Turmeric Root

Description

In Tamil Nadu, turmeric has been used traditionally for thousands of years as a remedy for stomach and liver ailments, as well as topically to heal sores, basically for its supposed antimicrobial property.In the Siddha system (since c. 1900 BCE) turmeric was a medicine for a range of diseases and conditions, including those of the skin, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal systems, aches, pains, wounds, sprains, and liver disorders. A fresh juice is commonly used in many skin conditions, including eczema, chicken pox, shingles, allergy, and scabies.

Manjal Pal (turmeric milk) is warm milk mixed with some turmeric powder. It is commonly used in Tamil Nadu as a home remedy when someone is suffering from fever. Turmeric paste is often used in Tamil Nadu as an antiseptic in open wounds, while chun-holud (turmeric with slaked lime) is used to stop bleeding as home remedies. It is also used as a detanning agent in Tamil Nadu.

The active compound curcumin is believed to have a wide range of biological effects including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumour, antibacterial, and antiviral activities, which indicate potential in clinical medicine. In Chinese medicine, it is used for treatment of various infections and as an antiseptic.

Turmeric root powder has a strong reputation as a medicinal herb and anti-inflammatory agent. It relies on its volatile oil for its actions and increases the production of enzymes in the liver that metabolize toxins.

According to various basic research studies,administration of turmeric or curcumin, an active component of turmeric, can suppress several stages of cancer development in multiple tumor models.One study of curcumin on human cancer cells in vitro used hybrid molecules with the anti-nausea drug thalidomide to induce apoptosis in myeloma cancer cells.Curcumin has also been shown to be a vitamin D receptor ligand “with implications for colon cancer chemoprevention.”

Although trials are ongoing for the use of turmeric to treat cancer, doses needed for any effect are difficult to establish in humans.

Some research shows compounds in turmeric to have anti-fungal and antibacterial properties; however, curcumin is not one of them.

As of December 2013, turmeric is being evaluated for its potential efficacy against several human diseases in clinical trials, including kidney and cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, several types of cancer and irritable bowel disease. Turmeric is also being investigated for potential treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and other clinical disorders.^

Active Compounds: Curcumin, Resin, Volatile oil, Bitter principles

Best By: Our Herbs have a 3-year expiration date. This is based on the date of manufacture.

Herbs do not spoil, but they do lose their strength. The degradation rate of herbs depends also on the storage conditions of the herb. Store Away From Heat, Light and Moisture.

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