February 11, 2025 • 32 mins
Are you concerned about the effects of contrast dyes from CT and MRI scans?
In this episode of the Believe Big Podcast, Dr. Steve Rallis, DC, ND and Chief Medical Officer of DripBar Canada breaks down the differences between PET, CT, and MRI scans, helping patients make informed decisions about their imaging options.
He also dives into the potential risks of contrast agents and ionizing radiation, offering practical strategies to support the body’s detoxification process. From high-dose vitamin C therapy to essential nutrients like selenium and glutathione, Dr. Rallis shares a comprehensive approach to protecting your health before and after scans.
Plus, he highlights key insights from his new book, From Apples to Oranges: What Your Oncologist Won’t Tell You About IV Vitamin C and Cancer.
If you’re navigating cancer treatment or simply want to learn how to minimize toxic exposure, this episode is packed with valuable information. Tune in now to take control of your healing journey!
Learn more about Dr. Rallis:
https://www.wellnessdoctor.ca/
Suggested Resources:
- Free Download Resource: A Patient Guide to Reducing Radiation & Contrast Dye Exposure
- BOOK: When Oranges Become Apples: What Your Oncologist Won't Tell You About IV Vitamin C and Cancer.
- FullScript - online supplement store
- X-Ray, homeopathic pellets
- The DripBar - Canada
- The DripBar - USA
- DripCares Foundation - please NOTE, this website is not fully functioning and complete as of the release of this podcast episode, but it does allow you to add your name to the waitlist.
- Rallis Olive Oil - USA website and purchases
- Rallis Olive Oil - Canada website and purchases
- Rallis Family Farm - website
- Rallis Family Farm - Instagram
Send us Fan Mail! Click here >
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Ivelisse Page (00:06):
Hi, I'm Ivelisse Page, and thanks for listening
to the Believe Big podcast, theshow where we take a deep dive
into your healing with healthexperts, integrative
practitioners, biblical faithleaders, and cancer thrivers
from around the globe.
(00:35):
Welcome to today's episode onthe Believe Big podcast.
My name is Ivelisse Page and I'mexcited to be with you today.
We are welcoming back mypersonal friend and previous
guest, Dr.
Steve Rallis, the wellnessdoctor from Ontario, Canada, who
is here to talk to us aboutdetoxing the body after a CT and
(00:56):
PET scan, with contrast.
Dr.
Rallis is an internationallyrecognized authority on IV
vitamin C in the support oftreatment of cancer and a
leading authority on wellness.
He recently published a bookabout high dose IV vitamin C.
I would encourage everyone toget it and it's titled When
Oranges Become Apples.
(01:19):
Dr.
Rallis is a licensed doctor ofboth chiropractic and
naturopathic medicine and ispart of the faculty at the
Trinity Medical School ofIntegrative Medicine.
He also received hisundergraduate degree in
biological sciences from WesternUniversity in London, Ontario,
his chiropractic degree fromParker University in Dallas,
(01:41):
Texas, and his naturopathicmedical degree from the Canadian
College of NaturopathicMedicine.
Dr.
Rallis has a keen interest inboth research and education, and
his private practice in Ontariois one of the world's first to
offer integrative functionalmedicine rotation for medical
(02:02):
students.
He is also the chief medicalofficer for the Drip Bar in
Canada and the United States.
He is an international lecturerand has lectured to patient and
physician groups throughoutNorth America, South America,
and Europe.
He is married to his beautifulwife, Michelle, and they have
two children.
(02:23):
Welcome to the show, Dr.
Rallis.
Dr. Steve Rallis (02:25):
Thanks, Ivelisse.
So good to be here.
And speaking of the book.
Ivelisse Page (02:30):
Yes.
Dr. Steve Rallis (02:31):
Um,the chapter about your story is really one
of my favorites.
But the, but the reasonactually, I'm sorry, the reason
I, I brought this book up todayis, um, in chapter four, I talk
about the radiation treatment.
So using IV vitamin C forradiation.
(02:53):
And I actually had a friend callme last night and he said this
out of the blue.
He didn't know I was doing mypodcast today with you, but he
said, you know what I I can'tstand about podcasts sometimes?
He goes, they, you get thesegreat, uh, podcast hosts,
they'll bring on an, a quoteunquote expert.
And we want the information, wewant actual information, and
(03:14):
they don't give any actualinformation.
So, I'm going to make sure todayI deliver it for you, for your
guests, for sure.
Ivelisse Page (03:21):
Well, you always do, you always do, uh, we always
try and make sure that in thesethings, 30 minutes that we put
in not only information, butpractical tips and things that
people can take away.
And your last episode was justthat.
So I'm confident that thoselistening will hear that.
Uh, but before we begin, wealways start our podcast with a
(03:42):
favorite health tip.
And last time you shared aboutgratitude, you know, telling our
listeners that nothing happenswithout gratitude.
Do you have another favorite aswe begin this new year as a
health tip for our listeners?
Dr. Steve Rallis (03:56):
Yeah.
Health tip this year is relatedto today's topic.
It's niacin, which is B3.
And one of the cheapest really Bvitamins to get, and it causes
flushing.
Or niacinamide is kind of likethe non flushing version.
And I'll sort of jump right intothe chase, if you will.
(04:18):
Uh, niacinamide, because itincreases vascular flow, is a
potent radio sensitizer, so useif it's very useful for using it
during treatment with radiation.
It makes a radiosensitizer likehigh dose vitamin C is a
radiosensitizer means it makesthe tumor cells more sensitive
(04:38):
to the radiation treatment.
So it's easier to kill and it'sactually somewhat protective as
well.
But niacin is also great forcardiovascular disease.
Um, I'm giving a lectureactually at Parker University,
their largest seminar is inVegas every year.
So I'm presenting this yearactually on anxiety.
But interestingly, also some ofthe old orthomolecular pioneers,
(05:03):
and orthomolecular medicine justmeans using vitamins in high
dose to have a therapeuticeffect.
And they use niacin a lot fordepression and anxiety.
Ivelisse Page (05:14):
I love that.
Dr. Steve Rallis (05:15):
Yeah.
And niacin just for the, for thelisteners out there, cause I
remember the first time I triedniacin, and niacin, niacinamide
is non flushing, also callednicotinic acid, but niacin does
cause flushing.
So you take it and because itcauses vasodilation, you get a
flush.
It looks like you're having ahot flash, I guess.
And I remember the first time Itook it, um, I was heading from
(05:38):
Toronto back up to Barrie, and Isort of halfway there, I started
going, Oh, I'm feeling likesuper hot and I didn't, and then
I go, Oh, it's the niacin.
I get home.
I take my shirt off.
Michelle walks in the door andshe goes, what the heck happened
to you?
Because this is the middle ofwinter and I'm have all these
red blotchy spots.
(05:59):
And I said, it's the niacin.
Anyway, it sort of downregulates, but niacin actually
is a very useful tool.
Uh, so as far as one of thecheapest nutrients, like think
about it, you have a nutrientthat basically costs pennies,
that enhances the effect ofradiation treatment for cancer
patients.
It makes the tumor cell so muchmore sensitive to the radiation
(06:23):
treatment.
It's useful.
It's one of the cheapest,easiest tools for a lot of cases
of depression.
In fact, if you look up niacindeficiency and depression, a lot
of old Abram Hoffer, Dr.
Abram Hoffer's work, you'll beblown away when you see this
list.
So anyway, that's my it's a longwinded, but that's my tip.
