Frequently Asked Questions

Preventative Maintenance: 2 to 3 shark cartilage capsules and 1 shark liver oil gel cap per day as preventative action against arthritis, cancer and general health degeneration.

Cancer: 35 to 50 grams per day of shark cartilage powder in addition to 2 shark liver oil gel caps. Generally, the rule of thumb is approximately 2 grams per day for every kg in body weight, mixed with soft food or juice for easy consumption.

Arthritis & Joint Disfunction: 6 to 9 capsules of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate with shark cartilage per day. Results are often experienced within approximately 3 weeks.

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Shark Cartilage Questions
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What is cartilage & shark cartilage?
Cartilage is a bloodless gristle - the tough, elastic, whitish connective tissue found around bones in mammals just like that small flexible "bone" found at the end of your nose. Amazingly, sharks don't have a single bone in their body. Their entire skeletal structure is made up of cartilage which is 6% to 8% of the total shark's body weight.Back to Top

Why is the focus on sharks and shark cartilage? The shark has been the most disease resistant creature on this planet for millions of years. A startling fact is that sharks rarely, if ever, develop any form of cancer. Fishermen have known this for more than a hundred years and scientists over the past twenty years have been trying to unlock the secrets of the shark's incredible immune system.The fact is that the shark's entire skeletal structure is made up of cartilage and in laboratory tests cartilage has been shown to be an angiogenesis inhibitor (angio: blood or lymph vessel genesis: to create or originate). This has led many scientists to conclude that cartilage is the secret to the shark's ability to prevent and fight cancer and some other diseases.Simply put, some cancers depend upon new blood vessels for growth and cartilage appears to stop that growth, therefore, with no blood vessels to feed the cancer, the tumors recede and die. In recent years researchers have shown in numerous laboratory tests that the active ingredient in the cartilage can produce an anti-angiogenesis effect on new blood vessel growth.Back to Top

Is shark cartilage a drug and is it effective for treatment of cancer or other conditions? Shark cartilage is 100% natural, non-toxic and is sold primarily as a food supplement, however, certain well publicized tests have led health care professionals to conclude shark cartilage may indeed shrink and eliminate some cancerous tumors, tumor's that had previously been unresponsive to standard therapies. ("Shark's Don't get Cancer" by Dr. W. Lane)Back to Top

Can shark cartilage help in the treatment of arthritis?
Based on many documented clinical trials as well as numerous anecdotal cases patients have found that they have obtained pain relief from arthritis using shark cartilage as a nutritional support within a short period of time, usually within two to three weeks. Shark cartilage appears to work for these people as a very effective anti-inflammatory.Back to Top

My dog has arthritis - will shark cartilage help?
According to some of the earliest trials with shark cartilage that were conducted on dogs, there was significant increase in mobility noticed with an apparent reduction in pain. In one specific North American case, a dog that has experienced great difficulty running and climbing stairs was running 2 miles with his owner and running effortlessly up those same stairs, all this within two weeks of being given three capsules of shark cartilage daily with his evening meals.Back to Top

Is shark cartilage effective for diseases other than cancer and arthritis?
Anti-inflammatory properties of shark cartilage and its ability to inhibit new blood vessel development is a key factor in the nutritional support in the fight against many ailments such as psoriasis, eczema, diabetic retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis and hemorrhoids.Back to Top

How can I get more information on shark cartilage?
Check with your local health food store for our informative literature. We offer a free information package concerning shark cartilage and our products. We also have an educational video regarding shark cartilage available for purchase for a modest charge.Back to Top

I have no disease or disorder and I am in fine health. Can I use shark cartilage or other related products as a food supplement or as a preservative for disease?
Of course, because shark cartilage is rich in certain minerals it could well be a very effective dietary supplement and prophylactic. Chinese people have been consuming shark fin soup for thousands of years. Interestingly, based on research from England, it appears that a good percentage of fish used in the famous "fish and chips" is shark meat. Furthermore, shark liver oil has been used medically by households for hundreds of years.Finally shark cartilage is an excellent source of calcium and phosphorus. It also contains chondroitin sulfate, amino acids and a family of carbohydrates called mucopolysaccharides. That is why shark cartilage's unique mineral content has enhanced it's demand and awareness as a natural nutritional supplement in over 30 countries throughout the world.Back to Top

