7 Awesome Health Benefits of Turmeric

By Herbalist M Salim Khan

What is turmeric? Turmeric is a bright yellow root that has been used for thousands of years as a spice in curries. It has also been referenced in many ancient medical traditions, such as Tibb, Chinese and Ayurveda. Essentially, turmeric is a compound obtained from the rhizome of an Asian herbaceous plant and used as a yellow food colouring and spice, usually in traditional curries.

How does Turmeric Work? The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which is a yellow pigment found in the root of the plant Curcuma longa. It’s also known as Indian saffron and has been used since ancient times in India, China, Africa, Europe and North America. Curcumin has been hailed to possess properties that can help prevent many diseases, including many serious and long-term ones.

What Is Curcumin? Turmeric is one of the most researched herbs in medicine, and curcumin is by far the most studied ingredient in it. Curcumin, a phytochemical found in turmeric, contains a unique chemical structure with potent antioxidant activity and a wide array of health benefits. Curcumin has many powerful biological properties. Research suggests that turmeric can reduce the risk of cancer, improve liver function and help with inflammation and pain.

What are the health benefits of Turmeric? There are plenty of health benefits of turmeric. These include better skin quality and anti-inflammatory properties. People use turmeric in a variety of ways to help improve their overall health and lifestyle quality. Mentioned below are some of the many benefits of turmeric.

First Health Benefit of Turmeric Turmeric can improve liver function Turmeric can help fight free radicals with its antioxidant properties. Hence why it has been known to help prevent liver damage, particularly caused by overuse of potent medicines. Source: medicalnewstoday.com

Second Health Benefit of Turmeric Turmeric can aid digestion Turmeric is good for a person's digestive system, thanks to the powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory capabilities. In fact this essence that gives curry powder its distinct taste can improve the body's ability to digest food. There is adequate data available to indicate that turmeric is undoubtedly good for the gut.

Third Health Benefit of Turmeric Potential protection from Alzheimer's and Arthritis A number of research studies have shown that it works just as well for reducing joint inflammation and pain. Turmeric has been traditionally used for hundreds of years by people from India in the Ayurveda system of medicine as a natural remedy for the many different symptoms that come with arthritis and joint pain.

Fourth Health Benefit of Turmeric Turmeric can improve brain health While there has yet to be conclusive evidence as to whether or not curcumin actually does positively affect the human brain, recent studies seem to indicate that taking these supplements may help prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease and dementia. Source: forbes.com

Fifth Health Benefit of Turmeric Turmeric can lower blood pressure Turmeric has also been said to help lower blood pressure, because it improves the function of the endothelial cells that line the pipes inside our arteries. A reduction in inflammation from curcumin may also help lower blood pressure as other studies have shown. Turmeric root has been known to help lower blood pressure in part because of its high levels of the phytochemical curcumin which has been linked to improved endothelial cell function.

Sixth Health Benefit of Turmeric Turmeric can improve skin health One of the most beneficial ingredients to ever be used in skin care products, turmeric can help nourish and protect your skin from harmful external factors. It’s been used in traditional Indian medicine for centuries as a way to treat a number of physical ailments, including several related to the skin. The external colour of turmeric is what usually attracts the eye. It’s hard to ignore its yellow-orange hue and earthy scent. Known for its anti-inflammatory benefits, it has also been used to treat skin conditions such as skin rashes and eczema in natural home remedies that some say are gentler on sensitive skin than the ones you can find off-the-shelf at your local chemist.

Seventh Health Benefit of Turmeric Turmeric can aid in cancer Studies on cancer cells in the lab have shown that curcumin may have anti-cancer properties. At high concentrations, it seems to be able to kill cancer cells and prevent new ones from growing. It has the best effect on breast cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer and skin cancer cells. Though it is a powerful antioxidant, there is no medically established evidence to show that either turmeric or curcumin can prevent or remedy cancer. Source: cancerresearchuk.org

Contraindications Known for a large number of its health benefits, it's no wonder that turmeric is popular among different regions of the world. However, some side effects can be experienced from it, especially from overuse. Some participants in studies with turmeric had reportedly developed stomach irritation. This was due to the fact that curcumin causes more gastric acid production which can be difficult for some people to tolerate. While the biology of turmeric may be beneficial in many ways, large doses can also thin the blood. It is also very hard to consume sufficient amounts to be effective with just food. While many medicinal herbs are considered natural substances that alleviate some health problems, they can also cause unexpected side effects in some individuals. So the bottomline as with everything else is not to consume it in immoderate amounts and consult a physician prior to consumption. Source: medicalnewstoday.com

How Should You Take Turmeric? It is difficult to assess a turmeric dosage due to poor solubility. It is almost always recommended that people consume turmeric through diet rather than take a specific medical dosage of this spice blend.

Conclusion The major active ingredient in the turmeric plant, curcumin, is thought to have neuroprotective and antioxidant properties; however, there are still many areas of the therapeutic effects of turmeric that need to be researched in detail before any solid conclusions can be drawn about it's benefits or side-effects.

Herbalist M. Salim Khan M.D. (M.A.) M.H. D.O. is an international authority on natural medicine - especially the universal healing tradition of Tibb [Whole-Person Healthcare & Medicine]. He has been practising herbal medicine, naturopathy, nutrition and iridology for over 40 years.

Why not study our herbal and naturopathic course: ‘Personal Transformation through Tibb Naturopathic Education’? Visit: comha.org.uk/tibb-transformation

BenefitsOfTurmeric

HealthBenefitsOfTurmeric

TurmericBenefits

TurmericHealthBenefits