Cancer of the colon is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Colon and colorectal cancers start in the large intestine or rectum and can spread, or metastasize to other parts of the body. Researchers are looking at a perennial plant known as turmeric, a common ingredient in Indian curries, for its possible cancer-fighting properties. Consult your oncologist before using turmeric medicinally.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a relative of ginger and has a long history of medicinal use in China, India and Indonesia. Herbalists commonly used the roots, rhizome and bulbs of the turmeric plant as an anti-inflammatory, as well as for improving liver and kidney function. Turmeric has dull yellow trumpet shaped flowers and grows to about 6 feet in height. Turmeric's active ingredient, curcumin, is an antioxidant that scavenges the body for particles known as free radicals, which can damage or destroy healthy cells and alter DNA. Antioxidants can neutralize these damaging particles. Researchers are conducting clinical trials testing the effectiveness of treating a number of ailments with turmeric or curcumin, including diabetes, uveitis, atherosclerosis, cancer and osteoporosis. Always discuss turmeric use with your physician before taking it for medicinal purposes.
Colon Cancer
Though colon cancer is the third-leading cause of death in the United States, early detection often leads to remission, according to the National Institutes of Health. Certain risk factors increase the chances of developing colon cancer, such as diets high in red meat, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease, history of colon cancer, history of breast cancer, age greater than 60, colorectal polyps and if you are of African-American or Eastern European descent. Often colon cancer presents with no symptoms. Some may experience abdominal pain or tenderness, intestinal obstructions, weight loss, anemia, narrow stools, bloody stools or a change in bowel habits. Proper screening through colonoscopies can help detect colon cancer before symptoms occur, increasing the chance of full recovery. Common treatments often include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
Science
Research regarding turmeric and curcumin in cancer treatment is still in the early stages. The American Cancer Society says that, though curcumin does not absorb well into the body, research shows that it does absorb into the lining of the colon and cancerous colon tissue. Researchers note that when they exposed cancerous cells to turmeric in a petri dish, some cancer cells died and the others had impaired growth. They also found that turmeric and curcumin given to lab animals shrunk cancerous tumors, possibly due to turmeric interfering with the blood flow to the tumor. Turmeric is showing promise in treating colon cancer as well as cancers of the breast, stomach, prostate and skin, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Warnings
Turmeric can interfere with antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications such as warfarin and aspirin, increasing your bleeding risk. It may also interfere with acid-reducing medications such as omeprazole, increasing stomach acid and interfering with pre-existing conditions such as GERD or stomach ulcers. Pregnant women should avoid the use of medicinal turmeric because it may induce menstruation or abortion, according to Drugs.com.
