Amazon Herb & Nutrition News July/August 1999


SEACURE / INTESTAMEND: ANOTHER EXCITING NATURAL PRODUCT WITH WIDE RANGE CLINICAL APPLICATIONS
As most of you know I am always on the lookout for powerful natural products that display promise for significantly improving human health. Thus I am moved to share the following very informative article, reprinted with permission and edited for space, from the June 1998 issue of the Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients, about Seacure, a product that has been in clinical use for several years. Use of Seacure has resulted in numerous reports pouring in from prominent wholistic physicians about the seemingly miraculous effectiveness of this exciting new product.

Recently trademarked as: Intestamend, under the Health from the Sunlabel, Seacure appears to offer tremendous potential for helping to reverse serious diseases of the bowel and digestive tract, external ulcerations, fistulas and sores, depressed immunity, chronic fatigue, the malnutrition typically experienced by cancer & AIDS patients, and much more. I hope you enjoy reading this enlightening presentation:

SEACURE - INTESTAMEND
from Health from the Sun.
History and Clinical Applications of a Promising New Protein Supplement
by Peter Barry Chowka and Patricia Fahey

In 1995, Dr. James Sensenig, a naturopathic physician practicing in Hamden, Connecticut, was visited by a 22-year-old college student with severe ulcerative colitis. His condition was typical of the problem faced by millions of Americans currently suffering with inflammatory bowel disease: multiple episodes of diarrhea each day, accompanied by painful cramping with blood and mucus in the stool. Not surprisingly, the patient had previously been treated with a wide range of state-of the-art conventional drugs, which either exacerbated his symptoms or offered only minimal, temporary palliation. After a month on Sensenig's natural treatment protocol, which included dietary modification, nutritional supplements, and homeopathy, the young man also failed to show significant and sustained improvement.

A remarkable breakthrough in the student's condition occurred, however, when Sensenig decided to add a new, highly assimilable protein supplement to his diet. After just two weeks on this unique formulation (SEACURE — a naturally derived, concentrated fish protein), the young man had no more pain, no more diarrhea or loose stools, and was able to discontinue the cortisone and prednisone he had been taking. Under Sensenig's care, he continued on Seacure and has remained symptom-free.

As it turns out, Sensenig's amazing clinical experience with the healing power of Seacure is not unique. From Oregon, Dr. Tom Kruzel, another leading naturopathic physician, reports similar results when he adds the peptide-based product to the treatment regimens of patients with severe digestive disorders, including colitis and proctitis. In Maine, Christine Northrup, MD has documented numerous case histories of patients who recovered rapidly when Seacure was used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, malabsorption problems, upset stomach, diarrhea, heartburn, and Crohn's disease. As a graduate of Dartmouth Medical School and a former president of the American Holistic Medical Association, Northrup is an acclaimed author and an assistant clinical professor at the University of Vermont School of Medicine.

Interestingly, Seacure's clinical value appears to extend well beyond serious diseases of the digestive tract. In California and Pennsylvania, Drs. Paul Lynn and Jeff Marrongelle have successfully utilized Seacure as a primary therapy for patients suffering with pressure ulcers and other types of chronic wounds, immune deficiency, chronic fatigue syndrome, and malnutrition associated with cancer chemotherapy. In just over two years since the encapsulized supplement was made commercially available, naturopathic physicians, medical doctors, chiropractic physicians, and other clinicians throughout the country have collected an enormous body of data which offers provocative evidence of Seacure's ability to alleviate a broad range of serious and previously intractable chronic degenerative diseases.

Seacure's clinical efficacy may be based on its chemical composition and easy digestibility. It is made from fresh, lean, white fish harvested from the deep, cold waters of the North Pacific. Fish has long been recognized by physicians and nutritionists as an unsurpassed form of dietary protein with an amino acid profile equivalent to meat and superior to milk and soy. But unlike meat, whole milk, and eggs, fish is low in salt, cholesterol, and saturated fats, while it is high in essential omega-3 fatty acids, the kinds that are good for the heart.

