AT-HOME TIPS FOR MANAGING CHEMO SIDE EFFECTS
This is the exact protocol my dad has been on. It is not a recommendation; it is simply for education and information. Remember, I’m not a doctor. . . . I’m just a girl who cares fiercely about her dad! It’s not necessary to take all of these recommendations in order to alleviate your chemotherapy side effects—start with what you’re inspired to start with and create a plan that works for you, your family, and your doctor. This is what we’ve been doing since the beginning, and since it seems to be working well, we haven’t changed it.
FULL EXTRACT CANNABIS OIL (FECO) OR RICK SIMPSON OIL (RSO)
This oil can help tremendously with nausea, sleep, appetite, pain, and mood. This high-potency cannabis oil comes in a needleless syringe, to be administered orally, and can be found at medical dispensaries. These oils are typically available in high-THC, high-CBD, and 1:1 ratios. The dose starts at the size of half a grain of rice, 2–3 times per day. Increase dose slowly, as tolerated. Some cancer patients slowly work their way up to as much as 1 g per day. In a 1:1 ratio oil, this would equal 500 mg of CBD and 500 mg THC per day. My dad’s dose is currently about one-fifth of that, or 100 mg CBD and 100 mg THC per day. Talk to a cannabis doctor or a medical dispensary budtender to help you find the right product for you.
CBD OIL
CBD oil is a great choice if you don’t have access to medical cannabis. It can help ease pain and anxiety and help with sleep. In addition to the high-potency cannabis oil mentioned above, my dad takes 120 mg of full-spectrum CBD oil, in capsules, each day (two 30-mg capsules in the morning and two 30-mg capsules at night). He started taking these capsules before he got approved for his medical marijuana card, as they are federally legal to purchase online and at stores, and we wanted to get cannabinoids into his system as quickly as possible. He noticed such a significant reduction in joint pain from taking these capsules (he takes a brand called Wildflower) that he has continued with them even after getting his medical card and getting access to medical cannabis oil. This brings his total CBD intake to about 220 mg per day at the time of this writing, which is considered on the lower end for cancer dosing.
Medicinal Mushrooms
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AHCC supplements. My dad takes four 750-mg capsules of AHCC every day, for a total of 3 g per day (2 capsules in the morning and 2 at night). AHCC is a supplement derived from shiitake mushrooms. Studies have been done on AHCC for keeping the immune system strong during chemotherapy at amounts of 3 g per day.
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Turkey tail mushrooms. Currently, he is taking 2 g of turkey tail per day, in powder extract form (either in capsules or as powder mixed in a smoothie). When he’s at home, he drinks a smoothie every day with a turkey tail powder extract added to it, and when traveling, he brings turkey tail capsules. Studies on turkey tail and cancer have shown it to be effective at enhancing immune cell function at doses of between 3 g and 9 g per day, so my dad’s current dose is a conservative one.
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A mushroom extract blend (powder) that includes chaga, reishi, lion’s mane, maitake, shiitake, and cordyceps. These extracts are available in powder, tincture, and capsule form. The typical dose in mushroom blends is about 150 mg of each mushroom, but studies have been done on medicinal mushrooms using much larger amounts, typically 1–5 g per day or more for a single mushroom—so again, my dad is taking a very conservative dose, and if we shift his protocol, I’ll likely add larger amounts of all the other mushrooms. When you embark on an experiment with medicinal mushrooms, start with the recommended dose on the product you purchase and work your way up from there if desired.
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Lion’s mane mushrooms. In addition to the mushroom blend, my dad takes 4 extra capsules of lion’s mane daily, totaling 2 g per day, which has alleviated his chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.
MANAGING COMMON CHEMOTHERAPY SIDE EFFECTS
Nausea and Appetite Loss
Nausea and loss of appetite are two of the most common side effects of chemotherapy, and they can be a significant contributing factor to losing too much weight during cancer treatment.
Both CBD and THC have been shown to help with reducing nausea, and THC has been shown to stimulate appetite. A 1:1 CBD-to-THC cannabis oil can be tremendously helpful and is the main remedy my dad relies on. Because he has been on a steady stream of this cannabis oil every day, he hasn’t had the need to use anything else for nausea or appetite. However, many chemotherapy patients report great success with inhalation (smoking or vaporizing with a dry herb vaporizer) or a CBD/THC oil tincture for nausea and appetite, too. Because inhalation and tinctures work so quickly, a dry herb vaporizer and CBD/THC oil tincture can be great options to have on hand for quick relief from acute bouts of nausea or appetite loss.
