Cancer. Highwood's Approach.

Report: 

We have had a number of guests coming to Highwood for help with cancer. The most common cancers treated are breast and prostate, but we have had a number of other neoplasia as well, with some rare ones. One lady came with breast cancer, post operative to mastectomy. She had a bony metastasis in her pelvic area which was going to be difficult to treat with radiotherapy. This lady joined in our usual programme and we decided in addition to the usual treatments to use castor oil and frankincense oil rubbed onto the affected area in the groin. It was difficult to poultice the area. When she came in this lady could not walk well due to the pain. When she finished the programme she was almost pain free. We advised that if the pain got worse or if she otherwise relapsed she should consider the radiotherapy seriously.

Details of Treatment:

Our official position at Highwood is that cancer should be dealt with using a combination of the best of orthodox and natural therapy. In particular, Dr. Bird is not in favour of sufferers who are under a lot of emotional stress (e.g. from relationship problems) trying to use just natural methods. He has been observing cancer treatments for about 10 years in his patients and has noticed a definite trend: Those who do best are those prepared to use the best of both orthodox and natural methods, especially where there is significant stress. Many do not realize that there are natural ways to help minimize the side effects of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. These methods are discussed in detail during Dr. Bird's lecture(s) on cancer. They include scientifically evaluated substances such as glutamine and anti-oxidants.

Another matter is how much support you have. It is no use trying to follow a daily regime of fever baths or sauna, poultices, essential oil messages, enemas, juices, relaxation therapy, exercise and supplements if you are a solo parent with three young children!

It is also important to work out what your definition of "natural" is. For example, if you say that consuming thirty carrots/day (as juice) is natural then really you should say that radiotherapy is also a natural method of treatment since the x-rays used are a natural phenomenon in our environment. We just use them in unnatural amounts in cancer therapy - the same as with the unnatural number of carrots. 

Another factor is monetary bias. If you go and see Dr. Jones the oncologist at the public hospital he will tell you what he thinks is the best without any monetary bias as he is not selling you the treatments. However, with many purely natural practitioners they are selling you the "products" that are to be used as the treatment. I had one patient who was paying around $1000 per month for supplements from a certain multi-level marketing company in the last month before he died. I think there are ethical issues here.

We say these things because we have known of cancer sufferers being pressured in various ways and to being told that they are “denying the faith” if they consent to any orthodox treatments. It is true that the pressure can also be the other way – to not use anything natural and just to trust the orthodox system. Those who have a healthy lifestyle do much better on orthodox cancer treatments. For example we had one man here in his 60's who had been diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus. He had gone onto a very healthy lifestyle and was taking plenty of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables. He had an extra-ordinary result from his chemotherapy -- virtually no cancer left (as seen on scan).

It is always best to use orthodox, proven methods for diagnosis and monitoring of cancer. Be prepared to change what you are doing if no progress is being made.

Highwood has seen good outcomes in numbers of guests coming in before, after and during orthodox treatments. They come to have natural complementary therapy and evaluation or to recuperate after surgery or chemotherapy. We like to pay special attention to matters relating to stress.

We may also do various tests that may relate to cancer on blood or x-ray, including looking at deficiencies and poor dental hygiene.

Dr. D Bird, Highwood Resident Doctor, 2008