Ivelisse Page (06:42):
I love that and I know that we're not giving any
kind of medical advice andpeople have to speak to their
practitioners about what dosageis right for them, but just if
you could quickly share howoften do you take niacin for you
know, if you're doing radiationtreatments for it to be a
therapeutic dose I just say ingenerality, what's the overview
(07:04):
for that?
And then those who arestruggling with depression, who
may be listening to this, whatis a, what is a therapeutic dose
that they could potentiallystart with or do?
Dr. Steve Rallis (07:14):
Yeah, one of my, one of my teachers, uh, Dr.
Jonathan Prowski from theCanadian College of Naturopathic
Medicine, he used pretty highdoses.
Um, I typically, for a lot ofthe cancer patients that are
doing radiation therapy, I'll dolike niacinamide, so the non
flushing,
Ivelisse Page (07:29):
Okay.
Dr. Steve Rallis (07:30):
500 milligrams twice a day.
Pretty low dose.
I'll sometimes happen to startwith 250.
And again, always remember eventhe non flushing niacinamide can
cause some flushing.
Okay.
The last thing you want to do isgo to the ER thinking you're
having an allergic reactionbecause you're not.
It's, that's how the nutrientworks.
(07:51):
And a lot of patients have endedup in the ER foolishly and by
the time the doctor sees them,the flushing's gone.
And then they go, Oh, right.
They told us it would causeflushing.
Ivelisse Page (08:02):
So yeah, we can do an actual podcast on niacin
next time, but I just wanted toknow, you know, is, is there a
difference between niacin andthe niacinamide that you said
the flushing and the nonflushing you can do either?
And it has the same benefit?
Dr. Steve Rallis (08:16):
Generally?
Yes.
And if you're looking more forvascular flow, so if you're
talking about heart disease, uh,erectile dysfunction using
niacin in that scenario, oreven, I would argue, even
certain radiation, becausecancer, one of the, and this is
true, I learned, um, when I wasin Germany, those integrative
(08:38):
hospitals, the cancer hospitals,the one thing they really sort
of mentioned in the way they aresort of assess the patient
integratively, they'll say likecancer patients will oftentimes
lack fundamental heat as thecancer progresses.
So that heat goes down andniacin causes the warmness, the
flushing.
So I think actually niacin, thecheap version is better, even
(09:01):
though almost all of thereputable doctors are always
recommending niacinamide.
I think it's partly becauseeverybody's afraid of the
flushing, but the flushing isactually amazing because you
kind of feel like warm for alittle bit, you know, especially
if you're lacking core orfundamental heat, especially
during this cold snap.
Ivelisse Page (09:20):
Yes.
And you know, one of the otherbenefits of mistletoe therapy,
which is it warms the body aswell.
Yes.
And I also use niacin beforeentering an implant.
my, my sauna, um, as a way toflush as well.
So I've, I've heard of it beingused in so many different ways
and I did experience the, theflushing and it was like, Whoa,
(09:40):
that was really strong.
So, um, yeah, so make sure thatpatients know and individuals
know that that will be a causeor, but it's not anything wrong.
It's just helping your bodyflush itself.
So today we wanted to reallydive into PET scans, CT scans,
and MRIs.
(10:01):
For those who are listening whoare, you know, semi familiar
with these tests, as many cancerpatients have to have them done,
can you briefly share thedifferences between a PET scan,
CT scan, and MRI to start?
Dr. Steve Rallis (10:15):
Sure.
First of all, almost under mostcircumstances, your oncologist
and your oncology team is goingto pick the right scan for you.
So I would generally be restassured that that's almost
always going to happen becausethey're doing it based upon
where the tumor burden is orwhere you're checking to clear.
So a lot of chest related, um,cancers will oftentimes have a
(10:37):
CT scan.
Um, certain head and neckcancers will sometimes use CT,
sometimes use MRI.
And again, CT, um, is theimaging from an MRI.
The magnetic resonance isdifferent than the commuted
tomography of the CT.
The nuance probably isn't soimportant in terms of the
patient in general.
MRI is a more advancedtechnology, and oftentimes can
(11:00):
have a little bit morespecificity, but that's not
always the case.
So almost always trust theoncology team, because when
people start to sort ofoverthink it, um, they get lost
in the weeds.
PET scan is very valuablebecause it's just a general
scan.
So you take a radioactive, youdrink a radioactive fluid, the
(11:23):
fluid goes to sugar based.
It's just sugar basically with aradioactive ligand goes to tumor
cells because the sugar drawsthat up and that tells you where
there's a potential tumor burdenor, where there is increased
glycolysis really, it's justdrawing up the sugar to that
area so that a patient, let'ssay you found, you did an MRI,
(11:47):
which is very good for prostatecancer.
You saw that there's potentiallya tumor there, it's been
biopsied or not.
Next step would be a PET scan,PET scan tells us whether the
cancer has spread either beyondthe capsule, or more
specifically, if it's gone toother parts of the body, pelvis,
liver, lungs, etc.
Ivelisse Page (12:06):
Yeah, as a side note, isn't it interesting that
they use sugar?
You know, according to somemedical practitioners, sugar
doesn't have an effect oncancer.
What you eat doesn't matter.
Yes, it does.
And I think it's so fascinatingthat a PET scan uses sugar
because I was told that cancercells absorb, you know, their
sugar or metabolize it a hundredtimes that of a, of a natural, a
(12:30):
healthy cell.
And so I think at least that,right.
So I think it's fascinating.
So it's so, so even equallyimportant as a side note to
cancer patients to avoid sugarat all costs.
So I just found that fascinatingthat you shared that.
Dr. Steve Rallis (12:46):
Yeah, it's a very rich comment, you know,
whenever someone says sugardoesn't matter.
Oh, but that's the driving, youknow, fuel for that tumor.
Ivelisse Page (12:59):
Exactly.
Dr. Steve Rallis (13:00):
So much so that we, it's, it's, it's so
predictable that we can use aradioactive sugar.
It goes straight to the tumor.
We can image it.
Ivelisse Page (13:08):
Yes.
Dr. Steve Rallis (13:09):
Like instantly.
When you think of how quick thatis, too, it's not over several
days, it's a glycolytic pathwaythat's so radically magnified
that we can instantly image it,like that, that alone is Yeah,
it's, it's, uh, it's incredible.
Ivelisse Page (13:26):
Yeah.
So, I always tell patients thatthey always have to balance the
pros and cons of every test andevery treatment.
You know, what's best for you.
It's very individualized.
I have read that one CT scan islike a hundred chest x rays.
And that the ionizing radiationfrom these tests can actually
cause cancer in the futurebecause it damages our DNA.
(13:48):
So you really have to be mindfulof how often and, you know, the
potential for the futuredepending on how old you are.
So what factors influence thedecisions to use a CT scan?
versus a PET scan for a cancerpatient, and how often do you
recommend patients to have theseimaging done?
(14:12):
Because conventionally, they sayevery three months.
Dr. Steve Rallis (14:15):
Yeah, it's too much of an open ended question
to really answer, like,realistically, because it's
totally dependent on thepatient's cancer.
Um, I, I would say thateverything you said is true, but
there are only several ways tokind of measure progress, and
imaging is, is one.
Lab work is another, andcirculating tumor cells, which
(14:40):
maybe falls under the labcomponent.
Um, but there are a lot of labtests that are really cheap and
easy to measure progress.
So I always use those.
So, for example, oftentimes apatient will have an image, it
will come back clear and they'llsay they, there's this tendency
to want to say the cancer is inremission.
Um, I think which is from achronic disease perspective is a
(15:02):
little, it's somewhat foolish.
It's better to think of like thegoal and we've talked about this
a lot is that patients withcancer, like it becomes like a
chronic disease.
