Turmeric (aka Haridra) (Curcuma longa)

Turmeric has been used in Asia for thousands of years and is a major part of Ayurvedic and Siddha medicine.[1] In India, turmeric has been used as a remedy for stomach and liver ailments, as well as topically to heal sores, basically for its supposed antimicrobial property.[2]

Turmeric is a perennial herbaceous plant, which reaches up to 1 m tall. Highly branched, yellow to orange, cylindrical, aromatic rhizomes are found. Turmeric is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It is native in southwest India, and needs temperatures between 20 and 30 °C (68 and 86 °F) and a considerable amount of annual rainfall to thrive.

Active contents:

The most important chemical components of turmeric is a group of compounds called curcuminoids, which include curcumin (diferuloylmethane), demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin. The best-studied compound is curcumin, which constitutes 3.14% (on average) of powdered turmeric.[3] In addition, other important volatile oils include turmerone, atlantone, and zingiberene. Some general constituents are sugars, proteins, and resins.[4]

Herb actions:

Anti-allergic: Curcumin has an ability to inhibit nonspecific and specific mast cell-dependent allergic reactions.[5] Thus, Turmeric is helpful in allergic respiratory disorders like allergic rhinitis, allergic bronchitis and skin allergies.

Hepato-protective: Curcumin, the most common antioxidant constituent of Turmeric rhizome extract, was reported to enhance apoptosis of damaged hepatocytes which might be the protective mechanism whereby it prevent the increase in the liver enzymes SGOT and SGPT which are supposed to elevate in the case of liver disease. This indicates the use of Turmeric as a hepatoprotective drug in liver diseases.[6]

Lowering Cholesterol: It prevents cholesterol absorption in intestine by increasing the conversion of cholesterol into bile acids and also increases the excretion of bile acids. This is  due to its choleretic properties.

Anti-inflammatory: Turmeric provides benefit to the patients suffering from of arthritis because of its ability to reduce inflammation. This effect of Turmeric to reduce the inflammation is because it prevents the release of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-a.

Skin care: Curcumin obtained from the Turmeric rhizome have shown to possess the ability to  protect the skin from various types of harmful microbial and fungal infections. Turmeric is a natural blood purifier, helps alleviate skin diseases and enhances the complexion of skin.

Diabetes: Turmeric is known to prevent and cure Diabetes Mellitus effectively since ages in Ayurveda. Modern studies have shown Turmeric to be highly effective in curing Diabetes. It also has shown to be highly effective in pre-diabetes, when its extracts are given regularly in pre-diabetes.

Antioxidant: The antioxidants in Turmeric decreases free radicals by improving the immunity level, thereby helping to protect against chronic diseases.

Indications: Allergic skin diseases and respiratory disorders, Inflammation, Hyperlipidemia,

liver diseases.

Contraindication:  None

Dose: 1 Capsule two to three times a day or as advised by the Physician.

Composition: Each capsule contains 250 mg standardized extract of Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

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