IGF-1, Homeopathic Growth Factors

Insulin-like growth factor-1 is one of the most important growth factors that control cell growth and responsiveness.

A General Introduction

Complementary and alternative medicines thrive as the new millenium approaches and some conventional practitioners are increasingly using non-toxic therapies that integrate the best of Western scientific knowledge with the best of natural medicines Homeopathic growth factors are among this new class of integrative medicines because they are well-characterized, biologically active small proteins that normally regulate physical, hormonal, and psychological balance within the body.

Growth factors are present within the body at extremely low concentrations, thus are ideal to use as homeopathic medicines to optimize healing and health simultaneous to being non-toxic and safe.

Growth factors have similarities with hormones in that growth factors contribute to a sense of feeling ‘vital’, ‘at ease’ and ‘in balance’ with the inner, as well as outer worlds. Scientifically speaking, growth factors orchestrate feedback communication between the nervous, hormonal and immune systems. Growth factors affect many cells throughout the body in numerous ways, whereas hormones affect only one specific target tissue with one specific action.

Growth factors play key physiological roles throughout the body in growth and development, thus it is hypothesized that a large number of diseases involve defective growth factor regulation. Growth factors can stimulate as well as inhibit cell and tissue growth.

The normal healing process is driven by growth factor signals that then evoke cascades of intracellular signaling events that lead to changes in DNA synthesis and changes in cell behavior. Either excessive or deficient growth factor signals in the body can lead to the loss of healthy balance (homeostasis). A return to balanced growth factor signaling returns the body to healing.

Higher than normal or lower than normal concentrations of growth factors disturb the balance of cell growth and tissue repair thus contribute to illness, fatigue and a poor sense of psychological well-being. Proper growth factor cell signaling is necessary to correctly assist the body as it responds to inward and outward cues about the surrounding environment.

One of the most important growth factors that controls cell growth and cell responsiveness to the environment is insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).
IGF-1 is released by many different tissues throughout the body and affects almost every cell to some degree. IGF-1 is produced throughout the body with the highest levels produced in the liver (commonly, in response to human growth hormone, hGH). IGF-1 is also produced in the human placenta, small and large intestines, kidney, spleen, pancreas, lung, heart, testes, ovaries, brain, pituitary and other central nervous system locations.

IGF-1 generally exerts multifunctional effects acting as a hormone, growth factor and neuropeptide. Due to its multifunctional abilities, it is exquisite in orchestrating balance between the nervous, the immune, and the hormonal systems in the body with impressive effects on metabolism as well. The major target tissues affected in an anabolic way by IGF1 in combination with hGH are muscle, cartilage, bone, liver, kidney, nerves, skin and lungs.

IGF-1 also works extremely well by itself regulating which cells move from the resting phase of the cell cycle into DNA synthesis and toward cell division. Without ever entering the cell, IGF-1 exerts its’ effect as a cell signaling molecule by activating specific high affinity IGF-1/insulin cell surface receptors. Activated receptors then transmit information about the extracellular environment into cells through a process called signal transduction.

Signal transduction involves multiple cascades of enzymes and secondary messenger pathways that carry unique signals to the cell nucleus where the cell can then appropriately change its behavior. It is easy to understand that if cell signaling becomes disturbed, the body loses its sense of balance and a person can feels as if they are in ‘chaos’.

IGF-1 is well represented in the medical literature for its adverse effects when present in the body or used clinically at higher than normal concentrations. Higher than normal physiological concentrations of IGF-1 are associated with breast cancer, prostate cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and possibly Parkinson’s disease. Increasing clinical applications for therapeutic use of IGF-1 are appearing regularly.

Due to the toxic effects of high concentrations of IGF-1, this small protein provides a good example of the Similar Principle of Homeopathy, i.e. “Let likes be cured by likes”. It can be predicted that since high concentrations of IGF-1 cause fatigue, muscle weakness, mental deterioration and anxiety, then homeopathic IGF-1 might reverse such problems.

Humans produce approximately 10 milligrams of IGF1 per day until about 30 years old whereby production decreases with aging. Thus, aging cells tend to enter into and remain in a 'resting phase' more frequently with consequential slower healing and greater fatigue. Slower growth of cells during the aging process correlates with a greater need for the IGF-1 signal. The IGF-1 signal is thought to bring aging or slower functioning cells back into the balanced state, thus optimizing cell activity and tissue/organ performance.

Homeopathic IGF-1

Homeopathic IGF-1 is thought to work in many different areas of the body to facilitate and improve physical and mental, even spiritual performance. Several preliminary and independent double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies on homeopathic IGF-1 demonstrated effectiveness in increasing energy, in optimizing a good psychological and physical sense of strength and well being, reducing anxiety, relieving symptoms of PMS and menopause, easing, respiratory conditions, increasing musculo/skeletal performance, and relieving digestive and intestinal problems.

