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Anti-Aging Breakthrough Homeopathic Growth Factor March 1998 --
Carolyn deMarco, M.D. Reprinted with permission from Let's Live Magazine, and the author. For subscription information, please call (800) 333-9951.
Human growth hormone is the most abundant hormone made by the pituitary gland in the brain. It hits its peak during the rapid-growth phase of adolescence, then steadily declines as we age. HGH stays in the bloodstream for only a few minutes, however, this is long enough to stimulate its uptake by the liver, where it stimulates production of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF). IGF is responsible for most of the actions of human growth hormone, such as stimulating muscle development, strengthening cartilage, increasing bone density and increasing mental clarity. Until recently, HGH was hard to obtain and very expensive -- it could only be obtained from human and animal cadavers' pituitary glands. HGH itself was reserved for the treatment of children who failed to grow to normal height. Growth factors were, and still are, even more difficult to obtain. In the mid-1980s, two drug companies were able to produce HGH through recombinant DNA technology, making it widely available for research and treatment. (HGH is no longer taken from cadavers). Recombinant DNA technology means that special DNA is inserted into the DNA of yeast and bacteria, which causes the organisms to reproduce a large supply of growth hormone identical in structure to the body's own growth hormone. The FDA now allows American doctors to use HGH for anti-aging treatment and a booming business in rejuvenation clinics is well under way, however, HGH still must by injected by a doctor. In July 1990, a landmark study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Daniel Rudman, M.D., injected 21 men between the ages of 60 and 80 with supplemental HGH, three times a week for six months, and compared the results with nine men in a control group. The men receiving HGH all showed a marked improvement in health and appearance. They gained an average of 8.8% in muscle mass, lost an average of 14% body fat and increased their skin thickness -- without changing their diets. Rudman commented that the changes in body composition reversed approximately 10 to 30 years of aging. As a result of this study, The National Institute of Aging has funded nine clinical studies on growth hormone, which are now in progress. The main side effects of HGH come from overdosing. These include edema, carpal tunnel syndrome, and joint aches and pains. Scientists are divided on whether HGH might increase cancer risk by promoting growth of tumor cells. Barbara Brewitt, Ph.D., a Seattle-based scientist with a longtime interest in the mind-body connection, combined the leading edge of recombinant DNA technology with homeopathy. Brewitt has developed a line of homeopathic growth factors made from recombinant technology. She has also developed a homeopathic growth hormone producer. Brewitt took five growth factors made by the recombinant DNA technology and prepared them in the classical homeopathic manner. The homeopathic growth factors and growth hormone seem to awaken the immune system and have an anti-inflammatory and anti-depressive effect. "Homeopathic growth factors represent a new class of medicines. They combine modern biotechnology and molecular biology with basic homeopathic principles formed two centuries ago," says Brewitt. Homeopathic growth hormone, which contains actual human growth hormone, assists in the development of lean body mass and muscle strength while also optimizing energy and boosting the immune system. The advantage to this new breakthrough is that you don't have to go to a doctor to receive the benefits of growth hormone, IGF1 and other growth factors. While all forms of growth hormone and growth factors come from the same sources, the homeopathic versions are diluted with infinitesimal amounts of recombinant DNA. Homeopathy is a form of medicine that uses infinitesimal doses of natural substances to stimulate the body's own immune system. Growth factors, which contain one of several growth factors, including IGF-1, are being marketed to help enhance mental clarity, endurance and body harmony and reduce pain, inflammation, fever, PMS and menopause symptoms. Homeopathic growth hormone, which contains actual human growth hormone, assists in the development of lean body mass and muscle strength while also optimizing energy and endurance and boosting the immune system. "The concept of homeopathic growth hormone represents a major breakthrough in reduction of health-care costs for both healthy and chronically ill individuals," says Brewitt. Preliminary studies done by Brewitt on homeopathic growth hormone with healthy people show benefits in the area of enhanced functioning of the metabolic, immune and nervous systems. People who took one tablet, three times daily for two to four weeks, showed an 8 to 23% increase in IGF levels in the blood. This indicates a physiological activity by growth hormone. Some participants also experienced an elimination of joint pains, a loss of fat and an increase in lean body mass. A second study on homeopathic growth hormone is now underway. How many positive effects of growth factors -- like increasing muscle mass, decreasing fat, improving skin texture, thickness and elasticity, decreasing the appearance of wrinkles and improving sexual function -- are maintained in the homeopathic preparations remain to be seen, but many more clinical trials are in the works. Homeopathic HGH and IGF-1 could play useful roles in anti-aging medicine and the management of menopause. One of the first areas that Brewitt chose to study was the effect of these homeopathic growth factors on persons with HIV infection. She says this is the first time that homeopathic growth factors have been tested for clinical efficacy using a rigorous scientific method. The first study, which was conducted at The University Health Clinic in Seattle, was a four-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. In 1995, thirty HIV-positive patients, who were not taking anti-viral therapies, were given a combination of four homeopathic growth factors orally. The patients were also taking other natural therapies but not prescription AIDS drugs. After four months, the patients on placebos also received treatment to complete two years of evaluation. The findings showed that the treated groups had decreased viral loads, increased or stable T4 counts, lowered measures of inflammation throughout the body, improved mineral metabolism and increased weight gain. The placebo group fared much worse with increased viral loads, decreased T4 counts, increased infection and weight loss. There was an average weight gain of 10 pounds over one year in the treated group. The people taking the homeopathic growth factors also didn't experience any adverse side effects. In early 1996, the new AIDS drugs, the protease inhibitors, became the accepted therapy for HIV infection. As Brewitt continued her long-term study, some of the original group stayed on the homeopathic growth factors only. Another group took protease inhibitor drugs or other anti-viral drugs, while the third group returned to using their natural therapy of choice. Brewitt has continued to follow these groups from the original study. What is remarkable, is that those on the homeopathic growth factors had HIV viral loads as low as people taking anti-viral therapies. They also had T-cell counts as good as the drug group and much higher than those taking other forms of natural therapies. Only the homeopathic group maintained normal tissue health without
inflammation as measured by the SED rate, compared with the other two groups
who had some inflammation throughout their bodies. Other researchers have begun
studying the effects of homeopathic growth factors on depression, PMS and
menopause with successful results. David Riley, M.D., of the Integrative
Medicine Institute in Santa Fe, NM studied 24 healthy people in a double-blind,
placebo-controlled trial, and results showed applications for PMS/menopause, as
it eliminated uterine cramping, breast tenderness, headaches, general
irritability and hot flashes. Homeopathic growth factors offer an intriguing,
new and safe option to both healthy and chronically ill people and may also
offer inexpensive and revolutionary access to the fountain of youth. While no
long-term side effects have been noted in 2‡ years of research, further
study is necessary. References: |
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