Page 19 - NAMAH-Apr-2018

Namah Turmeric: a natural anti-inflammatory tonic

powder producing a bitter, slightly acrid, yet Chinese medicine, turmeric is considered a
sweet, taste. bitter digestive and a carminative. Yunaann (the
term for Perso-Arabic traditional medicine as
Active constituents practiced in Mughal India and in the Muslim
culture of south Asia and modern day central
The rhizome or the root part of turmeric Asia) practitioners also use turmeric to
is the part used medicinally. More than expel phlegm or kapha, as well as to open
100 components have been isolated from blood vessels in order to improve blood
turmeric. The main component of the root circulation. It can be incorporated into foods,
is a volatile oil, containing turmerone and including rice and bean dishes, to improve
there are other colouring agents called digestion and reduce gas and bloating. It is
curcuminoids in turmeric. Curcuminoids a cholagogue, stimulating bile production in
consist of curcumin demethoxycurcumin, the liver and encouraging excretion of bile via
5’-methoxycurcumin, and dihydrocurcumin, the gallbladder, which improves the body’s
which are found to be natural antioxidants ability to digest fats. Sometimes turmeric,
(1,2). The yellow-pigmented curcuminoids mixed with milk or water, is taken to treat
represent 2 -5% of the root, typically 85% as intestinal disorders as well as colds and sore
curcumin, 10% as demethoxycurcumin and throats.
5% as disdemethodoxyycurcumin. Curcumin
is the most studied component. Uses in modern medicine

Traditional medicines Scientific research over the past 50 years, has
demonstrated that curcumin (diferuloylmethane),
In AAyurvedic medicine, turmeric is thought a component of turmeric (Curcuma longa),
to have many medicinal properties, including can modulate cell signalling pathways.
strengthening the overall energy of the body, Extensive clinical trials have been conducted
relieving gas, dispelling worms, improving addressing pharmacokinetics, safety and
digestion, regulating menstruation, dissolving efficacy against several diseases in humans.
gallstones and relieving arthritis. Many south Certain promising effects have been observed
Asian countries use it as an antiseptic for cuts, in patients with various pro-inflammatory
burns and bruises, and as an anti-bacterial diseases such as arthritis, cancer (brain,
agent, for respiratory conditions (e.g. asthma, breast, colon, prostate, colorectal, pancreatic,
bronchial hyperactivity and allergy), as well melanoma) cardiovascular disease, diabetes,
as for liver disorders, anorexia, rheumatism, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable
diabetic wounds, runny nose, cough and bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer, gastric ulcer,
sinusitis (3). In traditional Chinese medicine, gastric inflammation, psoriasis, acute coronary
it is used to treat diseases associated with syndrome, atherosclerosis, lupus, nephritis,
abdominal pain (4). renal conditions, vitiligo, AIDs, chronic arsenic
exposure , alcohol intoxication and hepatic
From ancient times, as prescribed by AAyurveda, conditions (6).
turmeric has been used to treat sprains and
swelling (5). In both AAyurvedic and traditional In dose escalating studies, turmeric has been

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