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| Turmeric By Dr John Anne Turmeric is the root (or rhizome) of the Asian plant, Curcuma longa or C. domestica (red valerian, haldi, jiang huang). When the roots are ground up, they yield a yellowish powder that resembles saffron; it is sometimes referred to as Indian saffron. Turmeric is used as a curry component and as a spice in Indian cooking, and can be used as a dye. Turmeric and its major component, curcumin, are both used as phytomedicines.
Uses and Benefits: Turmeric has been traditionally recognized in India as a flavorful, colorful condiment, and as an Ayurvedic medicine to improve appetite, act as a carminative, and treat gallstones and other biliary problems, as well as dyspepsia. It is a traditional remedy in India, China, and other Southeast Asian countries to treat asthma and colds, and is applied as an ointment, paste, or poultice for scabies, boils, bruises, insect bites, and other skin lesions. Turmeric is given orally for many other conditions, including menstrual problems, pain, epilepsy, respiratory tract infections, bleeding, diarrhea, jaundice, and rheumatic disorders. More recently, it has gained a reputation as an anti-inflammatory agent, a treatment for hypercholesterolemia, an antioxidant, and a cancer preventative, and is claimed to prevent cardiovascular and other degenerative changes of aging. Claims also are made for its value in allergy, AIDS, cataracts, and other diseases. Curcumin is added to foods such as butter and margarine to prevent oxidation and to improve the color. Pharmacology:More than 100 components have been isolated from turmeric. The main medical component of the root is a volatile oil, containing turmerone, and other coloring agents, called curcuminoids. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is the major constituent, usually found in a concentration of < 6%.5 Turmeric :;hares some compounds, such as zingiberene, with ginger, to which it is related.Turmeric components have been shown in animal studies to inhibit leukotriene biosynthesis and to inhibit cyclo-oxygenase and arachidonic acid release; anti platelet aggregation, and fibrinogenlowering properties have also been demonstrated. It has been suggested (without adequate evidence, however) that turmeric acts like a COX-2 inhibitor in the treatment of arthritis. Curcumin and other turmeric components, such as borneol, curcumene, and azulene, have been shown in animal studies to have anti-inflammatory properties and to have protective effects for hepatocytes against toxins, hepatitis C virus, and HIV. Other hepatic benefits of turmeric have been described, including inhibition of cytochrome P450 and glutathione 2-transferase; aflatoxin damage in ducklings has been reversed by curcumin.
Clinical Trials:Clinical trials have been primarily published in local journals from Asian countries. There have been no clinical studies on turmeric or curcumin from Europe or North America. Inflammation and Arthritis-In a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial from India, of 6-month duration and conducted on 42 patients with osteoarthrits, Articulin-F, an herbal mixture containing turmeric (plus ashwagandha, frankincense, and zinc) improved pain and disability scores compared to placebo. Although the results were statistically significant, the individual effect of turmeric was not evaluated and the dose of turmeric (300 mg/day) was relatively small. A "preliminary" double-blind RCT on 18 patients with rheumatoid arthritis suggested curcumin 400 mg ti.d. was as effective as phenylbutazone 100 mg t.i.d.; however, upon analyses of the results, phenylbutazone appeared more effective, and there was no adequate placebo control.
Other Indications-An open study on patients with chronic anterior uveitis evaluated 53 patients, with 21 lost to follow-up. Eighteen patients with a weak reaction to purified protein derivative (PPD) received 375 mg t.i.d. of turmeric alone for 12 weeks, versus 12 patients with a strong PPD reaction who received turmeric combined with antitubercular drugs for 1 year. The 18 patients receiving turmeric alone all improved within the initial 12 weeks, compared to 86% of the combined treatment group. After 3 years of follow-up, there was a higher recurrence rate in the turmeric group (55%) than the combination treatment group (36%), with similar rates of vision loss. The authors suggest that turmeric may be beneficial in treating chronic anterior uveitis, but the results of this non-blinded and poorly controlled study are difficult to interpret Small uncontrolled studies in India and China have reported potential effects of turmeric or curcumin in lowering serum cholesterol In an open study of 45 patients that assessed cholesterol as a secondary endpoint over 4 weeks, triglycerides were reduced, but total cholesterol was unaffected. An uncontrolled pilot study in India involving 814 patients reported that a paste of turmeric combined with neem was beneficial to treat scabies. Adverse EffectsEncapsulated turmeric or curcumin administered in the clinical trials was well tolerated; side effects were qenerally similar to placebo. In one trial of patients with duodenal ulcers, a burning sensation was reported twice as often in Ihe turmeric group than in the placebo group (13% and 7%, respectively). There are rare cases of allergic contact dermatitis reported. Side Effects and Interactions: Turmeric has anti platelet effects in vitro, which could have an additive effect with anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs. However, antiplatelet effects have not been demonstrated in vivo, and no adverse effects or interactions have been reported in the clinical trials or from individual cases. Cautions:The safety of the herb (especially the turmeric extract, curcumin) in pregnancy and during breast feeding has not been determined. Its choleretic effect may, in theory, cause an increase in symptoms in patients with gallbladder or biliary disease, but this has not been reported in humans, and the effect is unlikely. Preparations & Doses:Turmeric is used in foods, and is readily available as powders or capsules. Various extracts containing curcumin are available in liquid form or in proprietary mixtures. In the clinical trials, turmeric root or powder preparations were administered in a dose of 1-6 g/day, typically divided three times daily, whereas doses of about 400 mg t.i.d. of curcumin were used. Quality turmeric products are allegedly standardized to contain not less than 3% curcumin, and not less than 3% volatile oils. Much larger amounts of curcumin can be administered than turmeric; the usual dose of 1200 mg/day of curcumin is equal to about 40 g/day of turmeric (containing 3% curcumin). A heaping teaspoon of powdered turmeric is about 4 g. Summary EvaluationTurmeric is a valued spicy condiment that has been traditionally used to improve digestion and to treat dyspepsia and inflammatory disorders. Turmeric and its major component, curcumin, are also promoted as antioxidants; cancer, HIV, and hypercholesterolemia treatments; and cardiovascular disease preventatives. However, controlled clinical trials are either lacking for these indications or have not shown convincingly positive results. A clinical benefit has not been demonstrated for peptic ulcer disease, and one study was inconclusive for dyspepsia. Controlled trials for arthritis and inflammation also do not adequately demonstrate beneficial effects. Other uses have not been evaluated in controlled clinical trials. By Dr John Anne Read more about the benefits of Triphala. Also find Herbal Colon Cleansing at http://www.ayurvediccure.com - World's Finest Portal on Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Treatments | |||
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