Day: November 1, 2011

I have always been fascinated by Ginger as an herb. It has remarkable properties! It is well known as a remedy for travel sickness, nausea, and indigestion. Due to it’s antispasmodic characteristic some people have used it to help ease menstrual cramps. In her book ‘10 Essential Herbs‘ author Lalitha Thomas describes the properties: ‘The major active ingredients in ginger are terpenes (quite similar to the chemical action of turpentine) and an oleo-resin called ginger oil. These two, and other active ingredients in ginger, provide antiseptic, lymph-cleansing, circulation-stimulating, and mild constipation relief qualities along with a potent perspiration-inducing action that is quite effective in cleansing the system of toxins.’

Ginger root reduces digestive inflammation markers to lower colon cancer risk

“(NaturalNews) Since ancient times, ginger has a long tradition of being very effective in alleviating symptoms of gastrointestinal distress. Modern scientific research has revealed that ginger possesses numerous therapeutic properties including antioxidant effects, an ability to inhibit the formation of inflammatory compounds, and direct anti-inflammatory effects. The result of a new body of research published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, demonstrates the specific anti-inflammatory action of the spice on the colon. Health-minded individuals will want to include ginger as part of their regular diet or include an organically harvested supplement to dramatically lower inflammatory risk markers for colon cancer.

Dr. Suzanna Zick, a research assistant professor at the University of Michigan Medical School, and her team assembled 30 patient participants to conduct the study. Each was provided with two grams of ginger root supplements per day or a placebo for a period of 28 days. After the test timeframe, researchers measured standard levels of colon inflammation and found statistically significant reductions in most of these markers. They also found trends toward significant reductions in a number of other colon cancer biomarkers.

A critical inflammation marker in the colon is known to be PGE2, a naturally occurring prostaglandin also called dinoprostone. PGE2 is the prostaglandin that ultimately induces fever, and is therefore an important marker researcher’s monitor to determine inflammatory levels in the body. Inflammation has been implicated in prior studies as a precursor to colon cancer, and ginger root supplementation effectively lowers blood levels of the prostaglandin to reduce colon cancer risk.

Dr. Zick is a Naturopathic Doctor developing plant and naturally occurring compounds that specifically promote health without the need for deadly pharmaceutical interventions. She noted on the research findings, ‘We need to apply the same rigor to the sorts of questions about the effect of ginger root that we apply to other clinical trial research.’ Dr. Zick concluded, ‘Interest in this is only going to increase as people look for ways to prevent cancer that are nontoxic, and improve their quality of life in a cost-effective way.'”

Yoga may be beneficial in the treatment of lower back pain. A major study from the U.K., published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, saw a real improvement in movement, and a reduction of pain.

Yoga Is Better for Back Pain Than Standard Medical Care, Study Finds

“Yoga is better at treating lower back pain than conventional medical treatment, according to a large-scale British study published Tuesday.

People with long-term back pain who undertook a 12-week course of yoga experienced more improved back function than those who received standard medical care, researchers from the University of York found.

The study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, saw 156 patients take part in yoga classes while a control group of 157 patients received standard care from the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS).

After three months, participants in the yoga group were able to undertake 30 percent more activities compared with those receiving NHS care, and also experienced a reduction in pain.

The main advantages were improved confidence when performing everyday tasks such as ‘walking more quickly, getting dressed without help or standing up for longer periods of time’ but not necessarily pain relief, the researchers said.

Dr. David Torgerson, from the university’s health sciences department, said, ‘Back pain is an extremely common and costly condition. Exercise treatment, although widely used and recommended, has only a small effect.’

He added, ‘Our results showed that yoga can provide both short- and long-term benefits to those suffering from chronic or recurrent back pain, without any serious side effects.’

Professor Alan Silman, medical director of Arthritis Research U.K., which funded the study, said, ‘This trial is part of our larger commitment to seek self-help solutions to this common musculoskeletal problem. There are compelling explanations why yoga may be helpful, and this trial lends powerful support to the wider use of this approach.'”