Once harvested, the fish flesh is transformed into the highly absorbable protein powder through a proprietary bio-conversion process. A unique microorganism culture is used to break down the white fish protein into its constituent peptides and amino acids. Unlike the chemical methods typically used to produce other types of protein supplements, this gentle and completely natural bio-conversion process effectively preserves the nutritional value of the fish protein. The resulting fish concentrate is almost 100% assimilable by the body.

Origins of a Novel Protein Supplement
The innovative process used to produce Seacure today was originally developed in the 1960s as the result of a humanitarian project to relieve world hunger. In subsequent years the hydrolyzed fish protein was tested in a massive nutritional study with over 3,000 premature and dystrophic (malnourished) babies. The results were extremely favorable. Malnourished and low birth-weight babies gained weight and achieved normal growth rates, while those with symptoms related to premature birth, such as edema and respiratory insufficiency, experienced rapid recoveries.

During the study, the clinicians noted that infants fed the pre-digested fish protein exhibited a range of additional — and unexpected — health improvements. For example, cases of acute and chronic diarrhea and blood-based immune disorders suddenly cleared up. When the fish concentrate was fed to babies with milk intolerance and other serious food allergies, they were soon able to tolerate normal diets. These strikingly positive clinical outcomes attracted the attention of numerous other physicians and researchers. As a result, the fish protein was ultimately tested by over 100 leading physicians and surgeons on more than 100,000 patients, both adults and children. It proved to be very beneficial in promoting tissue regeneration with hard-to-heal wounds (fistulas, abscesses, lesions, pressure ulcers, and necrotic tissue) and when used for enteric feeding in post-operative patients.

Clinical Success with Chronic GI Disorders
Among the increasing number of clinicians around the country who have used Seacure is Bruce Shelton, MD, who employs the product as a first line treatment in patients with all types of gastrointestinal disorders, including diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, and the weakened digestive functioning frequently seen in elderly or immune compromised individuals. A graduate of New York Medical College and a Diplomat of the British Institute of Homeopathy, Shelton currently practices as a homeopathic family physician in Arizona. He also utilizes dietary modification and nutritional supplementation.

Like many other clinicians, Shelton sees a large number of patients with chronic GI disorders. One example is a 49-year-old man who had suffered for a decade with ulcerative colitis. The patient had all the usual symptoms of the disease: abdominal cramps, pain, rectal bleeding, and diarrhea. For almost a year, Shelton treated the man with vitamins, minerals, and homeopathic remedies, but there was little improvement. When he tried Seacure, the colitis cleared up completely. Shelton is convinced that it was the Seacure that made the difference, since the fish protein concentrate was the only new addition to the patient's regimen at the time he experienced dramatic improvement in bowel function.

Tom Kruzel, ND is a nationally known naturopathic physician who served for three years (1993-96) as president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. In his clinical practice in Gresham, OR, Kruzel attends to a wide variety of patients with serious digestive disorders. In late 1996, he treated a seven-year-old boy who presented with esophageal varices, ascites, Crohn's disease, neurofibromatosis, and malabsorption syndrome. The child had previously been scheduled for a liver transplant which was canceled after the diagnosis of neurofibromatosis was made.

Kruzel prescribed various homeopathic remedies as well as herbal medications for the boy's liver and Crohn's disease. To raise the child's chronically low serum albumin, Kruzel prescribed Seacure 500 mg, four capsules BID. The boy's liver enzymes returned to normal, his chronic diarrhea resolved, the ascites diminished, he grew 1/2 to 3/4 inches, and he gained five pounds. Kruzel plans to keep the child on Seacure until his serum albumin levels stabilize and his liver is better able to regulate them.

