Berberine

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mpbser
Posts: 953
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2017 11:52 am

Berberine

Postby mpbser » Sat Apr 13, 2019 1:17 pm

As some of you may know, I am passionate about supplements and plant-derived alternatives or complements to chemo. In my spare time, I spend hours and hours reading studies about them and the biological processes involved with cancer as well as metabolic syndrome. I had heard about berberine (a major component of goldenseal) in passing at some point recently (probably on Dr. Gary Null's radio program) and how it can help lower blood glucose. My plan is to add it to our arsenal if research supports its use.

This morning, I finally got around to looking it up and I am amazed at what I found. Besides lowering blood glucose and improving one's lipid profile (lowering the LDLs and raising the HDLs), berberine appears to be beneficial for colon cancer: it is a COX2-inhibitor that inhibits CRC invasion and metastasis. There is also evidence that berberine suppresses tumorigenesis in familial adenomatous polyposis, as well as inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in colon cancer cells.

I'm very excited about adding this to my husband's milieu!

Does anyone else use it?
Wife 4/17 Dx age 45
5/17 LAR
Adenocarcinoma
low grade
1st primary T3 N2b M1a
Stage IVA
8/17 Sub-total colectomy
2nd primary 5.5 cm T1 N0
9 of 96 nodes
CEA: < 2.9
MSS
Lynch no; KRAS wild
Immunohistochemsistry Normal
Fall 2017 FOLFOX shrank the 1 met in liver
1/18 Liver left hepatectomy seg 4
5/18 CT clear
12/18 MRI 1 liver met
3/7/19 Resection & HAI
4/1/19 Folfiri & FUDR
5/13/19 HAI pump catheter dislodge, nearly bled to death
6-7 '19 5FU 4 cycles
NED

Rikimaroo
Posts: 436
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:48 pm
Location: Florida

Re: Berberine

Postby Rikimaroo » Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:45 pm

I am taking six of these daily and will let you guys know how it goes with my next blood work. Granted I am doing chemo now two rounds left but it’s not gonna hurt to take this going forward. I also drink a tea my Mom makes me from guanabana tree leaves. She boils the leaves and drops a drop of cinammin for taste and I drink that daily once or twice.

American BioSciences ImmPower | Enhanced Immune Support, Natural Killer Cell Activity & Cytokine Production | 30 Vegetarian Capsules, 500mg of AHCC per Capsule (6 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E0V9ZA/re ... SCbVP2EQ2B

Mb - add a link to where you get your stuff


Check out the reviews.

Rikimaroo
RC T3N1M0 12/16
MSS - NRAS Mutation
Chemo Rad, CCR - W&W 5/2017
Recurrence 11/2017
CT Scan 11/2017 Liver Met 5.5cm Stable, Stage IV
LAR/Liver Resect 4/2018
Reversal 10/18
CEA highest 500, lowest .8 throughout process, waiting for latest
Recurrence left vesical/pelvic sidewall - 10/7/2019 resect perm bag,
CEA rise Feb/May 3.7, 8.8, 30, Recurrence in Pelvic
CEA 40 right now, but was 57, so folfiri to beat it back down.
Lots of chemo for the past 4 years.

mpbser
Posts: 953
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2017 11:52 am

Re: Berberine

Postby mpbser » Sun Apr 14, 2019 5:38 am

We buy our supplements from Vitacost.com and lifeextension.com.

I only buy supplements from amazon when the supplier is also the manufacturer and I have vetted the brand. I have bought counterfeit supplements there before I started this practice. I don't want fake or possibly dangerous products.
Wife 4/17 Dx age 45
5/17 LAR
Adenocarcinoma
low grade
1st primary T3 N2b M1a
Stage IVA
8/17 Sub-total colectomy
2nd primary 5.5 cm T1 N0
9 of 96 nodes
CEA: < 2.9
MSS
Lynch no; KRAS wild
Immunohistochemsistry Normal
Fall 2017 FOLFOX shrank the 1 met in liver
1/18 Liver left hepatectomy seg 4
5/18 CT clear
12/18 MRI 1 liver met
3/7/19 Resection & HAI
4/1/19 Folfiri & FUDR
5/13/19 HAI pump catheter dislodge, nearly bled to death
6-7 '19 5FU 4 cycles
NED

