Latin Name:Curcuma longa Specification:5:1 Ingredient:turmeric Although best known as a spice that gives a distinctive flavor and
yellow color to curry powder and mustard, turmeric (Curcuma longa)
is a member of the ginger family and has long been used for
healing. Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and other traditional medicine
systems practiced in India have relied on this pungent spice for
centuries, and so it's not surprising that the Asian subcontinent
is where the most intensive research about this herb has been
conducted. The plant's healing properties reside in its fingerlike stalk,
which is scalded and then dried for medicinal preparations. This is
the same part of the plant used to flavor, color, and preserve
foods. Health Benefits In India (and to some extent in China), turmeric has been used for
centuries to treat indigestion and a host of other ailments. But it
was considered only a culinary spice in many other parts of the
world until the early 1970s, when laboratory researchers discovered
notable inflammation-fighting compounds called curcuminoids in the
herb. The most important of these--and the most intensively studied
by far--is curcumin. Among other findings, researchers discovered that turmeric
(especially the curcumin component) has rich stores of
antioxidants. In the body these important disease-fighting
substances mop up unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals
that can otherwise damage cells and cause diseases such as cancer. Test-tube studies done in the 1990s indicate that curcumin is as
powerful an antioxidant as vitamins C and E, and even
beta-carotene. Antioxidants are also powerful preservatives, which
helps explain why turmeric has long been sprinkled on food to help
retain its freshness. In animal studies and in one human trial published in 1992,
turmeric also showed promise in lowering cholesterol levels and
fighting atherosclerosis, a buildup of fatty deposits in the
arteries that can lead to heart attack. Preliminary studies in mice
indicate that the curcumin in turmeric may even block the
progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). The interest in the plant's potential for preventing neurologic
diseases, such as MS and even Alzheimer's, was spurred by the
realization that elderly Indian populations that consume
considerable amounts of turmeric in their diet are far less likely
than their Western counterparts to develop such ailments.
Scientists conjecture that turmeric benefits such neurologic
illnesses by minimizing inflammation, a theory supported by recent
findings that people (Westerners in this case) taking
anti-inflammatories regularly for arthritis are less likely to
develop Alzheimer's disease. More research in this area is clearly
needed before any specific recommendations can be made. Today, turmeric is widely recommended for myriad ailments, from
stomach ulcers and skin infections to eye conditions (such as
chronic anterior uveitis). The evidence for it actually working for
any of these conditions is mixed. For example, there's no evidence
that turmeric will help heal stomach ulcers but, when it's applied
as a paste, it may well eliminate scabies, an itchy skin condition
caused by parasitic mites. Specifically, turmeric may help to: Relieve carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, and joint inflammation.
The anti-inflammatory compounds in turmeric appear to ease
inflammation. This makes it potentially useful for relieving the
inflammation in wrist and hand joints associated with carpal tunnel
syndrome, for example. In India, curcumin is considered a standard
anti-inflammatory medication. It appears to be most effective for
acute (as opposed to chronic) inflammation.
Many sources recommend curcumin for arthritis-related inflammation
and pain, but the evidence showing its effectiveness for arthritis
is unclear. In a 1980 study published in India, rheumatoid
arthritis patients who took 1,200 mg of curcumin a day experienced
the same reduction in stiffness and joint swelling as those who
took the prescription anti-inflammatory drug phenylbutazone, which
can have unpleasant side effects. Unfortunately, the study was
flawed because results weren't compared to a placebo (dummy pill)
group. Ease indigestion, excess gas (flatulence), bloating, and other mild
stomach upset. Reinforcing an ancient use for turmeric, German
health authorities have declared turmeric tea a valuable remedy for
stomach upset. Laboratory findings back this up: The curcumin in
turmeric fights bacteria commonly responsible for infectious
diarrhea.
Clinical trials have been somewhat promising for this time-tested | 
