Turmeric is a spice whose active ingredients have been shown to be effective in the treatment and prevention of various more or less serious diseases. There are also some cases in which turmeric has shown equal qualities or even superior advantages over medicines. Let's find out which ...
La turmeric is a spice whose active ingredients have been shown to be effective in the treatment and prevention of different pathologies more or less serious. There are also some cases in which turmeric has shown equal qualities or even superior advantages compared to medicines. Let's find out which ones ...
By now, many researches all over the world have highlighted the potential and benefits that the curcumin, the most interesting active ingredient contained in the golden-yellow spice so dear to Indian and Asian cuisine.
Among the various studies, of particular interest are those that relate and comparing the effects of curcumin with those of conventional drugs useful in the treatment of some pathologies. It is extraordinary to note that some of these analyzes have shown that curcumin is even better than prescription drugs and in addition offers the advantage of not giving side effects.
Among the comparisons made these stand out 10 drug categories:
• Anticoagulants
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Chemotherapy
• Medicines for diabetes
• Arthritis medications
• Medicines for chronic intestinal diseases
• Medicines against cholesterol
• Pain relievers
• Steroids
Read also: TURMERIC: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BODY IF WE TAKE A SPOON A DAY
Let's see them specifically:
Index
Anticoagulants / anti-platelets
In case you need to hire for different issues drugs to slow down and prevent blood clotting Generally, in the medical field, the following are used:
Aspirin
Clopidogrel (Plavix)
Diclofenac
Enoxaparin (Lovenox)
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others)
Naproxen
Warfarin (Coumadin) and others
These drugs can lead to various side effects such as excessive bleeding and bleeding but also back pain, headache or trouble breathing. Turmeric may offer the same benefits as these drugs but without side effects, according to some studies conducted in the 80s, curcumin would actually be a better choice especially for people suffering from vascular thrombosis.
Antidepressants
It has been seen time and again in some studies that turmeric is particularly effective against depression. The most striking research was conducted at the Bhavnagar Medical College in India and published in the journal Phytotherapy Research. The team from the Pharmacology department wanted to compare the effects, but also the safety, of a turmeric extract (1000 mg) and Prozac (fluoxetine 20 mg) used together and individually for 6 weeks on 60 patients diagnosed with MDD, or major depressive disorder. Turmeric was found to be better able to treat depression than Prozac.
Read also: TURMERIC: BETTER THAN PROZAC AGAINST DEPRESSION
3) Anti-inflammatories
Probably the maximum healing power of curcumin is expressed in his ability to control inflammation. The journal Oncogene published the results of a study that evaluated several anti-inflammatory compounds and found that aspirin and ibuprofen are less effective, while curcumin is among the most effective anti-inflammatory compounds in the world.
Read also: OFFICINAL PLANTS THAT CAN REPLACE PARACETAMOL AND IBUPROPHEN
Arthritis Medications
Given that curcumin is known for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving power, it also lends itself well to the treatment of arthritis including that of type rheumatoid. A study published a few years ago in the journal Phytotherapy Research noted how this spice in high doses (therefore in the form of a supplement) can be used successfully in the treatment of this type of arthritis. The research, conducted on 45 patients with rheumatoid arthritis has compared the benefits of curcumin with those of the recommended medicine in case of arthritis (diclofenac sodium). The group taking curcumin showed the highest percentage of improvement in general but not only, the active ingredient extracted from the spice proved to be safer and did not give any unwanted effects.
Read also: ARTHRITIS: 10 NATURAL REMEDIES FOR JOINT PAIN
Cancer treatment
The interest of scientific research regarding the potential of turmeric in the fight against cancer is also very strong. Several studies on cancer cells in the laboratory have shown anticancer effects of curcumina which seems to be able to kill cancer cells by preventing their growth and spread, particularly because it is able to block the formation of enzymes that cause cancer. The greatest results have been seen against some types of cancer: breast, colon, stomach, skin. In addition, a 2007 American study that used curcumin in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of colon cancer showed that the combined treatment killed more cancer cells than chemotherapy alone.
Read also: TURMERIC: THE SPICE THAT HELPS CANCER PATIENTS
Diabetes
Few natural treatments are better than adding turmeric to your diet to keep blood sugars at bay and reverse insulin resistance. In 2009, an Auburn University study evaluated how turmeric supplementation can help with diabetes. The study found that curcumin is 400 times more potent than metformin (a drug used in the treatment of diabetes) in the activation of AMPK which improves insulin sensitivity and helps to treat type 2 diabetes.
Read also: A TOUCH OF TURMERIC TO PREVENT DIABETES
Medicines for chronic gastrointestinal diseases
An in-depth analysis of all studies evaluating curcumin's ability to manage inflammatory bowel disease (IBS, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) found that many patients were able to stop taking their prescribed corticosteroids because their condition improved simply by taking curcumin. It should also be noted that many patients with IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) use corticosteroids to reduce pain symptoms but these drugs damage the intestinal lining in the long run and consequently worsen the situation. Supplementing with curcumin does not present these side effects but on the contrary it also contributes more generally to intestinal well-being.
Cholesterol regulators
We all know the damage that too high LDL (bad) cholesterol can cause. Traditionally they are used the statin (such as Lipitor) to keep blood fats at bay but these drugs can damage the kidneys and liver. A study by Drugs in R&D found that the effect of Curcumin is equal to or even more effective than the drugs used to treat high cholesterol.
Painkillers
One of the properties now commonly confirmed by the scientific community is turmeric's ability to treat pain. In this regard, the European Journal of Pharmacology recently published research that discovered how curcumin naturally activates the opioid system. The US Army Institute of Surgical Research even suggests using curcumin in place of conventional medications in treating burns.
Steroids
Instead of steroids for the treatment of conditions such as psoriasis, chronic pain, lupus and more, some scientists are convinced that curcumin can be used. it does not give side effects as it does in the case of these medicines. In a 1999 clinical study, curcumin was found to have the ability to treat chronic eye inflammation. Typically this condition is only treated with steroids but today it is common for physicians practicing functional medicine to prescribe curcumin instead.
READ also: CURCUMA: ALL SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN PROPERTIES
AN IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION
It is important to point out that all the studies reported in the article and also the other research that has been conducted over the years on the benefits of curcumin they used this active ingredient in high doses (among other things, the formulations are made in such a way as to allow maximum bioavailability), they are therefore titrated and standardized extracts in which the quantity of curcumin present is established and clear. This concretely means that a dietary consumption of turmeric is not able to obtain the same results as regards the treatment of pathologies, although it can be positive in prevention (the spice should always be associated with a pinch of pepper or a fatty substance) and obviously useful for giving a particular aroma to foods.
CONTRAINDICATIONS AND SIDE EFFECTS
It is true that turmeric is a natural product but not so true that it is always possible to use it lightly. In fact, even this spice, and its active ingredient, can have contraindications and side effects such as allergies, gastrointestinal problems or reactions in conjunction with the intake of some medicines. Never take the initiative alone. Do-it-yourself is more than ever recommended especially in case of pathologies, do not interrupt the treatments you are taking and contact your doctor to find out if a turmeric supplement is right for you.
