(27-05-12) Medicinal herb ginger helps protect against the effect of chemical parabens

by Celeste M. Smucker, MPH, PhD

(NaturalNews) Traditional healers often use ginger to treat ailments ranging
from nausea to arthritis pain. Recent studies highlight another use for ginger,
the amelioration of the impact of parabens, a chemical widely used in the food
and beverage industry and as a preservative in personal care products, drugs,
and cosmetics. Parabens have been in the news recently thanks to studies which
show the vast majority of Americans show signs of exposure. If ginger does
indeed reduce parabens' impact that gives it increased importance as a
significant natural health therapy.

Studies show parabens are widespread in the human population
Parabens role as a pseudo or xenoestrogen means they may be implicated in a
number of health conditions such as the early onset of puberty and hormonally
related illnesses such as breast and colon cancer. Parabens have also been
linked to oxidative degradation of fats and reduced levels of anti-oxidants in
the livers of mice.

How common are parabens? In a 2010 study in the journal Environmental Health
Perspectives, scientists evaluated over 2,500 urine samples from Americans over
the age of six and found exposure to methyl parabens in over 99% of the sample
and to propyl parabens in over 92%.

Of special interest is their evaluation of the sample by age and sex which
found adolescent and adult females had significantly higher concentration of
methyl and propyl parabens than did any males. The authors attribute this to
the fact that women and girls use many more personal care products than do
males at any age.

These results also suggests the importance of considering the cumulative
impact of parabens. Manufacturers may be correct in claiming that the amount in
any one product does not pose a health risk, however since most women use
multiple products, their cumulative impact can be significant.

Parabens may be linked to breast cancer
Studies of biopsy tissue from women with breast cancer have found measurable
levels of parabens which are associated with the growth of cancer cells in test
tubes. An article published in January of 2012 in the Journal of Applied
Toxicology measured parabens found in breast tissue from 40 women who had
undergone a mastectomy. Measurements were taken at four locations across the
breast. One or more parabens were found in 99% of the samples and five
different parabens were found in 60% of the samples.

The study results also showed that the highest concentrations of parabens were
found in the underarm area and entered the body through the skin.

Ginger can help ameliorate the impact of parabens
In a 2009 animal study reported in the journal Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica-
Drug Research, scientists in India orally administered parabens to mice. The
result was increased oxidative degradation of fats and decreased levels of anti-
oxidants in the livers of of the treated mice compared to the controls. Another
group was given both parabens and ginger. In this group there was a significant
decrease in paraben induced liver damage along with an increase in anti-oxidant
levels. The scientists concluded that ginger can significantly reduce paraben
induced liver damage.

In a 2006 study in the same journal human red blood cells were treated with
parabens in a test tube. The result was a significant increase in the rate of
hemolysis, or breakdown of the cells. When ginger was introduced to the samples
along with parabens the result was a significant decrease in the rate of
breakdown.

Sources used in this article include:

http://www.breastcancerfund.org
http://www.greenmedinfo.com
http://www.ptfarm.pl/pub/File/Acta_Poloniae/2009/3/225-228.pdf
http://www.greenmedinfo.com

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