They live long and healthylives.
So you just learn how to managethat chronic disease.
So you don't ever think,Rheumatoid Arthritis is gone.
You know, lupus is gone.
No, it's just the inflammatorymarkers are down.
(15:24):
You don't have any of thosepresenting factors.
So essentially your chronicdisease is quiet.
Great.
Forever, until you die whenyou're a hundred, which is
perfect.
And I think that it gives youmore vigilance.
And then when you look at someof the lab markers, I think
they're really sensitive.
Things like inflammatorymarkers, like insulin.
(15:45):
We talk about, I talk a lotabout this in the book.
I know I've talked to you aboutthis as well, and it's really
important to keep your eye onthose markers.
Like for example, with cancer,copper goes up, zinc goes down,
ferritin goes up, um,inflammatory markers like
sedimentation rates, C reactiveprotein all go up.
If you're seeing those trendingup, even if you're not due for
(16:06):
your CT or MRI, best imagingthat's been sort of allocated
for your particular cancer, bookit.
Especially if you're not underthe care of an integrated
physician who's doing let's saycirculating tumor cell counts.
Um, but that's when I was sortof like jump the queue, if you
will, and consider havingimaging.
(16:27):
For those that are in activesurveillance, like they're super
healthy, there's really no tumorburden.
They're the ones that aresometimes more concerned about
the damaging effects of ionizingradiation.
So in those situation, it's whenwe use antioxidants more
aggressively.
The reason I like high dosevitamin C is not because it's an
(16:47):
antioxidant.
It's not.
It's an oxidative therapy, butit's selectively cytotoxic.
It's only damaging potentialtumor cells.
And there is a component whichis actually protective.
So I'll always do sort of atitrating vitamin C IV for
patients that are doing imaging,even with ones that have no
tumor burden.
So we'll start at maybe 10grams, go up to 20 gram, 25
(17:11):
grams.
I, I sort of stay in that 10 to25 gram range for those patients
that have no tumor burden.
Um, I will add in glutathionefor those patients before and
after, so I will IV low theglutathione.
Orally, they'll be takingsupplements like N
acetylcysteine, vitamin A, C, E,selenium.
Selenium is critical.
(17:32):
And then you can sort of raisethe antioxidant status, which is
protective, drive it with alittle tumor damaging effects if
there are any with the high dosevitamin C as you've titrated up
and you get this wonderfulprotection before and then after
I run the same after.
So then.
So once the patients can be kindof rest, they can rest assured
(17:55):
that they've done what they canand I did this for myself when I
had my own MRI on my knee that Iinjured you know, I sort of went
through the same process I didVitamin C, did the A, C, E,
Selenium Zinc.
I did astragalus and so isashwagandha, sometimes for
protective effects as well.
And the issue with a lot ofbotanical medicines, like the
(18:15):
Chinese sort of medicine that'sbotanical, is that you have to
find the right dosing andsometimes work with your
integrative provider for that.
Ivelisse Page (18:24):
Yeah, and is there a certain time frame that
you should do the high dosevitamin C before and after?
Do you have to pause?
I know before surgeries, theyhave you pause the vitamin C.
Uh, is there a time, like theideal time to do the high dose
vitamin C before and after theimaging?
Dr. Steve Rallis (18:41):
Yeah, well not really for imaging.
You know, for surgery,oftentimes the concern is blood
thinning or interaction with anytype of anesthetic.
But essentially in terms ofimaging, there's really no
concern.
Like you can run vitamin C andI, like I said, if there's no
tumor burden, I'm going to be inthat 10 to 25 gram range.
I'll do that even the day beforeimaging, like I'll do 10 grams
(19:04):
with glutathione.
But I'll try to have like ingeneral, at least three
treatments before at least threetreatments after.
Ivelisse Page (19:13):
And if there are those individuals that, you
know, for costs, prohibitivereasons, can't do three
treatments of IVs before andafter an imaging, or aren't
having a consistent, whetherit's mistletoe therapy or IV
therapies that can be added onto it, what would be your best
course as far as knowing you'regoing in for an imaging, you
(19:34):
know, what are, what is the bestcost effective way to protect
your body before and after?
Dr. Steve Rallis (19:42):
Hydrate like heck! So be hydrated, very
important.
Hydrate before and after.
Ivelisse Page (19:46):
What would be considered the best hydrating?
How many cups of water?
What do you consider?
Dr. Steve Rallis (19:51):
In general, and if you have a good water
source, anything over twoliters, you probably need to add
electrolytes.
If there isn't an abundance ofelectrolytes already inherent in
the water supply.
So because it's going to haveum, an anti diuretic effect over
two liters.
So you're going to actuallybecome dehydrated.
So you definitely want tohydrate anything over even a
(20:13):
liter and a half, probably addelectrolytes, which would just
be things like magnesium,potassium salts, et cetera.
So that's a good rule of thumb.
I would say adding things likechlorophyll or you'll see, which
you have to be careful, but youcan use things like chlorella
spirulina, um, as tabs, whichare naturally binding.
(20:35):
So again, they can sometimesbind, toxic exposure if you're,
if you're taking thoserelatively cheap, just make sure
that they're tested, they'rethird party tested because
again, they can actually comewith toxicity from different
parts of the world.
Um, vitamin A, like I said,vitamin E, selenium, I would use
(20:56):
n-acetylcysteine becausen-acetylcysteine is the
precursor to glutathione.
Maybe liposomal glutathione aswell.
And that's a real relatively, Iwouldn't say cheap treatment,
but those supplements arerelatively cheap.
Save for liposomal glutathione.
Ivelisse Page (21:12):
Yes, and we'll put the links, you know, if you
can send us your favorites, wecan put the links in the show
notes, but that's actually whatI did.
I, I, I personally financiallycouldn't do, you know, IVs
before and after.
So I found that there is aglutathione cream.
And so I rubbed that against myliver, my kidneys, you know,
(21:34):
beforehand for two days.
And I also around my thyroid andthen I took liposomal
glutathione.
I hydrated really well.
And I also, uh, took ahomeopathic pellets that are
called x ray.
And that was also veryprotective for me.
I did it for two to three daysprior.
And then after I went in and hada higher dose of IV vitamin C
(21:57):
done.
And I, I feel like that kind ofwas a great balance for me
personally to cost wise, butalso to protect my body.
So, have you used homeopathicremedies as well?
Dr. Steve Rallis (22:08):
I used to use a lot of homeopathic remedies.
Like I liked the UNDA remedies,the drainage remedies for
detoxification, like the UNDA120 and 243 um, single
homeopathics, like x ray you canuse.
And, uh, I wanted to say too,one of the things that we've
done at the Drip Bar or throughthe Drip Bar, or actually
through my association with theAmerican IV Association was, I
(22:30):
started a non, and this ispartly inspired by you, I have
to say.
I started an organization calledDrip Cares.
Part of my role as chief medicalofficer is to train those
clinics into how to use IVvitamin C effectively, and
safely.
But one of the things we've setup is a drip cares foundation so
that cancer patients can reachout and get high dose vitamin C
(22:52):
at reduced rates.
So they don't have to buymemberships at those clinics or
anything like that.
And they have, um, up to likethe clinics that I'm associated
with is up to 40 percent reducedrate.
Ivelisse Page (23:02):
Wow.
Dr. Steve Rallis (23:03):
So, and I think because they need it and
oftentimes.
wherever you are, you need thattherapy and it comes with
certain financial constraints aswell.
So that's something that, youknow, we're working towards too
and we've implemented as well.