Change in Taste Buds
Another common side effect of chemotherapy is a change in taste buds—foods lack taste or change in taste completely, which means many chemo patients can no longer enjoy their favorite foods. As they likely already feel nauseated and without an appetite—and then food stops tasting good—this combination contributes to rapid weight loss in many patients. Chemotherapy drugs can really make it challenging to be able to eat, so we have to get creative.
There are a few things that can help, aside from the previously mentioned cannabis for appetite stimulation. One is a berry called the “miracle berry”—these berries make sour foods taste sweet, but they also change your taste buds (temporarily) in a way that can help make food taste good again. Many patients have reported being able to enjoy food after taking a miracle-berry tablet. You simply let the tablet dissolve on your tongue right before you eat your meal. Miracle-berry tablets are available to order online and are popular for “flavor tripping” (taking a miracle-berry tablet and then eating various foods to see how the flavors change—try it with a lemon or lime!) even in people who aren’t undergoing chemotherapy.
Taste bud tip: Many chemo patients report an unpleasant taste in their mouth when their port is flushed. (If you have a port, you’ll know what I mean by this.) I recommend bringing honey/lemon lozenges to the hospital for the patient to suck on during port flushing, to make this more tolerable.
Jaw Pain
Jaw pain is another commonly reported chemotherapy side effect, which can make eating and chewing uncomfortable. Smoothies can be a game-changer when you lose your appetite, your taste buds change, or you’re experiencing jaw pain that makes it hard to chew crunchy foods.
SUPERHERO SMOOTHIE
For patients who experience appetite loss, jaw pain, or loss of taste buds, it can often still be tolerable to drink a nutrient-rich shake. This is the smoothie that my mom makes for my dad every day. This smoothie helps my dad to get so many nutrients and calories into his system—greens, protein, antioxidants, healthy fats, and, of course, mushrooms! Sometimes I’ll make a big batch of these smoothies and put them in freezer-safe jars, and put a few in the fridge (enough for two to three days) and a few in the freezer to save and thaw out when ready.
Don’t worry about the exact amounts of each ingredient—play with what works for you. For patients who are sensitive to cold temperatures during chemotherapy, room-temperature smoothies are best.
Handful of spinach (or other greens, or a small scoop of greens powder)
1 banana or ½ avocado for creaminess
½ cup blueberries
1 cup almond milk, coconut milk, or water
1 Tbsp. almond butter or peanut butter
1 Tbsp. coconut oil
1–2 scoops protein powder (I like organic whey, pea, hemp, or collagen protein)
1 tsp. or more 10-mushroom blend powder (we use Four Sigmatic brand here)
1 tsp. or more turkey tail mushroom powder
Add everything to a blender, blend, and drink. Add more liquid (almond milk, coconut milk, or water) if necessary.
Bonus option: Add a dropperful of CBD oil to infuse some extra cannabinoids into your system.
A QUICK NOTE ON DIET AND CANCER
Everyone will have their opinion on the best cancer-fighting diet, and, of course, if your loved one on chemo is open to trying a specific diet (such as plant-based, vegan, paleo, or keto), do your research and go for it. I learned quickly that with my dad, since appetite and taste buds were scarce at the beginning and he was losing so much weight, I needed to focus on adding things in that he would enjoy and be able to stomach, to ensure he got enough healthy immune-boosting nutrients—rather than focusing on removing foods. Because of the nuances of appetite and taste buds during those first few months of chemo, we did not choose to embark on a specific elimination diet, aside from staying away from alcohol (completely) and sugar (reduced as much as possible). That’s the way we’ve been doing things, and so far it works for him. This is such a personal journey, and everyone’s food choices and food tolerability will be different. That being said, both holistic nutritionists and cancer hospital nutritionists will typically agree that reducing or eliminating sugar and alcohol are two of the most important things you can do, diet-wise, when battling cancer.
