Acute inflammation is an effective, albeit somewhat unpleasant, mechanism for self-healing. It maintains tissue homeostasis (balance in the body systems), and serves as an adaptive repair response to insults to the body. When faced with infection, toxins and other bodily injuries our healing system releases pro-inflammatory molecules. These biochemical messengers dilate blood vessels, mobilize white blood cells, and trip off other cascades of biochemicals that result in the fever, warmth, swelling, redness and tenderness of the healing process. Fortunately, when all goes well, this process modulates itself through the release of anti-inflammatory messenger molecules that turn off the inflammation.
One of the hottest topics of research in disease is inflammation that does not turn off–chronic inflammation. It is considered a leading culprit in chronic disease. A continuous flooding of inflammatory chemicals results in a persistent immune response, and often obvious damage to tissues and organ systems; such as seen in arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and asthma. It can also be an insidious, “silent” process manifested in such diseases as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, obesity, autoimmune disease, dementia, osteoporosis, and cancer.
Inflammation is involved in all three phases of the development of cancer: initiation, promotion and progression. In addition, cancer will cause inflammation. Considering the significant role of inflammation in this frightening disease it is fortunate that there are some well-researched and safe botanicals that are demonstrating anti-inflammatory qualities. In addition, they appear active at the various phases of cancer prevention and development.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa), a root, is known as a healthy food and spice, long used as a medicinal in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine practices. Research demonstrates that turmeric is a potent antioxidant and increases the activity of glutathione. It serves as an anti-inflammatory that suppresses the activity of NF-κB , down regulates COX-2, and inhibits 5-LOX and TNF-α–all pro-inflammatory messenger molecules intimately involved in the genesis and progression of cancer. In nearly 100 human clinical trials turmeric is demonstrating direct anti-cancer activity by modulating tumor growth cell factors and turning on tumor suppressor genes that tend to “go into sleep mode” * as we age. In addition, preliminary data seems to indicate that it may allow for reduction in chemotherapy or radiation doses, while protecting normal tissue. Note, however, at this point the advice is to avoid concomitant use of turmeric with the chemotherapeutic agents Adriamycin and the cyclophosphamides.
In its powdered form only 2-5% of the turmeric is the bio-active curcuminoid complex. Of this complex 70-80% is curcumin, considered the most active principal within the powder. Curcumin is poorly available (bio-available) to the body’s tissues without modification. While cooking or dissolving in oil may enhance absorption, there are a few modified products available that should be considered when using curcumin to achieve therapeutic benefit. BCM-95, Meriva, and Longvida are patented brands often used in various curcumin products.
Turmeric has a good safety profile, but an individual should consider titrating the dose up to tolerance to avoid potential gastrointestinal intolerance, and treatment should be discussed with your health care provider; especially if consideration is being given to the higher doses recommended for active anti-cancer therapy. To add to the anti-inflammatory profile it seems that turmeric has synergistic effects with Boswellia and resveratrol. Continue reading