Turmeric is a spice, grown in India and Asia, that is commonly used as food coloring and as a flavoring agent in curry. Turmeric also contains the antioxidant curcumin and has many anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, turmeric has been used as a herbal remedy for more than 4,000 years to treat liver and digestion issues, skin diseases, viral diseases, joint disorders and various forms of cancer.
Joint Issues
Turmeric has been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for centuries to treat inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Although there are not many studies done on humans, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that turmeric and its active compound curcumin used on rats can reduce the symptoms these joint conditions cause, such as swelling, pain, and stiffness. The study conducted at the Center for Phytomedicine Research at the University of Arizona also concluded that using curcumin compounds can eliminate any inflammation from occurring at all if used alone and before the onset of an attack.
Digestive Issues
Curcumin has the properties to help individuals with digestive issues that incude indigestion, ulcerative colitis and stomach ulcers. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that turmeric reduces the amount of gas and bloating individuals experience during a bout of indigestion. A study by the Department of Endoscopic and Photodynamic Medicine at the Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, and Center for Gastroenterology in Hamamatsu, Japan, showed that curcumin from turmeric can keep ulcertative colitis patients in remission if used as maintenance therapy.
Cancer
Curcumin, because of its anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties, may be helpful in the treatment and prevention of various cancers. According to the National Cancer Society, curcumin has the ability to kill cancer cells and reduce the growth in surviving cells but at this point, it has only been proved in laboratory dishes. In a study published in "The AAPS Journal," using curcumin can kill and prevent tumor growth, and stop the cells from further metastasizing.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Turmeric and Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
- Pub Med.gov: Curcumin maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis: randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
- American Cancer Society: Tumeric
- The AAPS Journal: Multiple Molecular Targets in Cancer Chemoprevention by Curcumin
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Tumeric
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