Health Benefits of Turmeric or Curcumin
Understanding the uses, effects and health benefits of turmeric in various health disorders including atherosclerosis, cancer, arthritis, HIV/AIDS, endometriosis, liver disorders, and more.
Its antioxidant properties help prevent the formation of free radicals and neutralize the existing free radicals. It is believed to stop pre-cancerous DNA and interfere with the enzymes needed for cancer progression. It helps stop the oxidation of cholesterol and protect the arteries against plaque build-up. Studies show that smokers taking curcumin have lower urine levels of the cancer-causing mutagen (a substance that induce cell mutation, which can be viewed as to how well the body is dealing with this cancer-causing substance).
Ayurvedic Medicine
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Turmeric is the anti-inflammatory herb of ayurvedic medicine. Its primary chemical compound, curcumin, is used to fight viral infection, cancer, and arthritis through its powerful antioxidant action. It protects the liver, stimulates the gallbladder, and scavenge free radicals.
Curcumin is the antioxidant of choice for situations in which high concentrations of antioxidants are needed. The whole herb turmeric contains lower concentrations of curcumin, and is used when healing requires the application of volatile oils.
Arthritis, Eczema, Endometriosis, Pain, and Tendonitis
The ability of turmeric to ease pain has been confirmed in chemical studies. It is also believed to be as effective as the steroid preparations, but without the side effects. Its anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects have been confirmed in laboratory and test tube studies.
Atherosclerosis
It helps to prevent atherosclerosis in people with diabetes, and offers the benefit of stopping the loss of protein through the kidneys.
Bursitis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Other uses include giving Curcumin to help relieve the discomfort of these conditions by deactivating immune cells that may cause inflammation, without harming the other parts of the immune system needed for fighting infection.
Health Benefits and Cancer
In laboratory studies, its compound kills culture of human leukemia cells. Some experts believe that it reduces the development of chemically-induced tongue and mouth cancers by as much as 90%. It counteracts the carcinogenic effects of UV light when applied to skin before exposure, and helps in stopping skin cancers.
Clinical testing has shown that curcumin increases the survival rates in melanoma. It also prevents the spread of tumors throughout the body by diminishing the action of platelet-activating factor, which is needed for the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow.
It can help recovery from cancer by stimulating the immune system. It stimulates the production of B cells, which are depleted in people suffering from multiple myeloma, chronic leukemia, and ovarian cancer. It stimulates the production of T cells, which are depleted in people suffering from Kaposi's sarcoma, Hodgkin's disease, and any form of secondary carcinoma.
Curcumin works well with some cancer treatments by preventing lung damage caused by chemotherapy and whole body radiation.It helps in cancer prevention by inhibiting the liver enzyme that causes environmental toxins to be processed in ways that make them carcinogenic.
It affects cancers linked with tobacco use, by absorbing nitric acid, a chemical produced in the lungs when they are exposed to tobacco. It also stops the cellular reaction in both the lungs and the mouth that activates cancer-causing agents in both cigarette smoke and smokeless tobacco.
It is useful in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer. It works as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug like (NSAIDs), by suppressing the genes needed to start and spread cancer. It prevents damage caused by aflatoxin, a poison produced when grains and peanuts are improperly stored.
Cataracts
Curcumin fights free radicals more actively than the popular vitamin E antioxidant. It prevents the cross-linking of proteins in the lens that leads to the formation of cataracts.
Liver Cirrhosis
Curcumin helps reverse liver damage caused by excessive iron consumption. It keeps alcohol and other toxins from being converted to harmful form within the liver, and it accelerates the detoxification process.
Gallstones
Curcumin increases the production of enzymes needed to digest sugar and fat, and stops cholesterol from forming into gallstones. Liberal use of turmeric in the diet has a similar, but less evident effect.
Halitosis and Periodontal Disease
Turmeric stops the action of gene that creates gum-irritating chemicals. This robs bacteria of a site for growth, and helps prevent bad breath and periodontal disease.
Heart Attack
Curumin helps lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels. It lessens the risk of heart attack during steroid treatments, and reduces tissue damage during heart attack.
HIV/AIDS
Curcumin can interfere with HIV progression to a full-blown AIDS by acting as protease inhibitor, which is an agent needed to stop HIV from dividing its genetic material into strings needed to form new viruses. It also counteracts the enzyme needed by HIV to attach itself to human DNA, and reduces some of the tissue destruction seen in HIV.
Indigestion
Turmeric has been used for thousands of years to relieve stomach irritation.
Safety Concerns
Curcumin is not absorbed well by the body, so be sure to check with your health care practitioner whether a curcumin or turmeric is the form recommended for your condition. It is also often sold in combination with bromelain to enhance absorption. Bromelain has some anti-inflammatory effects on its own that may add to those of curcumin.
Avoid using curcumin if you have congestive heart failure especially if the cause remains unidentified. There is evidence that heart disease can result from over-activity of gene p53 and curcumin protects gene p53.
Turmeric should not be used for long periods of time, because it can cause stomach distress. Also DO NOT TAKE if you have biliary tract obstruction or taking blood thinners!! This substance acts as blood-thinner and stimulates bile secretion.
One study indicated that the use of turmeric reduced fertility. Consult with your doctor before using turmeric if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or if you have fertility problem.
Information obtained from:
- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC (2006). Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fourth Edition. NY: Penguin Putnam, Inc.
Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-to-Use A-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies, Phyllis A. Balch, CNC (2002), NY: Penguin Putnam, Inc.
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All the Information within this site is for reference only with no guarantee of accuracy; it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases. Statements about the products efficacy have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
It is important to emphasize that you should not reject mainstream medical attention and guidance and the use of recommended products, treatments, and remedies for individual disorder should be approved and monitored by your health care provider. See disclaimer for more!
