By Simon Yu, MD
A small group of researchers are racing to find a new cure for cancer from forgotten old medications. One of the medications is Ivermectin, a common parasite medication for dogs as a heart worm medication. Most veterinarians recommend de-worming dogs with monthly Ivermectin as a preventive measurement.
Have you had Ivermectin lately? If you have Medically Unexplainable Symptoms (MUS) or cancer, you may consider trying Ivermectin, de-worming medication. Talk to your doctor, although, unfortunately, most medical doctors are not familiar with hidden epidemic parasite problems and/or usage of parasite medications.
Ivermectin is an old parasite medication isolated in 1979 and widely used since the 1980s for dogs, horses, and humans. Ivermectin is exceptionally potent. It is a broad spectrum anti-parasitic drug which kills nematodes like pin worm, strongyloids, ascaris and onchocerciasis. In fact, Ivermectin is one of my favorite and most frequently used parasite medications.
Ivermectin selectively blocks the worm’s GABA receptors but not the mammalian counterpart. It is a muscle relaxant which blocks the phosphorylation of the ascaris muscle. Often, I will combine Ivermectin with pyrantel pamoate, praziquantel, or tinadazole for a variety of medically unexplainable symptoms.
The selection of the medications and dosages has been based on Acupuncture Meridian Assessment (AMA). (Read many articles on AMA and parasites and related medical problems on my website.). I have experienced some dramatic responses for medically unexplained symptoms and some cancer cases.
From my clinical experiences, I wrote a book, Accidental Cure, and have been presenting my case studies at medical conferences. A physician who heard my lecture at one of the conferences told me that Ivermectin has anti-cancer properties and anti-cancer stem cell properties.
At a higher dose, Ivermectin can inactivate the protein kinase PAK1 and blocks the PAK1-dependent growth of human ovarian cancer and NF2 tumor cell lines (Drug Discov Ther: 2009; 3 (6): 243-246). PAK proteins encoded by the PAK1 gene are critical for cytoskeleton reorganization and nuclear signaling.
This is probably more than you want to know about this parasite medication unless you have an unusual medical condition or cancer. PAK-1 kinase is required for the growth of more than 70% of human cancers such as pancreatic, colon, breast and prostate cancers, and neurofibromatosis.
The p21 activated Kinase PAK1 is implicated in tumor genesis. Inhibiting PAK1 signals induce tumor cell apoptosis (cell death). PAK1 has also been implicated for maintenance of glucose homeostasis in pancreatic beta cells and skeletal muscle. (J. Biol Chem 2011 Dec 2:286)
The medical journal, Blood, recently published that Ivermectin induces chloride-dependent membrane hyperpolarization and cell death in leukemia cells (Blood, November 4, 2010, vol.115). The paper states Ivermectin synergizes with chemo agents cytarabine and daunorubicin to induce cell death in leukemia cells.
Basically the research shows that using a chemo agent with de-worming medication can make chemotherapy more effective for chemotherapy resistant leukemia. Cancer stem cells are the reason why cancer cells often develop resistance to chemotherapies. These researches are telling us that a combination of chemo agents with Ivermectin is targeting cancer stem cells. Killing cancer stem cells is the holy grail of cancer therapy.
The story does not end with Ivermectin. Bauer Research Foundation published on December 12, 2012 that Praziquantel , my other favorite parasite medication for liver flukes, synergistically enhances Paclitaxel (Taxol) efficacy to inhibit cancer cell growth (PloS ONE 7(12): e51721).
Taxol is a common chemo agent for ovarian cancer, breast cancer, small cell lung cancer, head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, prostate and bladder cancer.
The clinical data indicate that praziquantel could greatly enhance the anticancer efficacy of Taxol in various cell lines including Taxol resistant cell lines. The combined treatment induced significant mitotic arrest and activated the apoptotic cascades, tumor cell death. The concept of a new use of an old drug is not a new idea but there is not much financial incentive for pharmaceutical companies.
You wonder how many old forgotten medications are available in your pharmacy’s medicine cabinet. Searching for an old new cure continues by a small group of researchers. These researches are the latest new trend.
Once this information gets out to main stream medicine, I wonder, if they will create an Ivermectin Deficiency Syndrome. Monthly de-worming for medically unexplained symptoms or for cancer patients might be a better solution than searching for this mysterious Ivermectin Deficiency Syndrome.
Dr. Simon Yu, M.D. is a Board Certified Internist. He practices Internal Medicine with an emphasis on Alternative Medicine to use the best each has to offer. For more articles and information about alternative medicine as well as patient success stories, and Dr. Yu’s revolutionary health book Accidental Cure: Extraordinary Medicine for Extraordinary Patients, visit his web site at www.PreventionAndHealing.com or call Prevention and Healing, Inc., 314-432-7802. You can also attend a free monthly presentation and discussion by Dr. Yu on Alternative Medicine at his office on the second Tuesday each month at 6:30 pm. Call to verify the date. Seating is limited, arrive early.