Turmeric is one of my favourite herbs and may be the most effective nutritional supplement in existence. It is originally from India but has been used in therapeutic preparations over the centuries in different parts of the world. Today turmeric has become one of the most famous herbs in natural medicine and is literally the leading subject being studied in the scientific world. Many high-quality studies show that it has major benefits for your body and brain. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/curcumin
The scientific name for turmeric root is Curcuma longa, it is closely related to ginger. The most researched constituent in Turmeric is curcumin. It is what makes turmeric yellow and is the most active and most beneficial to health. Long known for its anti-inflammatory properties, recent research has revealed that it can be helpful in the treatment of many different health conditions.
Absorption
Unfortunately, the curcumin in turmeric is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream. However, adding black pepper can help. Research supports that combining the piperine in black pepper with the curcumin in turmeric enhances the curcumin absorption in the body. It is also found to be better absorbed if the turmeric is cooked. You can boil it, sauté it, steam or bake it. Just exposing it to heat in some way to activate the active constituents will improve the absorption. Many of the active constituents in turmeric are oil soluble so cooking with it or consuming it with oil will improve absorption. Fermenting turmeric also helps with absorption. A study in the International Journal of Food Science and Technology found the bioavailability of curcumin increased when it was fermented. As turmeric becomes more bioavailable after fermentation, the active ingredients and nutrients in turmeric will be utilised more readily by the body. Here at Enchanted Natural Healing we ferment the turmeric root, freeze dry and add black pepper extract.
Dosage
As a maintenance dose (one teaspoon) taken daily in your food, or two capsules a day would be enough to give you profound medical effects. If you are looking at treating an acute condition, you would need to take at least 4 teaspoons of turmeric a day. This could be quite challenging, so I suggest adding it to your food whenever you can. In yogurt, smoothies, rice, stews etc. Avoid taking turmeric on an empty stomach and close to the time of taking other medicines. High doses or long-term use of turmeric may trigger such symptoms as diarrhea, indigestion, and nausea. Small quantities of turmeric in general cooking are considered safe but larger doses can pose risks for people with certain medical conditions or who are taking certain medications. Always consult your medical practitioner before taking large doses of herbs.
Turmeric has a long history of use, particularly in Ayurvedic medicine and other traditional forms of medicine. Here are some of the uses and health benefits of turmeric:
Anti-inflammatory
The curcumin in turmeric is strongly anti-inflammatory. Several studies have found that curcumin is among the most effective anti-inflammatory compounds in the world and is used to treat inflammation anywhere in the body. Curcumin is known as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and is classified as a NSAID when used in medicine. The anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin are well documented. While typical anti-inflammatory drugs have serious side effects like ulcer formation and immune suppression, curcumin is exceedingly safe. A maintenance dose would be enough to maintain one’s health over time and reduce the overall negative effects of inflammation. Higher doses are necessary to treat acute situations.
The herb is widely used in all joint conditions and is said to have a general joint rebuilding capability. It is often used in rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
Antioxidant
Turmeric is highly antioxidant. Curcumin is one of the most potent antioxidants in the plant world. The main reason antioxidants are so beneficial is that they protect your body from free radicals. If our natural body mechanism is not able to fight these free radicals, turmeric can assist the body to do so very effectively and save it from diseases and cell damage.
Astringent
Turmeric is astringent. This means it constricts or tightens the tissues. This can be helpful in cases of unwanted discharges or secretions such as blood or other bodily fluids. It helps to heal internal wounds such as ulcers in the digestive track. It is helpful for diarrhea and indigestion. It helps for the mucous membranes of the throat. As a gargle it can be helpful for treating laryngitis and sore throat. It is the ideal throat gargle. You can take the powdered turmeric and stir it into warm water and gargle with it.
Dementia
There has been a lot of interest in the treatment of dementia and the treatment of various diseases of senility that cause loss of our mental functions and cognitive decline.
India has the lowest rate of dementia in the world and the United States has the highest in the world. Scientists looked at what could the possible reasons be and of course there could be many but turmeric came up as the most likely cause. Scientists began studying the properties of turmeric and focused on curcumin, which is highly anti-inflammatory. It reduces inflammation in the brain therefore reducing the brain damage. Turmeric is now the leading natural treatment for dementia in the world and often outperforms drugs for cognitive decline in scientific studies.
