Many may have read about Dr Kazuhiko Asai's findings on the effect of organic germanium on cancer. The organic germanium does not attack the cancer cells directly but seems to stimulate the body's immune system, making it potentially effective in the treatment of cancer as well as other degenerative diseases. As such it is a biological-response modifier that enable the body to change its responses to tumors, resulting in therapeutic benefits. At the time of his study, the cost of extracting organic germanium from natural sources was very expensive, thus he synthesize it.

Germanium exist in two states, organic and inorganic. In its organic state, the germanium is bonded to three atoms of oxygen, making it an efficient oxygen carrier. There are many findings showing that the underlying causes of chronic diseases is due to free radical damage resulting in insufficient cellular oxygenation. Cancer cells cannot metabolize oxygen properly. Flooding the cancer cells with oxygen may retard the growth of cancer cells and may even help them to return to normal. From biochemical point of view, organic germanium seems to act at the cellular level and enhance the effects of the GAP Junctional Intercellular Communication thus preventing the spread tumor from cell to cell.

Recent development has enable ganoderma lucidum to be cultured and produced in mass production. It has brought to light that the mycelium of ganoderma lucidum can absorb organic germanium and minerals faster than ganoderma and contains about 6000 ppm organic germanium whereas other medicinal herbs contain about 800 to 2000 ppm only. More on ganoderma at www.urtotalhealth.com

Using ganoderma mycelium as a natural source of organic germanium, we could increase the amount of oxygen supplied to the blood system, thus reviving the cell tissues. The advantage of taking ganoderma as opposed to synthesized organic germanium is that it also provides polysaccharides, vitamins and minerals to the body. The polysaccharide helps to stabilize and strengthen the body's resistance system, reduces sugar levels in the blood, prevents the destruction of cell tissues as well as discharging water soluble toxins. The vitamins and minerals are needed for good bodily functions. The disadvantage of course would be that the organic germanium content would be less that those synthesized, so we would have to consume more. The user will have to decide with their doctor on which to use.