Aa
To Alan...Maitake D-Fraction
Hi Alan, I know you are a strong believer of Maitake D-Fraction....if you dont mind can you tell me some info on it.
Thank you
Fiana
Thank you
Fiana
I just had my moms 3 month routine check up and I'm happy to say that she got a clean bill of health. SUPER. Funny but I had read yr post this morning and right after reading I went to my mom apptment. I questioned this to the doctor and not surprising she didn't know much about this Maitake treatment. She did mention another type of Japanese mushroom. She answered me "Hey anything is worth a try, if it's natural "WHY NOT" So why not, I'll look into our natural food store. So basically Grifron Pro is what I'm looking for. Thanks for help I really appreciate it.
Mirella
Mirella
Hi Alan, just wanted to say you are a star ! It is kind of you to take time to post and let
others know your vast knowledge on this disease.
I hope you are doing well since your mum passed away last year.
Best wishes, Sam.
others know your vast knowledge on this disease.
I hope you are doing well since your mum passed away last year.
Best wishes, Sam.
Hi Mirella,
Well Maitake Products Inc (maitake.com) is the U.S. Manufacturer of MDF and they have two versions of MDF, their regular and professional which goes under grifron pro. The regular is in pill (or liquid) form and the professional is only in liquid form. The differnce is the pro is more concentrated (so it's in essence more powerful than if you took the same quantity of the regular version).
You can get it most anywhere...I used to buy directly from them, but now I get mine from 'The Vitamin Store' which has a website by the same URL (or via amazon.com they have a shop there too) because it's a little cheaper that route.
Yes, MANY people make maitake related products...I just recommend those made my Maitake Products Inc. because of the high quality (other you just don't know about) and the fact that they employ the equivalent of the former FDA officials of Japan. Plus they are the ones who pushed for the FDA clinical trial of MDF.
Once again, this is not a cure just an adjunct treatment...it's always recommended to be used with chemo and not just by itself in combatting the cancer (although it has been done that way). In remission, I think it's a perfect thing to take if not for the fact that it helps the immune system. Although I don't have cancer, I use it whenever I get sick :)
Well Maitake Products Inc (maitake.com) is the U.S. Manufacturer of MDF and they have two versions of MDF, their regular and professional which goes under grifron pro. The regular is in pill (or liquid) form and the professional is only in liquid form. The differnce is the pro is more concentrated (so it's in essence more powerful than if you took the same quantity of the regular version).
You can get it most anywhere...I used to buy directly from them, but now I get mine from 'The Vitamin Store' which has a website by the same URL (or via amazon.com they have a shop there too) because it's a little cheaper that route.
Yes, MANY people make maitake related products...I just recommend those made my Maitake Products Inc. because of the high quality (other you just don't know about) and the fact that they employ the equivalent of the former FDA officials of Japan. Plus they are the ones who pushed for the FDA clinical trial of MDF.
Once again, this is not a cure just an adjunct treatment...it's always recommended to be used with chemo and not just by itself in combatting the cancer (although it has been done that way). In remission, I think it's a perfect thing to take if not for the fact that it helps the immune system. Although I don't have cancer, I use it whenever I get sick :)
Thanks Alan - I am using the Pro form (liquid). I will continue to use this during my upcoming vaccine trial. My CA125 has been around 12 since surgery and chemo and I would like to do everything possible to keep it there.
WOW I am super intrigued now. I rad through yr post and alot of it is a complete different language to me BUT...... my mom is in remission from OVCA stage 2A and I am trying everything to keep her in remission. This Maitake I understand comes in liquid and pill form. Does it come under the name Grifron Pro only or there are differrent companies that make it. Obviously u have to go to a specialty store for this right. Pls help me!!!! I'm desperate and willing to try anything. Where is this purchased and should I just ask for Maitake. I live in Canada and we do have natural product stores. Thanks alot this was a very interesting post.
Mirella
Mirella
HI! Well understand it's all relative, so you can still take the therapudic dosage instead of regular, maintenance dosage if you'd like (esp if your gameplan is to continue attacking the cancer, etc.).
In general you can always take it...some people prefer to have a two week 'off' period where they do not take it. I'm not sure if that really makes a difference or not, but it may not be a bad idea. And then, yes, from there a regular dosage should be fine (unless you still wish to puruse attacking cancer cells). Remember, it's a natural mushroom based substance and unless you have allergies to mushrooms you're not going to do any damage one way or the other.
