Most familiar to me is TURMERIC as a tasty herb in Eastern foods, Indian, Pakistani, etc. Scrutinizing this beneficial herb, I learned that TURMERIC has many healing qualities. Below are many of its healing uses. Even more so, I had used TURMERIC as a gargle to rid myself of a sore throat. Yes, it is very medicinal.
Medicinal Uses:
Arthritis
Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Cancer Prevention
When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer. Also, turmeric prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice. Promising studies are underway on the effects of turmeric on pancreatic cancer. Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma. Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors. Kansas State University research found that adding certain spices, including turmeric, can reduce the levels of heterocyclic amines—carcinogenic compounds that are formed when meats are barbecued, boiled or fried—by up to 40 percent. Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma. It may prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer. Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.
Cardiovascular
According to studies, turmeric helps in maintaining heart health by reducing cholesterol oxidation, reducing plaque build-up, clot formation, reduce bad cholesterol (LDL), reduce pro-inflammatory response, etc.
Candida/yeast
A Brazilian research team looked at the effectiveness of curcumin against 23 strains of fungi, including Candida Albicans. They found that at a fairly low concentration, curcumin was able to completely inhibit the growth of Candida Albicans (as well as lots of other fungal strains). They also tested curcumin using human cells. According to the researchers, “Curcumin was able to inhibit the adhesion to BEC (human cheek cells) of all the Candida species studied, being more potent than the commercial antifungal fluconazole.” In other words, curcumin was more effective than Diflucan at preventing Candida from attaching to human cells.
Cuts & Wounds
It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns. Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin. May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.
Liver Cleansing – As a natural liver detoxifier, google: Tumeric Liver Detox
Dental/Oral Care
Turmeric contains approximately 3-4% curcumin by dry weight. This yellow
pigmented polyphenol has been studied extensively in human clinical
research as a natural alternative to the common mouthwash ingredient
known as chlorhexidine for the treatment of gingivitis, “inflammation of the
gum tissue.”
Gingivitis is classified as a non-destructive periodontal disease,16) and
involves bacterial plaque-induced inflammation, but if left untreated, it can
progress to a form of periodontal disease that can be highly destructive.
Some of the most common symptoms associated with gingivitis are bad
breath (halitosis), and bleeding, bright, tender or swollen gums.
Eyes/Vision
As far as eye diseases go, however, turmeric has only been shown to be
effective for one eye disease in particular: retinitis pigmentosa.
Retinitis pigmentosa is a genetic disease that leads to a buildup of a
protein. It causes vision loss and eventual blindness.
Turmeric can help prevent the buildup of the protein in the eye, which could
drastically slow down progression of the disease.
Longevity
Curcumin is the active ingredient in the herbal medicine and dietary spice,
turmeric (Curcuma longa). It has a wide range of biological activities,
including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, chemopreventive, and
chemotherapeutic activities. In new research, conducted at National Taiwan
University, researchers examined the effects of curcumin on the lifespan
and aging in C. elegans. What they found is that the roundworm responded
to curcumin with an increased lifespan, reduced intracellular reactive
oxygen species, and reduced lipofuscins* during aging. The researchers
analyzed factors that might influence lifespan extension by curcumin, and
found that lifespan extension by curcumin in C. elegans is attributed to its
antioxidative properties, but not its antimicrobial properties.
* Lipofuscins are deposits of finely granular yellow-brown pigment granules, composed of lipid-containing residues of lysosomal digestion.
One of the aging or “wear and tear” pigments, lipofuscins are found in the
heart muscle, adrenals, liver kidney, nerve cells, and ganglion cells.
Moreover, they showed that lifespan extension had effects on body size and the pharyngeal (throat) pumping rate, but not on reproduction. Finally, lifespan tests with selected stress- and lifespan-relevant mutant strains revealed that the lifespan-extending characteristics were absent from
roundworm mutants, whereas curcumin treatment prolonged the lifespan of other mutants. This is a good day for worms, other mutants, and possibly for humans too.
Tonics
Turmeric Tonic: Anti-Inflammatory Elixir
Ingredients:
4 inch piece fresh turmeric (or two teaspoons organic dried turmeric)
3 inch piece of ginger (or one tablespoon organic powdered ginger)
3 lemons, peeled
Dash cayenne
4 cups young coconut water (Watch a video on how to SAFELY open young
coconuts)
Raw honey to desired sweetness
Juice the turmeric, ginger, and lemons. Add the juice to the young coconut
water (or spring water). Add the cayenne and stir well to combine. Store in
the fridge for up to three days.
QUICK NOTE: You can use the same method I demonstrate in this video for Ginger, Apple & Beet juice to create this tonic using a high speed blender and a strainer. A standard blender won’t get you the same results as a
VitaMix or BlendTech. Just sayin’!
