Root of the Cause Radio

Mistletoe Therapy for Cancer: The Treatment Most Oncologists Ignore I Dr. Mark Hancock

Dr. Mark Hancock is the leading authority on mistletoe therapy in the US today. In this episode, he joins me for a powerful conversation exploring cutting-edge approaches in integrative cancer therapy you won’t hear about in conventional settings. We break down the science behind mistletoe treatment—its mechanisms, immune effects, and clinical use across subcutaneous, IV, intratumoral, and intraperitoneal delivery—along with real-world case insights. We also dive into ferroptosis, an emerging iron-dependent cancer cell death pathway gaining attention in oncology, plus the strategic use of repurposed drugs, targeted supplements, and often-overlooked blood biomarkers that can reveal deeper insights into cancer progression and treatment response. 2:50–Dr. Hancock’s backstory: discovery of anthroposophic medicine and mistletoe 4:30–UK rotations and meeting the legendary Dr. Morris Orange and seeing mistletoe in inpatient oncology 6:12–Dr. Orange’s pioneering work: high‑dose fever‑inducing mistletoe and intratumoral injections 9:55–Mistletoe mechanism of action: lectins, dendritic cells, cytokines, NK/T/B cells, apoptosis, viscotoxins, and host‑tree complexity 14:12–Host trees and formulations: 13+ host species, varying lectin/viscotoxin profiles, and the “art” of selecting mistletoe 17:30–Clinical protocols: mixing high‑lectin and endotoxin‑rich products (e.g., Abnoba + Iscador) and weekly cycling strategies 17:50–Teaching mistletoe: Hancock’s apprenticeship program and in‑depth training for providers who want to use mistletoe 18:33–Routes of administration: SubQ as the foundation, IV as the main adjunct, with intratumoral and intraperitoneal use in select cases 23:32–Germany vs. US: advanced procedural mistletoe (e.g., pancreatic injections) and leading integrative German centers (Havelhöhe, Filderklinik, Witten/Herdecke) 30:10 Case study: stage IIIC triple‑negative breast cancer—large tumor, patient refusing chemo/radiation, opting for intratumoral mistletoe 35:05–“Cold” tumors and prostate cancer: immune deserts, checkpoint inhibitor limits, and clinical responses to mistletoe 41:47–NSAIDs, COX‑2 inhibitors: how they blunt fever/skin reactions and can negate mistletoe’s desired immune effect 47:10–Titrating mistletoe: using the “mosquito‑bite” SubQ reaction and fever pattern to adjust dose and frequency 50:08–Ferroptosis 101: iron‑driven cell death, artemisinin/artesunate, IV vitamin C, and sequencing with mistletoe for immunogenic benefit 56:45-How selective is ferroptosis towards cancer cells? Potential dark side of ferroptosis 1:01:00–Biomarkers for ferroptosis and terrain: ferritin, ESR vs. CRP, LDH, and deciding when a patient is ready for treatment 1:21:26-Dr. Hancock's top 4 favorite supplements for cancer and why 1:24:55–Theoretical metabolic risks with Metformin/Berberine. LDH as glycolysis vs. tissue‑breakdown marker, Warburg effect context. Potential for guiding use of DCA/Metformin/Berberine 1:36:12-Dr. Hancock's top 3 favorite repurposed drugs and why 1:42:11-Clinical pearls regarding ferroptosis and autophagy that NO ONE talks about 1:47:12-Dr. Hancock's 3 favorite blood biomarkers 1:54:20-Dr. Hancock’s mistletoe training via PAAM and his apprenticeship https://anthroposophicmedicine.org/mistletoe-course https://humanizingmedicine.com/ https://mistletoetherapy.com/team/mark-hancock-md-mph/

