Turmeric Root Extract

Species Name: Curcuma longa

Also Known As: Curcuma domestica, Indian saffron, curcumin, jiang huang, Curcuma, Gauri, Haldi, Indian Saffron, and You Jin.

The Turmeric plant is a tropical perennial native to India. In the same plant family as ginger, turmeric is now cultivated in the tropics around the world.

This plant grows to a height of about three feet. It has pairs of lance-shaped leaves that grow on alternate sides of the stem. There is a knobby rhizome that resembles ginger growing on the base of the stem.

Turmeric is cultivated for its rhizome and root which is used as a culinary spice and coloring agent. The orange-yellow powdered spice is commonly used in curries and other South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine.

It is also used to dye cloth and to provide the coloring for mustard condiments. The active ingredient in Turmeric is curcumin and the spice has a distinctly earthy, slightly bitter with a mustard smell.

What is turmeric root extract? Turmeric root extract is made from the dried, ground root of the plant. It is available in powder, capsule, tea, tincture or liquid extract form. It is used both internally and externally in poultices or paste, and washes for use on the skin.

Home Remedies Using Turmeric Root Extract:

Benefits of Turmeric Root Extract:

Turmeric is traditionally used to "invigorate the blood." Many of today’s uses for Turmeric root extract stem from its use in Ayurvedic Medicine. Ayurveda uses Turmeric as its main anti-inflammatory herb. It is also used to treat liver disease. Ayurvedic practices utilize Turmeric as a readily available antiseptic for cuts, burns and bruises. It is also used as an antibacterial agent.

Turmeric root extract is often used in the treatment of heartburn, stomach ulcers, and gallstones. It is also used to aid digestion, reduce inflammation, as well as to prevent and treat cancer as the antioxidants in turmeric have been shown to kill cultures of cancer cells from the skin, bloodstream, and ovaries in the laboratory.

Other uses of turmeric root extract include combining it with dong quai as a treatment for menstrual cramps. It is believed that this supplement may prevent arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis pain. It may be useful in fighting atherosclerosis and to prevent hardening of the arteries for those with diabetes. It may also stop the loss of protein through the kidneys. It is also used to fight gum disease and to cure bad breath.

One research study on rats found that, "Curcumin significantly inhibited incidence of colon adenocarcinomas and the multiplicity of invasive, non-invasive, and total adenocarcinomas. Curcumin also significantly suppressed the colon tumor volume by more than 57 percent compared to the control diet. Although the precise mechanism by which curcumin inhibits colon tumorigenesis remains to be elucidated, it is likely that the chemopreventive action, at least in part, may be related to the modulation of arachidonic acid metabolism."

Side Effects of Turmeric Root Extract:

Like most herbs, turmeric should be used in moderation. Prolonged, heavy use may result in stomach distress. Turmeric is included in Ayurvedic formulas for birth control, so women trying to become pregnant should not take turmeric root extract, and it should be avoided while pregnant.

Excessive use of turmeric should be avoided by those with congestive heart failure. The curcumin in turmeric activates a gene called p53. This gene deactivates cancer cells, but it also deactivates damaged cells in the heart. Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy should limit their intake of Turmeric.

If you are taking anticoagulants, turmeric may increase the risk of bleeding.