MONEY SAVER: You can buy powdered organic turmeric by the pound on Amazon. Much better pricing that the tiny jars you will find at your local market.
Lupus
The fundamental reason why turmeric can be of help in Lupus is that
Lupus is an inflammatory disease and Curcumin which is the active
ingredient in turmeric has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial
properties.
The benefits of turmeric as an anti-inflammatory agent have been studied extensively. The spice has bæn used for centuries as a medicine and
extensive research conducted in recent times have found that curcumin—a
diferuloylmethane—is the anti-inflammatory agent in turmeric. It is able to regulate many transcription factors, adhesion molecules, protein kinases enzymes and redox status that are all the causes of inflammatory conditions in the body. Curcumin therefore seems an attractive therapeutic supplement for use in the treatment of pro-inflammatory chronic diseases that include lupus, neurodegenerative, pulmonary, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases.
An immune system breakdown could lead to various infections and autoimmune diseases that include systemic lupus erythromatosis, IBD,
myasthenia gravis, type l diabetes, uveitis, myocarditis etc. Herbal supplements are being widely prescribed for use in treating these autoimmune diseases since they are safe, inexpensive and produce very few side effects. Curcumin is a polyphenol that is prescribed for healing wounds and for pain. The best benefits of curcumin are through dietary consumption. However there are many dietary supplements available which may be prescribed for autoimmune diseases.
Nutrition
Turmeric is an excellent source of both iron and manganese. It is also a
good source of vitamin B6, dietary fiber, and potassium.
In-Depth Nutritional Profile
In addition to the nutrients highlighted in our ratings chart, an in-depth nutritional profile for Turmeric is also available. This profile includes information on a full array of nutrients, including carbohydrates, sugar,
soluble and insoluble fiber, sodium, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids and more.
Introduction to Food Rating System Chart
In order to better help you identify foods that feature a high concentration of nutrients for the calories they contain, we created a Food Rating System. This system allows us to highlight the foods that are especially rich in particular nutrients. The following chart shows the nutrients for which this food is either an excellent, very good, or good source (below the chart you will find a table that explains these qualifications). If a nutrient is not listed in the chart, it does not necessarily mean that the food doesn’t contain it. It simply means that the nutrient is not provided in a sufficient amount or concentration to meet our rating criteria. (To view this food’s in-depth nutritional profile that includes values for dozens of nutrients – not just the ones rated as excellent, very good, or good – please use the link below the chart.) To read this chart accurately, you’ll need to glance up in the top left corner where you will find the name of the food and the serving size we to calculate the food’s nutrient composition. This serving size will tell you how much of the food you need to eat to obtain the amount of nutrients found in the chart. Now, returning to the chart itself, you can look next to the nutrient name in order to find the nutrient amount it offers, the percent Daily Value (DV%) that this amount represents, the nutrient density that we calculated for this food and nutrient, and the rating we established in our rating system. For most of our nutrient ratings, we adopted the government standards for food labeling that are found in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s “Reference Values for Nutrition Labeling.” Read more background information and details of our rating system.
Pain Relief
Tame Pain With Turmeric
Turmeric, the spice that gives curry its distinctive flavor and coloring, also has plenty of pain-relief benefits. New research suggests that turmeric possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties and also helps to improve circulation and prevent blood clotting. Turmeric has been used in
traditional medicines for easing the pain of sprains, strains, bruises and joint inflammation, as well as for treating skin and digestive issues. The healing power of turmeric comes from its active ingredient — curcumin, which lowers the levels of two enzymes in the body that cause inflammation.
Just keep a jar of the powdered spice in your kitchen and add a little to your cooking in place of salt and pepper. Turmeric is also sold in supplement form.
Psoriasis
Curcumin is an active ingredient got from turmeric. Studies have been conducted on its biological properties since it can be used in high doses without too many side effects and toxicity. Hence, it could be used to treat skin diseases like psoriasis, skin cancer, scleroderma and tumors of the skin, duodenum, colon, breast and pancreas. Curcumin can protect the skin by fighting inflammation and protecting it from attack by free radicals.
This is due to the nuclear factor KB inhibition. Turmeric can also improve collagen deposits, reduce time it takes for wounds to heal and act as a proangiogenic agent. All these benefits are due to the powerful antioxidants found in curcumin and the fact that it can be used safely in high doses without promoting toxicity. The primary part of turmeric used is the rhizome — curcumin, the most active constituent. Curcumin effects are due to various growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, transcription factors and other enzymes. It has a powerful ability to control molecular pathways that cause diseases. The ability of curcumin to block or promote various molecular targets are being studied for its various benefits for dermatological conditions like psoriasis, acne, skin cancer, keloids and wound healing. Curcumin can affect various related but different pathways and this gives it the potential of being used for treating these skin diseases.
Alzheimer’s Disease
May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by removing
amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.
Colds & Soar Throat
If you have a cold and or a sore throat, gargle with 2 tsps. of turmeric in a
cup of warm water every 3 hours. it’s anti-inflammatory action will help
your body to rid itself of this infection.
Depression
Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.
Stop Smoking
Turmeric is one of the most commonly used spices in the Asian countries,
especially India, in cuisines and also for medicinal purposes. Curcuma
longa, turmeric, belongs to the ginger family and its root are mostly dried
and used in the form of a powder. This perennial herb has been part of the
Indian Ayurveda for more than a century and women have been using the
turmeric powder for anti-aging, hair and beauty treatments for a long time.
Turmeric is known to contain a phytochemical known as Curcumin, which
is responsible for numerous properties of turmeric.
Curcumin has been reported to contain anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-cancerous, anti-toxicity and many more properties. Curcumin is known to remove the harmful toxins from the body and also protect organs from further damage. Chain smoking is known to introduce mutagens in the body which lead to formation of cancer in the latter stages of life. In a study carried out on smokers, it was observed that there was a significant level of mutagens in the urine of these smokers. After treatment with curcumin, the mutagen level was decreased in the urine. The researchers concluded that curcumin was able to detoxify the harmful mutagens in the body.
Smoking is known to cause lung cancer and the nicotine present in the cigarettes have carcinogens which also promote cancer formation.
Curcumin is known to possess anti-cancerous properties and also has chemo preventive properties which protect the lungs from harmful toxins.
Curcumin has been reported to suppress the activation of the NF-kB factor (nuclear factor kappa B), which is known to increase inflammation in the cells and trigger cancer growth. Curcumin also down regulated COX-2 TNF and IL-6 molecules which were responsible for the inflammation in the cells and tissues. Curcumin was reported to induce apoptosis or cell death of the cancerous cells by arresting the mitotic cell cycle and suppressing the proliferation of the carcinogenic cells. Due to these properties, it was concluded that turmeric had the ability to slow down the growth of cancers caused due to toxic substances released in the smoke .
In a study done on cigarette smoke, it was reported that the smoke triggers
neurobiological changes in the nervous system and lead to abnormalities
in the neurocognitive response. The study was carried out on rat models
and it was recorded that the cigarette smoke impaired the object recognition memory and increased the amount of oxidative stress. These rats were then subjected to curcumin treatment and it was able to prevent the impairment in the memory and decrease the oxidative stress. The abnormalities in the neurocognition were also decreased significantly.
It has also been reported that curcumin triggers the enzymes of the glutathione pathway which lead to detoxification. It also known as the
scavenger of harmful free radicals and it decrease the lipid peroxidation in the body. Curcumin suppresses the up regulation of VEGF factor (vascular endothelial growth factor) and decrease angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels) in the cancerous cells. The smoke in the cigarettes also contains tar which triggers the formation of free radicals in the exposed tissues and cause vascular injury. A study was carried out on the effect of nicotine on the cornea. It was that exposure to nicotine damage in the epithelial layer of the conjunctiva’ tissue. Other damages
included inflammation in the cells, edema between the stroma’s collagen fibers and neovascularization. This leads to fibrosis and scar formation in the cornea. Formation of fibrosis causes error in the vision. These rats were treated with curcumin and it was observed that there was a reduction in the corneal neovascularization and also inhibits angiogenesis or formation of new blood vessels in the cornea. Curcumin hinders the growth of the cell cycle of the fibroblast and induces apoptosis. This leads to suppression in the proliferation of fibroblasts. Curcumin had a protective effect on the cornea from the toxicity induced due to nicotine.
In another study, it has been reported that cigarette smoking induces pulmonary inflammation and emphysema. This happens when the NF-kB is
activated and initiates fibrosis formation and lung injury. Curcumin was found to inhibit the pulmonary inflammation and emphysema caused due on cigarette smoking. Curcumin was found to induce Nrf2 enzymes which act as antioxidants and inhibit the activation of NF-kB factor. Curcumin is known as a scavenger of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. These ROS (reactive oxygen species) are mainly responsible for inflammation in the lungs and activating the stress kinases and redox-sensitive factors. In addition to this, curcumin also inhibited the up regulation of protein
carbonyls in the BAL fluid in the lungs which is induced due to cigarette smoking. Curcumin was also able to down regulate the expression of chemokines which are also involved in the formation of fibrosis.
