HowStuffWorks. (2014). Tumeric. Retrieved from: http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/botany/turmeric-info.htm
Christie, D. (2014). Top 5 Benefits of Tumeric. Retrieved from: http://www.harboursidefitness.com.au/blog-post/top-5-benefits-of-turmeric/
Botanical Name: Curcuma longa
Common name: Tumeric, Indian saffron, jianghuang (Chinese), shati (Sanskrit) (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 900)
Family: Zingeberaceae (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 901)
Parts used: root and rhizome Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 901)
Quality: Pungent, bitter, astringent, heating (Pole, 2006, p. 282). In Ayurvedic medicine the herb is used to dry damp and move stagnation in the blood (Pole, 2006, p. 282).
History/Folklore: Native to India and South-East Asia, Tumeric has been recorded in medical texts dating back to 600BC (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 900).
Constituents: Essential oil (sesquiterpene ketones, zingiberene, phellandrene, sabinene, cineole and borneol); Yellow pigments “diarylheptanoids” or “curcuminoids” (incl. curcumin) (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 901).
Yellow pigment curcumin has been shown to influence transcription factors, cytokines, growth factors, kinases and other enzymes (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 900).
Actions
- Anti-inflammatory (Bone & Mills, 2013, pp. 902-903; Pole, 2006, p. 282)
- Anti-platelet (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 903; Pole, 2006, p. 282)
- Antioxidant (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 904; Pole, 2006, p. 282)
- Hepatoprotective (Bone & Mills, 2013, pp. 904-905)
- Nephroprotective (Bone & Mills, 2013, pp. 904-905)
- Neuroprotective (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 905)
- Cardioprotective and vasoprotective (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 905)
- Hypolipidaemia (Bone & Mills, 2013, pp. 905-906)
- Antibacterial (Pole, 2006, p. 282; Zorotchian Moghadamtousi, Abdul Kadir, Hassandarvish, Tajik, Abubakar & Zandi, 2014, p. 2)
- Antimicrobial (Bone & Mills, 2013, pp. 906-907)
- Antiparasitic (Bone & Mills, 2013, pp. 907)
- Antiviral (Zorotchian Moghadamtousi et al., 2014, pp. 2-3)
- Antiparasitic (Zorotchian Moghadamtousi et al., 2014, p. 2)
- Antitumor (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 908)
- Anti-depressant (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 909)
- Radioprotective (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 910)
- Antiallergic (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 910)
- Emmenagogue (Pole, 2006, p. 282)
- Blood tonic (Pole, 2006, p. 282)
- Carminative (Pole, 2006, p. 282)
- Alterative (Pole, 2006, p. 282)
- Vulunary (Pole, 2006, p. 282)
- Anti-carcinogenic (Pole, 2006, p. 282)
- TCM specific: blood and qi tonifier with analgesic properties (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 900).
Indications
- Cancer prevention (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 907)
- Cystic fibrosis (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 909)
- HIV/AIDS (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 910)
- One human trial exhibited an increase in CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte counts (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 910)
- Another human trial showed relief of HIV-associated chronic diarrhoea (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 910)
- Eye disorders (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 911)
- Genetic diseases (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 911)
- Alzehimer’s disease (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 916)
- Skin conditions (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 916)
- Candida (Zorotchian Moghadamtousi et al., 2014, p. 7)
- Helicobacter pylori (Zorotchian Moghadamtousi et al., 2014, p. 8)
Dosage & Preparation:
- Liquid extract (1:1): 5-14mL/day
- 4g powdered tumeric mixed with water/1-2 day
(Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 901)
Cautions
- Doses > 15g/day should not be administered long term or in conjunction with anti-platelet or anti-coagulant medication (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 917)
- Individuals complaining of hair loss (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 917)
- Women trying to conceive (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 917)
- Pregnancy (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 918)
Contraindications
- Biliary tract obstruction (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 917)
- In Ayurvedic medicine the herb is contraindicated in high vāta and pitta (Pole, 2006, p. 283).
- Acute jaundice and hepatitis (Pole, 2006, p. 283).
Combinations
- For liver congestion: combine with kutki, bhumiamalaki and pippali (Pole, 2006, p. 283)
- Small amounts of long/black pepper enhances anti-inflammatory activity of turmeric (Pole, 2006, p. 283)
- For congestion of the lower abdomen and menstrual imbalance: combine with guggulu, mustaka and purnarnava (Pole, 2006, p. 283)
Interactions: Turmeric may potentiate effects of anti-platelet or anticoagulant medications (Bone & Mills, 2013, p. 918).