Turmeric Benefits: Health Uses & Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Arthritis and Joint Pain
Posted by Windisea (Rancho Cucamonga, Ca, Usa) on 01/30/2010
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Hello, To everyone wondering about Tumeric.

I have been using it for about a year now in a mixture with ginger,1/2 & 1/2. I add a little cinnamon, red pepper and cardamon. I just sprinkle it into my coffee, tea and food, to taste, everyday. It doesn't taste bad this way and you do get used to it. By adding it this way it just becomes a part of your diet not something extra you have to do.

I use it for it's anti-inflammatory properties after having a major attack of arthritis. The old damage hasn't gone away but doesn't hurt as much as it did and I would say that I have experienced major improvement in the duration, frequency and intensity of the flare-ups.

HTH, Windisea


How to Take Turmeric
Posted by Nirinjan (Traverse City, Michigan) on 12/30/2009
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Golden Milk is great and cheap way to get the turmeric into the body vs. buying pills. You can make the first part, the turmeric paste, in a larger amount and store it in the refrigerator for a weeks supply. Then just add to the milk and oil. We would drink this after doing yoga for 8 hours a day and no joint pain in the morning.


Fibroids
Posted by Rapha7 (Mytown, Usa) on 01/20/2009
★★★★☆

Fibroid Tumor Remedy - Tumeric

I found out about 4 or 5 years ago that I have fibroids when having an ultrasound for something else, and over the course of that time my periods have gotten heavier, started having clots and experiencing cramps which I rarely ever got. During the heavy times I would go through a Ultra Plus tampon in 1 hour.

I don't remember if it was on EC or another site, but I read that the heavy bleeding was caused by inflammation (either the Uterus being inflammed or the fibroids)during periods and it mentioned taking Tumeric.

Someone on EC recommended Natto, and I tried that for a while, but didn't notice reduced bleeding. Then I added a sprinkling of Turmeric on the Natto. The bleeding was reduced some, but I thought it was the Natto. I ran out of Tumeric & continued with the Natto and since I didn't seem to be getting great results, and the Natto is 'Natso good' I stopped.

It wasn't until I read the article about inflammation & Tumeric, that I put 2 and 2 together & realized that what had reduced the bleeding when I was eating the Natto with Tumeric sprinkled on it was actually the Tumeric doing it's thing. To be sure, over the last couple of months I've been taking 1 large teaspoon of Tumeric in juice, at least twice a day when my period starts, & it's nothing short of a miracle. Now I can actually get 3 - 4 hours of solid sleep without having to worry about an accident. Before on heavy nights, I would sit up, so I wouldn't fall all the way to sleep, so I could get up every hour or hour and a half to change. During that time if I could get a solid 2 hours of sleep I was estatic.

Other remedies I tried was the Unsulphered Black Strap Molasses. It reduced the clots by around 90% and the iron definitely gave me an extra boost, as the heavy bleeding caused me to be anemic, but it did not reduce the bleeding.

I hope some of you ladies try this and get the results I have. Although it's not a cure, it helps make the fibroid situation bearable. Lastly, the Tumeric is bitter, but well worth the results.

Bleeding Gums
Posted by Sow_b (Sydney, Nsw) on 11/19/2009
★★★★★

Hello!

Firstly, your site is amazing!!! Thanks.

I cured my bleeding gum problem of many years by using turmeric powder as a toothpaste. I would first brush my teeth normally with toothpaste and then wash out and then my next round of brushing I use tumeric powder and apply it to the brush and start brushing away. The turmeric kills of any bacteria that lives in the gums which cause the bleeding and its great for your mouth as a whole. Whenever I used to ask my dentist how to cure my bleeding gums he would just tell me to come into his surgery for a scale and clean for the teeth which costs almost $200 australian dollars. I ignored it and it struck me that turmeric is a great anti-bacterial so that should fix my problem. I now brush this daily and my gums have never bled since, and it costs just a few dollars. Be warned, turmeric stains yellow and although this HARDLY ever affects the color of your teeth but if you want to be super sure then finish the last round of brushing using pure baking soda, this will remove any small turmeric leftover, keep your mouth in an alkeline state and super brighten your teeth!

Best of luck!

