Natural Antidote to Chemotherapy's Toxic Side-Effects; Ancient 'Amrit' Formula Offers Relief and Boosts Patient Compliance.

Cancer Researchers Share Latest Findings at St. Joseph Hospital's Center for

Healthy Aging

CHICAGO, June 12 /PRNewswire/ --

An ancient herbal formula known as "Amrit" can significantly reduce the debilitating effects of chemotherapy according to Hari Sharma, M.D., Professor Emeritus and former Director of Cancer Prevention and Natural Products Research at the Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Sharma will present his findings at an event hosted by the Saint Joseph Hospital's Center for Healthy Aging on Saturday, June 17, 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. in the Boikan Conference Center, 2900 North Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. Other speakers will be Jeremy Fields, Ph.D., Center research project manager; Northern Kentucky plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Christine Horner-Taylor, M.D., and cancer patient, Betsy Malone.

Latest research conducted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India's Harvard, shows Amrit to be a promising adjuvant to chemotherapy-reducing symptoms of nausea and vomiting (22% less than controls), anorexia (26% less), and improving patients' ability to tolerate treatments (17.5% more). "Amrit helps patients complete their course of chemotherapy," said Dr. Sharma, who has studied the antioxidant properties of Amrit for over 10 years. "Amrit is the broadest spectrum antioxidant combination I have seen." Sharma's research has found Amrit to be 1000 times more powerful in antioxidant properties than vitamin C, E and even the pharmaceutical probucol.

"For example, Amrit increases gluthione peroxidase, an enzyme involved with the removal of toxins from the physiology. It strengthens overall health and immunity while helping the body reduce several different toxic side-effects-making chemotherapy more bearable. Other chemotoxicity-reducing agents only target one side effect, while Amrit has been shown to mitigate seven," Dr. Sharma said. His research on Amrit has been published in peer reviewed journals including Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior; Free Radical Biology and Medicine; Personality and Individual Differences; Complementary Medicine International; and the International Journal of Psychosomatics.

The Amrit formula is manufactured by Maharishi Ayurveda Products International (MAPI) with headquarters in Colorado Springs. MAPI is the only Ayurveda company in the world to receive ISO 9001 certification for high production standards.

Christine Horner-Taylor, M.D., a Northern Kentucky plastic and reconstructive surgeon, regularly treats cancer patients and now widely recommends Amrit. Dr. Horner-Taylor is nationally recognized for lobbying the government to pass legislation in 1998 requiring insurance companies in every state to cover breast reconstruction after mastectomy. "Clinically, Amrit has been transformational with a number of my patients," she said. "One woman with advanced stage breast cancer looked like a new person after taking Amrit. Her energy level improved 100% and she breezed through her chemo regimen with almost no side-effects, much to the amazement of the oncologist who referred her."

One of Dr. Horner-Taylor's patients, Betsy, a 35-year-old mother of three, described how her first chemo session was "absolutely devastating." Then, after starting Amrit, the contrast was like night and day. "I actually come home from my chemo treatments, fix dinner for my kids and feel good enough to go to work the next day. I can hardly believe it-now my vitality level seems even better than before I had cancer," she said.

"Complementary and alternative medical techniques can be successful adjuvants to treating cancer," said Jeremy Fields, Ph.D., research project manager for the Saint Joseph Hospital's Center for Healthy Aging. Dr. Fields, who is hosting the event, is a Senior Fellow of the National Institutes of Health. He is currently recruiting subjects for a randomized controlled study on the effects of stress reduction techniques for improving the quality of life among women with stage 2, 3 and 4 breast cancer. "At our Center, we're interested in scientifically validated ancient and modern methods that can enhance longevity and improve quality of life for those suffering from chronic diseases of aging including cancer," he said. For media relations, contact Lisa DeMitchell, 515-472-5363; or Dean Draznin 515-472-2257.