Ivelisse Page (23:18):
Well, I really appreciate that and I would love
to know the names of thoseclinics that do that so that we
can share that with patients aswell to know which ones to go to
that has those reduced costs,you know, anything we can do to
save on those cost is effective.
I was also told, and I justwanted to make a side note of
this.
Don't you have to have a bloodtest done to see whether your
body can handle high dosevitamin C at a spin?
(23:41):
Is there a certain level of highdose that that blood test is
specific to?
Dr. Steve Rallis (23:47):
Yeah.
Never have high dose vitamin C,meaning over 15 grams of vitamin
C, without testing, having labwork done, specifically G6PD or
Glucose 6 PhosphateDehydrogenase Complex because
that G6PD is an enzyme whichbreaks down the vitamin C.
(24:09):
Um, and if you don't have it, itwill cause red blood cells to
burst, which can be a medicalemergency.
So if you walk into a clinic andthey said, Oh, we would be happy
to administer 25 or 50 grams ofvitamin C.
Um, but we're not going to checkG6PD.
Um, I walk away.
Ivelisse Page (24:30):
Yes.
And is that something that youhave to get a prescription
through your physician or wouldone of your IV facilities be
able to do that test thereremotely?
Dr. Steve Rallis (24:39):
Yeah.
All the IV facilities, becausethey're under medical direction,
um, even though they're allunder medical direction.
So they've all been informedinstructed exactly what lab
tests to run from kidneyfunction to which, you know, uh,
hematology tests, including G6PDneeds to be done.
And those can all be done.
Draws can be done on site at anyof those clinics.
(25:00):
Um, and it's also can be just,they can be given a requisition
to go get that done as well.
Ivelisse Page (25:06):
Okay, great.
And so, but if you don't havethat and you really have a scan
coming up, um, if yourpractitioner has not had this
blood test done for you, yousaid you can typically get up to
15 grams of vitamin C and that'sno issue.
safely.
Perfect.
Perfect.
And so how does one know, iftheir body has fully detoxed
(25:29):
from, from the imaging, like,and what, actually what organs
are most affected by imaging?
Dr. Steve Rallis (25:35):
Any organ can be affected because the issue
with radiating, ionizingradiation is that it doesn't
discriminate tissues, so itdamages all tissues, and that's
the issue.
Um, and often times issues thatlack fundamental blood supply,
poor lymphatic flow, poorvascular flow, those are the
tissues that are going to bemost affected.
(25:56):
I like the idea of usingphysical therapies to assist
when you're doing endogenoustherapies.
Like if you're doing hydrationand let's say, um, chlorella,
spirulina, vitamin A, C, E, andacetylcysteine.
If you're going through thatprocess, even berberine can
(26:17):
assist with that, but having amassage, like a lymphatic
massage, having hot, coldcontrast therapies.
It could be as simple as in yourshower, you know, to again,
increase vascular flow,vasoconstricting, vasodilating,
massage therapy.
It could be as simple as drybrushing, there's so many things
(26:37):
that you can do, but, um, gentleexercise.
Also, you want to move lymphaticflow.
Um, be mindful of your diet preand post imaging, just as well.
You don't wanna overburden yourimmune system by having massive
meals.
Uh, so keep it like, keep itantioxidant rich.
Keep it fiber rich.
(26:58):
Mm-hmm So even if you're on moreof a keto protocol you actually
sometimes want to switch to kindof a vegetable based keto with
higher fiber.
Again, bind things to removethings because the colon is
affected, the kidneys affected,the liver is affected.
And those are simple organs thatcan be tested and assessed.
Ivelisse Page (27:20):
That's great.
Yeah.
And so a lot of the things thatyou mentioned are like pectin
rich foods, you know, uh, thatbecome natural binders, like you
meant we're mentioningspirulina, and things that are
great for detoxing foods, whichincludes broccoli and garlic and
onions and lemon balm andparsley, avocados, you know, all
those things, like you said, arehigh in fiber, but also pectin
(27:43):
rich foods, which also helps todetox.
I just wanted to do a quickrecap, um, before we close our,
our podcast.
So a few things that youmentioned is, you know, the, the
supplements with the niacin.
Um, also I've heard ofresveritrol and quercetin and
green tea that are also reallygood for you.
bigstudied, you know, as far ashelping to protect from x rays
(28:04):
and from imaging and protectsour cells.
And curcumin.
Curcumin.
Curcumin.
Yes.
Um, what about high dosemelatonin?
I've heard that taking 60milligrams of melatonin the
night before a scan can help.
Dr. Steve Rallis (28:19):
Yeah, really good idea.
Even as low as 10 to 20milligrams have been shown to be
beneficial both for imaging andalso for actual radiotherapy.
So radiation treatment, even 10to 20 milligrams.
And we know, um, well, becauseyou're so into the game, you,
you've sort of seen this patternthat melatonin is highly
effective and it's increasing indosing.
(28:40):
We've seen as high as 200milligrams, uh, QPM, and I know
that some compounding pharmaciesare making them at super high
doses, but I think that if youcan easily find 10.
milligrams melatonin.
So you can take two of those orthree of those the night before.
And it offers protection andagain, also an effective therapy
(29:02):
for those doing radiationtreatment.
Ivelisse Page (29:05):
Perfect.
Yeah.
So then you also mentioned aboutdetox friendly foods.
We talked about the oxy cellcream, which is the glutathione
cream.
Um, you know, you can put abouta quarter teaspoon of it into
your hands and rub it over yourliver and your thyroid and your
adrenals.
And I've heard up to threetimes, you know, the day of your
scan, you mentioned about drybrushing and showers.
(29:28):
I I've heard about a magneticclay bath.
Have you heard about those?
Dr. Steve Rallis (29:32):
I haven't.
I've heard about it.
I don't know much about it.
Ivelisse Page (29:35):
Okay.
Dr. Steve Rallis (29:36):
But, but it makes sense to me conceptually.
Ivelisse Page (29:39):
Yes.
Dr. Steve Rallis (29:40):
And I want to mention too, one of my patients
that was going through, uh, shewas having radiation treatment,
post resection, breast resectionof a tumor.
And they had recommended acream, which she was reacting
to.
And you can make your own.
My, my sister in law, uh, wehave an olive oil farm in
Greece, which, you know, and shetakes her olive oil and she made
(30:01):
this unbelievable salve like abody butter for one of our
patients and she just basicallyused I think it was horsetail,
calendula with the olive oil andbeeswax and applied it topically
because they didn't want the theoncologist the radiation
oncologist wanted to have a acream but she was reacting to
the cream so she wanted she saidis there any way you you would
(30:23):
know any sort of natural creamand Jen, God bless her, like
made this cream for for apatient Robin and, it's such a
beautiful formula.
Um, yeah, so it's amazing.
So it's, and that's somethingthat you can really,
Ivelisse Page (30:37):
Is that available on the Rallis website or is that
something personally that shemade?
Dr. Steve Rallis (30:42):
She made it for the patient, but I would
love to have that.
I'd have to ask Jen whethershe's put it on, um, like the
Rallis Family Farm or RallisOlive Oil website.
I'm not sure because they runthat, but I'll look because
it's, it was, it's such a great,and I use it now.
I get her to make it for me justto apply topically because it's
such a simple formula.
Um, it's such a simple bodybutter that it's, it's just good
(31:04):
for everything.
Ivelisse Page (31:05):
Yeah, I would love the link if she does have
it, or even just the ingredientsthat she uses.
Your olive oil is so wonderful.
Um, that's the only olive oil weuse in our home now.
And, uh, Jimmy loves it.
