Fiery Spice Cools Painful IBD Inflammation

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted March 28, 2025

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves chronic inflammation of the digestive tract that causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fatigue.

The two most common forms of IBD are Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.

Crohn’s can cause inflammation anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulceration in the large intestine (colon and rectum).

For millions suffering from IBD, finding relief has meant enduring conventional medicine treatments with serious side effects—or worse, living with debilitating symptoms when the drugs fail.

But a remarkable discovery from nature’s medicine cabinet might change everything.
Researchers uncovered a compound in a common kitchen spice that shows incredible promise for treating painful, life-altering IBD.

This ginger compound, furanodienone, selectively binds to a receptor involved in IBD inflammation.

This discovery, published in the journal Nature Communications, could potentially revolutionize treatment options for the millions suffering from IBD conditions like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.

IBD patients typically start to experience symptoms early in life. In fact, around 25 percent are diagnosed before age 20.

There’s currently no cure for IBD, so patients endure life-long treatments to manage their painful symptoms.

The harsh drugs currently used to treat these conditions come with disturbing side effects that can range from nausea and fatigue to more serious issues like increased infection risk, liver damage, and even certain cancers.

Many patients find themselves trading one set of problems for another.

That’s what makes this ginger compound discovery so exciting. Ginger has been used medicinally for thousands of years in many cultures, particularly for digestive issues. It has a well-established safety profile, especially compared to many drug options.

Lab studies reveal furanodienone works by activating pregnane X receptors (PXR) involved in the inflammatory response, calming the excessive inflammation that characterizes IBD without shutting down the immune system entirely—a common problem with conventional treatments.

In addition, the extract increases the production of tight junction proteins that repair damage to the gut lining caused by inflammation.

While clinical trials are still needed to confirm these effects in humans, this research opens up promising new avenues for developing treatments derived from natural compounds.

For those currently struggling with IBD, incorporating ginger into your diet might provide some relief, though the concentrated compound would likely be necessary for reliable and consistent therapeutic effects.

Consider adding these to your routine:

• Tossing fresh ginger into smoothies, soups, and stir-fries
• Drinking ginger tea daily
• Using ginger in baking and desserts
• Taking a high-quality ginger supplement

Of course, always discuss any changes to your treatment plan with your doctor, especially if you’re currently taking medications for IBD.

This discovery highlights once again how nature often holds solutions to our most challenging health problems. While pharmaceutical companies focus on developing synthetic compounds that can be patented and sold at premium prices, sometimes the answer has been sitting in our kitchen cabinets all along.

And another thing…
Here’s what else we’ve covered this week in Living Well Daily…

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Junk Food DOUBLES Risk of Embarrassing Leaks
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Research Reveals Loneliness is “Poisoning” Your Blood
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Ditch the Coffee Dehydration Myth and Enjoy Java Again
Coffee fan? I bet you’ve been warned about dehydration more times than you can count. It turns out that this “common knowledge” might not be so accurate after all.

P.S. IBD trigger dumped into food?! Research has uncovered a secret trigger that you may be exposed to DAILY.

Source:

Xiaojuan Wang, Guohui Zhang, Zhiwei Bian, et al., An abundant ginger compound furanodienone alleviates gut inflammation via the xenobiotic nuclear receptor PXR in mice. Nature Communications, 2025; 16 (1)

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND