Therapeutic Uses
Arthritis and Postoperative Inflammation – The volatile oil in turmeric can ease the acute pain caused by a number of mechanisms. Its effectiveness is equal to that of steroid preparations such as hydrocortisone and phenylbutazone, but without their side effects. Curcumin, the antioxidant component of turmeric, has anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic activity. This accounts for the long-standing tradition in India of using turmeric to prevent and treat inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.
Atherosclerosis – Curcumin fights atherosclerosis by deactivating platelet-activating factor (PAF). This component of the blood seals leaks in blood vessels, in part by stimulating the production of fibrous tissue. This tissue can serve as a platform on which cholesterol can accumulate into plaques. In patients with osteoarthritis, turmeric was effective at lowering C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker that predicts who will get heart disease, by 93%.
Cancer – Curcumin causes the death of cancer cells arising from several different types of tissue. In the laboratory, this compound kills cultures of human leukemia cells. Most studies have been done on pancreatic, breast, and colon cancers. Clinical testing has shown that curcumin increases survival rates in melanoma. It inhibits the spread of melanoma to the lungs. By curtailing the activity of PAF, which is necessary for the formation of the new blood vessels that tumors need to grow, curcumin can keep tumors from spreading throughout the body. Curcumin can aid recovery from cancer by stimulating the immune system. It stimulates the production of B cells, which are usually depleted in people with chronic leukemia, multiple myeloma, and ovarian cancer. It stimulates the production of T cells, which are depleted in Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, and any form of carcinoma that has spread from the original site. Curcumin also works well with some cancer treatments, preventing lung damage caused by the chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar) and by whole-body radiation. Curcumin is also a powerful cancer preventive. It inhibits the action of p450, a liver enzyme that causes environmental toxins to be processed in ways that make them carcinogenic. It is a strong anti-inflammatory agent and a strong antioxidant. Curcumin is also a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C, which can lead to tumor suppression by blocking signal transduction pathways in the target cells. Curcumin is especially useful in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer. It works in the same manner as NSAIDs, by suppressing the genes necessary for both the start and the spread of cancer. Curcumin suppresses two genes necessary for the development of colorectal cancer. It prevents damage caused by aflatoxin, a poison produced during improper storage of grains and peanuts. Curcumin may also be helpful for women with breast cancer. Curcumin stopped cancer cells from spreading in several breast tumor cell lines including hormone-dependent and hormone-independent lines. Curcumin also induced cell death in breast cancer cells.
Cataracts – Curcumin quenches cell-damaging free-radicals more actively than vitamin E, a noted free-radical scavenger. This prevents cross-linking of proteins in the lens that leads, over a period of many years, to the formation of cataracts.
Halitosis and Periodontal Disease – Turmeric acts against gum inflammation by halting the action of a gene that creates gum-irritating chemicals. This robs bacteria of a site for growth, and helps prevent both bad breath and periodontal disease.
HIV / AIDS – Curcumin may help prevent HIV infection from progressing to full-blown AIDS. Curcumin also counteracts integrase, an enzyme HIV needs to attach itself to human DNA, and reduces some of the tissue destruction seen in HIV / AIDS by selectively deactivating tumor necrosis factor (TNF).
Ulcerative Colitis – Turmeric has been used for thousands of years for gastrointestinal discomforts. One study found that 2 grams of curcumin a day was superior to usual treatments such as sulfasalazine or mesalamine.it was particularly good at preventing relapse of the disease, but the herb also improved the clinical score for the disease. No side effects were reported with the herb, but there were numerous side effects with conventional medications, including headaches, fever, rash, and kidney inflammation.
Medicinal Uses: *Acne *Alzheimer’s Disease *Anterior Uveitis (Swelling in the Middle Layer of the Eye) *Arthritis *Bronchitis *Bruising *Bypass Surgery *Cancers *Colds *Crohn’s Disease *Depression *Diabetes *Diarrhea *Enema for Inflammatory Bowel Disease *Eye Infections *Fatigue *Fever *Fibromyalgia *Gallbladder Disorders *Gum Disease *Hay Fever *Headaches *Heartburn *Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) Infection *Hemorrhage *High Cholesterol *Infected Wounds *Inflammatory Skin Conditions *Intestinal Gas *Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) *Itchy Skin *Jaundice *Joint Pain *Kidney Problems *Leech Bites *Leprosy *Lichen Planus (Skin Condition) *Liver Problems *Loss of Appetite *Lung Infections *Menstrual Problems *Pain *Recovery after Surgery *Ringworm *Skin Inflammation from Radiation Treatment *Skin Sores *Soreness inside the Mouth *Sprains *Stomach Bloating *Stomach Pain *Stomach Ulcers *Swellings *Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) (Autoimmune Disease) *Tuberculosis *Ulcerative Colitis *Urinary Bladder Inflammation *Water Retention *Worms
Turmeric Side Effects: Turmeric usually does not cause significant side effects. But some people can experience stomach upset, nausea, dizziness, or diarrhea. Do not take medicinal amounts of turmeric if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Do not use turmeric if you have gallstones or a bile duct obstruction. Taking turmeric might slow blood clotting. Use with caution in people with diabetes as it might make blood sugar too low. Turmeric might make stomach problems such as GERD worse. Turmeric might make hormone-sensitive conditions worse.
Turmeric Drug Interactions: Taking turmeric along with medications that slow clotting (aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, and others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others) might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Those who are undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer should limit their intake of turmeric because the herb may limit the effectiveness of the drug treatment cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar).
