Turmeric Benefits: Health Uses & Anti-Inflammatory Properties

WARNING!

Any additives that you find in encapsulated herbals is inevitably going to be a "flow agent", or "packing agent". The flow agents allow the herb to travel through a hopper and into the capsules during the manufacturing process. It also helps the machine in that the parts do not get clogged up as much. The packing agents are for powders that are too slick - where they just fall all over and cannot be controlled. By adding rice or maltodextrin, the powder gets stickier and will pack into the capsules much more readily.

All manufacturers/encapsulators must follow strict FDA guidelines. Any additive must be at a very low percentage - so much so that a person's body will not exhibit side effects. These ingredients are listed as "inactive" so that persons with known allergies can avoid them.

I know, because I worked for NBTY (Nature's Bounty and Vitamin World) for many years.

HI. I notice everyone talking about using turmeric powder, but I'm really curious about using fresh turmeric. Is there better bio-availability from fresh? If so, how much fresh should I use compared with powdered herb?

I guess this question leads me into other questions about herbs as well. My intuition tells me that I'm generally better off using fresh if and when I can. Am I correct in thinking this?

Also, I get that some herbs are not necessarily water soluble, so would be more effective in a carrier medium. I'm not opposed to making my own tinctures. I'm guessing that with fresh herbs, the oil/water solubility thing is less of an issue. But in the use of dried, how do I determine which herbs are better used as a tea, and which as a tincture? I realize that this is a pretty big question, and maybe I should have broken it down into 3 or 4.... Does anyone know where to find this type of information, other than years and years of study?

(I'm having terrible allergies after relocating form across the country to a totally different climate, and kind of wanted a quick answer about turmeric, but this leads into my general questions about herbs, so I had to ask....)

Thanks!

There seems to be a growing consensus that Turmeric is generally poorly absorbed and that added Piperine (black pepper) enhances it's absorption. We're seeing more Turmeric products with this addition.

In terms of flavor and cooking, fresh Turmeric and Ginger both possess large differences over the dried versions... With Fresh often preferred for it's more complex flavor. I don't know if the therapeutic value is any greater... the general rule for Turmeric is 1/2 tsp dried for 1 inch of the fresh root or 1tsp fresh minced root.

Kerrstarr- It is all relative to each individual herb. Some herb contain the desired constituents when fresh and others when dried. As far as solubility, this depends on the chemical profile of the herb and which constituents you desire to extract. Different menstruums (carriers) may include water, alcohol, oil, and glycerite.

When preparing Turmeric, water and alcohol are suitable menstruums. Dried is the traditional way its used but some recent companies do tincture (alcohol) it fresh at 45% alcohol at a ratio of 1:1. I could not find a reference to the ethanol percentage used when tincturing dry but from the looks of it i'd say anywhere from 30-40% would be suitable at a ratio of 1:2 (Alcohol:herb). Turmeric may also be used in a decoction (boiling herb in water).

When studying herbs it is best to buy books from trusted herbalist and study one herb at a time. Each is unique in its own way.

-Daniel, Herbalist

I tried taking powdered turmeric several times in the past, but every time it would cause my hemorrhoids to bleed when going to the bathroom, only after a couple of days of the therapy. Then I tried fresh turmeric root, and for some reason, no matter how much of it I take, it does not cause the bleeding. I use a grater to grate 2-3" of the root, which gives me 2-3 tbsps., I chase it with water, need about a glass of water for the whole amount of grated turmeric. I've been doing it for almost a year, once a day, on empty stomach. It has helped me with abdominal pains.

I must say.... I have been taking tumeric during my period and I have never had so much thick clotting and blood. I would not suggest it. The only reason I was taking it was to reduce inflammation from the adjustment. It happened to be the same time as my period.... Stay clear during your period. You don't need any extra detoxification during your period anyway. Our bodies natural cleansing process will be all we need during the menstral cycle.

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.

Briana, Thank you for your recipe! ! I just started taking BSM a couple of days ago and did not know how I was going to continue with it because the taste is so strong it makes me gag. All I could think of when I consumed it was burnt rubber. . . Yuck! I tried your recipe and it was actually pretty good and quite enjoyable. . . Much, much more tolerable than taking it straight. Peace, Love and Health to you!

Having said that, turmeric is easily assimilated by the body if mixed with warm milk, you can also add pepper to it as it's known to be good in combination with turmeric. I use it for my face - mix it with yoghurt and half teaspoon- apply,leave for half an hour and wash(several washing might be needed).

Turmeric root (raw) is easily available (inexpensive) from indian grocery stores. You can make your own powder if you have a dehydrator. Dry and grind to a fine powder.

Turmeric for Fatigue: I have Chronic Fatigue along with Mercury toxicity and started taking Turmeric for a tooth infection/ sensitive tooth. A GREAT side effect was energy! It only took a few days to get started. I take about 4 capsule in morning and 4 at lunch (homemade caps with turmeric from spice aisle). WARNING: Don't take before bed. I couldn't sleep for a few nights until I figured out it was giving me energy.

I love this stuff.

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.

