Turmeric

Curcuma longa

Turmeric is a perennial herb of the ginger family that is extensively cultivated in India, China, Indonesia, and other tropical countries. In Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric was prescribed for treatment of many conditions, including poor vision, rheumatic pains, and coughs, and to increase milk production.

ANTIOXIDANT - The active constituent known as curcumin has been shown to protect against free radical damage to DNA. Turmeric and its derivatives have been shown to raise the body's own antioxidant systems through increasing glutathione levels.
ANTI-CANCER - Studies show a cancer-preventing action of curcumin. In one of these studies, curcumin effectively inhibited metastasis (uncontrolled spread) of melanoma (skin cancer) cells. This effect is likely to be due to its antioxidant activity in the body. The protective effects of turmeric and curcumin occur at all steps of cancer formation: initiation, promotion, and progression.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY - Curcumin reduces inflammation by lowering histamine levels and by increasing production of natural cortisone by the adrenal glands. A preliminary trial in people with rheumatoid arthritis found curcumin to be somewhat useful for reducing inflammation and symptoms such as pain and stiffness. A separate double-blind trial found that curcumin was superior to placebo or phenylbutazone (an NSAID) for alleviating post-surgical inflammation.
LIVER PROTECTIVE - Curcumin protects the liver from a number of toxic compounds, and has been shown to be an active choleretic, increasing bile acid output by over 100%. Curcumin also aids in the excretion of cholesterol, bilirubin, and increases solubility of bile.
CARDIO-PROTECTIVE - Curcumin has been shown to reduce platelets from clumping together, which in turn improves circulation and may help protect against atherosclerosis.
DIGESTIVE TONIC - Turmeric and curcumin improve gastric integrity through increasing mucin content of the stomach, thus protecting against ulcer formation.

Dosage

400mg one to three times daily.

Potential applications

Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, dyspepsia, asthma, infections, eczema, psoriasis; long term prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, adjunct in the treatment of hyperlipidaemia; prevention of cancer and adjunct to cancer treatment; to improve gastric and hepatic function; as an antioxidant; as an anti-fungal remedy. Topically for inflammations, skin diseases and infections.

Known contraindications

No adverse effects noted at normal dosage. Not recommended in patients with biliary tract obstruction.

Interactions

High doses should not be given to those taking anti-platelet or anti-coagulant drugs.

Use in conjunction with

Poor digestion - artichoke, digestive aid, probiotics, fibre complex
Inflammation - boswellia resin, flax seed oil, grape seed/pycnogenol, antioxidant complex

Note

Turmeric was listed in an Assyrian herbal dating from about 600 BC and was also mentioned by Dioscorides.

REFERENCES

Simon Mills & Kerry Bone. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Modern Herbal Medicine. 2000.
PDR for Herbal Medicines. Second Edition. 2000
Melvyn R. Werbach & Michael T. Murray. Botanical Influences on Illness. A source book of clinical research. 1994

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