Uncovering the power of peels

Celeste McGovern investigates how a pectin derived from citrus fruit quashes a "rogue" molecule that is the driver of inflammation at the heart of so many modern diseases

Andy Aubin was 70 years old and had diagnosed prostate cancer, a disease that had killed his father. On top of that, he was suffering from Parkinson's disease when he first sought help outside of mainstream medicine.

Just as he began treatment, however, his colon ruptured and he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that had metastasized to his liver. He underwent emergency surgery to remove part of his colon and tumors in his liver, plus a colostomy.

Then Andy reluctantly underwent a dose of chemotherapy, but he had a severe reaction to it; his Parkinson's deteriorated dramatically, and he became physically rigid. He wouldn't repeat the treatment.

Three cancers plus a neurodegenerative disease made Andy a challenging patient for Dr Isaac Eliaz, a pioneer in integrative medicine whose clinic in Santa Rosa, California, often treats lost causes-people with advanced and end-stage cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and other conditions that mainstream medicine has failed to cure.

Dr Eliaz began by giving Andy a high dose of a novel anti-inflammatory supplement that he had developed from the pectin in citrus peels. He also gave Andy other supplements and herbs, an IV regimen and acupuncture, and lifestyle recommendations that Andy adopted rigorously.

Over time, Andy's colon cancer disappeared. His Parkinson's improved remarkably as well, to the extent that his wife said most people didn't even notice it.

Within five years, he was completely cancer free. A video shows him painting his barn and feeding his hens where he had struggled to walk when he had colon cancer. Remarkably, he lived 12 years after his diagnosis of stage 4 colon cancer, then died of other causes.