Low White blood count

mono5 said:

Hi Jan...
There is a superfood, even though its a supplement you can purchase. The medicinal mushrooms with AHCC supports the production of white blood cells. White blood cells are an inportant part of the immune system.
Guided Tour of the Immune System
The immune system is found throughout the body. Much of it is located in the lymphatic system, which circulates the tissue fluid that bathes all of the body’s cells in nutrients and chemical messengers. The tissue fluid also carries away the waste products of metabolism from the cells. The immune system is also made up of many types of cells. The spleen, the tonsils, the adenoids, the thymus gland and the Peyer’s patches in the small intestine are all lymphoid tissue. The mucous membranes and bone marrow also play important roles in immunity.
Lymphocytes and White Bood Cells
Lymphocytes are white blood cells formed in lymphoid tissue. There are different kinds of lymphocytes and other white blood cells in the immune system that have different functions. They may destroy foreign proteins or invading microbes or produce chemicals that act as messengers that stimulate or suppress other immune cells. Some of the chemicals act as a type of memory, so the body can recognize an infectious agent it has previously encountered in order to respond more rapidly and effectively.
WHITE BLOOD CELLS:
• macrophages— “eat up” abnormal cells and invaders
• natural killer cells (NK)— “explode” abnormal cells and invaders
• lymphokine activated killer cells (1-AK)— another type of killer cell
• neutrophils— white blood cell similar to a macrophage
• cytotoxic lymphocytes (killer T cells)— destroy invading organisms and abnormal
cells (malignant or virus-infected)

Most of the active components of the immune system are white blood cells, also called leukocytes. There are several different types and subtypes of white blood cells. There are several that are important to immune protection. Macrophages (literally “big eater” in Greek) are developed from cells called monocytes that are formed in the bone marrow. Macrophages ingest bacteria and other substances in a process called “phagocytosis” (literally means “cell eating”). Phagocytosis is mainly carried out by the macrophages and white blood cells called neutrophils.phocytes (killer T cells)— destroy invading organisms and abnormal
cells (maliCancer
Chemotherapy and radiation weaken immunity.
In addition, there is often damage to the bone marrow, injuring the immune system at a deep level and affecting the body’s ability to produce red and white blood cells.

Because AHCC is a medical “superfood” that strengthens immune system function, it could be recommended for any type of cancer. Data from the treatment of over 100,000 cancer patients with various types of cancer has shown that 60 percent of patients have benefitted to some degree and many have found it effective enough to induce remission.

A more dangerous effect of cancer chemotherapy is called myelosuppression. Myelosuppression is inhibition of, or damage to bone marrow function.
The result of bone marrow damage is low white blood cell counts, which is a cardinal sign of impaired immunity, leaving the patient hypersensitive to infections.

Research in Korea showed that oral treatment with AHCC raised the white blood cell count remarkably in cancer patients who had received chemotherapy. In seven months white blood cell counts averaging below 6,000 were elevated almost to 8,000. Researchers in Japan found that rats were protected from loss of red blood cell production after chemotherapy when protected by the oral use of AHCC. From this emerging point of view on the nature and origin of disease, one could say that the white blood cells of the immune system need AHCC the way the blood needs iron, the bones need calcium or the nerves need phosphorus.

What is AHCC?

AHCC is a mildly sweet tasting monosaccharide produced from the mycelium of a shiitake hybrid grown in rice bran extract. Rice bran itself is known to have antiviral and immune-system-supporting effects. AHCC was developed in 1987 at the University of Tokyo Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences by Dr. Toshihiko Okamoto in a joint effort with researchers of the Amino Up Chemical Co., Ltd.
AHCC is extracted from the mycelial threads of the mushroom blend, which are grown in a pre-cultivation tank. The mushroom colonies are further cultured in the main cultivation tank for forty-five days. AHCC is obtained in a patented process of cultivation, enzymatic decomposition, sterilization, concentration and freeze-drying. Among other important components, AHCC contains partially acetylated a-glucan, which is known to have beneficial effects on the immune system.
One advantage of the fermentation process is that it breaks down nutrients into a more absorbable form that is easily integrated into the system. AHCC has a molecular weight of only 5,000 daltons. The molecular weight of most mushroom extracts is in the hundreds of thousands of daltons. This low molecular weight increases the efficiency of the nutrients such that all available nutrients are absorbed and used, rather than eliminated. This small molecular weight also means that the potent nutrients in AHCC can be assimilated quickly by the white blood cells for immediate use in destruction of tumors or strengthening of the body’s defenses. This, along with its immune-strengthening functions, is another reason why AHCC can be called a superfood.
There is a free booklet on the mushrooms with AHCC you can get at www.iherb.com with more information. Search for free booklet on AHCC...

Hopes this information helps.. take care

I have been taking a variety of these mushrooms, including Turkey tail, for six months and I suddenly have developed low white blood cell counts I didnt have before staring these. I am confused as I was under the impression these would help with immunity.