language of textbooks is sometimes quite confusing. When one reads that echinacea is a T-cell potentiator or astragalus raises immune function, what does this really mean? In 1995, I was bitten many times on my thigh by a spider. The venom killed millions and millions of red blood cells and when I first saw my blood in the scope, I was shocked by the sight of so much debris. In a few days, I saw lots of immature red blood cells and was actually surprised to have lived through such an ordeal. Then, I noticed that all the white blood cells were slow. I said to a friend, "they look like overfed polar bears lying on their backs belching and burping." I decided to take astragalus and was surprised to discover that the appetites perked up and the white blood cells could continue with the monumental work of cleaning up debris. When you give the right herb, the white blood cells look better almost immediately, surely within half an hour. I have run such experiments many times over. The first benefit is that the white blood cells seem better able to tolerate the toxicity of the morbid substances they are devouring. They are livelier, more resilient, and more industrious. Most of the immune herbs contain high proportions of alkaloids and these span a rather simple range from well known berberines in herbs such as barberry, coptis, Oregon grape root, and goldenseal to the complexity of Madagascar periwinkle. Berberine is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and is thus a major part of many protocols.

The unhealthy metabolic processes produce acidic wastes: microorganisms, mold, and cancer. This seems hugely damaging to both red and white blood cells, and the fact is that we are only tolerant within a fairly narrow range of pH variation. Once the blood heads outside the safe range, it pirates minerals to alkalize the blood. I am sure this is one of the reasons metastasis to the bones occurs in so many patients. The bones are cannibalized to neutralize acidity and this leaves them weak and vulnerable. The same thing happens with some kinds of infection.

I have a very speculative mind and have not been trained inside the halls of medical academia so sometimes my observations do not conform to conventional thought, but I am not careless. Moreover, I have had many years to contemplate some of the observations I have made so I feel I have earned my right to speak on certain matters.

Quite normal sample with a single white blood cell.

When a substance is described as germicidal, it is usually tested in a petri dish where there are no white blood cells. An assumption is made that the action inside the body will resemble what was observed in the laboratory. This, however, may or may not be what actually happens. For instance, I have never seen a substance attack a cancer cell. I am not saying it does not or could not happen. I am just saying I have not been in a situation in which I could see this happening. What I have seen happen is morbid matter being devoured by white blood cells. I have also seen separation of tumors from supporting tissue so that the malignant part is expelled. We do not actually know how this happens, but I suspect it happens at least partly because white blood cells orchestrate it.

Commentary

The patient whose photos are shown above went on to have her amalgams removed. She was unable to find a dentist who could replace them with Cerec restorations, the ones I believe are most stable and suitable. She replaced the amalgams with composites, something I believe is reckless because plastics are potentially estrogenic and within weeks, she developed a secondary cancer that was estrogen-sensitive. Disappointed as I was, I cannot say that I was surprised.

There are countless herbs and herbal formulas that have immune stimulating or immune supporting properties. Very few have been tested in conjunction with factors that could inhibit their performance. Astragalus is one of the exceptions. It is one of the most revered herbs in China where it has a 5000-year recorded history. It has been researched in conjunction with chemotherapy and was found to enhance the outcome. The mother lode of all alkaloids is Madagascar periwinkle, the plant that contains Vincristine and Vinblastine, two of the more successful chemotherapeutic agents. Ethnobotanically, it is used as a tea for diabetics. As an herbal extract, it is incredibly potent and should only be administered by experienced persons. In between the relatively benign and the super stars of the herb kingdom, there are countless tried and true plants with gifts to share with the human and animal kingdoms. I have formulated some of these into safe remedies that people can use to bolster immunity, but it really needs to be understood that none of these remedies are likely to confer the desired benefits if people drink tap water that has been chemically treated, if they suffer from a burden of toxic metals, if they are taking antibiotics, or if they have heavy burdens from mold infections or chemical toxicities.

Indigo Drops is one of the popular formulas produced for Sacred Medicine Sanctuary. I formulated it quite a number of years ago as an alternative to lymph stimulating remedies that are based on echinacea, largely because the research I had done at that time suggested that other herbs might produce better results for patients. This said, it is a general immune booster with secondary support for the lymphatic system.

Whale's Tears was very heavily researched before it went into production. It contains herbs known for their anti-bacterial properties and because it contains galangal and cinnamon and cloves, it tastes good.

Goji Tonic is not exactly an immune tonic, but it contains astragalus and herbs that protect the blood as well as heart and liver from damage during chemotherapy.

Astragalus is available as a single extract.

Cat's Claw is also available as an extract.

My experience is that response to these remedies is for all intents and purposes immediate, but whether or not it is sufficient and sustained depends on many of the factors I have discussed on this page.