Could it be so simple?
Could your spice cabinet replace your medicine cabinet in treating or reducing the risk of health threats such as heart disease and cancer?
Robert Krueger says it is an idea full of possibility.
Some mixtures and compounds of spices and herbs are as effective as prescription drugs, says Krueger, Ferris State University professor of pharmacognosy, the study of medicines derived from natural sources.
Studies are revealing spices and herbs have the medicinal muscle to combat cancer cells, treat erectile dysfunction, diminish arthritic pain and seize free radicals that contribute to age-related health disorders.
Krueger is among those who believe an increasing number of inexpensive and potent remedies deserve a foothold in the marketplace of medicine.Part of this is an East meets West phenomenon, he said.
Traditional Asian dishes and holistic health practices used for centuries to balance mind, body and soul have caught Western researchers' attention:
• Gingerols, the active ingredients in ginger, may protect tissues from the damage caused by free radicals, and also may inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
• Ginger. Researchers studying colon and ovarian cancers at the University of Minnesota and University of Michigan suggest ginger may be able to stop the progression of the disease, or even kill the cancer cells outright.
Advice for consumers about medicinal spices and herbs:
• Talk to your doctor. Some supplements may interact dangerously with prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
• It's especially important to talk to your doctor about your supplements if you're facing surgery. Some could cause problems during surgery.
If you are pregnant, nursing a baby or have a chronic medical condition such as diabetes or heart disease, be sure to consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement.
• If you think you have been harmed by a dietary supplement, contact your health provider and report it to FDA's MedWatch program by calling (800) FDA-1088, or go online to
www.fda.gov/medwatch (click on How to Report).
SOURCE: The Food and Drug Administration
• Capsaicin, the active ingredient that gives chili peppers bite, may help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Researchers in Toronto are studying capsaicin as a potential treatment for diabetes. The Food and Drug Administration approved a capsaicin cream called Zostrix for the pain that lingers after an attack of shingles. The cream also is marketed for arthritis pain and the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy.
• Turmeric, the spice that gives curry powder its yellow color, has an active ingredient called curcumin, which appears to inhibit enzymes that lead to diseases such as arthritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. UCLA researchers also found that mice fed curcumin had 80 percent fewer of the protein plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease than did mice on a normal diet.
• Garlic is used as a dietary supplement for high cholesterol, heart disease and high blood pressure.
• Ginkgo seeds may improve memory and help prevent Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. It also may decrease leg pain caused by narrowing arteries.
• Asian ginseng's uses include treating erectile dysfunction, hepatitis C and symptoms related to menopause.
Hope College Dining Service executive chef Tom Hoover says he can dazzle taste buds with the best of them by dashing his dishes with a blend of nutraceuticals. These are supplements found in many foods to enhance health and prevent diseases.
They include the antioxidant-rich herb basil, which Hoover uses in his tasty poached chicken breast with ratatouille and toasted orzo.
Hoover uses the citrusy Indian spice cardamom in his tandoori chicken. Cardamom is said to boost the body's immune system, without tasting like the grass you mowed over the weekend.
Hoover became a believer in integrating nutraceuticals into his recipes after attending a collegiate chefs' conference in Massachusetts five years ago.
"My whole thing is I can build a recipe using these spices to enhance the nutraceutical quality of the dish.
"It allows me to tell (diners), 'What you just ate not only was low in fat or low calories, it also had these added benefits, too.' But these things are not a cure, they're preventative."
Vishah Ponnuru, who works in her mother's Spice of India store in Grand Rapids, said customers often purchase spices and herbs to enliven meals and to preserve and rejuvenate their health.
Customers buy garlic to ward off hypertension and "bad" cholesterol, she said.
And 1 teaspoon of ground cloves provides the equivalent of 1 cup of antioxidant-rich blueberries.
"People who suffer from arthritis might find relief with turmeric powder," she said. "They say it's proven to help people who suffer from arthritis. Curry powder helps with indigestion."
Spices, herbs may not mix with drugs
People who self-diagnose and self-medicate with dietary supplements need to exercise caution, said Marc Lewis, Holland Hospital's manager of pharmacy services.
For example, spice and herbal extract supplements are sold in a variety of concentrations and strengths that may counteract prescription and over-the-counter medicines, Lewis said.
Few have FDA approval for the health claims made on product labels, he added.
Visit here to learn more about health-boosting botanical and herbal extracts.
For more information about safe use of dietary supplements, visit www.cfsan.fda.gov (under the letters CFSAN, at top left, use drop-down menu to search for Dietary Supplements)
"There are some good, proven benefits out there, but with anything comes some risks," Lewis said.
"A certain portion of herbal products do interact with some pretty important medications and have negative effects. Even though you don't need a prescription for herbs, health care providers need to know you're taking them."
Krueger said consumer protection was beefed up June 2007, when the FDA established manufacturing requirements for dietary supplements -- the same standards prescription and over-the-counter medicines must follow.
Dietary supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, and other substances, sold as tablets, capsules, softgels, gelcaps, liquids or powders. When spices are manufactured as dietary supplements, they are covered by what the FDA calls good manufacturing practice requirements.
The government requires U.S. and foreign manufacturers to evaluate the purity, quality, strength and composition of dietary supplements, vital because they do not require FDA review for safety and effectiveness before they can be marketed, said Krueger.
GMPR standards also are intended to ensure dietary supplements do not contain the wrong ingredients, too much or too little of an ingredient, improper packaging and labeling. They also are implemented to protect against contamination problems due to natural toxins, bacteria, pesticides, glass, lead or other substances.
"I don't think there's any herbal medicine that will cure existing diseases," Krueger said. "What herbs and spices in food do is diminish the chance of getting those diseases."
E-mail the author of this story: yourlife@grpress.com