I actually started baking tallowcream and added your olive oil
to it.
And that might be another way toreally help people who are
allergic to some of, some of thecreams.
(31:28):
But Dr.
Rallis, this has been such aninformative podcast.
I know that this is going to beso helpful for those who are
undergoing radiation treatments,but are also going in for
imaging and just had a lot ofquestions on how to protect
their body.
So thank you so much for takingtime out of your day to help
answer these questions for usand give us more insight on how
(31:49):
we can, you know, go into thesethings, uh, in a more protective
state.
Dr. Steve Rallis (31:54):
Thank you, Ivelisse.
Thanks for everything that youdo as well and have an amazing
day.
Ivelisse Page (32:05):
If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to
help support our podcast, pleasesubscribe and share it with
others.
Be sure to visit believebig.orgto access the show notes and
discover our bonus content.
Thanks again and keep BelievingBig!
Hi, I'm Ivelisse Page, and thanks for listening
to the Believe Big podcast, theshow where we take a deep dive
into your healing with healthexperts, integrative
practitioners, biblical faithleaders, and cancer thrivers
from around the globe.
(00:35):
Welcome to today's episode onthe Believe Big podcast.
My name is Ivelisse Page and I'mexcited to be with you today.
We are welcoming back mypersonal friend and previous
guest, Dr.
Steve Rallis, the wellnessdoctor from Ontario, Canada, who
is here to talk to us aboutdetoxing the body after a CT and
(00:56):
PET scan, with contrast.
Dr.
Rallis is an internationallyrecognized authority on IV
vitamin C in the support oftreatment of cancer and a
leading authority on wellness.
He recently published a bookabout high dose IV vitamin C.
I would encourage everyone toget it and it's titled When
Oranges Become Apples.
(01:19):
Dr.
Rallis is a licensed doctor ofboth chiropractic and
naturopathic medicine and ispart of the faculty at the
Trinity Medical School ofIntegrative Medicine.
He also received hisundergraduate degree in
biological sciences from WesternUniversity in London, Ontario,
his chiropractic degree fromParker University in Dallas,
(01:41):
Texas, and his naturopathicmedical degree from the Canadian
College of NaturopathicMedicine.
Dr.
Rallis has a keen interest inboth research and education, and
his private practice in Ontariois one of the world's first to
offer integrative functionalmedicine rotation for medical
(02:02):
students.
He is also the chief medicalofficer for the Drip Bar in
Canada and the United States.
He is an international lecturerand has lectured to patient and
physician groups throughoutNorth America, South America,
and Europe.
He is married to his beautifulwife, Michelle, and they have
two children.
(02:23):
Welcome to the show, Dr.
Rallis.
Dr. Steve Rallis (02:25):
Thanks, Ivelisse.
So good to be here.
And speaking of the book.
Ivelisse Page (02:30):
Yes.
Dr. Steve Rallis (02:31):
Um,the chapter about your story is really one
of my favorites.
But the, but the reasonactually, I'm sorry, the reason
I, I brought this book up todayis, um, in chapter four, I talk
about the radiation treatment.
So using IV vitamin C forradiation.
(02:53):
And I actually had a friend callme last night and he said this
out of the blue.
He didn't know I was doing mypodcast today with you, but he
said, you know what I I can'tstand about podcasts sometimes?
He goes, they, you get thesegreat, uh, podcast hosts,
they'll bring on an, a quoteunquote expert.
And we want the information, wewant actual information, and
(03:14):
they don't give any actualinformation.
So, I'm going to make sure todayI deliver it for you, for your
guests, for sure.
Ivelisse Page (03:21):
Well, you always do, you always do, uh, we always
try and make sure that in thesethings, 30 minutes that we put
in not only information, butpractical tips and things that
people can take away.
And your last episode was justthat.
So I'm confident that thoselistening will hear that.
Uh, but before we begin, wealways start our podcast with a
(03:42):
favorite health tip.
And last time you shared aboutgratitude, you know, telling our
listeners that nothing happenswithout gratitude.
Do you have another favorite aswe begin this new year as a
health tip for our listeners?
Dr. Steve Rallis (03:56):
Yeah.
Health tip this year is relatedto today's topic.
It's niacin, which is B3.
And one of the cheapest really Bvitamins to get, and it causes
flushing.
Or niacinamide is kind of likethe non flushing version.
And I'll sort of jump right intothe chase, if you will.
(04:18):
Uh, niacinamide, because itincreases vascular flow, is a
potent radio sensitizer, so useif it's very useful for using it
during treatment with radiation.
It makes a radiosensitizer likehigh dose vitamin C is a
radiosensitizer means it makesthe tumor cells more sensitive
(04:38):
to the radiation treatment.
So it's easier to kill and it'sactually somewhat protective as
well.
But niacin is also great forcardiovascular disease.
Um, I'm giving a lectureactually at Parker University,
their largest seminar is inVegas every year.
So I'm presenting this yearactually on anxiety.
But interestingly, also some ofthe old orthomolecular pioneers,
(05:03):
and orthomolecular medicine justmeans using vitamins in high
dose to have a therapeuticeffect.
And they use niacin a lot fordepression and anxiety.
Ivelisse Page (05:14):
I love that.
Dr. Steve Rallis (05:15):
Yeah.
And niacin just for the, for thelisteners out there, cause I
remember the first time I triedniacin, and niacin, niacinamide
is non flushing, also callednicotinic acid, but niacin does
cause flushing.
So you take it and because itcauses vasodilation, you get a
flush.
It looks like you're having ahot flash, I guess.
And I remember the first time Itook it, um, I was heading from
(05:38):
Toronto back up to Barrie, and Isort of halfway there, I started
going, Oh, I'm feeling likesuper hot and I didn't, and then
I go, Oh, it's the niacin.
I get home.
I take my shirt off.
Michelle walks in the door andshe goes, what the heck happened
to you?
Because this is the middle ofwinter and I'm have all these
red blotchy spots.
(05:59):
And I said, it's the niacin.
Anyway, it sort of downregulates, but niacin actually
is a very useful tool.
Uh, so as far as one of thecheapest nutrients, like think
about it, you have a nutrientthat basically costs pennies,
that enhances the effect ofradiation treatment for cancer
patients.
It makes the tumor cell so muchmore sensitive to the radiation
(06:23):
treatment.
It's useful.
It's one of the cheapest,easiest tools for a lot of cases
of depression.
In fact, if you look up niacindeficiency and depression, a lot
of old Abram Hoffer, Dr.
Abram Hoffer's work, you'll beblown away when you see this
list.
So anyway, that's my it's a longwinded, but that's my tip.
Ivelisse Page (06:42):
I love that and I know that we're not giving any
kind of medical advice andpeople have to speak to their
practitioners about what dosageis right for them, but just if
you could quickly share howoften do you take niacin for you
know, if you're doing radiationtreatments for it to be a
therapeutic dose I just say ingenerality, what's the overview
(07:04):
for that?
And then those who arestruggling with depression, who
may be listening to this, whatis a, what is a therapeutic dose
that they could potentiallystart with or do?
Dr. Steve Rallis (07:14):
Yeah, one of my, one of my teachers, uh, Dr.
Jonathan Prowski from theCanadian College of Naturopathic
Medicine, he used pretty highdoses.
Um, I typically, for a lot ofthe cancer patients that are
doing radiation therapy, I'll dolike niacinamide, so the non
flushing,
Ivelisse Page (07:29):
Okay.
Dr. Steve Rallis (07:30):
500 milligrams twice a day.
Pretty low dose.
I'll sometimes happen to startwith 250.