Are you using the Grifron Pro version (liquid) or just the regular capsules? That all depends too...the Grifron Pro (from Maitake Products Inc) is formulated stronger than that of the 'regular' powder capsules (off the top of my head I think like 10x more concentrated).
It does take time, but everyone's body and cancer are different, so if the MDF works for you it can be quick or longer (as we've all learned nothing is set in cancer treatment!).
So I guess the short answer is, yes, regular dosage should be fine if you are in remission...typically thereapudic dosage is used when you want to really fight something/really boost the immune system (etc).
Good luck!
In general you can always take it...some people prefer to have a two week 'off' period where they do not take it. I'm not sure if that really makes a difference or not, but it may not be a bad idea. And then, yes, from there a regular dosage should be fine (unless you still wish to puruse attacking cancer cells). Remember, it's a natural mushroom based substance and unless you have allergies to mushrooms you're not going to do any damage one way or the other.
Are you using the Grifron Pro version (liquid) or just the regular capsules? That all depends too...the Grifron Pro (from Maitake Products Inc) is formulated stronger than that of the 'regular' powder capsules (off the top of my head I think like 10x more concentrated).
It does take time, but everyone's body and cancer are different, so if the MDF works for you it can be quick or longer (as we've all learned nothing is set in cancer treatment!).
So I guess the short answer is, yes, regular dosage should be fine if you are in remission...typically thereapudic dosage is used when you want to really fight something/really boost the immune system (etc).
Good luck!
I have been taking this for about two or three months but not religiously. I hope to change that after reading this. Having finished chemo 10 weeks ago, in your opinion when can a person use the maintenance dose rather than the therapudic dose?
Hi Fiana! Sure! I wish I had a good article on it (the one I wrote is still a work in progress). I appologize, but this will be a short posting (just got home from work!)
1) Maitake is one of serveral 'medicinal' mushrooms (you've probablly heard of others like shitake, etc.). The difference with Maitake is fruiting body was discovered, in the 1980's, to have several 'fractions' that can be made from it. The most popular is the 'D-Fraction' which is, esentially, to boost the immune system. Now, the reason Maitake D-Fraction is the only one I recommend is because the other medicinal mushrooms are poory absorbed in the intestinal tract...Maitake D-Fraction is the only one that can do this. For instance Shitake is used to make an intravenous form of 'chemotherapy' in Japan, and yes, it works (even in Ovarian Cancer). Yet it is not approved by the FDA (big shocker) in this country.
2) All medicinal mushrooms (and for that matter 'bran') have 'Beta Glucans' which are Polysaccharide (complex carbohydrates) Active beta-glucans in D-fraction have unique polysaccharide structures and the degree of branching is greater than any beta-glucan found in any other medicinal mushrooms that demonstrate this similar immune stimulatory property. Researchers theorize that the complexity of branching makes D-Fraction most potent for enhancing the immune system via oral administration, leading to the highest tumor reduction in proliferation in several animal studies. Most other mushroom extracts fail to show oral activity in pre-clinical studies.
D-Fraction consists of highly active beta-glucans (BOTH 3-branched beta - 1,6 glucan AND 6-branches beta - 1,3 glucan) and approximately 30% of protein extracted from Maitake mushroom fruiting body.
It's important to note that research on cancer treatments with beta-glucans are focusing in on the beta 1,3 glucan and showing promise. The fact that Maitake contains more 1,6 and 1,3 glucans than any other medicinal mushrooms is assumed the way it can be taken orally. Compared to Letinan which is made form the Shittake mushroom and used in Japan as an anti-cancer drug, it does not need to be taken intravenously to be effective.
You can go up on NCBI's Pub Med (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) and find a slew of medical research papers on Beta Glucans and cancer. Understandably, there are few on Ovarian Cancer (because it truely is a 'rare' cancer compared to the big ones), but 'similar' cancers such as Breast and Prostate show great promise with Beta Glucans (and also research on Maitake D-Fraction specifically). And this is with actual human oral usage, not just lab rats or petrie dishes (although that has been done as well).
3) What it all does: OK, so I gave you all this wordy stuff...so in a nutshell what the beta glucans in Maitake D-Fraction do is work with your immune system via your gut (intenstines) where they 'activate' receptors on macrophages (the white blood cells that essentialy go out there and 'eat' the bad guys, etc), NK killer cell activity, etc, etc, etc.
