?If I had only one single herb to depend upon for all possible health and dietary needs, I would?choose the Indian spice Turmeric. It is an herb one should get to know and live with.?
~ Dr. David Drawley, founder & director of American Institute for Vedic Studies
Some Amazing Properties
* Reduces inflammation
* Improves digestion
* Lowers bad cholesterol
* Aids liver process toxins
* Prevents and fights cancer
* Antibacterial
History
Turmeric has a medicinal history reaching back 5,000 years and has been vital especially in Ayurveda (Indian traditional medicine) and traditional Chinese medicine.
Turmeric comes from the root of the perennial shrub, Curcuma longa, native to Indonesia and southern India. Its active constituent, Curcumin, is believed to be the primary medicinal agent.
For more information on healing herbs, view turmeric benefits and see how you can be healthy in mind, body and spirit.
Flavor and aroma
Belonging to the Ginger family, Turmeric has a deep yellow color and a pungent flavor, being peppery, warm, musty and slightly bitter at the same time. The leaves are generally not used, but the roots are harvested for medicines and food flavoring.
The Magic of Turmeric Up Close
* Anti-inflammatory
o Numerous studies have shown curcumin to be as potent as hydrocortisone (a steroid anti-inflammatory, e.g. Aquanil HC, Caldecort, Cetacort, Cortaid, Hycort, Hytone) and phenylbutazone (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) (1)
o Studies on mice have shown curcumin effective in treating inflammatory bowel disease, like Crohn?s and ulcerative colitis (1)
o Curcumin is also a strong anti-oxidant, which helps relieve arthritis, a disease where free radicals (caused by oxidation) inflame and damage the joints (1)
* Improves digestion
o Reduces gas and bloating (4)
o Helps digestion of proteins and fats (4)
o Enhances waste and toxin elimination (4)
* Lowers cholesterol
o Since curcumin is an anti-oxidant, it inhibits free radical damage to fats, including cholesterol. Damaged (oxidized) cholesterol can damage blood vessels leading to heart attack or stroke (4)
o Curcumin directs genes in liver cells to increase mRNA production, which in turn direct creation of LDL (bad) cholesterol receptors. More LDL receptors allow more bad LDL cholesterol to be swept out (7)
* Improves liver function
The main function of the liver is to process and expel toxins from the bloodstream. Stress, pollution, and poor diet can negatively affect its ability to process toxins.
According to studies, curcumin:
o Increases bile flow which in turn cleanses the liver and makes it easier to break down toxins (4)
o Helps prevent toxins such as alcohol from converting to compounds that harm the liver (4)
o Establishes formation of a primary liver detoxification enzyme, glutathione S-transferase (GST) (1)
* Prevents and Fights cancer
In India, where Turmeric is very popular, the four common U.S. cancers (colon, breast, prostate and lung) are 10 times less common.
According to studies, curcumin:
o Inhibits growth of tumor cells (6)
o Slows spread of breast cancer to lungs in mice (2)
o Inhibits activation of protein NF-kappaB, which tells genes to produce inflammatory molecules that promote spread of cancer cells (2), (6)
o Inhibits tumor initiation, proliferation and metastasis (3)
o Inhibits multiplication of leukemia cells in cell culture (1)
o Retards growth of human prostate cancer cells in mice (5)
o May help prevent colon cancer. Research published in the August 2006 issue of ?Clinical Gasteroenterology and Hepatology? shows curcumin reduces the size and quantity of precancerous lesions in the human intestinal tract
* Antibacterial
o Laboratory tests have shown turmeric oil to have anti-bacterial properties (8)
o Another study demonstrated that eyedrops derived from Turmeric protected against the bacteria causing conjunctivitis (9)
Contraindications
* Do not take if you have gallstones, extremely toxic liver disorders, bile obstruction or congestive heart disease from unknown cause
* If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before taking larger doses as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant
* Prolonged use of high doses can upset the stomach and intestinal tract. Typical dosage is 250-500 mg in capsules two or three times per day (10)
So What Can I Do With Turmeric?
* Add it to food!
o Turmeric is especially good with any bean or rice dishes (plus it helps digest the tough bean proteins). It is also good in egg salad.
o Visit Dr. Ben Kim?s site (drbenkim.com) for some delicious recipes: Red Lentil Soup, Healthy Curried Stew, Falafel Pita
o Be creative and experiment with this flavorful, vibrant spice!
* Take it in a pill
Typical dosage is 250-500 mg in capsules two or three times per day with meals (10)
* Make a poultice
Mix 1 tsp Turmeric powder with a little water to make a paste and apply to itchy, inflamed skin (11)
For cooking, make sure you use pure Turmeric powder, not curry powder, as that contains very little curcumin in comparison. If you don?t particularly like the flavor of Turmeric in food, take it in a pill format, preferably from organically grown root. Turmeric can be found in most natural health food stores and in some grocery stores as well.
For more natural remedies, visit turmeric health.
1 The World’s Healthiest Foods, Turmeric
2 Biochemical Pharmacology, Volume 70, Issue 5, 1 September 2005, pages 700-713
3 The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Complementary/Integrative Medicine Education Resources, “Curcumin at M.D. Anderson” (accessed January 22, 2009)
4 Dr. Mercola, “Super Spice Secrets: Can This Miracle Spice Stop Cancer, Alzheimer’s and Arthritis?”
5 Khor TO, Keum YS, Lin W, Kim JH, Hu1 R, Shen G, Xu1 C, Gopalakrishnan A, Reddy B, Zheng X, Conney AH, Kong AN. Combined Inhibitory Effects of Curcumin and Phenethyl Isothiocyanate on the Growth of Human PC-3 Prostate Xenografts in Immunodeficient Mice. Cancer Research. 2006 Jan; 66(2): 613-621. 2006. PMID:16423986.
6 Scientific American, “Spice Healer”, January 2007
7 Peschel D, Koerting R, Nass N. Curcumin induces changes in expression of genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis. J Nutr Biochem. 2007 Feb;18(2):113-9. Epub 2006 May 18. 2007. PMID:16713233.
8 Ammon and Wahl, 1991; Madhyasta and Bhat, 1985; Dahl et al., 1989
9 Srinivas, C., and K.V.S. Prabhakaran, “Haridra (Curcuma Longa) and Its Effect on Abbhisayanda (Conjunctivitis)”, Ancient Science of Life VIII(3-4): 279-83, Jan. – Apr. 1989
10 “The Herbal Drugstore” Linda B. White, M.D., Steven Foster, and the Staff of Herbs for Health, 2000
11 “Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine” Andrew Chevalier, FNIMH, 2000
Access practical facts about Idol White Kardashian – study hyperlinked webpage.
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