Pyro
Posts: 305
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:40 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: Berberine

Postby Pyro » Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:05 am

mpbser wrote: Vitacost.com. I don't want fake or possibly dangerous products. :shock:
Aug 2015- Stage 4 CC with liver Mets(38/m)
Sep 2015- Avastin/Folfox/Iron
Dec 2015-Not liver surgery candidate
Jan 2016- Erbitux/Folfiri, 2nd opinion at MDA in TX
Feb 2016 -MDA liver surgery
Mar 2016 -30% of left lobe rem, PVE
May 2016 - 70% of liver rem
Jun 2016-Rad
Jan 2017-perm colost @MDA
Jul 2017-Erb/FOLFURI
Nov 2017 -Lung & Liver ablations@MDA
Jan 2018 -Xeloda & Avastin mx
Jul 2018-Avast/FOLFURI
Sep 2018-Rad
Mar 2019 - Keytruda fail
Jun 2019 - FOLFURI
Aug 2019 - No more, quality time!

mpbser
Posts: 953
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2017 11:52 am

Re: Berberine

Postby mpbser » Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:16 am

What's wrong with Vitacost? I have been shopping there for nearly 20 years.
Wife 4/17 Dx age 45
5/17 LAR
Adenocarcinoma
low grade
1st primary T3 N2b M1a
Stage IVA
8/17 Sub-total colectomy
2nd primary 5.5 cm T1 N0
9 of 96 nodes
CEA: < 2.9
MSS
Lynch no; KRAS wild
Immunohistochemsistry Normal
Fall 2017 FOLFOX shrank the 1 met in liver
1/18 Liver left hepatectomy seg 4
5/18 CT clear
12/18 MRI 1 liver met
3/7/19 Resection & HAI
4/1/19 Folfiri & FUDR
5/13/19 HAI pump catheter dislodge, nearly bled to death
6-7 '19 5FU 4 cycles
NED

mpbser
Posts: 953
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2017 11:52 am

Re: Berberine

Postby mpbser » Tue Apr 16, 2019 2:47 pm

Ok, so, no answer, pryo? I guess that comment was nothing more than snark to cause me confusion and anxiety. Nice.
Wife 4/17 Dx age 45
5/17 LAR
Adenocarcinoma
low grade
1st primary T3 N2b M1a
Stage IVA
8/17 Sub-total colectomy
2nd primary 5.5 cm T1 N0
9 of 96 nodes
CEA: < 2.9
MSS
Lynch no; KRAS wild
Immunohistochemsistry Normal
Fall 2017 FOLFOX shrank the 1 met in liver
1/18 Liver left hepatectomy seg 4
5/18 CT clear
12/18 MRI 1 liver met
3/7/19 Resection & HAI
4/1/19 Folfiri & FUDR
5/13/19 HAI pump catheter dislodge, nearly bled to death
6-7 '19 5FU 4 cycles
NED

boxhill
Posts: 789
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:40 am

Re: Berberine

Postby boxhill » Wed Apr 17, 2019 8:26 am

I started looking into berberine after it was mentioned here, since it may have a positive effect on a couple of crucial things for me--blood sugar and lipid control--but so far what I've seen has indicated that it is safe for up to 4 months at the recommended dosages.

Any information about taking it for a longer period of time?