As a chiropractic physician, clinical nutritionist, and director of a bio-nutritional medical facility in Schuylkill Haven, PA, Jeff Marrongelle, DC, was one of the first clinicians in the country to use Seacure. During the past four years he has prescribed the supplement to hundreds of patients who have presented with many different types of chronic diseases. Recently, Marrongelle was visited by a 57-year-old female with a case history of previous hepatitis and a confirmed ten-year-old diagnosis of Babesiosis. The woman had a severe case of acute jaundice brought on by non-viral hepatitis. Lab values on bilirubin (33.5 on initial examination) and liver enzymes were extremely critical.

Marrongelle prescribed three liquid herbal formulas from Nestmann Company in Germany, along with lactobacillus acidophilus and Seacure (twenty 500 mg capsules per day). Blood tests were repeated every ten days during a six week period. Interestingly, the patient's bilirubin level fell to 2.7 and her liver enzymes returned to normal, while both red and white blood counts returned to within normal ranges. All signs of the woman's jaundice disappeared, and her albumin and serum protein levels, which had been abnormally low, increased to within normal limits.

A much more common gastric disturbance that Marrongelle often treats is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). A typical case history is that of a 66-year-old female, positively diagnosed with IBS. Five months prior to starting treatment, the woman's symptoms included pain in the lower abdomen, constipation alternating with diarrhea, nausea, poor appetite, and a weight loss of fifteen pounds during the previous five months. Marrongelle prescribed homeopathic detoxification, herbal digestive enzymes, and probiotic support, along with Seacure equaling about 3.8 grams per day of mixed amino acids, including 600 mg of L-glutamine. After eight weeks, all of the patient's original symptoms were downgraded to "1" on a scale of "1" to "10" (where "10" represents the most severe symptoms). The patient continued taking the same,dosage of Seacure for an additional eight weeks, at which time all diarrhea, constipation, and nausea ceased and her appetite returned to normal.

Protein Calorie Malnutrition: A Widespread Clinical Problem.
In recent years, many clinicians have started to focus increased attention on the vital role of macronutrients. There is growing interest in both quantitative and qualitative considerations. For example, what is the ideal intake of, or balance among, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats? Or, are there "good" fats as well as "bad" fats? Some researchers are also suggesting now that certain well established beliefs about healthy eating may be fundamentally flawed. For instance, is a high carbohydrate, low fat diet really optimal? And what about protein—just how important is this nutrient? Additionally, what are the best sources of protein and what factors affect its digestibility?

The effective use of dietary protein is becoming a high priority in the clinical practice of many physicians. Without a doubt, protein is the most basic of nutrients. Yet, protein calorie malnutrition is an extremely common, if under diagnosed, occurrence, affecting virtually every segment of the population—young and old, rich and poor, vegetarian and meat eater alike. Clinical nutritionist and researcher Marrongelle offers this perspective on the problem: "Of prime importance to practitioners is an awareness of how many people they see who are ambulatory [who] are in critical need of protein calories —actually have protein calorie malnutrition." Marrongelle believes that a majority of people with almost any kind of health disorder have impaired digestion—primarily an inability to break down and assimilate protein and its components. He says, "Most of the people we see who are ill are compromised in their absorption of amino acids, peptides, and protein, and have starved themselves of protein."

In his clinical practice, Marrongelle sees 400 to 500 new patients each year. He uses Seacure to treat most of them, including people with diabetes, chronic wounds, and GI disorders; geriatric patients with weakened digestion and muscle wasting; patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy; and people scheduled for surgery. In Marrongelle's view, Seacure provides an ideal nutritional foundation or "baseline feeding program" to which clinicians can add more targeted or subtle therapies—including herbs, homeopathy, or specific vitamins and minerals. He is convinced that Seacure is superior to other types of protein supplements, because of its source, method of preparation, and absorbability.

"Seacure gives patients a base to work with," says Marrongelle. "In almost all of our cases where there is gastrointestinal dysfunction, which is most of them, we use a combination of Seacure, a probiotic (a high quality lactobacillus combination), and proteolytic enzymes. We shift the bowel ecology to become more efficient. We are finding that the immune response begins in the gut and dysbiosis is the biggest compromise the patient can have: poor digestion, leaky gut syndrome, poor elimination, poor assimilation—they're all part of the picture of ill health."

