Name: Turmeric
Latin Name: Curcuma Longa
Pin Yin: Jiang Huang
Location: Asia and other countries with a tropical climate

Overview: Over the last several years, there has been increasing interest in turmeric and its medicinal properties. This is partially evidenced by the large numbers of scientific studies published on this topic. Turmeric (Curcuma longa), a flowering plant in the ginger family, is widely used as a food coloring and is one of the principal ingredients in curry powder. Turmeric has long been used in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine as an anti-inflammatory, to treat digestive disorders and liver problems, and for the treatment of skin diseases and wound healing. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which has been the subject of numerous animal studies—but as of yet, very few studies on people—demonstrating various medicinal properties. Curcumin has been shown, for example, to stimulate the production of bile and to facilitate the emptying of the gallbladder. It has also demonstrated in animals a protective effect on the liver, anti-tumor action, and ability to reduce inflammation and fight certain infections.

History: Turmeric is a very important herb in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. A symbol of prosperity, it was considered a cleansing herb for the whole body. Medically, it was used as a digestive aid and treatment for fever, infections, dysentery, arthritis, and jaundice and other liver problems. Traditional Chinese physicians used turmeric to treat liver and gallbladder problems, stop bleeding, and treat chest congestion and menstrual discomforts. The ancient Greeks were well aware of turmeric. It had been used to make yellow-orange dyes.

Primary Uses:

Parts Used: Rhizome, tubers

Safety: The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain active substances that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a practitioner knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine.

Turmeric and curcumin are considered safe when taken at the recommended doses. However, extended or excessive use of curcumin may produce stomach upset and, in extreme cases, ulcers. (Note: normal therapeutic doses of turmeric protect from ulcers – see earlier discussion – but, at very high doses, it may induce ulcers. This is why it is very important to stick with the recommended dose of this herbal remedy.) Turmeric should not be taken by those who have been diagnosed with gallstones or obstruction of the bile passages without explicit direction from a qualified practitioner.

While pregnant women needn't avoid foods containing turmeric, its use as a medicinal herb is not recommended during pregnancy because the effects are not fully known. Studies in pregnant rats, mice, guinea pigs, and monkeys suggest that it is safe for those animals, but safety in pregnant women has not been tested.

Supporting Research:

• It was observed that all three treatment modalities decreased the number of micronucleated cells both in exfoliated oral mucosal cells and in circulating lymphocytes. TOR was found to be more effective in reducing the number of Mn in oral mucosal cells (P < 0.001), but in circulating lymphocytes the decrease in Mn was comparable in all three groups.¹
• These results also appeared to reveal that curcumin was more effective in attenuating diabetes mellitus related changes than turmeric.²
• It may further be added that while the control groups of guinea pigs recorded a loss of weight (average 2 4 g) at 168 hr, the group receiving both phenylbutazone and curcuma longa id not record loss of weight of any significance.³
• http://www.culinarycafe.com/Spices_Herbs/Turmeric.html
• http://www.organicfood.co.uk/herbs/turmeric.html
• http://www.healthandage.com/html/res/com/ConsHerbs/Turmericch.html
• Efficacy of turmeric on blood sugar and polyol pathway in diabetic albino rats. National Library of Medicine

¹Hastak K, Lubri N, Jakhi SD, More C, John A, Ghaisas SD, Bhide SV., Swami Prakashananda Ayurveda Research Centre, Juhu, Mumbai, India, [Effect of turmeric oil and turmeric oleoresin on cytogenetic damage in patients suffering from oral submucous fibrosis.], Cancer Lett. 1997 Jun 24;116(2):265-9.

²Arun N, Nalini N., Department of Biochemistry, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu, India., [Efficacy of turmeric on blood sugar and polyol pathway in diabetic albino rats.], Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2002 Winter;57(1):41-52.

³S.R. DASGUPTA, M. SINHA, C.C. SAHANA, AND B.P. MUKHERJEE, Department of Pharmacology, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy Post-Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University Collegs of Medicine, Calcutta University, Calcutta.,[ A STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF AN EXTRACT OF CURCUMA LONGA (LINN.) ON EXPERIMENTAL GASTRIC ULCERS IN ANIMALS].