Natural News’ Mike Adams reports on how cordyceps mushrooms may have the ability to cease the spread of cancer. This is due to the fact that cordycepin (a drug extracted from the mushroom) has an effect on how cells make protein.

“For thousands of years, the mushroom known as Cordyceps has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat problems ranging from coughs and fatigue to impotence and cancer. And once Western scientists started considering that anecdotal reports of the mushroom’s curative powers might be something more than “folk tales”, research started accumulating that backs up many ancient claims about Cordyceps’ health benefits. For example, scientists from the University of Nottingham in Great Britain say they’ve documented how Cordiceps can fight cancer — and the new discovery could increase the effectiveness of mushroom-derived cancer treatments.”

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.naturalnews.com/027869_cordyceps_cancer.html

The anti-cancer effect is one of the reasons that our Master Formulator included the cordyceps mushroom in BōKU®’s Super Táke Blend. Research has shown that cordyceps may also protect the liver from damage and is known to have an anti-depressant effect.

1)    Why take BOKU Immune Tonic verse other common immune products out in the market ( Emergen-C, Airborne, most mega dosed vitamin C supplements )?

Dr. Adrezin: “I am not a big fan of mega dosed supplements.  Although you may feel some benefit, high doses of isolated nutrients can build up in the tissues of the body.  Your body then has to spend vital energy detoxifying from the vitamins!  A better way to get Vitamin C and encourage detoxification at the same time would be to squeeze the juice of a fresh organic lemon or lime into a glass of warm water.  This is a wonderful cleansing drink, especially with a bit of organic ginger thrown in as well.  Boku Super Food is also wonderfully rich in Vitamin C from organic foods.

I created Boku Immune Tonic to support the body in a unique way.  It is gentle, yet powerful at the same time.  The organic herbs in Boku Immune Tonic have a long history of use keeping people healthy and strong around the world.  Boku Immune Tonic provides a second level of support to synergize your use of nutrient dense foods and positive lifestyle factors.”

2)    What was your approach to your formula, i.e. why these specific ingredients?

Dr. Adrezin: “Many herbal formulations that deal with “cold/flu season” use plants that are intended to kill bacteria and viruses.  There can be a short term benefit in this. The downside is that by having the herbs kill the bugs, your immune system can become “lazy.” I take a different approach.  My focus in Boku Immune Tonic is to support the immune system and the vitality of the whole body.  I utilize powerful adaptogenic plants that can help the body protect and regulate itself in the face of stress, increase the body’s use of oxygen, boost mood, and encourage increased resistance to illness.  Boku Immune Tonic can be successfully used year round, not just in the winter.”

3)    Why liquid drops?

Dr. Adrezin: “It’s simple, liquid drops are not only convenient, but are highly absorbable and make the ingredients more bio available in the human body.”

4)    What’s your general advice on staying “flu free” during this flu season?

Dr. Adrezin: “Getting enough sleep is very powerful medicine during flu season.  Make sure to stay well hydrated.  Remember to move.  Even if you’re not an “exerciser,” walking and deep breathing will move lymphatic fluid through your body.  Lymphatic fluid helps your immune system keep you free from “invaders.”  Of course, you should make sure to eat a diet of nutrient dense foods, and remember to laugh, which has a remarkable effect in keeping the immune system in tune.”

Thanks Dr. BJ!

No one wants to get sick…ever, but especially during winter’s cold and flu season when we’re all more susceptible and it’s easier to continue passing on germs and illness for months. You can keep you body in optimal condition by eating nutrient dense food, drinking lots of water, exercising sufficiently and getting lots of quality rest.  Yet, there are still those times when catching a bug seems unavoidable. These are the times when your body could really use a little boost.

BōKU^® Immune Tonic is formulated by our own Dr. BJ Adrezin. The power in this glycerin-based tonic stems from its blend of potent herbs that all have many beneficial qualities. Dr. Adrezin included several different adaptogenic herbs: Rhodiola Rosea Root, Fo-ti Root, Holy Basil Leaf, Siberian Ginseng Root and Astragalus Root. Adaptogens produce the body’s ability to withstand and adapt to multiple stressors including physical, chemical, or biological agents. They also have a normalizing effect and help return the body to its natural state of homeostasis. Stress is one of the biggest enemies of a healthy immune system.  The adaptogenic herbs in BōKU^® Immune Tonic help the body manage stress and keep the immune system at its peak so you are much less likely to succumb to illness.

The other ingredients in BōKU^® Immune Tonic serve vital purposes as well.  Schisandra Berry, European Elderberry, Olive Leaf all contain extremely powerful antioxidants such as anthocyanins, lignans, oleuropein and vitamins A, C and E. Antioxidants are essential for proper immune function. They repair and protect cells from oxidative damage caused by an overabundance of free radicals. Just this sort of damage can leave the body susceptible to both minor and major illness.

BōKU^® Immune Tonic is an all natural, 100% alcohol free way to strengthen the body during cold and flu season and the rest of the year. The herbal liquid comes in a convenient 1 oz dropper bottle. Just add a few drops to a glass of water or under your tongue and give your immune system a healthy boost!

FYI: We expect BōKU^® Immune Tonic to be available for purchase after Christmas. It will cost about $10.

Written by Jay Koh, Vice President of BōKU^® International

This is my very UN scientific, but very practical real-world review of the new BōKU^® Immune Tonic.