And again, always remember eventhe non flushing niacinamide can
cause some flushing.
Okay.
The last thing you want to do isgo to the ER thinking you're
having an allergic reactionbecause you're not.
It's, that's how the nutrientworks.
(07:51):
And a lot of patients have endedup in the ER foolishly and by
the time the doctor sees them,the flushing's gone.
And then they go, Oh, right.
They told us it would causeflushing.
Ivelisse Page (08:02):
So yeah, we can do an actual podcast on niacin
next time, but I just wanted toknow, you know, is, is there a
difference between niacin andthe niacinamide that you said
the flushing and the nonflushing you can do either?
And it has the same benefit?
Dr. Steve Rallis (08:16):
Generally?
Yes.
And if you're looking more forvascular flow, so if you're
talking about heart disease, uh,erectile dysfunction using
niacin in that scenario, oreven, I would argue, even
certain radiation, becausecancer, one of the, and this is
true, I learned, um, when I wasin Germany, those integrative
(08:38):
hospitals, the cancer hospitals,the one thing they really sort
of mentioned in the way they aresort of assess the patient
integratively, they'll say likecancer patients will oftentimes
lack fundamental heat as thecancer progresses.
So that heat goes down andniacin causes the warmness, the
flushing.
So I think actually niacin, thecheap version is better, even
(09:01):
though almost all of thereputable doctors are always
recommending niacinamide.
I think it's partly becauseeverybody's afraid of the
flushing, but the flushing isactually amazing because you
kind of feel like warm for alittle bit, you know, especially
if you're lacking core orfundamental heat, especially
during this cold snap.
Ivelisse Page (09:20):
Yes.
And you know, one of the otherbenefits of mistletoe therapy,
which is it warms the body aswell.
Yes.
And I also use niacin beforeentering an implant.
my, my sauna, um, as a way toflush as well.
So I've, I've heard of it beingused in so many different ways
and I did experience the, theflushing and it was like, Whoa,
(09:40):
that was really strong.
So, um, yeah, so make sure thatpatients know and individuals
know that that will be a causeor, but it's not anything wrong.
It's just helping your bodyflush itself.
So today we wanted to reallydive into PET scans, CT scans,
and MRIs.
(10:01):
For those who are listening whoare, you know, semi familiar
with these tests, as many cancerpatients have to have them done,
can you briefly share thedifferences between a PET scan,
CT scan, and MRI to start?
Dr. Steve Rallis (10:15):
Sure.
First of all, almost under mostcircumstances, your oncologist
and your oncology team is goingto pick the right scan for you.
So I would generally be restassured that that's almost
always going to happen becausethey're doing it based upon
where the tumor burden is orwhere you're checking to clear.
So a lot of chest related, um,cancers will oftentimes have a
(10:37):
CT scan.
Um, certain head and neckcancers will sometimes use CT,
sometimes use MRI.
And again, CT, um, is theimaging from an MRI.
The magnetic resonance isdifferent than the commuted
tomography of the CT.
The nuance probably isn't soimportant in terms of the
patient in general.
MRI is a more advancedtechnology, and oftentimes can
(11:00):
have a little bit morespecificity, but that's not
always the case.
So almost always trust theoncology team, because when
people start to sort ofoverthink it, um, they get lost
in the weeds.
PET scan is very valuablebecause it's just a general
scan.
So you take a radioactive, youdrink a radioactive fluid, the
(11:23):
fluid goes to sugar based.
It's just sugar basically with aradioactive ligand goes to tumor
cells because the sugar drawsthat up and that tells you where
there's a potential tumor burdenor, where there is increased
glycolysis really, it's justdrawing up the sugar to that
area so that a patient, let'ssay you found, you did an MRI,
(11:47):
which is very good for prostatecancer.
You saw that there's potentiallya tumor there, it's been
biopsied or not.
Next step would be a PET scan,PET scan tells us whether the
cancer has spread either beyondthe capsule, or more
specifically, if it's gone toother parts of the body, pelvis,
liver, lungs, etc.
Ivelisse Page (12:06):
Yeah, as a side note, isn't it interesting that
they use sugar?
You know, according to somemedical practitioners, sugar
doesn't have an effect oncancer.
What you eat doesn't matter.
Yes, it does.
And I think it's so fascinatingthat a PET scan uses sugar
because I was told that cancercells absorb, you know, their
sugar or metabolize it a hundredtimes that of a, of a natural, a
(12:30):
healthy cell.
And so I think at least that,right.
So I think it's fascinating.
So it's so, so even equallyimportant as a side note to
cancer patients to avoid sugarat all costs.
So I just found that fascinatingthat you shared that.
Dr. Steve Rallis (12:46):
Yeah, it's a very rich comment, you know,
whenever someone says sugardoesn't matter.
Oh, but that's the driving, youknow, fuel for that tumor.
Ivelisse Page (12:59):
Exactly.
Dr. Steve Rallis (13:00):
So much so that we, it's, it's, it's so
predictable that we can use aradioactive sugar.
It goes straight to the tumor.
We can image it.
Ivelisse Page (13:08):
Yes.
Dr. Steve Rallis (13:09):
Like instantly.
When you think of how quick thatis, too, it's not over several
days, it's a glycolytic pathwaythat's so radically magnified
that we can instantly image it,like that, that alone is Yeah,
it's, it's, uh, it's incredible.
Ivelisse Page (13:26):
Yeah.
So, I always tell patients thatthey always have to balance the
pros and cons of every test andevery treatment.
You know, what's best for you.
It's very individualized.
I have read that one CT scan islike a hundred chest x rays.
And that the ionizing radiationfrom these tests can actually
cause cancer in the futurebecause it damages our DNA.
(13:48):
So you really have to be mindfulof how often and, you know, the
potential for the futuredepending on how old you are.
So what factors influence thedecisions to use a CT scan?
versus a PET scan for a cancerpatient, and how often do you
recommend patients to have theseimaging done?
(14:12):
Because conventionally, they sayevery three months.
Dr. Steve Rallis (14:15):
Yeah, it's too much of an open ended question
to really answer, like,realistically, because it's
totally dependent on thepatient's cancer.
Um, I, I would say thateverything you said is true, but
there are only several ways tokind of measure progress, and
imaging is, is one.
Lab work is another, andcirculating tumor cells, which
(14:40):
maybe falls under the labcomponent.
Um, but there are a lot of labtests that are really cheap and
easy to measure progress.
So I always use those.
So, for example, oftentimes apatient will have an image, it
will come back clear and they'llsay they, there's this tendency
to want to say the cancer is inremission.
Um, I think which is from achronic disease perspective is a
(15:02):
little, it's somewhat foolish.
It's better to think of like thegoal and we've talked about this
a lot is that patients withcancer, like it becomes like a
chronic disease.
They live long and healthylives.
So you just learn how to managethat chronic disease.
So you don't ever think,Rheumatoid Arthritis is gone.
You know, lupus is gone.
No, it's just the inflammatorymarkers are down.
(15:24):
You don't have any of thosepresenting factors.
So essentially your chronicdisease is quiet.
Great.
Forever, until you die whenyou're a hundred, which is
perfect.
And I think that it gives youmore vigilance.
And then when you look at someof the lab markers, I think
they're really sensitive.
Things like inflammatorymarkers, like insulin.
(15:45):
We talk about, I talk a lotabout this in the book.
I know I've talked to you aboutthis as well, and it's really
important to keep your eye onthose markers.
Like for example, with cancer,copper goes up, zinc goes down,
ferritin goes up, um,inflammatory markers like
sedimentation rates, C reactiveprotein all go up.