How to Take Turmeric
Posted by Briana (Chicago, Il) on 11/10/2009
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I created the following recipe because I was trying to take several superfoods listed on this site every day and I couldn't stand the taste of the Blackstrap Molasses or the Turmeric. So I drink two cups of Molasses Chai a day:

Start with 8 oz of hot water. Then add one chai tea bag (a tea blend including chai spices). While the tea steeps mix in 1 Tbsp of blackstrap molasses, 1 Tbsp of honey (raw is better), 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 2 dashes of turmeric. At this point stop to stir in the turmeric to dissolve the water soluble portion. Then add some milk (about 1/4 cup). U can substitute soy/rice milk etc. Mix in the milk and remove the tea bag. Add 1 Tbsp of coconut oil (virgin is better) and mix to dissolve turmeric in CO.

Other than looking kind of funny because it will have a yellow tinted layer of oil on the top it will taste fine. Don't forget the vanilla it masks the flavor of the molasses. If it still tastes bad to you then put in less BSM, turmeric, and/or VCO until you get used to the flavor.

Arthritis and Joint Pain
Posted by P.R. (Pineville, Nc) on 10/17/2009
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Turmeric for Crohn's disease & Arthritis

I started taking turmeric for arthritis and got my mother who is 69 taking turmeric pills as well, 600 mg per day in one pill. If I run out of pills for longer than 4-5 days my knuckles start hurting and it's hard to bend my index finger. I make sure I don't run out any longer.

My mom has been faithful about taking the turmeric pills and just recently mentioned how she thinks it is helping with her Crohn's disease. She had emergency surgery in 1992 for an obstruction and they removed a large portion of small intestines and colon. It was due to Crohn's disease but they didn't diagnose it until after the surgery.

Since the surgery in 1992, my mom has narrowed down what foods bother her to eat. She cannot digest any kind of fat. Red meats, fried foods, nothing with fat digests and if she eats anything with fat she gets bad diarrhea sometimes all night long.

Since she has been taking the turmeric she has noticed that when she cheats and eats pizza or french fries (knowing full well what she will endure later after eating those fatty foods) she has found that she isn't bothered by the fat now and doesn't get the bad diarrhea.

She does take 2 different over the counter digestive enzyme pills with fattening meals to help digest the fat but she has always taken those pills. But now with taking the turmeric pills she can eat more of what she wants to eat without any of the consequences which is a blessing since she is so thin.

Hope this helps someone else. Reading this site has helped me and my family out tremendously. I encourage everyone to give feedback. You never know when it might help someone.


Turmeric During Pregnancy
Posted by Paritp (Los Angeles, Ca) on 10/07/2009
★★★★★

Yes, it is absolutely safe to have turmeric....coming from india...i use turmeric everyday in my cooking...even during my pregnancy......Actually i had bad cold during my 2nd trimester and i would put 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder in warm milk and drink it..it is very good for colds n coughs and also good for the baby.....


Turmeric During Pregnancy
Posted by Marie (Manistique, Michigan) on 10/06/2009

I just found out I'm pregnant and want to make sure that Turmeric will not adversely affect the baby or pregnancy in any way. Is there such a thing as taking too much? Or are there any known problems it could cause? My husband takes turmeric & ginger for arthritis pain and it has done WONDERS for him! We buy it from the spice section in bulk and pre-mix it 50/50. He takes a few spoonfuls a day with a glass of water. I have read so many great benefits of turmeric that I am hopeful it will work for allergies and sinus problems. My main concern is it being safe for the baby...

Allergies
Posted by Rebekah (Athens, Ga) on 09/01/2009
★★★★★

WOW. For about 3 weeks now I have been taking 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric every day. My allergies are GONE. It worked in a matter of days. It works so well that I can hardly remember how bad my allergies used to be. I know that I was miserable and I was trying all kinds of over-the-counter crap from the pharmacy that wasn't working or made me feel worse. But turmeric... ahhhhh what relief!!! I used to have to sleep with a roll of toilet paper next to my head because I would wake up and blow my nose 6 or 7 times in the night. None of that now!!! No symptoms at ALL now unless I forget to drink my turmeric tea for 2 days.

