Things to Know About Bone Marrow

Larry A. Law

Bone marrow is like a busy manufacturing plant producing and sending blood cells out the door as fast as it can. The stem cells in the bone marrow can produce various types of cells, including red blood cells (RBCs). These RBCs carry oxygen throughout the body. The stem cells also produce all of the various immune system cells, including white blood cells that support and defend the body against invaders. When bone marrow stem cells produce abnormal white blood cells, the disease is called leukemia. Leukemia is the 10th most common cancer in the United States. It comes in a variety of forms, but all of them consist of an excessive amount of abnormal white blood cells in the body's blood-forming tissues—the bone marrow and lymphatic system.

Leukemia Statistics

Commonly known as blood cancer, leukemia accounts for 3 percent of all newly diagnosed cancers and 4% of all cancer deaths. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates 60,000 new cases and 24,000 deaths from leukemia in 2023. Normally, bone marrow stem cells divide constantly in order to replenish the body's numerous blood and immune cells. The ACS attributes cancer to the mutation of these stem cells by internal and external factors. These mutations cause new cells to grow abnormally and divide too rapidly. These abnormal (cancerous) cells start to outnumber the healthy cells in the blood. When this happens, early symptoms like bleeding or bruising easily become apparent, and undue fatigue is a common sign of this disorder. This occurs because of the lack of properly functioning platelets or lack of normal RBCs. As the disease progresses, there is increased susceptibility to infection because of the lack of normal white blood cells. 

Protecting Bone Marrow

Below you can read about three factors to consider in order to protect and support bone marrow health:

Toxic Chemicals:

The chemical benzene is a known risk factor for leukemia. Benzene is an abundant chemical in our modern life and can be found in products ranging from clothes to plastics, as well as the gas you pump to run your car. It is a frequent contaminant in cosmetic products. Besides, chemotherapy drugs like toposomerase II inhibitors are cancer-causing agents. Immunosuppressive medication like Azathioprine is toxic to bone marrow. 

Electromagnetic Radiation:

​Peter Gariaev was nominated for the Nobel Prize in medicine in 2021 but unfortunately died in 2020 at age 79. His exceptional and insightful work was documented by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in this study. 

A Russian research team of geneticists and linguists have scientifically documented the ability of sound and light to heal DNA. The research carried out by Russian scientists Peter Gariaev and Vladimir Poponin showed that DNA has a special ability to attract photons, causing them to slide along the helical molecule of DNA instead of along a linear pathway. This implies that DNA has the amazing capacity to bend or wrap light around itself! Recent studies by Dr. Rao and his team showed that DNA undergoes helical change from normal B-DNA conformation to Z-DNA in Alzheimer's disease and this alters gene orientation and function. Thus, DNA helicity alters depending on brain function and stress.

What this means is that DNA is not only a biological molecule but also an energy-carrying molecule. Therefore, exposure to ionizing radiation, including X-rays, medical radiation for cancer patients, magnetic fields from electrical power lines, and even long-term exposure to cell phones and Wi-fi (especially 5G) are particularly harmful to the DNA of all cells—and that includes bone marrow cells, therefore an increased risk of leukemia.

Obesity:

Excessive fat cells in adipose tissue trigger inflammation. This, in turn, causes pro-inflammatory macrophages to increase. Bone marrow has its own fat cells called bone marrow fat (BMF). The accumulation of excess BMF is now associated with osteoporosis, Type 1 diabetes, Cushing's disease, anorexia nervosa, and bone metastasis in prostate and breast cancers. Remember that it isn't the fat that makes you fat. The main culprit is excess consumption of refined sugar in carbohydrates; these are turned into fat by the liver through the metabolic process called de novo lipogenesis. Healthy fats are essential for overall health. 

Strengthening Bone Marrow

Two areas to focus on in your efforts to enhance bone marrow health are:

Vitamins, Minerals, Antioxidants, and Sugar Nutrients:

A diet rich in whole food nutrients enhances bone marrow health. Make sure to eat foods that are non-GMO, organic and, if you eat meat, make sure it is humanely raised. Ensure that all vitamins and minerals are plant-based and not synthetic/inorganic, lab-created concoctions. Antioxidants and sugar nutrients are critical for ensuring that all cells communicate properly and exhibit proper metabolic processes. Remember that allopathic medical specialists believe cancer is caused by something—genetic mutations, exposure to toxic chemicals, etc. They have pursued this path for 50 years and have spent billions of dollars on surgery to cut it out, radiation to burn it, and chemotherapy to poison it. They still haven't cured cancer—it has only gotten worse—much worse! Alternative medicine, however,  believes that cancer is not caused by something. It is caused by the lack of something. The lack of something is a breakdown in the body's normal ability to remain healthy. Cancer is nothing but healing gone awry. There's something wrong with the signalling mechanism and the lack of nutrition plays a dominant role, especially altered glycosylation.   

Exercise, Stress, and a Positive Outlook:

Exercise increases the number of bone marrow stem cells and rejuvenates organs and tissue. Chronic psychosocial stress overstimulates bone marrow stem cells which leads to the production of excessive amounts of inflammatory cells like neutrophils and monocytes. These cells flood the bloodstream and increase the risk of stroke and heart attack. Long term inflammation is a hallmark of cancer and apoptosis (programmed cell death) gone awry.

​Finding ways to practise expressing gratitude in the midst of frustration, annoyance, and fatigue is a life-long skill. When it is mastered, it leads to calmness, inner peace, stability, and emotional health. This transfers benefits physically to our bodies and we feel satisified and happy inside ourselves. The body is really a litmus test—an indicator of how we are doing emotionally and spiritually. When we feel whole, purposeful, and loved, our bodies are at their best to eliminate disease and tune in to a higher way of living.