%20300X288.jpg)
Recent studies suggest that turmeric, the yellow spice derived from the Curcuma longa root (related to ginger, if you want a mental picture), has the ability to fight cancers like mesothelioma. The Toronto Sun reports that "these abilities could be the result of a transformation in the active compound in the spice, curcumin, by bacteria found in the intestinal flora."
Curcumin is a polyphenol. According to Wikipedia, "polyphenols are a structural class of natural, synthetic, and semisynthetic organic chemicals characterized by the presence of large multiples of phenol units. Polyphenols are generally divided into hydrolyzable tannins and phenylpropanoids, such as lignins, flavonoids, and condensed tannins.
"Tannin chemistry originated in the importance of tannic acid to the tanning industry; lignins to the chemistry of soil and plant structure; and flavonoids to the chemistry of plant secondary metabolites for plant defense, and flower color." Curcumin is where turmeric gets its signature yellow color. [I added in images, not from original article. See below!]
Turmeric has been a large part of Ayurveda, or Ayurvedic medicine, in Indian culture for at least 4,000 years. It is used in cooking as an ingredient in curry, and used in Ayurvedic medicine (which the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine describes as a whole medicine system).
Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine practitioners have used turmeric to aid in digestion and liver function, relieve arthritis pain, and help menstruation function regularly. Recent studies say that the spice can also be used to prevent cancers like mesothelioma.
The Toronto Sun reports that Indians, who are the world's "largest consumers of turmeric, are much less frequently diagnosed (up to 20 times less) by many types of cancer (prostate, colon, breast). A collection of nearly 4,000 scientific studies showed that the active compound in turmeric, curcumin, is the compound of vegetable origin with the most powerful cancer-fighting ability against cells from a wide variety of human tumors."
Curcumin is the most powerful anti-inflammatory compound of vegetable origin, which may explain how the powerful little polyphenol slows the progression of cancer cells. Research suggests that if you combine turmeric with black pepper, your intestines will absorb the spices even better, maximizing their antioxidant potential.
So the lesson here, it seems, is that ancient medicine should not be overlooked when it comes to seeking mesothelioma medical breakthroughs, and that it never hurts to spice up your life--with ancient herbs and spices.
(turmeric chicken soup! So it's doubly good for you. :) )