This is how I take it: dissolve 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder in hot water (I get the powder from the spice section in my natural food store). I add a tiny amount of coconut oil because I read that turmeric works better if you take it with a little fat. Then I add a spoonful of blackstrap molasses because I like the taste. Keep stirring as you drink it so that the spice doesn;t settle at the bottom. I drink this any time during the day, just once a day. I had allergy problems my whole life- allergic to everything. Now I never even sneeze!!!!! I am so thankful. Hope this helps someone else.
:-)
~Rebekah


Skin
Posted by Polly (Chania, Crete, Greece) on 08/28/2009
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Hi everyone, I'm another fan of turmeric! I started taking turmeric about two weeks ago for my acne, after I had tried strong antibiotics and salicylic acid in the past. I had large pimples on my face and back and often painful boils that lingered on for days. I'm delighted to say that my skin has cleared up completely- it's the first time I 've seen it like this in years!

I also read how turmeric cures allergies and hayfever and recommended it to my boyfriend and my housemate, who both suffer from hayfever. At first they didn't even want to hear about it, but now - guess what- they swear by it! It works for both of them and they've stopped taking their hayfever/ anti-histamine medicines. It does taste horrible though and after trial and error, the three of us are using the following recipe:

1 teaspoon turmeric diluted in 2 teaspoons olive oil (or whatever oil you want) and some warm water. Mix well and top up the glass with any kind of fruit juice. Drink with a straw.

This recipe makes drinking it a lot easier; we tried water and warm milk but it just won't go down- do give this a try, it makes the taste bearable.

I drink this every morning before breakfast for my skin and it works wonders! I see that there's no need for me to take more, so I just don't. However, with hayfever it's a different story. The other two people drink as much as they need throughout the day; my boyfriend is usually ok with 1-2 glasses per day, but my housemate needs more.

I think you just have to experiment until you find out what dosage works best for your particular needs. It definitely works though! Thank you so much Earth Clinic!!!


Circulation
Posted by Connie (Manitowoc, Wisconsin) on 08/12/2009
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Turmeric for Leg Circulation

Turmeric and Black Pepper seems to make my legs feel warm and relaxed. I used to drink a lot of coffee and started getting leg cramps. Aspirin helped, but who wants to ingest aspirin all the time. I quit the coffee but my legs usually feel cold and tight. One day I made a curry type sauce for some rice and afterward noticed my legs felt much better. Here's what you do:

- Put 2 or 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a medium size kettle on low/medium heat (not hot - which could encourage the formation of cancerous substances in the oil/starch mix)
- Add 1 heaping tablespoon of peanut butter (get the kind with no mystery ingredients, just peanuts and salt..... Or use raw cashew butter.)
- Add 1/2 teaspoon turmeric (non irradiated if you can find it)
- Add 1/2 teaspoon crushed black pepper
- Add 1/2 teaspoon curry powder (optional)
- Add 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (or fresh crushed garlic)
- Add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- Mix well and let sit on the warm (not hot) burner for 5 minutes or so
- Add precooked cubed chicken and/or precooked brown rice
- Serve warm (that's right, not hot.)


Skin
Posted by Kavi (El Dorado, Tunapuna, Trinidad) on 08/11/2009
★★★★★

Turmeric for beautiful skin -

My mom suggested that I use tumeric powder as a paste on my face to remove some dark spots around the crease of my mouth. Having tried it several times over the past 2 weeks (not quite every day), I can say pretty confidently that it has been the best thing I have ever used on my skin, even beating ACV.

It is a commonly known home remedy among Indian people, since we use tumeric powder (or hardi/haldi, as we call it here) daily in curries, in tea and also in Hindu prayers. In fact, during Hindu weddings, which can last for days, we have something called Hardi ki Raat (the Night of Tumeric, lol), when the bride's whole body is consistently rubbed down with tumeric and coconut oil for hours during general festivities so that her skin looks amazing on her wedding night. Well, I wonder why we ever switched to store-bought stuff, since this works so well!

Needless to say, it did remove those marks and the dark areas under my eyes which I've always had (and my mom and grandma also have). It generally evens the tone of my skin to a very noticeable extent. It tightens the pores and makes my skin very smooth and even gives it a beautiful warm, healthy glow - which is amazing as I have PCOS and my skin has suffered many hormonal ravages. Though my PCOS is under control, I sometimes get one or two pimples and the tumeric starts drying them up upon application so that they never develop. It is also the only thing that helped the dry patches of skin on my legs left from recently using a soap that I was allergic to - clearing it up and leaving it healed in 2 days after a few days of it not healing on its own.

