Side Effects of Turmeric / Turmeric Benefits  / Benefits of Turmeric / Turmeric Health Benefits

The most obvious side effect of turmeric must be that it can color your hands, teeth and tongue yellowish orange for a short period of time when the turmeric is processes or eaten. Other side effects of turmeric are more complex and require a deeper look into the plant its chemical contents, its historic use in Asian medicine, and current research.

-  Turmeric is considered safe for most adults.
-  High doses or long-term use of turmeric may cause indigestion.
-  In animals, high doses of turmeric have caused liver problems. No cases of liver problems have been reported in humans.
-  People with gallbladder disease should avoid using turmeric as a dietary supplement.

Turmeric Benefits  / Benefits of Turmeric / Turmeric Health Benefits

Turmeric is used in Ayurvedic Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine to cure, control, and or reduce the chances of:
Alzheimers Disease, Hepatitis C, Arthritis, microbial infections, fevers, allergies, sinusitis, gastritis, colitis, kidney disease, phlebitis, tuberculosis , autoimmune disorders, diabetes, diarrhea, and liver diseases. Turmeric is also taken as a anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and a antioxidant remedy. Turmeric paste is also used to calm the stomach, relieve irritation of insect stings, to regulate fat metabolism, and to help the healing process of chickenpox and smallpox.
 

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Turmeric, a shrub related to ginger, is grown throughout India, other parts of Asia, and Africa. Known for its warm, bitter taste and golden color, turmeric is commonly used in fabric dyes and foods such as curry powders, mustards, and cheeses. It should not be confused with Javanese turmeric.
 

Common Names—turmeric, turmeric root, Indian saffron
Latin Names—Curcuma longa

Turmeric is a plant in the same family as ginger (Curcuma longa). Although the leaves stems and flowers of turmeric are used in South Asian cooking it is primarily the tuber (rhizome) that is used in medicine.

Chemicals in Turmeric

Curcumin C₂₁H₂₀O₆

_{How its used}

In places where fresh turmeric is not readily available Turmeric's finger-like underground stems (rhizomes) are dried and taken by mouth as a powder or in capsules, teas, or liquid extracts. In Southern Asian countries Turmeric is used fresh in cooking by making a pastes out of the rhizome.

Preliminary findings from animal and laboratory studies suggest that a chemical found in turmeric—called curcumin—may have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties

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* In traditional Chinese medicineA whole medical system that originated in China. It is based on the concept that disease results from disruption in the flow of qi and imbalance in the forces of yin and yang. Practices such as herbs, meditation, massage, and acupuncture seek to aid healing by restoring the yin-yang balance and the flow of qi. and Ayurvedic medicineA whole medical system that originated in India. It aims to integrate the body, mind, and spirit to prevent and treat disease. Therapies used include herbs, massage, and yoga., turmeric has been used to aid digestion and liver function, relieve arthritis pain, and regulate menstruation.
* Turmeric has also been applied directly to the skin for eczema and wound healing.
* Today, turmeric is used for conditions such as heartburn, stomach ulcers, and gallstones. It is also used to reduce inflammation, as well as to prevent and treat cancer.


How Turmeric Is Used

Turmeric's finger-like underground stems (rhizomes) are dried and taken by mouth as a powder or in capsules, teas, or liquid extracts. Turmeric can also be made into a paste and used on the skin.

What the Science Says

* There is little reliable evidence to support the use of turmeric for any health condition because few clinical trials have been conducted.
* Preliminary findings from animal and laboratory studies suggest that a chemical found in turmeric—called curcumin—may have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, but these findings have not been confirmed in people.
* NCCAM-funded investigators are studying the active chemicals in turmeric and their effects—particularly anti-inflammatory effects—in people to better understand how turmeric might be used for health purposes.


Side Effects and Cautions


 

R21 AT003614-02S1 Efficacy of Turmeric Extract in Prevention of Post-menopausal Osteoporosis Funk, Janet L University of Arizona AZ

Effect of Turmeric on Diabetic Nephropathy - current reaserch

Feb 2008 - National Cancer Institute - In pilot studies, the researchers administered selenium and curcumin (an ingredient in the spice turmeric) at various times to mice with implanted, human-derived prostate tumors. They found differences in the degree of inhibition of tumor growth depending on the time of administration and identified potential tumor markers that might explain this effect.
http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/NCI_Cancer_Bulletin_021908/allpages/print

Toxicity of Turmeric Oil - http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/?objectid=BC9ED882-123F-7908-7BF10E8467FA3B71