Curcumin is a spice and herbal remedy derived from turmeric root. As a spice, it is commonly used in curry dishes, and as an herbal remedy it is widely used in Indian ayurvedic medicine. Curcumin displays a variety of beneficial properties in regards to cardiovascular disease, particularly as an anti-inflammatory and blood cholesterol reducer. Curcumin is not a cure for heart disease and your primary care physician should be consulted before you embark on any herbal remedy.
Turmeric Root
Turmeric root, or Curcuma longa, has been used for thousands of years in India as a dye, spice and herbal remedy. Turmeric root frequently is dried and ground into a yellow-orange powder before being added to curry dishes or used as a folk remedy. The biologically active component in turmeric is curcumin, which is purported to have many beneficial properties for human health, as cited in "The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine." As a supplement, curcumin usually is ingested via turmeric capsules or tablets.
Properties of Curcumin
Curcumin is considered to be a powerful antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent, according to "The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs." It often is recommended for promoting digestion, reducing the incidence of stomach ulcers, mitigating the symptoms of arthritis, helping reduce the risk of senile dementia and even to combat certain cancers, such as prostate cancer. Its abilities also seem to be of help to cardiovascular diseases.
Blood Vessel Protection
As an antioxidant, curcumin reduces circulating free radicals, which are known to cause tissue deterioration and aging, especially within blood vessels. Curcumin also displays antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce bacteria and inflammatory reactions in the cardiovascular system, including the heart. Specifically, curcumin scavenges nitric oxide and superoxides in the blood and inhibits pro-inflammatory substances such as cox-2, as cited in "The New Healing Herbs." As such, curcumin sometimes is recommended for complications related to congestive heart failure. In turmeric root, which also is rich in vitamin B-6, curcumin helps to reduce homocysteine levels in the bloodstream. Homocysteine directly damages blood vessel walls and high levels are considered a significant risk factor for atherosclerotic plaque buildup and heart disease, as cited in "Human Biochemistry and Disease."
Curcumin and Cholesterol
Curcumin also might be able to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in your body and reduce circulating levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the bloodstream, as cited in "Medical Herbalism." Oxidized cholesterol damages blood vessels and contributes to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, which leads to high blood pressure and increased risks of heart attack and stroke. Preventing cholesterol oxidation might help reduce the progression of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease. An Indian study published in a 1992 edition of the "Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology" found that when healthy volunteers were given 500 mg of curcumin daily for seven days, their blood levels of oxidized cholesterol dropped by 33 percent, their total cholesterol dropped almost 12 percent and their "good" HDL cholesterol increased by 29 percent.
References
- "The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine"; Simon Mills; 1994
- "The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs: A Contemporary Introduction and Useful Manual for the World's Oldest Healing System"; Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa; 2009
- "The New Healing Herbs"; Michael Castleman; 2010
- "Human Biochemistry and Disease"; Gerald Litwack; 2008
- "Medical Herbalism: The Science Principles and Practices of Herbal Medicine"; David Hoffmann; 2003
- "Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology"; Effect of Oral Curcumin Administration on Serum Peroxides and Cholesterol Levels in Human Volunteers; K.B. Soni et al; October 1992