KRIS CARR’S GINGER AID JUICE
CONTRIBUTED BY KRIS CARR, ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN CRAZY SEXY JUICE
My friend Kris was diagnosed with a rare, slow-growing form of stage IV cancer in 2003. She’s been thriving with this cancer ever since, and she’s dedicated her life to spreading a message of health and healing. She created a documentary based on her experience called Crazy Sexy Cancer, has written five best-selling books, and shares an abundance of tips on her website—not only for cancer, but for those interested in prevention and everyday wellness. Kris is the queen of green juices, and she’s shared one of her nutrient-packed recipes with us here. As a bonus, the ginger happens to be great for nausea.
Makes 2 servings
½ cup spinach
1 large cucumber
2 celery stalks
1 large pear, cored
1-inch piece of ginger, peeled
Wash and prep all ingredients.
Juice all ingredients in a juicer, pour into two glasses, and serve.
Jenny’s optional suggestions to make it “Rebel Style”: add your preferred dose of CBD oil and/or a dropperful of chaga tincture, which can help soothe digestion. Stir into the juice.
CHEMO SIDE EFFECTS FOOD TIPS
Make soups, stews, chilis, and broths. Any dish where you can add extra veggies, healthy fats, and protein that can be digested easily without having to chew through a big meal can help your loved one going through chemo get as many nutrients as possible. I’ve been making soups and chilis that are loaded with veggies, always adding extra chopped shiitake mushrooms, spinach, kale, celery, broccoli, or other vegetables to any recipe.
Bonus: When cooking for my dad, I always add a scoop of powdered turkey tail mushrooms to any savory dish.
Add-ins to soups, chilis, and broths for more nutrients, protein, and fat:
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Unflavored collagen powder
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Coconut oil (antiviral, great for the immune system)
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Avocado or avocado oil
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Greens—add extra spinach or kale into any savory dish
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Olive oil (drizzle your soup, stew, or chili with olive oil after it’s done cooking—use your cannabis-infused oil here!)
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Unflavored CBD oil for extra cannabinoids—add into any meal
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Mushroom powder extracts of chaga, reishi, lion’s mane, cordyceps, maitake, shiitake, or turkey tail—add to any meal
SLOW COOKER (OR INSTANT POT) TURKEY TAIL CHILI
I’ve been making different versions of this chili recipe a lot—changing it up as I like, adding different veggies.
You can make any chili recipe vegetarian or vegan by using more lentils (or other beans) instead of turkey or beef.
Makes 6 servings
To make this recipe paleo, eliminate the lentils. Either way, I always add a scoop of turkey tail powder! You can also make this in an Instant Pot rather than a slow cooker, I’ve provided those directions at the end of the recipe.
1 lb. ground turkey or grass-fed beef (leave this out to make it vegetarian)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
Sea salt to taste
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 cup dry lentils (leave this out to make it paleo)
2 cups water
1 8-oz. can tomato sauce
1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 4-oz. can diced green chilies
1 cup chopped mushrooms (shiitake or maitake)
2 cups chopped fresh spinach or kale
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1 Tbsp. or more turkey tail mushroom powder
1 tsp. pepper
Cilantro, chopped green onions, and slices of lime, for garnish (optional)
SLOW COOKER VERSION:
Add ground turkey or grass-fed beef and olive oil to a skillet over medium heat.
Add in the onion, garlic, and salt to taste. Cook until the meat is browned and onion is soft.
Add the mixture to your slow cooker.
Add lentils, water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, green chilies, mushrooms, spinach or kale, chili powder, cumin, turkey tail, and pepper to the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on high for 2–3 hours or on low for 4–6 hours, or until lentils are soft.
Scoop into serving bowls and top with cilantro, chopped green onions, and a squeeze of lime, if desired.
INSTANT POT VERSION:
Turn your pot to “sauté” and brown the turkey or beef.
Add in onion, garlic, and salt and cook until onion is soft.
Add the rest of the ingredients (except the garnishes).
Set your Instant Pot to “manual,” cover, and set timer to 15 minutes.
When timer goes off, open the pressure valve to “venting” to release steam.
Once this is done, remove the lid and add chili to bowls. Top with optional cilantro, green onions, and lime juice.