I basically use it by mixing 1 tbsp. in a small bowl with some milk and a bit of sugar (as a mild exfoliant). I rub my face and any other problem areas with this and leave it on for as long as possible before I shower, usually for about 15-20 mins.

One **major warning** is that tumeric stains very easily and it is difficult to get out of fabric, which is why I apply it while naked and before a bath. It can slightly stain your nails too, so I use it at night and the color fades by morning. I'm experimenting with using something thicker than milk as a base, such as honey or beeswax, so it doesn't drip everywhere. I tried using 1 tbsp. tumeric in some honey with a tiny splash of ACV and sugar, which worked fantastically, even better than the milk.

You can try a lot of different things, but the tumeric itself is great for your skin!

Inflammation
Posted by T (Baltimore, Md, USA) on 08/03/2009
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Wanted to add a YEA to using turmeric for thyroid inflammation. Sometimes I get this when my thyroid is under attack (I have Hashimoto's - autoimmune thyroid disease). When I feel that coming on, I take a capsule or two of turmeric. It has not failed to relieve it yet.

I make my own caps with vegetarian capsules, organic turmeric powder, and some freshly ground black pepper (a substance in pepper called piperine greatly aids the absorption of the turmeric) - no real measurement, I just do a few turns of the pepper mill into a small bowl of the turmeric and mix together. Making my own capsules is cheaper than buying ready-made caps, plus I know exactly what is in them (no fillers!).


Sore Throat
Posted by Grayson (Orlando, Fl) on 07/26/2009
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SORE THROAT RELIEF: Having recently stopped a respiratory infection in it's tracks by spraying a solution of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide directly into the throat using a saline nasal spray bottle that I emptied of nasal spray and filled with H202, I found that the virus has left my throat raw, sore and irritated and I was coughing up copious amounts of greenish phlegm. To alleviate the soreness, I put approximately 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric in my mouth and held it there until it was thoroughly mixed with saliva then slowly swallowed the mixture aided with a little liquid of choice such as water or coffee,etc..A very similar technique to oil pulling except there was only turmeric and saliva-no oil was used.WHAT A RELIEF!!!The turmeric will slightly numb the tongue but this passes quickly. I do not spray the H202 into the nose as it tends to decrease my sense of taste.


How to Take Turmeric
Posted by Preet (New York, USA) on 06/26/2009

Hi Margaret,
Turmeric powder is used in every indian recipe I know and I think thats the best way to take it, like you can add it to onions etc. while frying them. Also, people used to mix turmeric powder to warm milk along with almonds (It is really really tasty). So try either of these ways. I believe taking it in powder form will be more beneficial.


How to Take Turmeric
Posted by Margaret (Knoxville, Tennessee) on 06/26/2009

suggestion for getting dry herbs, etc into you with ease....For anyone trying to take turmeric or other dried substances and find they taste bad or don't mix well into liquid, I have purchased gelatin capsules from my healthfood store and filled them with turmeric. A much simpler way to take it than trying to get it to dissolve in liquid.

How to Take Turmeric
Posted by Directorabcri (B.g. Nagara, Karrnataka India) on 06/25/2009
★★★★★

You can take turmeric powder Quarter spoon in water on an empty stomach for good absorbtion. it will definitely prevent cancer, cataract, artheritis. malaria any inflanmmation & even snake bite lethality I as a scientist working on turmeric for last25 years can vouch for its excellent biological properties good luck
leela

Fatigue
Posted by Gean (Salina, KS) on 06/13/2009

I had the same experience, and so did two other people I know. For a few days (3 or 4) I felt great with only a few hours of sleep, and then I started to feel unwell and confused. My friend became irritable and emotional. I had to cut way down on the turmeric dosage. It must work as a stimulant, maybe. I started going up on the dosage again, and then when it started to keep me up at night (or wake me up at odd hours) I would take a break from it. Experiment to see how much you can take without losing sleep. Believe me, it will catch up with you.



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