| Imsyser vs. Nicus |
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The Nicus report that emerged in 2003 has caused great alarm amongst users of Hypoxis (African Potato), particularly amongst HIV and AIDS patients that have been using the plant as an immune booster for many years and with great success. Due to the growing concern of doctors and users of the Hypoxis plant, we would like to take this opportunity to clarify some of the statements made in the report and highlight why Imsyser is in fact safe. • The Nicus report clearly states that extracts from the Hypoxis plant have been used in their study. Imsyser, on the other hand, does not use any extracts from the plant, but rather the whole corn. The reason being specifically to avoid concentrated substances which might be harmful if used in large quantities for extended periods of time. • Nicus claims that “Hypoxoside itself has been shown to be devoid of any anti-cancer activity”. They further state that “neither hypoxoside nor Rooperol could be detected in the blood of human volunteers with lung cancer”. Research conducted by the Department of Pharmacology, University of Stellenbosch, proves the opposite. This was published in the SA Medical Journal, Sept. 1995, 85:9, 853-60 under the heading: “Hypoxoside cleaves into powerful anti-cancer cell anti-oxidant (Rooperol) in the presence of cancer cell enzymes in humans”. (Also see publication of “Hypoxoside, cytotoxic toward cancer cells in mice” in In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim, Feb 1994, 30A:2, 115-9). • Nicus claims that a study on the safety and efficiency of the Hypoxis plant extract in HIV positive patients was terminated because most patients show severe bone marrow suppression after only 8 weeks. They fail to mention the details of the study and note also that “extraction of the Hypoxis plant had been used.” Conversely, Professor Chris Barnard from Bloemfontein claims that in a study of 50 HIV positive patients conducted by himself over a period of 9 months, no bone marrow suppression was detected in the patients. • In addition, later in the report Nicus admits that this suppression is only a suspicion: “Of far greater concern though is that the suspicion of Hypoxis-induced immune suppression has been experimentally confirmed in the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus model. Cats, which were treated with Hypoxis plant extracts supplements progressed, and succumbed, to full blown Feline AIDS faster than their non-treated Hypoxis plant extract controls”. FIV (in cats) is a feline retrovirus equivalent to HIV in humans. And in repsonse, cats are animals, not humans, and secondly they are carnivores (meat eaters), therefore, logic dictates that plants will have very little, if any, effect on carnivores. Although FIV is similar to HIV, it is NOT the same disease, as the one is animal-based and the other human. Research and controlled studies prove that the Hypoxis plant is of great benefit to humans and helps with various diseases, as is evident with these few publications from various leading Medical Journals: • Hypoxis cleaves into powerful anti-cancer cell anti-oxidant (Rooperol) in the presence of cancer cell enzymes in humans, Dept. of Pharmacology, University of Stellenbosch (SA Medical Journal, 1995 September, 85:9, 853-60) • Beneficial influence on Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Urologe A, 1995 March, 34:2, 119-29. • Safe: Hypoxis non-toxic even at high doses – Cancer therapy trial, Dept. of Radiotherapy, University of Stellenbosch (SA Medical Journal, 1995 September, 85:9, 865-70). • Hypoxoside, cytotoxic toward cancer cells in mice, Dep. Of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Stellenbosch (In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim, 1994 February, 30A:2, 115-9). • Rooperol is a powerful anti-oxidant, Dept. of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Stellenbosch (Biochem Pharmacol, 1993 January, 45:2, 303-11). • Research on phytosterols & sterolines (including beta sitosterol, campesterol & stigmasterol): Inhibition of cholesterol absorption in rats by plant sterols, Dept. of Biochemistry, George Washington University, School of Medicine (J Lipid Res, 1988 December, 29:12, 1573-82). • Sterols for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, The VA Coordinating Center of the Cochrane Collaborative Review Group in Prostatic Diseases and Urologic Malignancies, USA (BJU Int, 1999 June, 83:9, 976-83). • Inhibition of cholesterol absorption by sterols, Biochem Biophys Acta, 1983 August, 732:3, 651-8. • Beta-Sitosterol is effective in the treatment of BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy), Dept. of Urology, Allgemeines Krankenhaus Celle, Academic Hospital, Germany, (Br J Urol, 1997 September, 80:3, 427-32). • Sterols & sterolines may benefit TB patients, Dept. of Paediatrics and Child Health, (Int J Tuberc Lung Dis, 1997 December, 1:6, 518-22). • New hope for HIV-positive pregnant woman, The importance of sitosterol in human and animal nutrition, (Karl h. Pegel). All of the studies, research and articles are based on the use of Hypoxis and are obtainable at Cherry Creek Natural Products (Pty) Ltd, Box 72385, Lynnwood Ridge, 0040. Furthermore, mention should be made that a lot of natural products partially contain Hypoxis. Some of these include Imsyser, Imuno Active, Africa Cure, and many others. They are all freely available at most pharmaceutical outlets and health shops. If these products were a health concern, it is probable that Government would have recalled them. The fact remains that there is insufficient scientific research to disprove or counter the positive effects that Hypoxis has on the health of it’s users. Until Hypoxis is scientifically proved to be harmful, please bare in mind that opinion may be parading as fact. In addition, please consider that while many chemically-based medicines are also highly poisonous, such as Chemotherapy, Antiretroviral drugs and antidotes for snake bites, their benefit to human life is undisputed. And whilst we don’t dissuade people from using chemically-controlled drugs, we do believe in promoting the use of natural resources. We are convinced that there is an important link between these two categories as natural medicine is known to counteract the side-effects of most chemicals and also play a major role in the general well-being of humans. For many years natural medicine / remedies have been suppressed by both the Government of SA and medical doctors. However, this approach has begun to change in South Africa, with many other countries having taken the lead years ago. Most East Block and European countries, such as Germany, specialise in natural medicine. We believe that South Africa should follow in the footsteps of these countries, as natural resources are known to have very little (if any) side-effects, even if used after long periods. (Issued by Cherry Creek Natural Products, June 2005) |
