Turmeric For Your Health : A Potent
Natural Anti-Inflammatory
Turmeric is a strong,
bitter-tasting spice that is very popular in India as a seasoning for
cooking. Turmeric is commonly used in curries and is ground from the
dried root of Curcumalonga, a plant in the ginger family that is native
to Southeast Asia.
Turmeric has been used for thousands of years as a
dye, a flavoring and a medicinal herb. In India, it has been used
traditionally as a remedy for stomach and liver ailments, as well as
topically to heal sores. Ancient Indian medicine has touted turmeric as
an herb with the ability to provide glow and luster to skin as well as
vigor and vitality to the entire body.
As a flavoring, turmeric has antiseptic properties
that make it useful as a natural preservative. These antiseptic
properties are related to turmeric’s medicinal uses, making
it an effective remedy for coughs and colds. It is also thought to be
an excellent general tonic, as well as a diuretic, expectorant and
blood purifier.
Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties that
make it useful as a pain reliever. Pastes made from turmeric powder are
used to treat sprains and swelling, skin disorders and insect bites. It
can also be used as a mouth rinse to treat pain caused by dental
problems.
Turmeric can be used to treat gastrointestinal
problems like diarrhea, flatulence, and even worms. Rich in iron,
turmeric is also used to treat anemia. People with asthma can use
turmeric powder to prevent attacks by taking the powder with warm
water.
The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin.
Standardized extracts of turmeric that are used for medicinal purposes
should contain 5% curcumin. It is available in capsules and tinctures,
and it can also be used in dried, powdered form or as a cut root. Some
herbalists recommend taking turmeric with bromelain, which is said to
help the body absorb and use turmeric, particularly as an
anti-inflammatory agent.
In fact, many bromelain formulas contain turmeric.
The recommended dosage of standardized capsules is 400 to 600 mg, three
times per day. The dosage for tinctures is 15 to 30 drops per day. In
powdered form, the recommended amount is1000 to 3000 mg per day, and
the cut root should be consumed in amounts of 1500 to 3000 mg per day.
Turmeric can be taken safely at recommended doses,
but extended or excessive use has been known to upset the stomach and
potentially cause gastric ulcers. It has not been determined whether
turmeric is safe for pregnant women, and people with gallstones or bile
duct obstructions should not use it.
There are some possible interactions between
turmeric and certain medications, specifically, blood thinners and
anti-inflammatory drugs. People taking either of these types of
medications should therefore use turmeric with caution.
|
As far as vitamins, minerals, and natural
supplements go, I always recommend the Xtend-Life brand. A New Zealand
based-company with a passion for developing excellent products and
backing them up with stellar customer service, I highly recommend you
visit their web site and investigate their offerings.
Visit the Xtend-Life
web site! (Link will open in a new window... you will not
lose your place here!)
|
Have you been the victim of
a product that makes exaggerated claims? Launch a complaint!
US visitors should submit a complaint to the US Federal
Trade Commission!
Canadians, submit a complaint at the Canadian
Competition Bureau!
Back
to vitamins and minerals home!
|
SEARCH SITE
