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Glandular Therapy
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One of the basic concepts of
glandular therapy is that the oral ingestion of glandular material of a
certain animal gland will strengthen the corresponding human gland. The
result is a broad general effect indicative of improved glandular
function. Thus, glandular therapy increases the tone, function, and/or
activity of the corresponding gland. This principle is a mainstay of
oriental therapy.
In case of infection of immune system deficiencies, thymus extracts and
spleen extracts have been found to be quite useful. Glandular therapy is
used extensively in the treatment of cancer, and AIDS.
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History |
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Prior to the 1940s, glandular
extracts were in wide use all over the world including the western world,
and a considerable amount of research was in progress to support their
use. With the development of antibiotics, and the advent of "modern"
technological medicine, the research was concentrated on developing more
and more antibiotics and other pharmaceutical drugs that was more
profitable to the drug companies. The research in glandular therapy came
to a halt as a result. Just because the glandular approach was not being
pursued in clinical research does not invalidate the usefulness of the
approach or diminish the validity of its therapeutic value. It is still
one of the cornerstones to Traditional Chinese Medicine and India's
Ayurvedic Medicine. Glandular therapy is also receiving renewed interest
as a treatment for cancer.
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What is
Glandular Therapy? |
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In glandular therapy, purified
extracts from the endocrine glands of animals are used to help restore a
patient's overall metabolism. Key glandulars frequently used are thyroid,
thymus, and adrenal.
Glandular and organ extracts are usually taken from animals. These are
known clinically as protomorphogens. Protomorphogens can be an important
component of a complete nutritional program. They provide short term
(immediate) as well as long term benefits. Typical extracts drawn from
animal sources include extracts from the:
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Pituitary
Thyroid
Adrenals
Pancreas
Heart
Liver
Kidney
Thymus
Other glands and organs. |
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Glandular and organ extracts
are indicated when a patient's endocrine system is underproducing or
undersecreting a specific hormone or when an organ is weakened or
diseased, such as is often the case with cancer patients. The treatment is
generally recognized as effective.
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Benefits
of Glandular Therapy |
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There are
three principal nutritional benefits to glandular and organ extracts: |
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1. Active
components |
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It is believed that glands and
organs in animals and humans contain similar biochemical substances as
their functions are very similar. This is especially true with the sheep
from which most of these extracts are prepared. For example, sheep
digestive system produces enzymes very similar to humans. Sheep tissue
contains 2 enzymes found in only one other living organism-the human body.
These enzymes are
(1) Aldose reductase, an enzyme for sugar breakdown
(2) Steroid 17 -20 lyase, an enzyme for both producing steroidal hormones
and for the subsequent detoxification of those hormones from the body.
Thus, the effect of using the biochemical compounds extracted from animals
is often one of "substituting" an exogenous (externally generated) source
to make up for the endogenous (internally generated) deficiency.
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Examples:
Thymosin from the thymus
Thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland. |
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2.
Associated nutritional factors |
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Glandular
tissues are rich in nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids,
fatty acids, polypeptides, enzymes, and many other substances. Glandular
therapy can supply essential nutritional needs in a highly efficient manner. |
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3.
Adaptogenic effect |
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For a tissue
cell to repair or replace itself, it must have the raw materials necessary.
Glandular therapy provides the raw materials to the failing organs, glands,
and tissues so that they can start the process of regeneration.
Acharyajisuggested a rational explanation for how glandular therapy products
work. According to him, glandular-based food supplements may contain small
polypeptide, protein-like substances which have specific messenger activity
and which act on target tissues. Acharyaji suggested that many of the
hormones found in the glandular tissues, even at low concentrations, still
have potent tissue-specific activities. For example, a small polypeptide
material present in one tissue can have selective effects in encouraging
another tissue at a different site in the body to produce hormonal
materials, which then may affect a final target tissue and change its
physiological function. (1)
One of the key organs for metabolism is the thyroid gland. It regulates
metabolism by releasing hormones that control energy production in all the
body's cells. Administration of thyroid extract helps cells eliminate
cellular waste and speeds up their restorative functions. A healthy thyroid
is an important prerequisite to a healthy immune system. |
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