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Alpha-Lipoic Acid

Cautions
Integrative
Programs
Dosing
More
Information

BCCT plans to write a summary on alpha-lipoic acid. While our summary is in development, you can visit About Herbs: Alpha-Lipoic Acid

Cautions

Alpha-lipoic acid may cause hypoglycemia that can be compounded if you are on medication that reduces blood sugar. Refer to the About Herbs summary on Alpha-Lipoic Acid for more information.  

Dosing

BCCT does not recommend therapies or doses, but only provides information for patients and providers to consider as part of a complete treatment plan. Patients should discuss therapies with their physicians, as contraindications, interactions and side effects must be evaluated.

Dosage recommendations are available from these sources:

• Your Health Solution: Lung Cancer Supplement Recommendations
• Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing. Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts. 2010.
• Block KI. Life over Cancer: The Block Center Program for Integrative Cancer Care. New York: Bantam Dell. 2009.
• Natural Medicines Database (requires purchase)

Integrative Programs, Protocols and Medical Systems

• Programs and protocols
• Alschuler & Gazella complementary approaches¹
• Manage inflammation
• Manage insulin resistance
• Kidney cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Berkson protocol: lntravenous alpha-lipoic acid and low-dose naltrexone²
• Block program³
• Terrain support
• Managing oxidation
• Managing inflammation
• Regulating carbohydrate metabolism
• Preventing/reducing chemo induced peripheral neuropathy
• Lemole, Mehta & McKee protocols⁴
• Lung cancer
• McKinney protocols⁵
  • Symptom management
  • D-ALA (intravenous form):
  • Breast cancer
  • Carcinoid tumor
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Head and neck cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Liver/gallbladder cancer
  • Lymphoma
  • Myelodysplastic syndrome
  • Prostate cancer
  • Sarcoma
  • Stomach cancer
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Uterine cancer
  • R-ALA (oral form)
  • Leukemia

1. Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing. Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts. 2010.
2. Berkson BM, Rubin DM, Berkson AJ. The long-term survival of a patient with pancreatic cancer with metastases to the liver after treatment with the intravenous alpha-lipoic acid/low-dose naltrexone protocol. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2006 Mar;5(1):83-9; Berkson BM, Calvo Riera F. The long-term survival of a patient with stage IV renal cell carcinoma following an integrative treatment approach including the intravenous α-lipoic acid/low-dose naltrexone protocol. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2017 Dec 1.
3. Block KI. Life over Cancer: The Block Center Program for Integrative Cancer Care. New York: Bantam Dell. 2009.
4. Lemole G, Mehta P, McKee D. After Cancer Care: The Definitive Self-Care Guide to Getting and Staying Well for Patients with Cancer. New York, New York: Rodale, Inc. 2015.
5. McKinney N. Naturopathic Oncology, 3rd Edition. Victoria, BC, Canada: Liaison Press. 2016.

View All References

More Information

• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: About Herbs, Botanicals and Other Products
• Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, and Karolyn Gazella: The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition
• ConsumerLab.com
• Lone Star Medical Group: Natural Alternative Treatments
• Therapeutic Research Center: Natural Medicines Database
• Neil McKinney, BSc, ND: Naturopathic Oncology, 3rd Edition
• Dwight McKee, MD, editor: Clinical Pearls
• Barbara MacDonald, ND, LAc: The Breast Cancer Companion: A Complementary Care Manual: Third Edition