Clinical researcher Jeffrey Moss, DDS, CCN, concurs with Marrongelle and other investigators about the widespread nature of protein calorie malnutrition and the limitations of conventional nutritional approaches in combating chronic illnesses. Moss says, "Many would have us believe that the answer to all nutritional challenges is to consume vitamin and mineral supplements in high enough quantities. But in my fifteen years of clinical experience, I have never seen a chronically ill patient gain optimal health solely from such an approach. I believe that proper protein nutrition may be the missing link in some of the most vexing, difficult patients."

A Wealth of Clinical Applications
In September 1996, Lana Barr, a 52-year-old female, was diagnosed with advanced, metastasized breast cancer. Her naturopathic physician agreed with her oncologist and surgeon that she should undergo four months of chemotherapy to shrink the primary tumor so that a lumpectomy, rather than a mastectomy, would suffice.

On March 17, 1997, Barr wrote, "I began very toxic doses of Adrimycin and Cytoxin in October of 1996. The first dose of chemo caused nausea, severe vomiting, severe diarrhea, loss of energy, loss of hair, and very dark circles around my eyes. By the second dose of chemo (four weeks later) I had been taking Seacure (6 tablets per day) for well over three weeks. This time there was no vomiting, very little nausea, an increase in energy, the diarrhea stopped, my bowels became normal, and the black circles around my eyes lightened. I continued to feel stronger and had much more energy. "I was able to continue working, my immune system was good, and, unlike most chemo patients, my white blood cell count stayed normal and consistent. This continued month after month with each chemo treatment. There was a two week period when I ran out of Seacure and I began to feel very weak, and very tired, and I started to feel ill. I ordered some more Seacure, and again I bounced back to good health."

Many cancer patients report similar positive experiences with Seacure, while numerous clinicians consider it to be an indispensable nutritional supplement for a wide range of critical care situations.

James Sensenig, ND uses Seacure to treat wasting syndrome in people with AIDS and cancer. He believes that it is very useful in stabilizing or reversing weight loss, and in alleviating the fatigue and leukopenia (low white blood cell counts) that typically accompany chemotherapy.

Jackie Haught, L.Ac. is a New York City-based acupuncturist who sees a number of people with AIDS. Many of her patients are also under going various forms of toxic chemotherapy for conditions such as Kaposi's Sarcoma. They too suffer from the malabsorption, irritable bowel syndrome, weight loss, and muscle wasting so frequently seen in cancer patients. Haught reports, "Every client who has tried Seacure has experienced some benefit, including weight gain, increased energy, and improved digestion."

Jeff Marrongelle points out that chemotherapy is very detrimental to the GI system, and that 40% of cancer patients actually die of protein calorie malnutrition: They starve to death because of the lack of absorptive ability. Marrongelle and his colleagues place all of their cancer patients on a double dose of Seacure, at least 12 capsules per day.

Seacure has also been shown to be highly effective in promoting the healing of chronic wounds and in assisting recovery from surgeries, traumatic injuries, and even birth defects.

Marrongelle states, "We strongly recommend to all our patients who are having any type of surgery, a pre and post-surgical regimen that includes 12 to 20 capsules per day of Seacure. Their hospital stay, wound repair, post surgical sepsis—all those things in clinical observations have been decreased in people who have used Seacure as opposed to people who haven't. They're the first ones out of the hospital, the first ones out of rehab, and they get a better recovery with fewer complications."

Paul Lynn, MD is a holistically oriented physician and the Medical Director of the San Francisco Preventive Medical Group. Lynn was visited by a woman in her early 60s with severe diabetes and a non-healing ulcer on her foot. She had tried many types of conventional treatments as well as chelation therapy, but nothing worked. Lynn used other approaches which are known to stimulate wound healing, such as high doses of Vitamin C and natural hormone replacement. But these therapies too, had no discernible impact, and the woman was facing amputation of her foot.

