Discovering turmeric's anti-inflammatory ability

Dr. Aggarwal moved to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Hospital in Houston in 1989, where he redirected his research. He was still interested in the link between inflammation and cancer, but began looking at Ayurvedic remedies like turmeric powder, which is mixed with warm milk to treat head colds and sore throats all over India to this day.

Experimenting on human cells and rats, Dr. Aggarwal and his teams found that curcumin, the bioactive component that gives turmeric its yellow hue, stops the uninhibited production of NF-kappa B. Not just turmeric, an ingredient in curry powder, but many other herbs and spices: red peppers, cloves, gingers, basil, rosemary, garlic, and so on.

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