Tumeric: The many benefits and uses

Tumeric is a golden spice that comes from India. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous. The proper name is Curcuma Longa. Tumeric is native to South East Asia . It grows wild in the forest of South and Southeast Asia. Tumeric is a natural botanical product. It can not be Patented. There are a lot of benefits, mostly from the chemical compounds, curcuminoids, including curcumin. Tumeric can be used to season vegetables and also meat dishes. Tumeric has a potential value in traditional medicine. Tumeric has been used for a variety of human, medical purposes. Everything from whitening teeth to curing cancer.

Tumeric as folk medicine and traditional uses has been used for centuries to treat stomach and liver aliments. Tumeric was a medicine for a range of diseases, as well as skin. When mixed with water in to a paste, it can be used topically for burns and also sores. Thanks to its antimicrobial properties. Along with these antimicrobial properties, it also has biological effects from the active ingredient Curcumin, these include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral properties. Chinese use turmeric for various infections. Tumeric paste works as an antiseptic on open wounds. Also it is used with slaked lime, to stop bleeding.

As you can see thus far turmeric has been labeled as a "miracle spice" for years. Some of the things it has been used for include:

* Skin

* Pulmonary

* Gastrointestinal systems

* liver disorders

* aches/pains

* wounds

* Sprains

These are just some of the ones I have ran across in my years of research on the healing food.

In December 2013 Tumeric started being evaluated for its potential efficacy against several human diseases, through clinical trials. You can use the search engine, in this link, to see the clinical trials, www.pubmed.gov I try and review all the new trials as they come available on this site. If you are facing any disease you can search it and see if turmeric has been shown to help in that disease. You will find that turmeric is shown to have benefits in, not only the above listed, but also :

* Kidney Health

* Cardiovascular Health

* Arthritis

* Several Cancers

* Irritable Bowel Syndrome

* Alzheimer's Dementia

* Diabetes

Various research shows turmeric to suppress several cancers in various stages of their progression. Tumeric is also know to be a vitamin D receptor ligand. Curcumin the active ingredient in turmeric is the subject of over 5600 peer-reviewed and published biomedical studies.

Tumeric, as we all can see, has many potential benefits. One may wonder what the side effects are? Well according to www.webmd.com there are a few effects and warnings:

Do not take turmeric if you:

* Are pregnant, for it may cause uterine contractions and is deemed likely unsafe for that reason.

* Have gallbladder or bile duct problems for it can worsen these issues.

* If you have gastroesophageal reflux ( GERD) it may or may not effect you, however, if it does discontinue use.

* Surgery, if you are planning on having surgery, you should discontinue use, 2 weeks prior to the procedure. Tumeric is known to thin the blood therefore, increasing risk of bleeding.

Tumeric has excellent potential , however, if you have any of the above conditions I would ask my physician for his/her opinion before taking turmeric.

Tumeric has been shown to have a number of medical properties. Even to be compared to several drugs and come out either, as well or better. As you know, when you go to the drug store to pick up a prescription, it usually comes with a page full of warning, interactions, and side effects. With turmeric having no side effects, except for the ones listed above. You may want to skip the drug store and cruise on down to the local health food store and grab a bag of ground turmeric. Tumeric has stood up to some of the most common prescriptions and came out on top. So you ask, what drugs? Well let me tell you a few:

* Lipitor/ Atorvastatin - cholesterol medicine -2008 study

* Corticosteroids- steroid medication - 1999 study

* Prozac- 2011 study

* Aspirin- 1986 study

* Anti-inflammatory drugs - 2004 study

* Oxaliplatin - chemotherapy drug - 2007 study

* Metformin- diabetes drug- 2009 study

As you can see you can take the side effects or do without and feel better with a spice. With no side effects.

So you ask, what dose? Well as I have stated previously, turmeric is safe at any dose , that is in moderation, I personally take one teaspoonful in 3 ounces of water 2 times a day. You can alter that however you see fit.

The only problem with turmeric is that it has a low bio-availability for our body's to absorb all the nutrients. It is best if you choose one of the following to take either with your turmeric or in a manner as to where it will make the most of your turmeric.

* Turmeric can be taken with a fat to increase the bio-availability ( coconut milk, flaxseed oil)

* Tumeric can be taken in unsweetened chocolate milk

* Try a spoonful of peanut butter 30 minutes before taking tumeric

* Tumeric can be taken with black pepper extract for 1000x the bio-availability

* Tumeric can be warmed and drank as a tea add a little lemon

There are several different ways that your body can reap the benefits, I personally do the peanut butter 30 minutes prior and mix turmeric in warm water and chug ! However you get your turmeric, be sure to get it . You will see and feel the benefits in a day or two of continued use.

According to www.cancer.org Tumeric may prevent or slow the growth of many cancers:

* Esophagual

* Mouth

* Intestine

* Stomach

* Breast

* Skin

Not only does turmeric prevent and slow the progression of cancers, turmeric also contains antiviral properties that interferes with HIV and hepatitis. Tumeric is believed to be beneficial in liver disease, Stimulating the gall bladder and circulatory system, reducing cholesterol, dissolving blood clots, external and internal bleeding, painful menstruation and chest pains associated with heart disease, digestive problems, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, colitis, Crohn's disease, illnesses caused from parasites and bacteria. Tumeric can relieve numerous symptoms and diseases. Tumeric will not only treat symptoms, but the underlying problems that are causing the symptoms.