Recently I went to India. When I returned I started to have diarrhea. I thought it would go away in a day or two but it did not. After five days of misery I went to the CVS and bought keopectate. Didn't work. I tried a vegetable diet, sea salt, apple cider vinegar, nothing worked. Now it's ten days and I'm fifteen pounds lighter, weak, and finding it hard to keep hydrated not to mention that going to the bathroom was now agony. I was ready to go to my doctor/hospital.

My wife who was still in India told me to take Tumeric. There was a big container of it so I mixed a heaping teaspoon in a glass of water and drank it down. Slightly bitter but I liked the taste. The next morning I took another dose and that was it. My stomach settled right down and a day later it was gone. Really amazing.

I drank turmeric powder 1 tsp in warm water 3xday & applying turmeric paste made with the powder & water at nite for 2 days then broke out with petechiae which is red spots caused by bleeding of superficial blood vessels!!! as a nurse i did more researach & found out turmeric can thin blood & therefore cause bleeding. you should alert people of this dangerous side effect...some people are on blood thinners & they can be harmed.

Arthritis -- I believe in turmeric, but sweat a lot. Is this normal?

I tried the TURMERIC remedy for boils about 4 days ago, initially with little hope it would work, but in a state of desperation, since this was my THIRD boil in less than 6 weeks, and I had 2 more starting! I went out as soon as I finished reading all of the testimonials on your site, and bought a bottle of Turmeric capsules from my local GNC. That night I took three 500mg caps with dinner, and another 4 capsules before going to bed. (If a teaspoon is good, a tablespoon is better!) The next morning the boil on my stomach, which was a dark purple golf ball radiating excruciating pain the night before, was now a light purple golf ball that was starting to drain, and the pain had gone down by 80 to 90%!

In addition, one of the new boils that was just starting, (a tiny painful pimple,) started to heal, and the other one, slightly larger, while it didn't go away, it stopped growing, and with 72 hours it too drained (really like a normal pimple, only thicker discharge and more painful.)

It's now been about 4 days, and while the large boil is still draining (the core came out yesterday) and is still very tender, it is healing and no other boils are starting.

BUT! The big BONUS is this: The arthritis in my shoulder that I've been suffering with for the last year, is gone, and even more exciting, I have been dealing with Heal Spurs (Plantar Fasciitis) for about 2 years, and have been suffering TREMENDOUS pain in my foot, every day, all day.

Within 24 hours of taking the Turmeric, my feet have COMPLETELY stopped hurting!!!I plan to continue taking at least one capsule a day indefinitely as a preventative for recurring boils, and as an apparent remedy for my Heal Spurs!!! The real miracle here is that I don't even believe in natural remedies! Thanks so much for the great advice!!!

1 tsp of turmeric cured my cough. 1 tsp of turmeric, 1 tbsp of honey mixed into a glass of warm milk. drink warm or hot. I am reliving all that I learnt as a child in India after reading material on your site.Thanks!

I use turmeric, it works like magic for me - I have Crohn's disease, and finds it helps ease inflammation. All the anti-inflammatory pills that the doctor gave me only made me MUCH worse. Turmeric helps stop the 'loose stools'.

I think my elderly mom (87), may be suffering from that. I plan to start adding turmeric to her diet & teas.

I've tried everything to stop loose stools and gas. I've taken 1 tsp turmeric in hot water for three days and the gas has been relieved and the stool is formed. Sure glad I ran into this site. Thanks!!

I was recently diagnosed with ibd (inflammatory bowel disease). Thank the Lord (literally), he led me to this website. My doctor prescribed an anti-inflammatory pill and it did not work or at least I did not think so. My stomach kept flaring up and i was having bowel movement after bowel movement. I drank some turmeric tea----1 tsp of turmeric in 4 oz. Of water and i could immediately tell a difference. I have not had a flare up yet even though its only been 1 day, but just the immediate relief was good for me. Once again, thank god for the advice and website.

Thank you for this information Jane:-) I was diagnosed with ET in November and have been looking into differing natural ways to combat the symptoms. I have been takingTurmeric only 1 capsule twice per day. I will increase my intake after reading your post. Can I ask how high your platelet count was and what it got to taking turmeric? Thank you :-)

RECIPE FOR RELIEVING JOINT PAIN
Gurudev Khar Khalsa, a Sat Nam Rasayan healer and Kundalini Yoga teacher in Los Angeles sent us this Ayurvedic tea for lubricating the joints. Gurudev tells us that the almond oil is a very important part of this recipe. Turmeric is called "the internal healer" in Ayurveda. Turmeric is also a blood purifier and is best known for its ability to help the female reproductive organs. Some research indicates that turmeric may be of value in preventing diabetes and cancer.

Recipe:
1/8 teaspoon turmeric, 3 cardamom pods (optional), 1/4 cup water. Simmer 5 to 7 minutes, then add : 1 cup of milk, 2 tablespoons almond oil (cold pressed). Bring just to the boiling point (but do not boil). Add honey or maple syrup to taste. Sip slowly as a hot tea.

I am interested in trying tumeric tea for joint pain and have a question. Can this tea be made ahead as instructed and then reheated to a simmer in the microwave or would that destroy some of the properties of the components. Also, how often do you recommend that this be taken? Thank you.