How is shark cartilage processed?
Because of the specific nature of shark cartilage, no chemicals or heat can be used in either the initial acquisition or subsequent processing. Great care must be exercised through all stages of production to ensure that the active ingredient, the protein compound, is not denatured in any way.As we mentioned, the processing is of utmost importance. It must be dried with low heat so as not to damage the angiogenesis inhibitor and finally ground fine enough to pass through at least a 200-mesh filter for easy assimilation into the body. Some commercially available shark cartilage is not processed to this degree of fineness.Currently there are many products on the market that contain additives and fillers and with highly questionable sterilization and processing methods. An optimum level of quality control is necessary to guarantee the efficacy of the product and most importantly, shark cartilage should be 100% pure.Back to Top

Is shark cartilage toxic or does it cause side-effects?
Shark cartilage is non-toxic and has no known side effects unless, of course, you are allergic to fish. Because shark cartilage can inhibit new blood vessel growth it should not be taken by pregnant women, children, or prior to or immediately following surgery.Back to Top

How much shark cartilage should I take?
CANCER - For active (non-remissive) cancer patients, recommended base amount is 35 to 40 grams per day (for woman approx. 130lbs. or man approx. 160 lbs.) Patients heavier than these weights should consult our intake chart. Doses should be equally divided into three or four amounts and taken every six or eight hours as desired. For best absorption, a retention enema is recommended with equal amounts of cartilage, powder and sterile water blended together.
ARTHRITIS - Depending on the severity, about 6-9 capsules daily before meals. As the pain decreases the dosage can be reduced to about 3 capsules daily.With any serious illness, it is strongly recommended that you work with your doctor, and that you try not to self-diagnose your complaint.Back to Top

What about the environmental question? Are sharks being overfished?
Previously sharks were caught only for their fins, for the making of shark fin soup, as well as meat. Approximately the same number of sharks are being caught today but now there is a tremendous awareness of just how valuable this creature has become as it is now being utilized not only for its meat and fins, but also liver oil, skin, and of course, for its cartilage, which were all previously discarded by-products.Fishermen report no decrease in the shark size population because the numbers being harvested have not increased dramatically. Traditionally, sharks are caught with small 30 foot boats. The lines are set at a specific depth with specific bait so as not to accidentally ensnare other fish such as dolphins, etc. Large shark fishing fleets and drift nets are not used.Northern Seas' main source of shark cartilage is the northern pacific spiny dogfish which is subject to government fishing quotas and is definitely not an endangered species.Back to Top

Where is shark cartilage and other related material available?
Shark cartilage and other related material is available at fine health food stores and pharmacies or by contacting us directly.Back to Top

What are the common uses of shark cartilage?
Besides being used for general health and well-being, it has been suggested that shark cartilage may provide therapeutic nutritional support for the following conditions: Arthritis, Rheumatism, Cancer, Melanoma and other Skin Cancers, Hemmorrhoids, Psoriosis, Shingles.Shark cartilage has also been found to be beneficial in inhibiting the growth of tumors by impeding the vascularization of malignant tissue (angiogenesis).Northern Seas Shark Cartilage is a 100% natural product made from the abundant and under-utilized spiny dogfish of the Pacific Northwest. Our careful processing and quality control ensure not only the finest shark cartilage products in the world.Research shows that the best shark cartilage comes from rapidly-growing species such as the Spiny Dogfish. With age, the chemistry of cartilage changes, increasing the mineral/ash content. A higher mineral/ash content lowers the concentration of valuable protein and sulfonated carbohydrates. Therefore, by using Spiny Dogfish for our shark cartilage products, we ensure a higher concentration of potentially therapeutic ingredients.Back to Top