I was getting ready for a string of business trips which would take me to 3 different cities in 7days.  My starting point was Los Angeles, first destination was Seattle, then to Las Vegas, and finally San Francisco for their 2009 GREEN FESTIVAL.   My fear was that in the middle of the most feared flu season in decades, I was exposing myself to thousands of people and high-risk locations where epidemics usually break.  I felt pretty confident that my immune system was up to the challenge but I was happy to find a trial vial of the new BōKU^® Immune Tonic in the office.  I decided it would be a good “test” to see how well it might perform in a “real world” situation.

My first impression of the immune tonic was just how convenient it was to carry and travel with.  It’s small 1oz liquid bottle fit nicely in my carry on.  This fit my first criteria… if it can’t travel with you, it can’t help you when you need it!  I was skeptical of the “dropper”  at first but I quickly caught on to the concept… it was much easier to control the dosage than a sprayer and much cleaner to carry.  I was able to put a couple of drops in my cup of water or just squeeze a couple of drops on to my tongue and swallow.  The taste was very pleasant: slightly sweet with a licorice like after taste.

My first stop in Seattle was an eye opener.  Going from 70’s weather of LA to 50 degrees and rainy was a shock to my system.  I immediately put a couple of drops of immune boost on my tongue and swallowed!  Two days later I was back at the airport healthy, and on my way to Las Vegas.  Unfortunately I happened to sit next to a lady that was coughing violently and there was no other seat available.  I reached for the immune boost and took a couple of drops just in case!  When I landed in Las Vegas, I was overwhelmed by the crowds.  Winter is High season for Las Vegas and there was massive crowds everywhere.  After checking into my hotel, I headed for the convention center for the Supply Side West Expo where I spent two days meeting possible new vendors and shaking their hands.  The attendance was 10k plus and I was worried about my exposure to all those germs!  I really thought my goose was cooked since there were so many people milling about the crowd, coughing, sneezing, and sniffling.  I made sure I washed my hands frequently and drank lots of water with a couple of drops of the immune tonic.   When I got back to the airport, waiting for my plane to San Francisco, I pulled out my bottle of BōKU^® Immune Tonic and said a silent prayer to the immune gods: “PLEASE KEEP ME HEALTHY! I have 3 more days of this trip and I cannot afford to get sick!” When I landed in San Francisco, I had a message from a colleague I met in Las Vegas: “I’m sick as a dog, are you?”  This time, I decided to take an extra dose of BōKU^® Immune Tonic and headed immediately to bed!  Sleep is another boost for the immune system and I needed all the help I could get.  Despite my fear, I slept great and was feeling very good for the next 2 busy days at the Green Festival.  On my way back to Los Angeles, I was relieved to be healthy and flu-free.  I know it wasn’t a scientific study, but I felt good about the BōKU^® Immune Tonic.  I did all the right things to stay healthy: I made sure I got enough sleep, I ate healthy and took BOKU Super food every day, and washed my hands frequently  after being in public places.  So in conclusion to my very un scientific but “real world” test run of the BōKU^® Immune Tonic, I give it a very high “thumbs up.”

In honor of the 25^th National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this article will discuss the likely relationship between breast cancer and diet.  While there may be nothing that we can do guarantee that we will not get breast cancer in the future, there is a host of studies that report that there are several lifestyle changes that we can make to reduce risk.

As far as diet is concerned, research seems to confirm common sense. According to a September 2009 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, (Meat, dairy, and breast cancer: do we have an answer?) that women who stuck to what they called a “prudent” diet tend to have a lower risk for breast cancer. Researchers Eleni Linos and Walter Willet define this “prudent” diet as one that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish and low in red and processed meats, starchy carbohydrates and sweets.  During their study they found that with pre-menopausal, normal-weight women the risk for cancer declined as their scores on the “prudent” diet scale rose. In fact, those with the most prudent diets lessened their risk by a third!

There was little evidence that the more “prudent” diet lowered risk among postmenopausal or overweight women, although it was liked to a generally lower risk of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer — an aggressive type of tumor that accounts for about one-third of breast cancers.

BõKU™ Super Food is an excellent addition to the “prudent” diet. This is because many of its ingredients are not only nutritious, but they may actually stimulate your immune system.  The Táke mushroom blend is especially known for these qualities; Reishi, Shiitake, Turkey Tail, Blazei, Chaga, and True Tinder Polypore are especially powerful.

Mushrooms are not the only  ingredient in BõKU™ Super Food that boost your immune system.  Goji berries, chlorophyll (found in all of our super greens!) and flax (which contains lignans) are also thought to have such properties.

However, eating healthy food is not the only lifestyle choice that one can make that may reduce their risk of developing cancer. Another is exercising regularly, the American Cancer Society suggests 45-60 minutes of exercise 5 or more days a week. Losing weight if you are overweight is also beneficial, as is maintaining a healthy weight after menopause. Limit your intake of alcohol. Studies have found that having one or more drinks a day will increase a woman’s risk of developing hormone-sensitive (ER+/PR+) tumor, this type accounts for roughly 70% of women diagnosed with breast cancer.

It is also very important to obtain a breast cancer risk assessment from a physician as well as an annual clinical breast exam. One should also remember to perform monthly breast self exams and make sure to get regular mammography screening once turning 40 years old.

Also, try to find a healthy way to manage the stress in your life and try to keep a positive mind set as often as possible. There isn’t a lot of evidence that this keeps the cancer away, but it certainly couldn’t hurt!