In research on tumour-bearing mice, scientists discovered that ginger can kill cancerous cells in two different ways. In the first way, apoptosis, the ginger causes the cancer cells to "commit suicide" by destroying themselves while leaving the surrounding healthy cells untouched. The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger prevent precancerous tumors from creating the perfect breeding ground and climate for growth [source: Rossiter].

In the second way, autophagy, ginger tricks the cancerous cells into eating themselves [source: Heubeck].

(NaturalNews) -- Ginger has been used as a natural treatment for a host of illnesses -- especially gastrointestinal problems -- for thousands of years in ancient healing traditions including Ayurvedic medicine, ancient Chinese medicine and western folklore, too. In fact, countless grandmas have recommended ginger ale to kids with upset tummies and ginger tea to pregnant moms suffering from morning sickness. But evidence is accumulating that ginger's ability to soothe and heal the digestive tract is anything but a myth.

Now there's research showing ginger may help prevent colon cancer. Ginger supplements were found to reduce markers of colon inflammation in a group of research subjects , according to a study funded by a National Cancer Institute grant and recently published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Suzanna M. Zick, N.D., M.P.H., a research assistant professor at the University of Michigan Medical School, and her research team studied 30 volunteers, who were randomly assigned to take either two grams of ginger root supplements daily or placebo for 28 days. After four weeks, the scientists measured markers of standard levels of colon inflammation.

The results? The inflammation markers, which have been implicated in previous studies as a precursor to colon cancer, were significantly reduced in the people taking ginger. This is crucially important because these inflammation markers have been implicated in prior studies as a precursor to colon cancer.

Internet site references:

http://www.naturalnews.com/033913_ginger_root_colon_cancer.html#ixzz1bCTxsvJc

http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/alternative/ginger-fight-cancer.htm