Tobacco smoke has been one of the major reasons for the formation of cancer of the squamous cells in the head and neck. Tobacco is known to
induce damage in the DNA of the cells by fragmenting the DNA. Curcumin treatment was able to reduce the DNA fragmentation in the cells and protect the cells from the impact of the smoke.
It has been observed that curcumin is involved in the cell cycle of the cancerous cells which are formed due to the mutagens released from the smoking. Curcumin has the ability to arrest the mitotic cell cycle in the Gl
phase by down regulating the cyclin DI which stops the progress of the cell cycle. Curcumin also suppresses the migration of these cancerous cells by inhibiting the MMP-9 gene expression. MMP are genes which are involved in invading the basement
membranes. It was reported that curcumin also blocked the formation of
tumors and its progression by hindering multiple pathways. Nicotine is
known to induce MTOR pathway in the cells of the head and neck cancer.
Curcumin was also able to inhibit the induction of the MTOR pathway.
In other research, it was reported that curcumin was able to inhibit the activation of the NF-kB factor by suppressing the activation of IKK which is responsible for the activation of the NF-kB factor.
The activation of NF-kB also activates the COX-2, MMP-9 and cyclin DI as mentioned above. Suppression of NF-kB down regulates all these genes as well. COX-2 gene is known to be overexpressed in the malignant cells. This
gene also induces angiogenesis, cellular invasion and the regulation of anti-apoptotic cell defense. It also increases immunological resistance by producing PGE-2. The MMP-2 gene is vital for tumor invasion and angiogenesis. This is done by degrading the extracellular matrix in the cancerous cells and destroying the elastin in the lungs. Curcumin inhibited the activity of MMP, which down regulates metastasis in lung cancer cells.
Curcumin is a hydrophobic compound which makes it difficult to dissolve in water. This accounts for the low bioavailability of curcumin. In other words, curcumin is not easily absorbed in the alimentary canal and into the blood. However, this can be easily overcome by dissolving curcumin with fats like coconut oil, linseed oil, olive oil etc. Another component which also helps is piperdine, which acts as an absorption factor and increases the absorption rate. All these components increase the bioavailability of curcumin and make it easy to be absorbed into the blood.
Dosage
The spice turmeric is consumed in different forms. The most common form is in the powder form which is used in curries for flavoring and color. However, if it is used for medicinal purpose there are certain recommended dosages for adults. The recommended dosage varies according to the form in which it is used. There is no specific dosage for children as there are no studies regarding turmeric supplements in children.
Turmeric roots can be taken at the rate of 1-3 g per day in dried-powdered form. The cut root can be taken between 1.5 to 3 g per day. The standardized powder containing curcumin should be taken approximately at 400-600 mg per dose, preferably 3 times a day. It can also be consumed in the form of a fluid
extract, taking 30-90 drops per day. Another form in which the spice can be consumed is in the form of tincture. About 15-30 drops should be taken regularly 4 times a day.
Precautions while taking turmeric
Turmeric as a spice is commonly used in Asian cuisines for more than a century and there have been no reports of any harmful side-effects. It is considered safe for consumption in the form of spice. However, if it is used
for medicinal purpose, it should be consumed in measured doses and under the guidance of a health advisor.
It has been observed that herbs like turmeric can have unfavorable side effects when interacting with other herbs and supplements. If taken in high amounts regularly, it can result in stomach upset and, in extreme cases, stomach ulcers as turmeric is acidic in nature. This spice can also pose problem to people who are suffering from gallstones, and thus should be taken under the guidance of a doctor. Since turmeric can act like a blood thinner, taking it with blood thinning medicines might increase the effect of these drugs.
It is also not advised for pregnant or breastfeeding women to take turmeric supplements. Moreover, drugs which reduce acid in the stomach
may not give the desired results as turmeric can interfere with these medicines, resulting in production of more stomach acid. Turmeric also has the ability to lower blood sugar levels; thus if combined with diabetes medications, it can lead to hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.
Conclusion
Smoking is injurious to health and can lead to cancer”, this warning is placed on every tobacco product and cigarettes. However, no one heeds this warning and continues to harm their own body. There have been increases in the incidence of cancers due to smoking and toxicity due to nicotine, tar and tobacco. Curcumin in turmeric has emerged as an excellent candidate for removing toxic components released due to smoking and also protects organs like lungs from its toxic side effects. The anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-carcinogenic property enables curcumin to treat the lethal effects caused due to smoking.
Culinary/Kitchen
Turmeric can be taken in powder or pill form. It is available in pill form in most
health food stores, usually in 250-500mg capsules.
Contraindications: Turmeric should not be used by people with gallstones or bile
obstruction. Though turmeric is often used by pregnant women, it is important to
consult with a doctor before doing so as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant.