FW: NYTimes.com Article: Antidotes: To Radiation Regimen, Add Spice

[Guest guest]

Tumeric has been mentioned before as a possible anti-inflammatory/anti tumor

substance:

From a Lurker:

This article from NYTimes.com

Antidotes: To Radiation Regimen, Add Spice

October 22, 2002

By ERIC NAGOURNEY

Turmeric, a principal ingredient of curry, may protect

cancer patients from the burns and blisters they often

suffer from radiation therapy, researchers report.

Although their study was conducted on mice, the

researchers, from the University of Rochester Medical

Center, suggested that patients undergoing radiation might

want to try eating foods with curry. The lead researcher,

Dr. Ivan Ding, presented his findings at a recent

conference of the American Society for Therapeutic

Radiology and Oncology.

The substance studied was curcumin, which gives turmeric

its yellow color and has been shown to have

anti-inflammatory benefits. Evidence also suggests it may

be able to suppress tumor growth.

The researchers gave mice differing regimens of curcumin

and found they had fewer radiation-related skin problems in

all cases. It also appeared to enhance the benefits of the

treatment.

Dr. Okunieff, the university's radiation oncology

chief, said the group looked at curcumin in part because

turmeric has long been used to treat burns in India.

Turmeric supplements are available at health food stores,

but Dr. Okunieff said it was unclear how much would be

needed. " It would be more or less equivalent to somewhere

between half a teaspoon and a tablespoon, " he said.

He rejected the notion of turmeric as an alternative

medicine. " Alternative medicine becomes standard medicine

when it is proven true, " he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/22/health/22ANTI.html?ex=1036460961 & ei=1 & en=a

8f97f181cde66ce