There is other things Maitake D-Fraction (MDF) does too specifically to combat cancer and other diseases. Please accept my appologies for not being too specific here...your post has prompted me to being more research and rewrite my current Maitake D-Fractin article on my website (I have others up there on CoQ10 and Soy Isoflavones too).
So, we know that other 'products' boost the immune system...so why MDF? It clearly shows in research and trials to do what it says and do it effectively. In-fact, they find more and more usages for it essentially everyday (for instance, it's showing promise with HIV patients as well if you can believe that...amazing).
and....
4) Safe, safe,safe....unless you have allergies to mushrooms, this is by far the safest supplement you can take. In-fact, the Memorial Sloan Kettering cancer center allows it for ALL chemos, including experimental, because of it's excellent safety record. And, to put it even further, the FDA allowed MDF to *BYPASS* Phase One 'safety' testing....I can assure you that your chemotherapy had Phase One testing...this one's clear established record speaks for itself.
So, yes, MDF was put into Phase II FDA clinical trials (no other supplement can say the same) for Breast and Prostate cancer. The goal was *not* to make this a drug, but to help the American people with more research on this supplement. I think that speaks alot for the American company (Maitake Products, Inc.) who footed the bill for the trial.
5) Does it work in real life settings? OK my mom had ovca and did pass away. I showed MDF to one of my mom's two Gyn Onc and he said there is no problem taking it and could possibly help. Because of many GI tract problems she was only able to take it for a short period of time (with a J-Tube). During that time I gave her the therapudic dosage and her CA-125 levels went down to their lowest levels post-surgery and she was even able to eat again for a short time. After the J-Tube was removed, I had little control over giving her MDF (which she affectionatley called 'froggies' for whatever reason LOL) and she just didn't feel good and didn't want to take it (she never ceased throwing up which made it difficult for it to pass from the stomach to the GI tract anyways).
So, no *personal* long term studies, but I've seen it work. Was chemo a factor? Possibly...MDF creates a synergetic effect with chemo's so it can make chemo more effective...but will *never* conflict with chemo (I've confirmed this with the scientists at Maitake Products, Inc) because it is absorbed and works differently in the body. After she got off MDF, her experimental chemo didn't work and cancer progressed...my only clear indication that MDF *may* have had an impact. Mom had a very metastic IIIC ovca so....
WHEW...ok my post got long :) Please reply back if you have questions or send me a message. There is lots of research on it and it's one of those 'good' supplements I have no problems recommending. There *are* other ones you can take as well that can help, just 'here and there' are situations or issues that may prevent a person from taking them, but most cancer patients can take them.
Oh, and yeah, I am *NOT* paid by that company or in any way afflilated with them, etc. :) I know it sounds like it sometimes but it's a good product in my humble opinion (and their scientists, etc, are direct from Japan's version of the FDA...I don't trust any other companies versions simply because of that).
Good luck keep fighting!
1) Maitake is one of serveral 'medicinal' mushrooms (you've probablly heard of others like shitake, etc.). The difference with Maitake is fruiting body was discovered, in the 1980's, to have several 'fractions' that can be made from it. The most popular is the 'D-Fraction' which is, esentially, to boost the immune system. Now, the reason Maitake D-Fraction is the only one I recommend is because the other medicinal mushrooms are poory absorbed in the intestinal tract...Maitake D-Fraction is the only one that can do this. For instance Shitake is used to make an intravenous form of 'chemotherapy' in Japan, and yes, it works (even in Ovarian Cancer). Yet it is not approved by the FDA (big shocker) in this country.
2) All medicinal mushrooms (and for that matter 'bran') have 'Beta Glucans' which are Polysaccharide (complex carbohydrates) Active beta-glucans in D-fraction have unique polysaccharide structures and the degree of branching is greater than any beta-glucan found in any other medicinal mushrooms that demonstrate this similar immune stimulatory property. Researchers theorize that the complexity of branching makes D-Fraction most potent for enhancing the immune system via oral administration, leading to the highest tumor reduction in proliferation in several animal studies. Most other mushroom extracts fail to show oral activity in pre-clinical studies.
