| urmeric medicinal uses are many. It was one of | | | | plaques that cause Alzheimer’s. |
| the staple medicines used in the ancient Ayurvedic | | | | Many of these turmeric medicinal uses are still |
| practice, which is still alive and well in India and | | | | being studied, but one of the largest fields of |
| other parts of the world. Its traditional use has | | | | study is in the area of cancer treatment and |
| been evaluated by modern scientists. They have | | | | prevention. The active component of turmeric, |
| found that the ancient uses were correct, but | | | | called curcumin, kills cancer cells, without being |
| they have also learned that there is more to this | | | | toxic to healthy cells that surround it. |
| compound than meets the eye. | | | | This is exciting news, but in order for curcumin to |
| Ayurvedic practitioners were some of the first to | | | | perform this magic, it must be able to enter the |
| use surgery and they had a good understanding | | | | bloodstream and researchers have shown that |
| of the workings of the human body, but they | | | | only small amount of curcumin are absorbed when |
| were, of course limited by what they could see. | | | | turmeric is eaten. So, what does one do, if they |
| There investigations were held back somewhat | | | | want the benefits of curcumin, without visiting the |
| during a reign that forbid them from performing | | | | doctor every day for injections? There is no |
| surgery. But, until that time, they were able to | | | | doctor that I know of that provides daily |
| perform autopsies and they understood the | | | | injections, but an enteric coating and the inclusion |
| functions of many of the organs of the body. | | | | of piperine increases the absorption of curcumin |
| They did not understand that the cause of many | | | | supplements. |
| diseases were microscopic bacteria or viruses. | | | | As time goes by, we may learn about other |
| They knew nothing of free radicals or amyloids. | | | | turmeric medicinal uses. We now know that taking |
| We are still limited, to a certain extent, by what | | | | some plant extracts reduces the risk of |
| we can see. There are things that are smaller | | | | degenerative eye diseases, like glaucoma. We also |
| than molecules, atoms and DNA strands. We are | | | | know that others reduce the risk of heart |
| still unsure about the roles that those things play. | | | | disease, by reducing plaque buildup and increasing |
| We are sure that there are many turmeric | | | | the longevity of heart cells. Resveratrol is one |
| medicinal uses. It can help relieve many digestive | | | | example of a plant compound that allows heart |
| disorders including common problems like | | | | cells to live longer. |
| gassiness and bloating, as well as more serious | | | | The bottom line is that there is no single |
| conditions, such as colitis and inflammatory bowel | | | | supplement that is any more effective than |
| disease. | | | | another. Your best bet is to take a |
| In the liver, it may help shrink inflamed ducts and | | | | multi-ingredient supplement. Now, that you know a |
| rid the organ of toxins that build up there. In the | | | | little more about the turmeric medicinal uses, you |
| heart, it may prevent blockage of the arteries | | | | might want to learn about some other extracts. |
| and reduce levels of LDL or bad cholesterol. In the | | | | It’s worth your while. |
| brain, it may prevent the buildup of amyloids, the | | | | |