Turmeric Has Two R's

Yes, turmeric really has two r's, though many people misspell or mispronounce it. It is an inexpensive substitute for saffron. I just spent some of my Sunday afternoon reading about turmeric. The reason I felt the need to read about this common Indian spice is that someone recently mentioned that sprinkling it on our food is good for our brains. Suggesting its possible use for Alzheimer’s patients, the person seemed to think he could tell a difference in his mental acuity after only a few days.

After reading for a while, I decided to write to warn people that the old adage still stands: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. In other words, you should check with your doctor before consuming inordinate amounts of the stuff. I found lots of hopeful information and many “maybe’s.” Curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) has been used for thousands of years as a safe anti-inflammatory in a variety of ailments as part of Indian traditional medicine. A 2004UCLA-Veterans Affairs study involving genetically altered mice suggests that it might inhibit the accumulation of destructive beta amyloids in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients and also break up existing plaques.

A small study of Asian individuals between 60 years old and 93 years old found less cognitive disability in those who regularly ate foods containing turmeric. In other promising but very early results from laboratory, animal, and human studies, curcumin has kept several kinds of cancers from starting, growing, or spreading. When turmeric was given to laboratory animals with diabetes, both blood sugar levels and blood cholesterol levels showed general decreases.

Traditionally, turmeric has been taken orally as a remedy for bronchitis and other respiratory conditions. In one study, it was the most effective of 25 herbal products in killing H. pylori, the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers.

So, why the CAUTION? Because turmeric may not be well absorbed from the intestines, many animal and human studies have used injected forms of turmeric or chemicals derived from it to achieve effective blood levels of its active components. While they may be commercially available in other parts of the world, injectable forms of turmeric are not sold in the United States. That's the part that sends up a red flag for me.

Individuals with stomach or gallbladder conditions should not take supplemental turmeric, because it may alter production of stomach acid and increase production of bile, possibly worsening those conditions. Pregnant women should also avoid taking large amounts of turmeric due to the possibility of a miscarriage. And supplemental use is not recommended while breast-feeding.

Just thought I would throw out a few ideas for those who have heard about the use of turmeric. It may be good, but I believe in checking with the doctor first. The medical community is reluctant sometimes to grab on to new remedies (or old ones brought back around). But they usually have a great deal more information on hand than most of us. For example, Seroquel…well maybe we’ll talk about that tomorrow.