Homeopathic IGF-1 also relieved muscle and bone aches and pains, joint stiffness, inflammation in the body, improved mental concentration and clarity and positively affected appetite control and reduced binge eating. Increases in lean body mass also have been anecdotally reported. Homeopathic IGF-1 also balanced weight by helping the body to achieve its ideal weight, whether that meant by weight loss for who were too heavy, or by weight gain for people who were too lean.

The following stories were told by people taking homeopathic IGF-1:

This is a true story of a 44 year-old woman, nurse practitioner with a high stress job at an international health care agency. She began taking homeopathic IGF-1 in the midst of a personal crisis where she felt overwhelmed and depressed, particularly due to the demands of her job. She liked her job, however was beginning to resent it because of the extreme turmoil she was experiencing. She thought it might be time to move on in her career. She had always had to exert energy to think through and coherently discuss her ideas in an organized manner however during periods of overwhelm this was even more challenging. At times her emotions might take over when talking about important ideas and this deteriorated her effectiveness even more.

After she began to take homeopathic IGF-1 she realized that she was effectively and effortlessly sorting through all types of situations. She was able to identify, organize, and present how to solve problems without attaching emotions to the situation. She was finding that her intuitive capacities, which were always strong, were now able to effectively surface in the workplace as she was sorting out the myriad of issues that came to the table, be it one-on-one human interactions or at group presentations.

Other people noticed this change as well, commenting on her greater effectiveness in communication and asked her how she did it. This type of overwhelm experience had happened to her before, however, she recognized that she came through this period much more positively than in the past and she resolved this ‘crisis’ in a new and more positive manner.

This example demonstrates the effectiveness of homeopathic IGF-1 as an integrative medicine for all of us in society who are aware of the ‘out of balance’ stressed feelings and thoughts we carry around in our daily lives.

These other examples are of men who exercised and provided written documentation on the typical results of homeopathic IGF-1 on muscles, physical strength and performance.

A 32 year-old man noticed his weight training recovery time improved (faster recovery) after using homeopathic IGF-1. Usually after he worked out his chest, back and supporting bicep and tricep muscles would become very sore. Then, he found that after work-outs he had no soreness but rather increased strength. His trainer charted 20-30% increased strength after 3 to 5 days of taking homeopathic IGF-1. Oddly, he also noticed a greater clarity of thought and focus of thought. He commented that he not only was stronger, but he also played a smarter game in competitive sports.

Another man reported that he had worked out extensively with a trainer and thus had lost considerable weight and gained significant muscle mass with added strength. However, for the next year he had peaked and found that even though he worked out consistently and ate a high protein diet, he lost little weight and gained little muscle. He changed his diet to one with less protein and more fruits and vegetables, yet still experienced little change in weight except for a couple of pounds lost. After using homeopathic IGF-1 for one week he lost 8 pounds of fat and gained 3 pounds of lean mass. The trainer and he joked that he was so strong that instead of lifting weights he could just lift the trainer hanging onto the bar.

A man, 51 years old, took homeopathic IGF-1 for 6-8 weeks and noticed specific weight lifting enhancements. He improved on the Hammer bench press machine and increased from 230 lbs to a maximum of 270 lbs. His Hammer curl machine improved from 110 lbs to 125 lbs on the last set of curls. He improved on the leg press machine from 630lbs to 720 lbs. Finally, he mentioned that no only himself, but his girlfriend, noticed that his body was looking better and more pronounced in muscle without fat.

These real stories of people demonstrate the potential of integrative medicine. Taking the best of a well-understood protein in the body and using it homeopathically for self-diagnosable conditions can lead to optimal health even during aging processes.

Homeopathic IGF-1 increases physical performance, mental performance, and physical endurance in healthy individuals, whereas it causes difficulties in these areas at higher than normal concentrations. Homeopathic clinical studies on growth factors and growth hormone consistently demonstrate three important principles.

First, they fulfill the Law of Similars by treating those symptoms in people that are well known to be characterized as adverse side effects caused by taking very high concentrations of the injectable substtance. Second, homeopathic drugs provide some of the benefits of the injectable drug form.

Finally, homeopathic growth factor drugs have unique characteristics not attributed to the conventional drug. The unique biological effects evoked by homeopathic growth factors compared to prescription growth factor drugs underlie the possibility that a different mechanism of action is utilized in homeopathy compared to the structure and function mechanisms of action commonly outlined for conventional drugs.

It is conceivable that the serial dilution and shaking methods used to prepare homeopathic medicines contribute significantly in altering the physical-chemical properties of the solvent and evoke bioelectromagnetic field signals that carry to cells.