The Nature Cure Approach
Brandie Gowey, NMD

According to MD Consult,1 the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the etiologic agent involved in pre-cancerous (dysplastic) and cancerous changes to the squamous epithelium of the cervix. Cervical dysplasia (also referred to as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, or CIN) is graded by degree and by different classification systems, for example, mild to severe (CINI to CINIII), or AGUS (atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance) to HGSIL (high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion). In my experience in working with women who have varying degrees of cervical dysplasia (AGUS to CINIII), HPV is only an opportunist of a deeper pathology, ie, a weakening of cervical cells by various environmental, mental-emotional, and physiological factors. My clinical observation is that these cells become susceptible to the deleterious effects of HPV only when these factors are not treated. There are researchers who agree with this concept; Fonseca-Moutinho et al,2 for example, states, “HPV has been the strongest epidemiologic factor associated with intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer of the cervix, and is considered a necessary cause but is not sufficient as cause of cervical dysplasia.”

I have seen women of varying ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, family history, and lifestyles all able to experience a healing of the cervix (meaning the Pap smear returns as “normal”) when the “obstacle(s) to cure” are identified and treated.3 For some women, the healing occurred rapidly, eg, within a matter of weeks, while for others it took longer (eg, months); time to healing depended on the accuracy of identifying the obstacle and treating it with the appropriate modalities for the patient. My patients with HPV do not have abnormal Pap smears as long as we continue to address the obstacles.

According to my work and research, these are the factors contributing to the adverse effects of HPV:

• Environmental toxin susceptibility (clinical observation and Crinnion, 20124)
• Food/seasonal allergies (clinical observation)
• Poor mental-emotional connection or self-talk (clinical observation)
• Use of oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (clinical observation and McFarlane-Anderson et al, 20085)
• Cigarette smoking (Fonseca-Moutinho et al, 2011)2
• Poor nutritional status (Marshall, 2003)6
• Processed sugars (clinical observation)
• Weak immune system (clinical observation)
• Low antioxidant status (Marshall, 20036; Liu et al, 19937; Kwanbunjan et al, 20068; Cho et al, 20099)

While most research available on cervical dysplasia links low antioxidant/nutritional status to the development of precancer/cancer, there are many more possible contributors. Just telling patients to take folic acid is not enough; in fact, I have given patients IV- or IM folic acid and never saw a difference. Here is a brief discussion of my findings:

Environmental links. Cell-mediated immunity (carried out by T-helper 1 cells) is required for defense against cancer cells in the body. Exposure to environmental toxins may tip the immune system toward a T-helper 2 (Th2) cell dominance, which in turn inhibits Th1 activity.4 Walter Crinnion, NMD, published a fantastic article in Alternative Medicine Review in 2012,4 outlining the impact of T-helper 2 cells on autoimmunity and inflammation. Th2 cells produce cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-5, which promote Th2-type inflammation, especially in the presence of environmental toxins. Testing for genetic polymorphisms and related deficiencies associated with detoxification pathways is available through some laboratories.

Food and seasonal allergies. These create inflammation and a Th2 immune pattern, whether by delayed (IgG) or immediate (IgE/histamine) hypersensitivity reactions. If you encourage the patient to take the allergenic food out of the diet, the cervix often heals rapidly. I have seen wheat to be the most common offender, but seasonal allergies can also be a problem. Homeopathic allergy mixtures work well to help the patient overcome allergies.

Negative mind-set. I do believe that what we say is what manifests.10 I had a patient with LGSIL for years. She had a very poor self-image. We worked on belief in a better outcome, using positive visualizations/affirmations. All of her recent Pap smears have been normal.

Exogenous hormones. Yes, even bioidentical hormones, made in a lab, may contribute to deleterious cell changes unless proven otherwise. Studies suggest that both estrogen and progestins may inhibit apoptosis of damaged cells11; estradiol may also increase cervical cancer risk by stimulating HPV transcription.12 Vaginal progestin/progesterone-only treatments in women with low-grade cervical dysplasia may interfere with disease regression.13

Cigarette smoking. Metabolites of cigarette smoke can be found within the cervical epithelium of smokers, including pyrenes. Nicotine may inhibit apoptosis and cause aberrant methylation of the tumor suppressor gene, P16.2

Poor nutrition/antioxidant status. Low levels of antioxidants, including vitamins A and E and carotenoids, have been linked to increased risk of cervical dysplasia, perhaps related to mitochondrial oxidative stress.14

Processed sugar intake. Clinically, I have seen the elimination of sugar from a patient’s diet to reverse abnormal Pap smears to normal. I have also documented via pre- and post-viral load testing that processed sugar intake increases HPV viral levels.3 The mechanism of action is not entirely clear; my hunch is that it involves a change in macrophage activity, leading to increased interleukin release and inflammation.

