Smoking has been mostly moved to the margins of society in the Western world, but smoking-related diseases like lung cancer and emphysema are still among the largest killers across the globe.
But one area that bucks this trend is the South Pacific, where “studies in such islands as Fiji and Western Samoa have found very low lung cancer rates despite relatively heavy tobacco use.
Scientists point to the kava root, a “mild sedative” consumed by islanders.
A recent study on mice which showed suppressed tumor growth correlates with prior scientific discovery:
Earlier studies found an inverse correlation between the amount of kava consumed and the cancer rate among smokers, indicating that the earthy beverage might be blocking tumor growth.
Further studies will be performed on the root to isolate the compounds that stem tumor growth. If brought to market, this could be one of the most important natural cures in history.