* great for preventing cancer

* halting disease in their tracts

* beauty remedies

* as effective as prescriptions

* unlimited uses

Tumeric is not only good for disease prevention and treatment. There are several beauty secrets that are linked back to turmeric. Although turmeric can be a temporary staining spice, there are several recipes that create a beautiful complexion with help for wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. Tumeric has been shown to be a treatment for acne, blemishes, dark spots, wrinkles, blackheads, eczema, psoriasis, improves elasticity, sunscreen, facial cleanser, and exfoliate. Tumeric can be used in so many ways from the inside out here are a few recipes I wanted to share, thanks to http://multiculturalbeauty.about.com/od/Skincare/a/Turmeric-For-Beauty.htm

For a wrinkle reducer and skin brightener: A mixture of milk and turmeric is good for fine lines and wrinkles. Mix turmeric powder and rice powder with raw milk and tomato juice, enough to form a paste, and apply to face and neck for 30 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.

Facial cleanser for a glowing complexion: Mix a pinch of kasturi turmeric with milk. Turmeric (a natural antiseptic) with milk is also good for poison ivy, eczema and psoriasis.

Face cleanser to exfoliate and brighten skin: Mix chickpea (or rice) flour with turmeric powder in equal proportions. To save time for future treatments, store the mixture in airtight bottle. Add raw or soy milk (or yogurt) to a teaspoon of chickpea/turmeric powder to make a paste. Apply evenly to the face and leave on for about 10-15 minutes. Wash the mask off with warm water.

Facial hair reducer: Mix kasturi turmeric with chickpea flour (which is also used so that your face does not get stained.) You can also mix the turmeric with a favorite facial scrub. Leave on for 10-15 minutes. If used regularly, you should see results in about a month.

Night cream: Prepare a paste made from turmeric and milk or yogurt and apply it to your face. Allow the mask to dry and leave it on overnight. For a less messy nighttime regimen, you can add a pinch of turmeric to your favorite moisturizer or treatment product. (In both cases, be sure to use an old pillowcase and bed linen that you don’t mind staining.) Wash off the mask in the morning using a gentle cleanser.

Acne treatment: Turmeric is used for acne because of its antiseptic and antibacterial properties that fight pimples and breakouts. It removes redness from acne and other types of scarring, reduces inflammation and evens out skin discolorations. Some people drink the spice as a tea with water or milk to help prevent acne outbreaks. If turmeric tea doesn’t sound very palatable to you, try mixing turmeric with plain water or coconut or sesame oil, and dab onto blemishes and acne scars. You can also mix a small about of turmeric with lemon or cucumber juice (just a few drops to make a paste) and leave on the marks for 10-15 minutes.

Oily Skin Mask: Turmeric is good for oily skin because it helps regulate the production of sebum, an oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands. The orange juice provides fruit acid to clear blemishes and sandalwood is a natural astringent. Add about 1-½ tablespoons of sandalwood powder and a pinch of ground turmeric to 3 tablespoons of orange juice and apply the paste to the face. Leave on for about 10-15 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.

As I have said, Tumeric is great for a lot of things . I came across turmeric as I was researching for a scare. This all started 2 years ago in February. I then went on a mission to find out as much as I could about natural remedies. I had suffered with Irritable Bowel for 9 years. I ran across the benefits of turmeric and began to follow leads and eventually to clinical trials. Being in the medical field, I was a skeptic. As I continued my research I found all the evidence I needed. I have been taken turmeric for 2 years now and I must say my IBS has resided along with my anxiety and depression. I found I had more energy and my hypoglycemia had not reared it's ugly head. I was very pleased and wanted to tell the world! I started with my family, being my dad has M.S, and I wanted to help with that, I had read that it slowed the progression and in several cases lead to remission. I then went to my best friend. Though she was as skeptical as I was, after a few months of convincing, she was willing to give it a try. She suffered with IBS also and there are some things you'll try anything to improve, well that is legal. Then she was singing tumeric's praises. She then convinced her family and extended family. Well needled to say, everyone that I have got to try turmeric, after you can get passed the taste, loved it and went on to tell more and more people. Tumeric is great for everything. I use it for sinus, headaches, IBS, depression, anxiety and to heal a suspicious mole. I also had borderline high blood pressure. It was usually some where around 145/90, two weeks on the turmeric and my blood pressure now averages 102/62, almost perfect. That said, the only change I made was the turmeric. I am a firm believer that turmeric can help a lot of people that can get past the taste. I hope I have gave you some insight on how turmeric can benefit you.

Tumeric can be beneficial in many ways when taken by powder. Tumeric has several studies showing that it has the healing powers needed to survive this disease ridden world. When choosing an alternative treatment or preventive, I would only suggest that you also do the research and explore several avenues. Tumeric is a great additive to any meal. It can be added to meat and vegetable dishes. Be sure to make it bio-available through a source of your choice. Pay attention to your body and if something doesn't feel right then stop the use and see if problem subsides. If you are taking turmeric more than once a day and get a headache, be sure to lower the dose and gradually work back up to three times a day.

When starting anything new, be sure to gradually work up to your desired dosage. I have had no problems using turmeric, nor anyone I have introduced to turmeric. That said, everyone is different and I hope you can reap all the benefits of this Indian spice and spread the word to your family and friends. Here's to a healthier you.