Low immune function. Clinically, I have seen a strong immune system successfully combat HPV.3 I have also observed that herbs given singly are not as effective as in combination.

Consistent with treating “obstacle to cure,” I have compounding pharmacies mix a proprietary blend of pitcher plant extracts (Sarrecenia flava/leukophylla and mixed hybrids therein), for use in vaginal insertions as a gel. This topical gel is inserted nightly by the patient and applied monthly by the practitioner. That being said, this treatment is not the sole “cure”; botanicals work best once the “obstacle” is removed. This plant formulation, in particular, works very quickly (a Pap smear will often return as normal within a few weeks), once the obstacle is identified and treated. Sarracenia flava and related species have been shown in studies to shrink tumors,15,16 as well as exhibit cytoprotective characteristics.17

In August of 2012, a 25-year-old female presented with a longstanding history of LSIL and external condyloma. She had been suffering from the impact of HPV on her cervix and labia for several years, having had several procedures performed on her cervix (ie, loop electrosurgical excision procedure, biopsies), none of which successfully treated the dysplasia. Her gynecologist recently suggested removing her labia to treat the condyloma, which was why she called me. This treatment did not interest her, even though the condyloma was very prolific and irritating; her labia majora/minora were very swollen and enlarged.

Among the potential obstacles discussed in this article, she was a smoker, ate a lot of processed sugars, did not consume many fruits or vegetables, and had a great deal of external stressors in her life. I encouraged her to quit smoking, stop eating processed sugars, juice bright-colored (antioxidant-rich) fruits/veggies, and find ways to manage stress (eg, exercise, meditation). The first change she made was going off sugar; a month after that she started juicing. This made a huge difference in her overall affect and energy level. By Christmas she had quit smoking. Stress was a huge obstacle for her, so I tried adrenal support and homeopathics (ie, Arsenicum), which helped. The addition of meditation helped the most, giving her a sense of calm “even in a storm at work.” We repeated the Pap smear 6 months after we started working together.

The biggest changes I saw in her was the improvement in appearance and size of the condyloma. When we first met, it was very prolific, with a large, cauliflower-like, brownish appearance. With each month that passed (I followed up with her monthly), the condyloma shrunk to a smaller and smaller size, and the color went from dark red/brown to skin-toned. Her Pap smear, however, had not yet changed, so I had a sense that we had yet to identify all obstacles to cure. We dug deeper as a team. She recalled that she developed seasonal allergies upon moving to Arizona a few years prior, and around that time she had started to develop cervical dysplasia. I put her on a homeopathic for local pollens/allergens and added herbs such as Zingiber (ginger) and Astragalus, to help regulate inflammatory responses. I had her continue with all treatments for 3 more months. At the end of this period, her Pap smear returned as normal. She had been applying my botanical gel formulation throughout the entire treatment period. I had noticed an immune response on the cervix as she used the gel, noted as a white appearance on the cervix, and localized to areas of dysplasia. The white area looks like pockets of pus. I only see this response in women who have been battling cervical dysplasia for several years; when we finally remove the last obstacle to cure, the cervix appearance changes to this pus-like, white look, while the body of the cervix becomes pink and stays pink (a sign of healing).

There really is nothing more satisfying than calling a patient to tell her that her Pap smear is now normal. I encourage you to not forget to look for the obstacle to cure in all your patients, especially those with cervical dysplasia. I do not agree with the concept that we have to “kill” or remove pre-cancerous cells. I do feel that the body can take care of abnormalities if we encourage it to do so, and if we use botanicals at the right moment. Plants always work best once the obstacle to cure has been successfully treated.  

Brandie Gowey, NMD is a 2007 graduate of Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM) in Tempe, AZ. She was a 1999 “Graduate of Distinction” from the U of Wisconsin-Madison, was named “Woman of the Future” by UW-Marshfield in 1995, was honored for her Service to Community by the SCNM Alumni in 2008, and was named Ruby Award Winner by Soroptomists International of Flagstaff in 2009. She founded Naturopaths International (a 501c3) in 2007. Dr B is passionate about affordable medical care, using all proceeds from the sales of her products and books to promote the medicine she loves and to work towards building a hospital with outreach into shelters. She specializes in hormonal disorders, gut issues, and pre-cancerous conditions. Her first book on preventing and reversing cervical dysplasia was published on October 1, 2012.

 References

1. MD Consult. Cervical malignancy/dysplasia. Last updated October 20, 2011. MD Consult Web site. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/pdxmd/body/407455133-3/1427174358?type=med&eid=9-u1.0-_1_mt_1014649. Accessed August 15, 2013.
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