Maitake, Cat’s Claw, and Squalamine If you have trouble viewing this email, view it online. connect with us     An edible mushroom prevalent in northeastern Japan and China, maitake is an important ingredient in Asian cuisine. It is found at the base of oak and elm trees, valued for its health benefits, and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries to promote health. Maitake extracts are marketed as dietary supplements in the form of liquid extracts, tablets, and capsules to enhance immune function as well as to treat AIDS and cancer. Maitake demonstrated anti‑inflammatory, antitumor and anti-metastatic effects in preclinical experiments. Beta 1,6‑glucan, a protein bound polysaccharide, has been identified as the active constituent. Small clinical studies indicate that maitake extracts have hypoglycemic effects; modulate immunologic parameters in breast cancer survivors; and enhance neutrophil and monocyte function in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Further research is underway to evaluate maitake’s anticancer potential. Learn More     Personalize Your Updates Manage your preferences, and we will customize your updates based on your interests.   Go to my preferences   Essential Updates Cat’s Claw: A systematic review showed that cat’s claw, an herbal supplement used to treat viral infections and cancer, significantly increases the levels of antiretroviral drugs following concomitant use. Learn more Squalamine: Preliminary data suggest utility of the antimicrobial compound squalamine, combined with ranibizumab, in improving visual recovery in patients with retinal vein occlusion‑related macular edema. Learn more   Integrative Medicine Therapies Join Us to Learn How Mindfulness Can Help with Anxiety After a Cancer Diagnosis People who have been treated for cancer often experience ongoing worry, anxiety, and fears of recurrence. In this talk, MSK’s Beth Sandweiss, a mind‑body therapist, will review the research on mindfulness after cancer treatment and teach brief mindfulness practices that you can use to interrupt cycles of anxiety and worry. Audience: The workshop is for those who have been treated for cancer. No observers, please, without prior approval. Date & Time: Tuesday, March 31, 2020 5:30 PM TO 7:00 PM Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Rockefeller Research Laboratories 430 East 67th Street New York, NY 10065 Room RRL‑117 Sponsor: Resources for Life After Cancer Registration Details: You must register to attend. To register and for more information, please call 646‑888‑8106 or email rlac@mskcc.org. The Integrative Medicine Service offers a variety of therapies, classes, and workshops for patients and survivors to help manage symptoms associated with cancer and its treatments, and to improve physical and psychological well‑being.     Take Note Of: Insulin Potentiation Therapy (IPT) An alternative therapy that employs insulin to enhance the effects of chemotherapy, IPT was developed by Dr. Donato Perez Garcia in the 1930s. Advocates believe that cancer cells consume higher levels of sugar than their healthier counterparts, and consequently, are more sensitive to insulin and insulin‑like growth factor (IGF). Insulin is also believed to enhance the permeability of cell membranes, increasing the intracellular concentration and cytotoxic effects of anticancer drugs. Exploratory studies have suggested some benefit with a combination of chemotherapy and IPT, but robust clinical evidence is lacking. Side effects of IPT include hypoglycemic reactions. Patients should know that IPT is not a substitute for standard cancer care. Learn More   Share with a Friend Click the link below to share this email with others who might be interested. Invite friends Contact Us We welcome your feedback, and encourage you to send us a message at: aboutherbs@mskcc.org To Make An Appointment: Integrative Medicine Service: 646-888-0800 MSKCC Main Hospital: 800-525-2225 Find an MSK location   ©2020 Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 1275 York Ave., New York, NY 10065 US March 2020   To ensure you continue to receive emails from About Herbs, add us to your address book or safe list. To unsubscribe, click here. This message was sent to newsletter@newslettercollector.com. To manage your preferences, click here. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to e-newsletters from About Herbs. To forward this email click here.