Turmeric, an Indian spice, has important healing properties. It is an east Indian plant that is a member of the ginger family and is used as a spice and a food color. It is a warming spice with a bitter taste that is commonly found in curry sauces in South Asian cuisine. The substance in turmeric that gives it a yellow color, curcumin, is showing with increasing frequency in medical journals all over the world its many health attributes.
This golden yellow spice is so significant that it is being studied in the treatment of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, cystic fibrosis, psoriasis, arthritis, and osteoporosis.
1. Curcumin, the active component of turmeric, may decrease the risk of developing polyps in the colon, which in turn, decreases the risk of colon cancer. It may help prevent the spread of breast cancer cells as well.
2. Curcumin may help the immune system eliminate the protein that is suspected of accumulating to form damaging plaques in the brains of people who develop Alzheimer's disease.
3. Curcumin may be helpful in the treatment of some cases of cystic fibrosis.
4. Curcumin may help the symptoms associated with psoriasis.
5. Curcumin may help ease the pain and inflammation that accompanies arthritis.
6. Curcumin may help prevent bone loss associated with osteoporosis.
For more information on this spice used in Ayurvedic medicine consult an Ayurvedic Health Counselor.
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