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Turmeric, Curcuma longa

Proposed Uses: Indigestion, Alzheimer's Disease; Cancer Prevention; Cataract Prevention; Chronic Anterior Uveitis; High Cholesterol; Liver Protection; Menstrual Pain; Multiple Sclerosis; Osteoarthritis; Rheumatoid Arthritis

Turmeric is a widely used tropical herb in the ginger family. Turmeric's antioxidant abilities make it a good food preservative, provided that the food is already yellow in color, and it is widely used for this purpose.

Turmeric has been proposed as a treatment for dypepsia. Dyspepsia is a catchall term that includes a variety of digestive problems such as stomach discomfort, gas, bloating, belching, appetite loss, and nausea. Although many serious medical conditions can cause digestive distress, the term "dyspepsia" is most often used when no identifiable medical cause can be detected.

In Europe, dyspepsia is commonly attributed to inadequate bile flow from the gallbladder. While this has not been proven, turmeric does appear to stimulate the gallbladder.  More importantly, one double-blind, placebo-controlled study suggests that turmeric does reduce dyspepsia symptoms.

Other proposed uses of turmeric or curcumin have little supporting evidence. Based on test tube and animal studies, and human trials too preliminary to provide any meaningful evidence.

 curcumin and turmeric are frequently described as anti-inflammatory drugs and recommended for the treatment of such conditions as osteoarthritis and menstrual pain. Some advocates go so far as to state that curcumin is superior to standard medications in the ibuprofen family, because, at standard doses, it does not appear to harm the stomach. However, until turmeric is actually proven to meaningfully reduce pain and inflammation, such a comparison is rather premature. Not only that, high doses of curcumin might in fact increase the risk of ulcers.

Contrary to some reports, turmeric does not appear to be effective for treating ulcers.

Animal and test tube studies suggest (but definitely do not prove) that turmeric might help prevent cancer.

Some researchers have reported evidence that curcumin or turmeric might help protect the liver from damage.  However, other researchers have failed to find any liver protective effects, and there are even some indications turmeric extracts can damage the liver when taken in high doses or for an extended period.
On the basis of even weaker evidence, curcumin or turmeric have also been recommended for preventing cataracts, and treating high cholesterol, multiple sclerosis, fungal infections, Alzheimer's disease, and chronic anterior uveitis.

Dosage
For medicinal purposes, turmeric is frequently taken in a form standardized to curcumin content, at a dose that provides 400 to 600 mg of curcumin 3 times daily.

Safety Issues
Turmeric is on the FDA's GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list, and curcumin, too, is believed to be fairly nontoxic.  Reported side effects are uncommon and are generally limited to mild stomach distress.

However, there is some evidence to suggest that turmeric extracts can be toxic to the liver when taken in high doses or for a prolonged period of time. For this reason, turmeric products should probably be avoided by individuals with liver disease and those who take medications that are hard on the liver.

In addition, due to curcumin's stimulating effects on the gallbladder, individuals with gallbladder disease should use curcumin only on the advice of a physician.

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