Intravenous (IV) Vitamin C Therapy involves the administration of Vitamin C directly into the bloodstream. This delivery system is very powerful because it allows the plasma concentration of Vitamin C to reach levels high enough to help animals in cancer.
Oral administration of Liposomal Vitamin C is capable of being able to achieve high enough plasma levels of Vitamin C to fight cancer cells along with IV Vitamin C. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has recently published data demonstrating the anti-cancer effects of Vitamin C.
How Does IV Vitamin C Work?
Vitamin C at high blood concentrations does not work as an anti-oxidant but instead acts as a pro-oxidant. When given intravenously, Vitamin C in the blood has been shown to generate the production of hydrogen peroxide that directly might kill cancer cells in the early stages of cancer.
Normal cells have the ability to neutralize the effects of hydrogen peroxide via catalase whereas cancer cells do not. This mechanism of action is similar to some conventional chemotherapies, but without the toxic side-effects.
IV Therapy Vitamin C At The Center: Current intravenous Vitamin C protocols suggest maximum benefit may be obtained from one to two IV infusions per week for 4-6 weeks. After reassessment, continued treatment is typically one infusion per month or on an as needed basis depending on the case.
Infusion time can range from 1-3 hours in duration depending on the dose. Intravenous access is achieved by placing a small venous catheter into a vein in the animal’s front or rear leg. A small dose of Vitamin C is given initially to begin therapy and the Vitamin C dose is increased in subsequent infusions. Each animal is evaluated as an individual. In general, the dose and dosing interval of IV Vitamin C will vary depending on the type and severity of cancer present, the animals condition, other therapies given and whether the animal will be treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy at the same time as Vitamin C therapy.
Is IV Vitamin C Therapy Safe?
There are no significant adverse effects associated with high doses of intravenous vitamin C when properly administered, whether given as a sole therapy or in combination with others. Increased water intake is also common, no need to be alarmed if your pet wants to drink more water after treatment.
In human medicine, IV Vitamin C is administered at several different private and public medical centers.
Chinese Herbs for Cancer
Many Chinese herbs have been determined to be effective as potent biological response modifiers. Biological response modifiers (also known as immunotherapy), enhance the activity of the immune system to increase the body’s natural defense mechanisms against cancer.
Chinese herbs can work synergistically with other treatments to prevent recurrence of malignancies, prolong remission and survival times and decrease the adverse effects (anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, low white blood cell counts) of many anti-cancer drugs.
Chinese herbs can be used alone to treat cancer as a primary therapy in cases where chemotherapy or radiation therapy would be too toxic to the animal due to age and condition. Chinese herbs are safe with little to no incidence of side-effects when prescribed by a qualified herbalist. They can be also used in combination with IV Vitamin C therapy to improve clinical results.
Acupuncture for Cancer
Acupuncture treatments are generally given as an adjunct to support western cancer treatments. Acupuncture can reduce the side-effects of chemo and radiation, such as anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, and to control pain. Acupuncture is often combined with herbal medicine to rebuild the body from the damage done by chemotherapy and radiation, to prevent metastasis and improve overall quality of life.
Dietary Therapy for Cancer
Cancer patients have special nutritional needs due to the severe nature of their disease and its global effects on the body. Some foods actually contribute to the development of cancer while other foods reduce it.
A diet made with a variety of fresh, whole unprocessed and unpreserved ingredients provide optimal nutrition for dogs and cats, the same as for human beings. A balanced diet is achieved by giving a variety of foods instead of feeding the same things day after day. Based on clinical experience, this approach to nutrition has been found to be the best for the treatment of cancer in animals, similar to that in humans.
Each animal is looked at as an individual and the recommendations made are based on Chinese food energetics, species, initial condition and disease.
Most of the research being done on pet nutrition is being conducted by the pet food industry. The research conducted by pet food companies (that sell the food they are researching and reporting on) can’t be relied upon for unbiased information regarding the health promoting quality of their pet food.
