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The Western world hasn’t embraced turmeric until recently. But, the herb has been a mainstay in Indian curries for thousands of years. Turmeric gives curry blends their yellow color. In addition to its role in cooking, the herb held a place of honor in India’s traditional Ayurvedic medicine. A symbol of prosperity, it was considered a cleanser for the whole body. Turmeric Uses Because Western scientists and herbalists didn’t show much interest in turmeric until recently, most of the research has been done in India. The yellow pigment in turmeric, curcumin, gives the herb its medicinal powers. And, it has an impressive array of medical uses as an immune stimulant, as a treatment for arthritis, digestive problems, and scabies, and as a preventive for cataracts, cancer, heart disease, and liver problems. Indian researchers tested the immune function of lab animals, and then fed them a curcumin-enriched diet for 5 weeks. Retesting showed significant improvement in some measures of immune function, demonstrating turmeric’s use in enhancing immunity. Like most cooking herbs, turmeric prevents food spoilage because it has antibacterial action. It may also help prevent bacterial wound infections. Turmeric is also effective against salmonella bacteria, a frequent cause of food poisoning and stomach flu. Turmeric stimulates the flow of bile which helps digest fats in the stomach. This is what makes the herb a good digestive aid, and is given for indigestion. Turmeric has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects. In some studies, it has been found to be as effective an anti-inflammatory as Ibuprofen or cortisone. These properties make turmeric an excellent option for treating osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It has even been to shown to relieve the joint swelling and stiffness as well as the popular drugs NSAIDs. But unlike NSAIDs, turmeric caused no gastrointestinal problems. Antioxidants help prevent the cell damage that sets the stage for cancer. Turmeric has anti-cancer activity. Several cancer research journals say that it inhibits the growth of several cancers including colon cancer and lymphoma. Turmeric’s close relative, ginger, reduces cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, and helps prevent the blood clots that trigger heart attacks and strokes. Turmeric has been shown to have similar results in animals. Adults who take at least 500 mg of turmeric daily for at least 10 days can see a drastic improvement in cholesterol levels. Turmeric has also been shown to improve liver damage. It protects the liver from the damaging effects of alcohol, prescription dugs, and even acetaminophen, a pain reliever. If you drink regularly or take certain prescription drugs or large amounts of Tylenol pain reliever you may want to speak with your doctor about taking turmeric to protect your liver. Turmeric Safety Turmeric is generally regarded as a safe herb. There was a study that showed that it reduced fertility, so people trying to conceive or women who are already pregnant should probably not use turmeric in anything but cooking preparations. Turmeric has anti-clotting properties so if you have a blood clotting problem or are taking blood thinning drugs, you should not use turmeric in medicinal amounts.
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