Digestion
Digestive disorders also call for turmeric. It treats typical indigestion, acting by increasing mucin and enzyme secretions in the gastric juices. Hemorrhoids respond particularly well to turmeric, which, in addition to oral use, can be applied topically as a paste.
Digestively turmeric warms up the digestive track and enhances the overall function of accelerating digestion. We can add a pinch of turmeric to our food with every meal or we could take turmeric capsules or turmeric tea to improve digestive symptoms. Especially if the digestive symptoms are conditions like heartburn (gastritis) or colitis.
Joint Health
Turmeric is a classic remedy in Ayurveda for arthritis. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties
Turmeric may improve pain and other symptoms of joint conditions by reducing inflammation. Turmeric seem to protect joints from degradation by inhibiting the formation of osteoclasts, the main culprits of bone breakdown.
For joint health specifically, a multitude of studies have demonstrated turmeric’s potential for improving joint conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, particularly in terms of pain, swelling, tenderness, and joint mobility.
Immune
Turmeric can help boost the health of your immune system through the amazing anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties it holds. Turmeric is antibacterial and has the capability of killing many types of bacteria. Recently, it was shown that turmeric can destroy salmonella bacteria, a common cause of food poisoning, within 15 minutes. It is also active against staph bacteria. It is helpful for the kinds of diseases that people would get on a seasonal basis. Its immune boosting benefits makes it a great choice in helping the body to be resistant to invading microbes. Just a teaspoon a day will give you a better immune function.
Turmeric is remarkable in enhancing our bodies immunity and allowing ourselves to stay healthy under all sorts of circumstances.
Liver
The liver has a tendency to become inflamed and turmeric with its anti-inflammatory properties will be of benefit. Turmeric also helps to detoxify substances that damage the liver, so it is a very good liver health preventive support remedy. Used Over time consistently in small amounts will keep the liver healthy. For acute inflammatory conditions again, we can use higher doses.
Skin
Turmeric Is known in Asia as a major skin treatment herb. It is applied topically to help clear up skin conditions. You can use it as a herbal bath or apply it as a paste to the skin. The only problem is it will turn your skin temporarily yellow. It eventually fades after a couple of showers. Should this be a problem you can use it orally. In fact, turmeric is a good general treatment for all connective tissue. Being a polyphenol, curcumin has the property of stabilizing collagen. It is used to enhance healing after surgery, reducing adhesions and scarring. Turmeric is particularly appropriate in treating inflammatory skin diseases, such as psoriasis and eczema, as it reduces heat and cleanses the liver.
Cardiovascular
Not only does turmeric protect the heart but it also combats various metabolic conditions that could serve as a risk factor to the development of heart diseases. It helps to regulate blood pressure and is used to treat high blood pressure. It enhances circulation throughout the body which is detoxifying for the bloodstream and it helps to reduce fatty deposits in the cardiovascular system. If you are just looking to prevent cardiovascular problems in the future, use some in your food every day.
Oral Health
Turmeric helps to suppress the pathological bacteria in the mouth, It helps to reduce inflammation of the gums and it helps to tighten the gums up against the teeth. You could mix a little bit of turmeric with water and make a paste. Place that between your gums and cheek so that it can slowly work its way into the tissue, you can also gargle or mouth rinse with it. It also treats canker sores in the mouth.
Detoxification
This is an area where turmeric really shines. It is strongly detoxifying and does a tremendous job at removing waste material from the body. Using modest amounts in your food everyday is a great way to stay detoxified and prevent disease.
Turmeric is one of the top nutrients in the world with a long history of use, particularly in Ayurvedic medicine and other traditional forms of medicine. Recent scientific advances have allowed us to understand how turmeric can benefit us and given us the tools to increase its ability to do so.
There is no doubt that Turmeric is a plant with a plethora of proposed health benefits. I have only mentioned some of the health benefits in this blog. There is so much more it can do for us. It truly is a valuable addition to every individual’s repertoire.