I believe Pyro was having test on Monday. People don't always respond instantly. I suggest assuming good intentions. It's better for your blood pressure. :wink:
F, 64 at DX CRC Stage IV
3/17/18 blockage, r hemi
11 of 25 LN,5 mesentery nodes
5mm liver met
pT3 pN2b pM1
BRAF wild, KRAS G12D
dMMR, MSI-H
5/18 FOLFOX
7/18 and 11/18 CT NED
12/18 MRI 5mm liver mass, 2 LNs in porta hepatis
12/31/18 Keytruda
6/19 Multiphasic CT LNs normal, Liver stable
6/28/19 Pause Key, predisone for joint pain
7/31/19 Restart Key
9/19 CT stable
Pain: all fails but Celebrex
12/23/19 CT stable
5/20 MRI stable/NED
6/20 Stop Key
All MRIs NED

mpbser
Posts: 953
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2017 11:52 am

Re: Berberine

Postby mpbser » Wed Apr 17, 2019 8:47 am

boxhill wrote:I started looking into berberine after it was mentioned here, since it may have a positive effect on a couple of crucial things for me--blood sugar and lipid control--but so far what I've seen has indicated that it is safe for up to 4 months at the recommended dosages.

Any information about taking it for a longer period of time?


I didn't know that there was a 4 month recommended limit. Please keep us posted as to any effects you may see from using it.

boxhill wrote: I believe Pyro was having test on Monday. People don't always respond instantly. I suggest assuming good intentions. It's better for your blood pressure. :wink:


I don't care about his or her intentions. (On that note, I find exceptionally snarky people don't usually have good intentions.) I do care about the products from vitacost. It would be nice for him or her to answer my question "what is wrong with vitacost?" That kind of ambiguity in making a sarcastic comment about vitacost.com leaves me to wonder if he or she knows something about the site that I don't know! How unhelpful it is to allude to there being a problem with their products in terms of authenticity or dangerousness and then not clarifying oneself! (the behavior of an ill-intentioned person) Now, I need to spend time and energy worrying and researching, when there may be no problem with the company AT ALL!
Wife 4/17 Dx age 45
5/17 LAR
Adenocarcinoma
low grade
1st primary T3 N2b M1a
Stage IVA
8/17 Sub-total colectomy
2nd primary 5.5 cm T1 N0
9 of 96 nodes
CEA: < 2.9
MSS
Lynch no; KRAS wild
Immunohistochemsistry Normal
Fall 2017 FOLFOX shrank the 1 met in liver
1/18 Liver left hepatectomy seg 4
5/18 CT clear
12/18 MRI 1 liver met
3/7/19 Resection & HAI
4/1/19 Folfiri & FUDR
5/13/19 HAI pump catheter dislodge, nearly bled to death
6-7 '19 5FU 4 cycles
NED

mpbser
Posts: 953
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2017 11:52 am

Re: Berberine

Postby mpbser » Wed Apr 17, 2019 8:49 am

Pyro wrote:
mpbser wrote: Vitacost.com. I don't want fake or possibly dangerous products. :shock:


Maybe I need to draw attention to the comment and provide a "notification" by quoting
Wife 4/17 Dx age 45
5/17 LAR
Adenocarcinoma
low grade
1st primary T3 N2b M1a
Stage IVA
8/17 Sub-total colectomy
2nd primary 5.5 cm T1 N0
9 of 96 nodes
CEA: < 2.9
MSS
Lynch no; KRAS wild
Immunohistochemsistry Normal
Fall 2017 FOLFOX shrank the 1 met in liver
1/18 Liver left hepatectomy seg 4
5/18 CT clear
12/18 MRI 1 liver met
3/7/19 Resection & HAI
4/1/19 Folfiri & FUDR
5/13/19 HAI pump catheter dislodge, nearly bled to death
6-7 '19 5FU 4 cycles
NED

Pyro
Posts: 305
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:40 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: Berberine

Postby Pyro » Wed Apr 17, 2019 8:59 am

My intentions were pure, I rewrote the post a couple of times, erasing it every time I thought it would be taken incorrectly. I did not know that company had been around that many years. My sister just got ripped off by an online vitamin company, so I brought my knowledge here.
Aug 2015- Stage 4 CC with liver Mets(38/m)
Sep 2015- Avastin/Folfox/Iron
Dec 2015-Not liver surgery candidate
Jan 2016- Erbitux/Folfiri, 2nd opinion at MDA in TX
Feb 2016 -MDA liver surgery
Mar 2016 -30% of left lobe rem, PVE
May 2016 - 70% of liver rem
Jun 2016-Rad
Jan 2017-perm colost @MDA
Jul 2017-Erb/FOLFURI
Nov 2017 -Lung & Liver ablations@MDA
Jan 2018 -Xeloda & Avastin mx
Jul 2018-Avast/FOLFURI
Sep 2018-Rad
Mar 2019 - Keytruda fail
Jun 2019 - FOLFURI
Aug 2019 - No more, quality time!