Killing Cancer with Sulforaphane featuring Dr. Jed Fahey and Dr. Brian Cornblatt

In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Jed Fahey—one of the planet’s foremost experts in phytochemicals and sulforaphane (SFN) research. Retired from Johns Hopkins but still a powerhouse in the field, Dr. Fahey is here to deliver a true masterclass on all things SFN, particularly its game-changing potential against cancer. Joining Dr. Fahey is Dr. Brian Cornblatt, his protégé, who’ll provide frontline insights from the clinical studies behind Avmacol - the SFN supplement he designed. [2:50] From Mars to Broccoli. Dr. Fahey recounts his journey from researching "Life on Mars" to sulforaphane research at Johns Hopkins. [7:00] "He Had Me at Hello." Dr. Cornblatt recalls meeting Dr. Fahey at a Johns Hopkins journal club, where they bonded over research. [11:25] Dismantling the NRF2 Myth. Dr. Fahey and Dr. Cornblatt debunk fears that sulforaphane protects tumors. [21:10] Taming the "Red Devil." Sulforaphane shields the heart from toxic chemotherapy while making tumors more vulnerable to treatment. [35:35] The Glutathione Paradox. A transient depletion in glutathione leads to a genetic rebound that supercharges cellular defenses. [41:00] NRF2 101 [43:30] Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and NK-kB and SFN’s inhibitory effects on their pro-cancer pathways. [47:09] Starving the Tumor. Sulforaphane cuts off a tumor's blood supply (HIF-1/VEGF) and flips the "kill switch" on silenced suppressor genes via HDAC inhibition. [49:30] Sulforaphane’s antibacterial effects against H. pylori help reduce the risk of stomach malignancies. [54:20] The 150-Mutation Trap. Why single-target drugs fail against complex tumors and why multi-modal plant compounds are necessary. [58:35] Killing the “Root of the Cause”. Targeting the drug-resistant "cancer stem cells" that cause relapses by stripping away their ability to self-renew. [1:03:40] Similarities between indolent cancers (slow-dividing cancers) and cancer stem cells. [1:07:47] Why the bladder is the "ideal" target for SFN. [1:17:50] Dr. Fahey and Dr. Cornblatt reveal their daily habits, from eating homegrown sprouts to using genomics for precision. [1:22:00] Suppositories. Bypassing the digestive tract to deliver protective compounds directly to the colon, prostate and cervix. [1:28:37] Reclaiming Research. How clinicians can use "N of 1" trials to bypass the NIH funding void to help prove phytochemical efficacy. [1:31:34] Dr. Brian Cornblatt’s New Project. Revolutionizing healthcare with the first hospital-based, preventive clinic on the planet. Collecting 8 gigs of diagnostic data, including the patients full genome, with the help of AI. [1:34:35] Ending Amputations. A breakthrough Bahamas protocol combining plasma rays, exosomes, and specialized blood flow supplements to save diabetic limbs from decay. [1:36:00] Eradicating Cancer. A look at AI-driven clinics and the "Tzar" blood test detecting cancer at Stage 0, way before any advanced image detection, with 91% sensitivity (soon to be 95%). Resources: Dr. Jed Fahey’s website [http://jedfahey.com/], Dr. Brian Cornblatt’s new project [https://quantumlongevity.ai/], Doxorubicin plus SFN clinical trial [https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03934905], HIF1 Inhibition [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-12855-w], HDAC Inhibition [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1756464615003606], MMP/NFKB [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4133889/], The “Double-Edged Sword” Paper [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S109727650600147X?utm_source=chatgpt.com], Mustard Seed Powder Study [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20889681/], Urinary Bladder Study 1 [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17147420/], Urinary Bladder Study 2 [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16898867/], Urinary Bladder Study 3 [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18310317/], Urinary Bladder Study 4 [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26273545/], Sulforaphane and Hormone Balance [https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Impact-of-Sulforaphane-on-Sex-Specific-and-A-Fahey-Raphaely/ceef62e1d2a4d25c5f0304782ee40d13d8db039c], NRF2 Paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40059038/]

Debunking Dr. Paul Saladino's Misinformation on Sulforaphane

Health and fitness influencer Ben Greenfield provided animal-based diet proponent Dr. Paul Saladino a platform to discuss his dietary ideology via a guest-hosting solo episode on his popular podcast a few years back. A primary feature was Paul breaking down the perils, as he framed it, of phytochemicals. In this episode, I focus primarily on correcting the misinformation Paul presented on the phytochemical sulforaphane. You can listen to Dr. Paul Saladino’s episode on Ben Greenfield’s podcast here [https://bengreenfieldlife.com/podcast/the-carnivore-diet/]. Studies cited by Paul: Study 1 [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4740614/] Study 2 [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4892312/] Study 3 [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4736808/] Studies I cite on the benefits and benign nature of sulforaphane: Study 1 [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4125483/] Study 2 [https://academic.oup.com/carcin/article-abstract/33/1/101/2463507] Study 3 [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6826210_Safety_Tolerance_and_Metabolism_of_Broccoli_Sprout_Glucosinolates_and_Isothiocyanates_A_Clinical_Phase_I_Study]

GLP-1: "You Can't HANDLE the Carbs!" Why Your Own GLP-1 May be Low, How to Tell and What to Do About It

There's so much talk about taking GLP-1 these days. But how does our bodies' own GLP-1 work? And how do you know if your GLP-1 levels are suboptimal? I dig into this very subject as well as how to restore your body's own GLP-1 function. I also uncover the health implications - particularly blood sugar dysregulation - of low GLP-1 and how GLP-1 function is often the very first domino to fall on the path to diabetes. I first discussed GLP-1 back in early 2020, before semaglutide was widely available on the market as a weight-loss drug, in an episode titled Blood Sugar Physiology 101. Listen to it here [https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/dec223ad-918b-40de-ad36-d4fda1e6f3d2/rotc002.mp3] for a detailed explanation of the body's Phase 1 insulin response and its relationship to GLP-1.

The Skinny on GLP-1s: Helpful? Harmful? Are There Really Natural Forms or is it All Hype?

In this episode, I give my take on GLP-1 analogs (Ozempic, Mounjaro, etc.). I talk about the benefits, the potential risks that are rarely spoken about and the likely long-term limitations. I get into how these compounds differ from the GLP-1 we make on our own as well as ways to leverage that natural secretion for health benefits. I also dispel the notion that the "natural" GLP-1 stimulators are even remotely on par with the drugs on the market.