Turmeric Root Powder
Tumeric or Turmeric also known as (Curcuma longa) is the root stalk of a tropical plant that's part of the ginger family, not to be confused with Javanese turmeric root (Curcuma zedoaria).Turmeric has been used in Asia for thousands of years and is a major part of Siddha medicine. It is commonly used in Asian food and has a warm, bitter taste. Turmeric is frequently used to flavour or colour curry powders, mustards, butters, and cheeses. The root of turmeric is also used widely to make medicine.
In Ayurvedic practices, turmeric has been used to treat a variety of internal disorders, such as indigestion, throat infections, common colds, or liver ailments, as well as topically to cleanse wounds or treat skin sores.
Turmeric is considered auspicious and holy in India and has been used in various Hindu ceremonies. It remains popular in India for weddings and religious ceremonies.
It has played an important role in Hindu spiritualism. The robes of the Hindu monks were traditionally coloured with a yellow dye made of turmeric. Because of its yellow-orange colouring, turmeric was associated with the sun or the Thirumal in the mythology of ancient Tamil religion. Yellow is the colour of the solar plexus chakra which in traditional Tamil Siddah medicine is an energy centre. Orange is the colour of the sacral chakra.
Turmeric contain compounds with medicinal properties. These compounds are called curcuminoids. One of the main components of the spice is the yellow coloured substance called Curcumin which is often used to colour foods and cosmetics.
Curcumin also has potentially healing properties.
Curcumin and other chemicals in turmeric might decrease swelling (inflammation). Because of this, turmeric has been known for treating conditions that involve inflammation.
Turmeric has also been used for many thousands of years in Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic medicine for conditions including the following:
Followers of Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine also sometimes apply turmeric to the skin for ringworm and infected wounds as it's said to have anti-bacterial properties.
Curcumin is strongly anti-inflammatory, it is so powerful that it matches the effectiveness of some anti-inflammatory drugs. Curcumin actually targets multiple steps in the inflammatory pathway at the molecular level by blocking molecules that travel into the nuclei of cells and turns on genes related to inflammation.
Curcumin is also a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals due to its chemical structure. It also boosts the activity of the body’s own antioxidant enzymes.
Turmeric benefits the many conditions normally treated by corticosteroids such as:
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Chronic pain
Various research studies have discovered that turmeric benefits go beyond that of these 10 drugs:
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Anti-depressants (Prozac)
• Anti-coagulants (Aspirin)
• Pain killers
• Diabetes drugs (Metformin)
• Arthritis medications
• Inflammatory bowel disease drugs
• Cholesterol drugs (Lipitor)
A study in 2009 in Ireland found that curcumin killed off oesophageal cancer cells in the laboratory. The researchers found that curcumin started to destroy the cancer cells within 24 hours and the cells also began to digest themselves.
Researchers in Austria and the US in 2010 suggested that curcumin may help in the fight against liver damage. It seems to delay the onset of cirrhosis. They say their work builds on previous research which has indicated that it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which may be helpful in combating disease.
A small study in Thailand in 2012 found it may help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. It found that over 9 months a daily dose of a supplement containing curcumin, seemed to prevent new cases of type 2 diabetes among certain people at risk. However, more research is needed.
Alzheimer's disease and Dementia
There are numerous studies into the effect of curcumin on Alzheimer's disease and dementia. An Indian study in 2008 suggested that curcumin can block the formation of the beta-amyloid plaques that get in the way of brain function in Alzheimer's disease More research is needed before these possible benefits are translated into a clinical setting.
Tendonitis and Arthritis
Researchers in Nottingham and Munich in 2011 found that curcumin could be helpful in treating painful inflammatory conditions, such as tendonitis and arthritis.
Their studies show that curcumin can be used to suppress biological mechanisms that spark inflammation in tendon diseases.
The researchers said it's not a cure but it may offer scientists in the future an important new lead in the treatment of the conditions.