Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BDP), is not a pretty word. It is a condition characterized by scarring and inflammation in the lungs of tiny human beings who are born too soon. Hyperoxia, is another ugly condition in which too much oxygen is released into the body through the lungs.

The heart-breaking cause of these diseases in prematurely born babies is often associated with the very life-giving therapies they need: artificial ventilators and forced oxygen therapy. Such treatments are often needed for “premies” because they are born with inadequate or under-developed lungs.

Here are the fascinating facts:

BDP is now the most common chronic lung disease of infancy in the U.S.
With more premature babies surviving because of improvements in neonatal care, the cases of BPD have increased.
A 2010 study found 67.3% of babies born at 22-25 weeks of gestation developed BPD, compared to 36.6% of infants born at 26-30 weeks of gestation.

Research scientists at Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center set out to find was to mitigate the lasting lung damage and even death caused by BDP. Through recent studies, they have found long-term protection against this lung damage in an ancient spice. The surprising discovery is found in the effects of Curcumin, one of the ingredients found in tumeric. If curcumin and tumeric sound familiar, it is because you have probably eaten this war, rich and ancient spice in East Indian Curry.

The research team discovered that curcumin provided long-term protection against BPD damage.

In their study cucumin provided protection against BPD. They wrote that the spice, “provided protection for up to seven days after birth.”

Virender K. Rehan, MD is the LA BioMed lead researcher who authored the study, which was recently published online by the American Journal of Physiology, Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology. He stated, “This is the first study to find long-term benefits of using curcumin to protect lung function in premature infants.” He explained that Curcumin has long been known to have “potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects.”

Many people throughout history have know that tumeric must have medicinal value. Now the LA BioMed team has proven that this ancient spice can be utilized for 21st century premature infants who rely our extraordinary technology, to help them breathe. Curcumin steps in from the past and saves delicate lives in our time.