Lynn then decided to prescribe Seacure and started the patient on 16 capsules per day. Over a period of ten weeks, he reports, her foot ulcer gradually diminished and then cleared up completely. As he considers the timing of the various therapies that were used, Lynn is convinced that it was Seacure which ultimately made the positive difference in the woman's condition. She has remained on a maintenance dosage of 3 Seacure capsules twice a day, and her foot ulcer has not returned.

Many physicians report similar results with the use of Seacure to treat chronic non-healing wounds. For example, Tom Kruzel consulted with a 78-year old female who presented with an ulceration of the right ankle due to stasis and varicosities. The condition had persisted for two years and was causing significant pain and discomfort. Prior attempts to promote healing through leg wrappings and medicated dermal patches had failed to produce any positive changes.

Kruzel started the patient on a daily dose of homeopathic Lachesis 30c, along with Seacure, 500 mg., two capsules TID. Within two weeks the lesion had reduced to approximately 50% of its original size, and the constant weeping of sero-sanguenous fluid stopped. The patient was maintained on Seacure at the same dosage for 8 weeks until the lesion completely resolved. Now, more than two years later, there has been no recurrence.

Jeff Marrongelle's most dramatic case involved an 8 year old boy with a colostomy and serious birth dysfunctions, including blindness, no speech or cognitive ability, and virtually no ambulation. Marrongelle and his colleagues were surprised to learn that previous clinicians had never addressed the child's diet. They placed the boy on a ketogenic (low carbohydrate) diet along with Seacure. Amazingly, in about 45 days he started to talk and could for the first time communicate and respond to questions, despite the fact that he had never before spoken in his life. He also achieved better ambulation.

Editors Note: As implied above, in some incidences, greater results may be obtained by combining Seacure/Intestamend with a variety of other natural products. Examples: for IBS & other gastrointestinal complaints, chronic fatigue and depressed immunity, one might consider: cat's claw, Primal Defense, oxy-cleanse, MSM, Cordyceps Power and olive leaf extract.

LYCOPENE: THE SUPER CAROTENOID WITH ANTI-CANCER PROPERTIES
During the 1980s and 90s many studies have been conducted on lycopene, a little known carotenoid responsible for the red color in tomatoes and other fruits & vegetables. Based on these studies, lycopene appears to be a powerful anti-oxidant that is far superior to both alpha & beta-carotene in its ability to inhibit the growth & proliferation of many cancer cell lines including: endometrial, breast, lung & prostate.

A new soon to be published study conducted at the Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit, MI., involved 30 men with localized prostate cancer. All were scheduled for surgical removel and were divided into two groups. One group was given 15 mg. of lycopene twice daily for 21 days prior to surgery. The other group received no intervention. Biopsies of the removed glands after surgery of the lycopene group, revealed that there was a regression in the size of their tumors, as well as decreased bio-markers of proliferation, increased differentiation and apoptosis markers, and an average 20% reduction in serum PSA levels at the end of the 3 week period. These results suggest that lycopene may play a significant role in both the prevention and treatment of prostate cancers.

Since many researchers have concluded that lycopene is the most powerful carotenoid anti-oxidant, it seems prudent to consider supplementing ones diet with 15-30 mg. per day, in order to take advantage of its protective properties.

WILDFIRE INTRODUCES INTESTAMEND 500 MG. and LYCOPENE 20 MG. CAPSULES
We now have Seacure/Intestamend available from Health from the Sun, 150-500mg. capsules, sug. retail $39.99 our price: $35.99 and Lycopene (Lyco-Mato from tomato) available from Source Naturals, 60-10mg. softgels, sug. retail $24.98 our price: $19.98. To place your order with a credit card call toll-free: 1-888-583-3532.

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