If you're seeing those trendingup, even if you're not due for
(16:06):
your CT or MRI, best imagingthat's been sort of allocated
for your particular cancer, bookit.
Especially if you're not underthe care of an integrated
physician who's doing let's saycirculating tumor cell counts.
Um, but that's when I was sortof like jump the queue, if you
will, and consider havingimaging.
(16:27):
For those that are in activesurveillance, like they're super
healthy, there's really no tumorburden.
They're the ones that aresometimes more concerned about
the damaging effects of ionizingradiation.
So in those situation, it's whenwe use antioxidants more
aggressively.
The reason I like high dosevitamin C is not because it's an
(16:47):
antioxidant.
It's not.
It's an oxidative therapy, butit's selectively cytotoxic.
It's only damaging potentialtumor cells.
And there is a component whichis actually protective.
So I'll always do sort of atitrating vitamin C IV for
patients that are doing imaging,even with ones that have no
tumor burden.
So we'll start at maybe 10grams, go up to 20 gram, 25
(17:11):
grams.
I, I sort of stay in that 10 to25 gram range for those patients
that have no tumor burden.
Um, I will add in glutathionefor those patients before and
after, so I will IV low theglutathione.
Orally, they'll be takingsupplements like N
acetylcysteine, vitamin A, C, E,selenium.
Selenium is critical.
(17:32):
And then you can sort of raisethe antioxidant status, which is
protective, drive it with alittle tumor damaging effects if
there are any with the high dosevitamin C as you've titrated up
and you get this wonderfulprotection before and then after
I run the same after.
So then.
So once the patients can be kindof rest, they can rest assured
(17:55):
that they've done what they canand I did this for myself when I
had my own MRI on my knee that Iinjured you know, I sort of went
through the same process I didVitamin C, did the A, C, E,
Selenium Zinc.
I did astragalus and so isashwagandha, sometimes for
protective effects as well.
And the issue with a lot ofbotanical medicines, like the
(18:15):
Chinese sort of medicine that'sbotanical, is that you have to
find the right dosing andsometimes work with your
integrative provider for that.
Ivelisse Page (18:24):
Yeah, and is there a certain time frame that
you should do the high dosevitamin C before and after?
Do you have to pause?
I know before surgeries, theyhave you pause the vitamin C.
Uh, is there a time, like theideal time to do the high dose
vitamin C before and after theimaging?
Dr. Steve Rallis (18:41):
Yeah, well not really for imaging.
You know, for surgery,oftentimes the concern is blood
thinning or interaction with anytype of anesthetic.
But essentially in terms ofimaging, there's really no
concern.
Like you can run vitamin C andI, like I said, if there's no
tumor burden, I'm going to be inthat 10 to 25 gram range.
I'll do that even the day beforeimaging, like I'll do 10 grams
(19:04):
with glutathione.
But I'll try to have like ingeneral, at least three
treatments before at least threetreatments after.
Ivelisse Page (19:13):
And if there are those individuals that, you
know, for costs, prohibitivereasons, can't do three
treatments of IVs before andafter an imaging, or aren't
having a consistent, whetherit's mistletoe therapy or IV
therapies that can be added onto it, what would be your best
course as far as knowing you'regoing in for an imaging, you
(19:34):
know, what are, what is the bestcost effective way to protect
your body before and after?
Dr. Steve Rallis (19:42):
Hydrate like heck! So be hydrated, very
important.
Hydrate before and after.
Ivelisse Page (19:46):
What would be considered the best hydrating?
How many cups of water?
What do you consider?
Dr. Steve Rallis (19:51):
In general, and if you have a good water
source, anything over twoliters, you probably need to add
electrolytes.
If there isn't an abundance ofelectrolytes already inherent in
the water supply.
So because it's going to haveum, an anti diuretic effect over
two liters.
So you're going to actuallybecome dehydrated.
So you definitely want tohydrate anything over even a
(20:13):
liter and a half, probably addelectrolytes, which would just
be things like magnesium,potassium salts, et cetera.
So that's a good rule of thumb.
I would say adding things likechlorophyll or you'll see, which
you have to be careful, but youcan use things like chlorella
spirulina, um, as tabs, whichare naturally binding.
(20:35):
So again, they can sometimesbind, toxic exposure if you're,
if you're taking thoserelatively cheap, just make sure
that they're tested, they'rethird party tested because
again, they can actually comewith toxicity from different
parts of the world.
Um, vitamin A, like I said,vitamin E, selenium, I would use
(20:56):
n-acetylcysteine becausen-acetylcysteine is the
precursor to glutathione.
Maybe liposomal glutathione aswell.
And that's a real relatively, Iwouldn't say cheap treatment,
but those supplements arerelatively cheap.
Save for liposomal glutathione.
Ivelisse Page (21:12):
Yes, and we'll put the links, you know, if you
can send us your favorites, wecan put the links in the show
notes, but that's actually whatI did.
I, I, I personally financiallycouldn't do, you know, IVs
before and after.
So I found that there is aglutathione cream.
And so I rubbed that against myliver, my kidneys, you know,
(21:34):
beforehand for two days.
And I also around my thyroid andthen I took liposomal
glutathione.
I hydrated really well.
And I also, uh, took ahomeopathic pellets that are
called x ray.
And that was also veryprotective for me.
I did it for two to three daysprior.
And then after I went in and hada higher dose of IV vitamin C
(21:57):
done.
And I, I feel like that kind ofwas a great balance for me
personally to cost wise, butalso to protect my body.
So, have you used homeopathicremedies as well?
Dr. Steve Rallis (22:08):
I used to use a lot of homeopathic remedies.
Like I liked the UNDA remedies,the drainage remedies for
detoxification, like the UNDA120 and 243 um, single
homeopathics, like x ray you canuse.
And, uh, I wanted to say too,one of the things that we've
done at the Drip Bar or throughthe Drip Bar, or actually
through my association with theAmerican IV Association was, I
(22:30):
started a non, and this ispartly inspired by you, I have
to say.
I started an organization calledDrip Cares.
Part of my role as chief medicalofficer is to train those
clinics into how to use IVvitamin C effectively, and
safely.
But one of the things we've setup is a drip cares foundation so
that cancer patients can reachout and get high dose vitamin C
(22:52):
at reduced rates.
So they don't have to buymemberships at those clinics or
anything like that.
And they have, um, up to likethe clinics that I'm associated
with is up to 40 percent reducedrate.
Ivelisse Page (23:02):
Wow.
Dr. Steve Rallis (23:03):
So, and I think because they need it and
oftentimes.
wherever you are, you need thattherapy and it comes with
certain financial constraints aswell.
So that's something that, youknow, we're working towards too
and we've implemented as well.
Ivelisse Page (23:18):
Well, I really appreciate that and I would love
to know the names of thoseclinics that do that so that we
can share that with patients aswell to know which ones to go to
that has those reduced costs,you know, anything we can do to
save on those cost is effective.
I was also told, and I justwanted to make a side note of
this.
Don't you have to have a bloodtest done to see whether your
body can handle high dosevitamin C at a spin?
(23:41):
Is there a certain level of highdose that that blood test is
specific to?
Dr. Steve Rallis (23:47):
Yeah.
Never have high dose vitamin C,meaning over 15 grams of vitamin
C, without testing, having labwork done, specifically G6PD or
Glucose 6 PhosphateDehydrogenase Complex because
that G6PD is an enzyme whichbreaks down the vitamin C.
(24:09):
Um, and if you don't have it, itwill cause red blood cells to
burst, which can be a medicalemergency.