HERO’S JOURNEY BONE BROTH
Another healing dish I love making is bone broth, which you can make in a slow cooker. Bone broth has been known to help with digestion, gut healing, skin, the immune system, hormonal health, joint pain, and more. It can give you a pep in your step and a sparkle in your eye when you’re feeling under the weather. This bone broth recipe uses two different kinds of wonderful, health-enhancing mushrooms. If you’re looking for a vegetarian broth recipe, check out Marco Canora’s Shiitake Mushroom Broth.
2–4 lbs. meat or poultry bones (ask your friendly local butcher!)
4 qts. water (or just enough water to cover everything)
1 tsp. sea salt
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
5–7 cloves garlic, chopped or lightly smashed
1 cup chopped, fresh stemmed shiitake mushrooms (or ½ cup dried)
1 cup chopped, fresh maitake mushrooms (or ½ cup dried)
10 (or so) leaves of fresh sage
2–3 inches fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
A few shakes of freshly ground black pepper
If you’re using beef bones, you’ll want to roast them before you put them in the pot to make broth. This gives the broth a much better flavor. Put bones into a roasting dish and roast at 400°F for 30 minutes, or until nicely browned.
Place all ingredients in a large slow cooker and set on high.
Bring to a simmer (this may take a few hours), then reduce the setting to low for 12–24 hours (or more). I usually take mine off at about 24 hours, but you can go longer if you want it to taste richer. Strain the broth through a strainer into a large bowl or large mason jars and compost the bones/vegetables (unless you want to use the bones again for another pot of broth, which you can). If you don’t have a slow cooker you can still make this recipe on a stovetop, with a large pot on low heat.
When you’ve strained out the broth, put it in the fridge until the fat rises to the top. Then scrape the fat off with a spoon and discard it before reheating the broth to drink it. (Some people keep the fat to cook veggies with; you can do that if you want to, as long as you aren’t using bones from conventionally raised animals. There are likely to be more toxins stored in the fat of conventionally raised animals.)
Drink bone broth from a mug—as many mugs as you like. You can add it to soups and other recipes for nutrition and flavor. You can keep the bone broth in the fridge for 3–4 days or in the freezer for up to a year. But I guarantee it won’t last that long! You can also freeze your bone broth in ice cube trays and easily pop a broth cube into any soup, stew, stir-fry, or other dish you’re cooking.
COLD SENSITIVITY AND NEUROPATHY
Cold sensitivity and tingling fingers and toes (due to neuropathy) are common experiences when undergoing chemotherapy. Neuropathy is common with most chemotherapy drugs, but the cold sensitivity is usually associated with a chemotherapy drug called Oxaliplatin. If you have this cold sensitivity, make sure you have a good set of gloves on hand, especially if you’re going through chemo in the winter. Reaching into the refrigerator may require gloves, too—so keep a pair near the fridge. It’s important to keep a jug of room-temperature drinking water nearby at all times so you can stay hydrated without feeling pain from cold water.
For cold winter months, or times when you’re extra-sensitive to cold during chemo, consider getting an infrared heating mat. My dad has been sitting on his mat every day, and it’s been warming him up through the cold winter months. Infrared heating mats are also reported to have immune-boosting effects.
Neuropathy typically shows up as tingling, “pins and needles,” pain, or numbness in the hands and feet. Lion’s mane mushroom can be helpful for this type of neuropathy as it can regenerate myelin, which protects nerve fibers. Neuropathy in the fingertips, along with being painful, can make it hard for chemotherapy patients to do things like button buttons and feel things properly with their fingers, which lion’s mane may help to improve. A typical dose of lion’s mane is 1–3 g daily.
GENERAL IMMUNE SYSTEM HEALTH
Along with the specific symptoms that come along with chemotherapy, it’s extremely important to keep the immune system strong. Chemotherapy drugs can weaken the immune system, which can make you more likely to catch a cold or get sick during your treatment. The best remedy here is to support the immune system as much as possible, so you can stay feeling healthy while the chemo does its job of fighting the cancer. All of the medicinal mushrooms in this book are specifically geared toward this purpose, to keep the immune system healthy. As we have cannabinoid receptors in our immune system, using cannabis therapeutically also has great potential for immune system support. In addition to medicinal mushrooms and cannabis, turn back to the Upgrade Your Immunity chapter for a list of some of my favorite immune system supporters.
