Herb of the month - Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Turmeric is probably best known as the bright yellow powder providing colour and flavour to curries. The powder is produced from the rhizomes of the Curcuma longa plant. The intense yellow colour is provided by the flavonoid curcumin. Turmeric also contains essential oil, bitter principles, resins and carotene.

With a long history of use as a herbal medicine in China and India, Turmeric has traditionally been used for hepatitis and jaundice, digestive problems such as indigestion, heartburn and colic, and for inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. Research has also confirmed the usefulness of turmeric as an antioxidant, a platelet aggregation inhibitor and a hypocholesterolaemic agent.

Turmeric increases stomach secretions thereby improving digestion, particularly of proteins. Taken regularly whole turmeric protects the stomach and may help prevent stomach ulcers by increasing secretion of mucous by stomach mucosa. Herbalists generally prefer the use of whole plant extracts. However, curcumin has been extracted and researched as a separate product. While curcumin has useful properties similar to the whole turmeric extract, researchers have indicated that large doses of the curcumin extract should not be used when there is active stomach inflammation because it has been shown to irritate gastric mucosa and may suppress mucous production, which may aggravate the inflammatory condition.

Turmeric also increases bile production helping the liver cleanse the blood of impurities. This can be a very useful therapeutic aid in a variety of conditions.

Both the essential oil and curcumin have been found to have an anti-inflammatory action comparable to that of hydrocortisone. Regular, daily consumption of turmeric should help to improve joint problems such as morning stiffness, joint swelling and pain with movement.

When turmeric is applied to skin, as a paste with water or aloe vera gel, it has useful anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties. It can therefore be beneficial for acne, eczema, psoriasis, cuts and wounds, and fungal infections such as athlete’s foot. Take care with the strength and duration of the application when using turmeric topically as it can stain skin yellow.

Turmeric may also be useful for hypersensitivities such as asthma and hayfever because it can stabilize mast cells, thereby reducing reaction to airborne allergens.

Research on the anti-inflammatory effects of turmeric or curcumin extracts have shown promising results for a variety of other conditions including IBS, dyspepsia, post-operative inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease and pancreatitis.

Current scientific interest in turmeric focuses on its potential as a cancer preventative agent, especially of the bowel, cervix and liver. Its antioxidant properties may have a role here, though turmeric has also been shown to increase the number of cancer-fighting cells produced.

Turmeric can be taken as a tincture, infusion, or the powder (1 to 2 tsp per day) can be simply mixed with water and drunk. Turmeric may be available as tablets or capsules, or as a standardized (curcumin) extract. It may be added to foods such as rice, mashed potato, stews, soups or casseroles. I have heard it is good mixed with peanut butter.

Black pepper increases the absorption of turmeric.

Cautions
Turmeric in medicinal doses should be avoided in pregnancy because of its potential emmenogogue action.

Don’t use turmeric if you have a stomach ulcers (curcumin product), an obstructed bile duct or gallstones. Avoid the use of large doses of turmeric if you are taking anticoagulants or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. The additive blood thinning effects may increase the risk of bleeding.

Please consult an experienced qualified herbalist for more information.


Research
In combination with ginger and ashwaghanda, turmeric was significantly superior to placebo in treatment of osteoarthritis of the knees (Chopra et al, 2004 - Journal of Clinical Rheumatology 10(5):236)

A glossary of herb actions is available on my website.