So if you walk into a clinic andthey said, Oh, we would be happy
to administer 25 or 50 grams ofvitamin C.
Um, but we're not going to checkG6PD.
Um, I walk away.
Ivelisse Page (24:30):
Yes.
And is that something that youhave to get a prescription
through your physician or wouldone of your IV facilities be
able to do that test thereremotely?
Dr. Steve Rallis (24:39):
Yeah.
All the IV facilities, becausethey're under medical direction,
um, even though they're allunder medical direction.
So they've all been informedinstructed exactly what lab
tests to run from kidneyfunction to which, you know, uh,
hematology tests, including G6PDneeds to be done.
And those can all be done.
Draws can be done on site at anyof those clinics.
(25:00):
Um, and it's also can be just,they can be given a requisition
to go get that done as well.
Ivelisse Page (25:06):
Okay, great.
And so, but if you don't havethat and you really have a scan
coming up, um, if yourpractitioner has not had this
blood test done for you, yousaid you can typically get up to
15 grams of vitamin C and that'sno issue.
safely.
Perfect.
Perfect.
And so how does one know, iftheir body has fully detoxed
(25:29):
from, from the imaging, like,and what, actually what organs
are most affected by imaging?
Dr. Steve Rallis (25:35):
Any organ can be affected because the issue
with radiating, ionizingradiation is that it doesn't
discriminate tissues, so itdamages all tissues, and that's
the issue.
Um, and often times issues thatlack fundamental blood supply,
poor lymphatic flow, poorvascular flow, those are the
tissues that are going to bemost affected.
(25:56):
I like the idea of usingphysical therapies to assist
when you're doing endogenoustherapies.
Like if you're doing hydrationand let's say, um, chlorella,
spirulina, vitamin A, C, E, andacetylcysteine.
If you're going through thatprocess, even berberine can
(26:17):
assist with that, but having amassage, like a lymphatic
massage, having hot, coldcontrast therapies.
It could be as simple as in yourshower, you know, to again,
increase vascular flow,vasoconstricting, vasodilating,
massage therapy.
It could be as simple as drybrushing, there's so many things
(26:37):
that you can do, but, um, gentleexercise.
Also, you want to move lymphaticflow.
Um, be mindful of your diet preand post imaging, just as well.
You don't wanna overburden yourimmune system by having massive
meals.
Uh, so keep it like, keep itantioxidant rich.
Keep it fiber rich.
(26:58):
Mm-hmm So even if you're on moreof a keto protocol you actually
sometimes want to switch to kindof a vegetable based keto with
higher fiber.
Again, bind things to removethings because the colon is
affected, the kidneys affected,the liver is affected.
And those are simple organs thatcan be tested and assessed.
Ivelisse Page (27:20):
That's great.
Yeah.
And so a lot of the things thatyou mentioned are like pectin
rich foods, you know, uh, thatbecome natural binders, like you
meant we're mentioningspirulina, and things that are
great for detoxing foods, whichincludes broccoli and garlic and
onions and lemon balm andparsley, avocados, you know, all
those things, like you said, arehigh in fiber, but also pectin
(27:43):
rich foods, which also helps todetox.
I just wanted to do a quickrecap, um, before we close our,
our podcast.
So a few things that youmentioned is, you know, the, the
supplements with the niacin.
Um, also I've heard ofresveritrol and quercetin and
green tea that are also reallygood for you.
bigstudied, you know, as far ashelping to protect from x rays
(28:04):
and from imaging and protectsour cells.
And curcumin.
Curcumin.
Curcumin.
Yes.
Um, what about high dosemelatonin?
I've heard that taking 60milligrams of melatonin the
night before a scan can help.
Dr. Steve Rallis (28:19):
Yeah, really good idea.
Even as low as 10 to 20milligrams have been shown to be
beneficial both for imaging andalso for actual radiotherapy.
So radiation treatment, even 10to 20 milligrams.
And we know, um, well, becauseyou're so into the game, you,
you've sort of seen this patternthat melatonin is highly
effective and it's increasing indosing.
(28:40):
We've seen as high as 200milligrams, uh, QPM, and I know
that some compounding pharmaciesare making them at super high
doses, but I think that if youcan easily find 10.
milligrams melatonin.
So you can take two of those orthree of those the night before.
And it offers protection andagain, also an effective therapy
(29:02):
for those doing radiationtreatment.
Ivelisse Page (29:05):
Perfect.
Yeah.
So then you also mentioned aboutdetox friendly foods.
We talked about the oxy cellcream, which is the glutathione
cream.
Um, you know, you can put abouta quarter teaspoon of it into
your hands and rub it over yourliver and your thyroid and your
adrenals.
And I've heard up to threetimes, you know, the day of your
scan, you mentioned about drybrushing and showers.
(29:28):
I I've heard about a magneticclay bath.
Have you heard about those?
Dr. Steve Rallis (29:32):
I haven't.
I've heard about it.
I don't know much about it.
Ivelisse Page (29:35):
Okay.
Dr. Steve Rallis (29:36):
But, but it makes sense to me conceptually.
Ivelisse Page (29:39):
Yes.
Dr. Steve Rallis (29:40):
And I want to mention too, one of my patients
that was going through, uh, shewas having radiation treatment,
post resection, breast resectionof a tumor.
And they had recommended acream, which she was reacting
to.
And you can make your own.
My, my sister in law, uh, wehave an olive oil farm in
Greece, which, you know, and shetakes her olive oil and she made
(30:01):
this unbelievable salve like abody butter for one of our
patients and she just basicallyused I think it was horsetail,
calendula with the olive oil andbeeswax and applied it topically
because they didn't want the theoncologist the radiation
oncologist wanted to have a acream but she was reacting to
the cream so she wanted she saidis there any way you you would
(30:23):
know any sort of natural creamand Jen, God bless her, like
made this cream for for apatient Robin and, it's such a
beautiful formula.
Um, yeah, so it's amazing.
So it's, and that's somethingthat you can really,
Ivelisse Page (30:37):
Is that available on the Rallis website or is that
something personally that shemade?
Dr. Steve Rallis (30:42):
She made it for the patient, but I would
love to have that.
I'd have to ask Jen whethershe's put it on, um, like the
Rallis Family Farm or RallisOlive Oil website.
I'm not sure because they runthat, but I'll look because
it's, it was, it's such a great,and I use it now.
I get her to make it for me justto apply topically because it's
such a simple formula.
Um, it's such a simple bodybutter that it's, it's just good
(31:04):
for everything.
Ivelisse Page (31:05):
Yeah, I would love the link if she does have
it, or even just the ingredientsthat she uses.
Your olive oil is so wonderful.
Um, that's the only olive oil weuse in our home now.
And, uh, Jimmy loves it.
I actually started baking tallowcream and added your olive oil
to it.
And that might be another way toreally help people who are
allergic to some of, some of thecreams.
(31:28):
But Dr.
Rallis, this has been such aninformative podcast.
I know that this is going to beso helpful for those who are
undergoing radiation treatments,but are also going in for
imaging and just had a lot ofquestions on how to protect
their body.
So thank you so much for takingtime out of your day to help
answer these questions for usand give us more insight on how
(31:49):
we can, you know, go into thesethings, uh, in a more protective
state.
Dr. Steve Rallis (31:54):
Thank you, Ivelisse.
Thanks for everything that youdo as well and have an amazing
day.
Ivelisse Page (32:05):
If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to
help support our podcast, pleasesubscribe and share it with
others.
Be sure to visit believebig.orgto access the show notes and
discover our bonus content.
Thanks again and keep BelievingBig!
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