Harry Preuss M.D. - Maitake Magic

MAITAKE MAGIC

Maitake Mushroom Fractions:

Capture the Force of Nature's Amazing

Powerful Immune Boosters, Cancer Protectors

and Metabolic Activators

Revised and Updated Edition

by

Harry Preuss, M.D.

and

Sensuke Konno, PH.D.

ABOUT THE COVER: The Japanese character Mai for dancing. It is said that in antiquity those who came upon and consumed maitake mushroom would dance for joy since they would now enjoy good health and longevity.

Copyright 2002, 2009 Harry Preuss, M.D. & Sensuke Konno, PH.D. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted electronically without authorized consent of the author.

Disclaimer: This information is presented by an independent medical expert whose sources of information include studies from the world's medical and scientific literature, patient records, and other clinical and anecdotal reports. The material in this book is for informational purposes only and is not intended for the diagnosis or treatment of disease. Please visit a medical health professional for specific diagnosis of any ailments mentioned or discussed in this material.

ISBN: 978-1-893910-65-2

Printed in the United States

Published by Freedom Press

1861 North Topanga Canyon Boulevard

Topanga, CA 90290

Bulk Orders Available: (800) 959-9797

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO ALL THOSE who were involved and participated in this project. We would like to acknowledge the effort of Dr. Preuss' research associates, Bobby Echard, M.T. and Nadeem Talpur, M.D. who performed much of our laboratory research. Dr. Preuss would also like to express his gratitude to Rich Scheckenbach and Dr. Dallas Clouatre, two formulators who are a rich source of knowledge on dietary supplements. We would like to thank the staff of Dr. Konno's department at New York Medical College, including Drs. Choudhury, Eshghi, and Tazaki. Particularly, their support on clinical studies is greatly appreciated. Also, we must thank the urology residents at New York Medical College who tirelessly spent their time on clinical and basic science research. We also wish to acknowledge the support of our respective families for supporting our quest to learn about, teach and research natural products.

To Mr. David Steinman, who served as the skillful editor and who played a significant role in the completion of this book. He deserves all credit and we thank him.

We also wish to thank Ms. Naoko Noaki who worked so many hours behind the scenes. We know you were there and thank you.

Finally, our special gratitude to our friend and a (successful) businessman, Mr. Mike Shirota, who initiated this project and continued to encourage us until the work was completed. His generous gifts of Grifron D-fraction and maitake caplets with concomitant funding from Maitake Products, Inc. have made our studies possible. Thanks, Mike!

Now "we" have done it! Once again, we thank you all.

CONTENTS

MAITAKE: THE NATURAL TONIC FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH

DISCOVERING THE HEALING POWER OF MAITAKE'S BETA-GLUCANS

CANCER PREVENTION & THERAPEUTICS

THE GLUCOSE/INSULIN CONNECTION

WHY MAITAKE?

INTRODUCTION

MAITAKE:
THE NATURAL TONIC FOR
OPTIMUM HEALTH

"MY TONIC OF CHOICE AT THE MOMENT is a liquid extract called Maitake D-fraction, which concentrates the immune-boosting constituents...., and since I've been doing so I almost never get colds, even though my children and their friends are constantly bringing colds into our house," states Dr. Andrew Weil, probably best known for establishing and popularizing the concept of alternative and integrative medicine, in his best-selling book 8 Weeks to Optimum Health. Why is the famous mycologist and medical doctor endorsing the extract of Maitake like this? Not surprisingly, he has come up with the fact that Maitake is one of nature's richest sources of beta-glucans, complex natural sugars (also called polysaccharides) that are among, or even may be, the most potent, natural immune forces ever discovered.

Carolyn McKenzie, thirty-seven, was suffering uterine fibroids. Her first doctor discussed the possibility of surgery including a partial hysterectomy. That was when she visited Abram Ber, M.D., of Phoenix, Arizona. A specialist in nutritional healing, Dr. Ber prescribed Carolyn eight grams of maitake extract tablets to be taken daily on a regular basis. Within six months, using ultrasound results, Dr. Ber discovered a "substantial reduction of the fibroids." She no longer needed surgery. Dr. Ber used this same regimen with five other female patients whose uterine fibroids healed and no longer required surgery.

Meanwhile, a 75-year old woman with Type II diabetes was on medication for her condition but unable to adequately lower her blood sugar levels. When she began taking maitake mushroom tablets regularly, she was not only able to normalize her blood sugar levels but also reduced her drug dosage by half. In fact, so important has research into maitake mushroom's ability to aid diabetics become, the prestigious medical journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism has reported on its benefits.

A 45-year-old female (name withheld to protect patient confidentiality) with estrogen-responsive breast cancer underwent surgery in April 1992 to remove her tumor. Following this, she received mild chemotherapy until February 1994. Nevertheless, the cancer recurred in April 1994. She refused surgery this time and instead started to take 100 milligrams of Maitake D-fraction (a type of beta-glucan isolated from a specific fraction obtained from the maitake mushroom) and five grams of crude maitake mushroom powder every day for six months. After six months, she reduced her dosage of D-fraction to 50 mg a day. By May 1995, clinical and laboratory examination confirmed her tumor had disappeared.

These and other true-life healing reports represent only a few of the amazing results obtained from an exciting new, yet paradoxically ancient, natural medicine, maitake mushroom, which is one of nature's richest sources of complex beta-glucans.

As health professionals, we have found that maitake mushroom is an important natural "medicine" that can help patients and persons involved in self-managed care to defend against some of the most deadly diseases of aging and potentially add years of health to their life span. We believe that maitake mushroom and its rich source of various beta-glucanswhether compared to prescriptions drugs or natural remedieswill someday be recognized to be one of the most important immune-supporting nutrients available to health-conscious consumers.

Maitake may prevent cancer as well aid persons already undergoing cancer therapy; in some cases, maitake's powerful healing powers could even make the difference between remission and spread. In fact, one of us (Dr. Konno) has participated in government-sanctioned clinical studies and reported on other clinical studies, in which maitake extracts have been provided to cancer patients with highly gratifying results, including complete remissions in many cases of breast, prostate and other malignant conditions.

But there's a lot more to the beta-glucan-maitake mushroom story. Maitake can also play a key role in palliating frank diabetes and associated conditions, often referred to as Syndrome X. Most recently, our own published scientific research has demonstrated the vital health role that beta-glucans found in maitake mushroom can play by enhancing the body's healing response among diabetics and prediabetics. It is worth repeating that these same beta-glucans can also help persons suffering from Syndrome X, an increasingly prevalent condition involving high blood sugar and insulin resistance, and a condition that may predispose many of us to the most deadly diseases of aging, including diabetes, circulatory disorders, and possibly cancer.