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Turmeric
Description: Turmeric (Curcuma longa) has long been used both as a food spice and a nutritional supplement. Its active ingredient, curcumin, has many therapeutic properties. It is an antioxidant,1 an anti-inflammatory,2 and a liver protector.3
Animal studies suggest that curcumin may help to inhibit HIV.4 It also is effective in reducing post-surgical inflammation.5
Turmeric also prevents platelets from clumping within blood vessels, making it effective in the prevention of atherosclerosis.6
Herbs which act as anti-inflammatories or analgesics may be helpful in the treatment of osteoarthritis. These include turmeric. Studies of its efficacy in treating this disease have not been done, however.

Natural Sources: Turmeric used in cooking will give some medicinal value, although it is unlikely to reach the therapeutic dosage levels suggested.

Useful in treatment of: atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis.

Recommended Dosage: 400 mg three times daily.

Contraindications: Should not be taken if gallstones are present.

References:

1Ramirez-Boscá A, Soler A, Gutierrez MAC, et at. Antioxidant curcuma extracts decrease the blood lipid peroxide levels of human subjects. Age 1995;18:167–69.
2Arora RB, Basu N, Kapoor V, Jain AP. Anti-inflammatory studies on Curcuma longa (turmeric). Ind J Med Res 1971;59:1289–95.
3Kiso Y, Suzuki Y, Watanbe N, et al. Antihepatotoxic principles of Curcuma longa rhizomes. Planta Med 1983;49:185–87.
4Barthelemy S, Vergnes L, Moynier M, et al. Curcumin and curcumin derivatives inhibit Tat-mediated transactivation of type 1 human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat. Res Virol 1998;149:43–52.
5Thamlikitkul V, Bunyapraphathara N, Dechatiwongse T, et al. Randomized double-blind study of Curcuma domestica Val for dyspepsia. J Med Assoc Thai 1989;72:613–20.
6Srivastava KC, Bordia A, Verma SK. Curcumin, a major component of food spice tumeric (Curcuma longa) inhibits aggregation and alters eicosanoid metabolism in human blood platelets. Prost Leuk Essen Fat Acids. 1995;52:223–27.
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