Turmeric is a curry spice derived from the rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa. Turmeric has long been esteemed in India and China for its flavor and for certain medicinal uses. Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric that play a role in its therapeutic effects, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you want to use turmeric, talk to your physician whether it is safe for you to try.
Osteoarthritis
Taking 300 mg of a standardized extract of turmeric 1 to 3 times daily may improve symptoms of osteoarthritis, according to the UMMC. In a study of 107 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, researchers concluded that turmeric's action in reducing pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis is attributed to curcumin. The results were published in the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine" in August 2009.
Antimicrobial Properties
Turmeric was studied for its antimicrobial properties. In a 2009 study published in the "Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology", researchers concluded that turmeric could be potentially used for controlling Staphylococcus aureus strains -- pathogens that are responsible for many food-borne diseases.
Crohn's Disease
Chron's disease is a chronic inflammation of the intestine. It often leads to intestinal ulceration and obstruction, causing abdominal pain, fatigue, fever and diarrhea. The herbalist Frank Murray, co-author of "Turmeric and the Healing Curcuminoids," reports that aqueous extracts of turmeric may improve Crohn's disease symptoms in patients who have not improved with standard medical treatment. Supporting evidence is extremely preliminary and more research is needed.
Cancer
Turmeric is also being studied for its anti-cancer potential. The effect of turmeric on cancer cell death could be through the inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest, according to a study published in the February 2011 issue of "Molecular Cancer."
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Osteoarthritis; Steven D. Ehrlich
- "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine": Efficacy and Safety of Curcuma Domestica Extracts in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis; V.Kuptniratsaikul et al.; August 2009
- "Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology": Antimicrobial Activity of Curcuma Longa Aqueous Extract; N. Niamsa and C. Sittiwet; 2009
- "Turmeric and the Healing Curcuminoids": Muhammed Majeed, et al.; 1999
- "Molecular Cancer"; Curcumin: A Review of Anti-Cancer Properties and Therapeutic Activity in Head & Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma; R. Wilken et al.; February 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Turmeric
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