Turmeric. Is It a Spice or Medicine?
Turmeric is one of the main spices used in Indian cooking. But recently it is being closely investigated for its medicinal properties and uses.
Turmeric has been used for centuries for treating a wide range of ailments such as inflammations, congestion, diarrhoea, fever, liver problems, urinary problems, menstrual disorders, colds, arthritic and joint pain. It is also used as a tonic, stimulant and diuretic.
Curcumin, a constituent of turmeric, is being tested in treatments for more major ailments such as melanoma, Alzheimer’s and breast cancer.
Initially, curcumin has proved successful in killing and stopping cancer cell growth under laboratory conditions using rats and mice and the next step is to use the treatments with people.
Curcumin has also proved effective in preventing some side effects of exposure to radiation that could be of great importance to those people who undergo radiation treatment for cancer.
There are lots of Internet articles about the medicinal uses of turmeric. If you want to read more, you can start with the following links.
Curcumin to Kill and Stop the Growth of Skin Cancer Cells
Curry Spice May Counter Alzheimer’s
Curry Spice Found to Fight Cancer
Curry Spice May Curb Alzheimer’s
Curry Spice Takes Burn Out Of Radiation
Curry spice may fight decline in brain function
Curry Spice May Fight Alzheimer’s
Turmeric: from kitchen cabinet to medicine chest
Turmeric. Traditional medicine
It appears that turmeric is a medicine as well as a spice. And it is a very versatile medicine indeed.
November 6th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
[…] This is the second article in a short series about your health and Indian curry spices. The first article, called “Turmeric. Is It a Spice or Medicine??” and you can read it here. […]
November 18th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
[…] Earlier this month we wrote about how curcumin, one of the components of turmeric, was being investigated for its effectiveness in treating cancers. You can read the original article, titled “Is Turmeric a Spice or Medicine?”. […]
November 18th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
[…] Earlier this month we wrote about how one of the compounds in turmeric, called curcumin, is being tested for its effectiveness in fighting several types of cancer. The original article is called “Turmeric. Is It a Spice or Medicine?”. […]