D-Fraction consists of highly active beta-glucans (BOTH 3-branched beta - 1,6 glucan AND 6-branches beta - 1,3 glucan) and approximately 30% of protein extracted from Maitake mushroom fruiting body.
It's important to note that research on cancer treatments with beta-glucans are focusing in on the beta 1,3 glucan and showing promise. The fact that Maitake contains more 1,6 and 1,3 glucans than any other medicinal mushrooms is assumed the way it can be taken orally. Compared to Letinan which is made form the Shittake mushroom and used in Japan as an anti-cancer drug, it does not need to be taken intravenously to be effective.
You can go up on NCBI's Pub Med (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) and find a slew of medical research papers on Beta Glucans and cancer. Understandably, there are few on Ovarian Cancer (because it truely is a 'rare' cancer compared to the big ones), but 'similar' cancers such as Breast and Prostate show great promise with Beta Glucans (and also research on Maitake D-Fraction specifically). And this is with actual human oral usage, not just lab rats or petrie dishes (although that has been done as well).
3) What it all does: OK, so I gave you all this wordy stuff...so in a nutshell what the beta glucans in Maitake D-Fraction do is work with your immune system via your gut (intenstines) where they 'activate' receptors on macrophages (the white blood cells that essentialy go out there and 'eat' the bad guys, etc), NK killer cell activity, etc, etc, etc.
There is other things Maitake D-Fraction (MDF) does too specifically to combat cancer and other diseases. Please accept my appologies for not being too specific here...your post has prompted me to being more research and rewrite my current Maitake D-Fractin article on my website (I have others up there on CoQ10 and Soy Isoflavones too).
So, we know that other 'products' boost the immune system...so why MDF? It clearly shows in research and trials to do what it says and do it effectively. In-fact, they find more and more usages for it essentially everyday (for instance, it's showing promise with HIV patients as well if you can believe that...amazing).
and....
4) Safe, safe,safe....unless you have allergies to mushrooms, this is by far the safest supplement you can take. In-fact, the Memorial Sloan Kettering cancer center allows it for ALL chemos, including experimental, because of it's excellent safety record. And, to put it even further, the FDA allowed MDF to *BYPASS* Phase One 'safety' testing....I can assure you that your chemotherapy had Phase One testing...this one's clear established record speaks for itself.
So, yes, MDF was put into Phase II FDA clinical trials (no other supplement can say the same) for Breast and Prostate cancer. The goal was *not* to make this a drug, but to help the American people with more research on this supplement. I think that speaks alot for the American company (Maitake Products, Inc.) who footed the bill for the trial.
5) Does it work in real life settings? OK my mom had ovca and did pass away. I showed MDF to one of my mom's two Gyn Onc and he said there is no problem taking it and could possibly help. Because of many GI tract problems she was only able to take it for a short period of time (with a J-Tube). During that time I gave her the therapudic dosage and her CA-125 levels went down to their lowest levels post-surgery and she was even able to eat again for a short time. After the J-Tube was removed, I had little control over giving her MDF (which she affectionatley called 'froggies' for whatever reason LOL) and she just didn't feel good and didn't want to take it (she never ceased throwing up which made it difficult for it to pass from the stomach to the GI tract anyways).
So, no *personal* long term studies, but I've seen it work. Was chemo a factor? Possibly...MDF creates a synergetic effect with chemo's so it can make chemo more effective...but will *never* conflict with chemo (I've confirmed this with the scientists at Maitake Products, Inc) because it is absorbed and works differently in the body. After she got off MDF, her experimental chemo didn't work and cancer progressed...my only clear indication that MDF *may* have had an impact. Mom had a very metastic IIIC ovca so....
WHEW...ok my post got long :) Please reply back if you have questions or send me a message. There is lots of research on it and it's one of those 'good' supplements I have no problems recommending. There *are* other ones you can take as well that can help, just 'here and there' are situations or issues that may prevent a person from taking them, but most cancer patients can take them.
Oh, and yeah, I am *NOT* paid by that company or in any way afflilated with them, etc. :) I know it sounds like it sometimes but it's a good product in my humble opinion (and their scientists, etc, are direct from Japan's version of the FDA...I don't trust any other companies versions simply because of that).
Good luck keep fighting!
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Ovarian Cancer Community
Learn how to spot the warning signs of this “silent killer.”
Diet and digestion have more to do with cancer prevention than you may realize
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