boxhill
Posts: 789
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:40 am

Re: Berberine

Postby boxhill » Fri Apr 19, 2019 9:56 am

Assuming that Vitacost was not the company in question, that's good news. Not for your sister, alas.
F, 64 at DX CRC Stage IV
3/17/18 blockage, r hemi
11 of 25 LN,5 mesentery nodes
5mm liver met
pT3 pN2b pM1
BRAF wild, KRAS G12D
dMMR, MSI-H
5/18 FOLFOX
7/18 and 11/18 CT NED
12/18 MRI 5mm liver mass, 2 LNs in porta hepatis
12/31/18 Keytruda
6/19 Multiphasic CT LNs normal, Liver stable
6/28/19 Pause Key, predisone for joint pain
7/31/19 Restart Key
9/19 CT stable
Pain: all fails but Celebrex
12/23/19 CT stable
5/20 MRI stable/NED
6/20 Stop Key
All MRIs NED

User avatar
wwroam
Posts: 763
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:13 pm
Facebook Username: Wayne Whitaker
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Contact:

Re: Berberine

Postby wwroam » Tue Apr 23, 2019 7:05 pm

Anyone familiar with Diabetes forums would be familiar with Berberine. The most common medication for T2DM is Metformin but unfortunately there is a percentage of the population who suffer from gastric issues with that drug. They can, however tolerate Berberine, though its efficacy is a bit hit or miss.
It is known that low dose Metformin ( 250 mg/day) had significant benefits in preventing colon cancer and preventing recurrence. I recall that the research was Japanese based.
Stage 3a DX 25/06/07
Folfox complete 30/01/08
7 years NED
Port scheduled for removal 8/02/10 Gone.
PSA .54 No prostate problems
Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetic
SO diagnosed CC Stage IV Liver Mets 23/03/15

mpbser
Posts: 953
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2017 11:52 am

Re: Berberine

Postby mpbser » Wed Apr 24, 2019 6:27 am

Do you have a preferred Diabetes forum that you visit? I would be interested in learning more, especially about metformin and berberine. I am cautious about Metformin because of the risk of horrible side effects and because it appears to be effective against cancer only for certain people (I can't remember which mutation off hand).
Wife 4/17 Dx age 45
5/17 LAR
Adenocarcinoma
low grade
1st primary T3 N2b M1a
Stage IVA
8/17 Sub-total colectomy
2nd primary 5.5 cm T1 N0
9 of 96 nodes
CEA: < 2.9
MSS
Lynch no; KRAS wild
Immunohistochemsistry Normal
Fall 2017 FOLFOX shrank the 1 met in liver
1/18 Liver left hepatectomy seg 4
5/18 CT clear
12/18 MRI 1 liver met
3/7/19 Resection & HAI
4/1/19 Folfiri & FUDR
5/13/19 HAI pump catheter dislodge, nearly bled to death
6-7 '19 5FU 4 cycles
NED

User avatar
wwroam
Posts: 763
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:13 pm
Facebook Username: Wayne Whitaker
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Contact:

Re: Berberine

Postby wwroam » Wed Apr 24, 2019 8:17 pm

Aside from stomach cramps for about the first fortnight I have had no other issues. Then I was on 2 * 1000mg/day which is the max dose.
Stage 3a DX 25/06/07
Folfox complete 30/01/08
7 years NED
Port scheduled for removal 8/02/10 Gone.
PSA .54 No prostate problems
Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetic
SO diagnosed CC Stage IV Liver Mets 23/03/15


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