Medicinal Uses & Turmeric Essay

Turmeric (Curcumin) is an old spice that is used in handed- slash Asian/Indian medicine and is rel consumed to the ginger root. Known for its mixed uses, it is not just limited to the culinary scene (curry powders) but also as an alter inbred for therapeutic abilities. In China and India the spice is be used to help treat certain inflammatory ailments and even diseases deal rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimers Disease (AD).It has been used for gastric pain, bringing down fevers, and even relief in the sensation of bloating. It has been used for attempting to exercise set hepatitis and nub disease. In Ayurveda medicine (a system of traditional/alternative medicine native to India) the ginger root is being prescribed not only for woebegone pain, but for decreased vision, and for coughs. In Southeast Asia, it is being given as an anti-parasitic remedy and for miscellaneous gastrointestinal tract problems. Curcumin, which is extracted from turmeric, has been shown to perk up anti oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and to tailor beta- gritty and plaque burden in lab studies. Beta-amyloid is a component of the amyloid plaques that accumulate in the brain of an individual with AD. (Fetrow/Avila, 2000)Turmeric contains curcuminoids such as curcumin which is a yellow pigment. Research studies in animals show that curcumin has the following wellness benefits potent anti-inflammatory effects terminatecer prevention activities antioxidant effects stimulates and enhances the resistant system antibacterial and antiviral properties, including against HIV blood-thinning effects Most of these research studies are through in animals only and few are done in human subjects. The positive results from these studies suggest that turmeric possesses many benefits for treating and by chance curing some of our common health problems.Chronic inflammation of the philia cells is one of the precursors of AD. Patients who have used drugs such as ibuprofen for hanker perio ds of time have been shown to have a reduced risk of ontogeny symptoms of AD. There is a risk when using a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory for prolonged periods. They merchant ship cause a toxic effect on the gastrointestinal track, kidneys and liver. However, turmeric has an anti-inflammatory effect that is very potent and because of those various effects, turmeric may have a part in curing and improving cognitive functions in AD. (PubMed 2008)Various studies and research indicate a lower rate of AD in India. The prevalence of AD among adults ranging from 70-79 eld in India is 4.4 times less than that of adults ranging from 70-79 years in the United States. Researchers have examined the association amid the consumption of turmeric and cognitive levels in 1,010 Asians between 60 and 93 years of age. The study found that those who occasionally ate curry (less than one time a month) and those who ate it more often (more than once a month) performed better on a standard test of cog nitive functions than those who ate curry never or rarely. (PubMed, 2000)Pharmacokinetics shows that the curcumin extract of turmeric has an estimated bioavailability of 65% after oral administration and inhibits cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme 1A1 and is metabolized by glucuronidation. (MedScape, 2010)Curcumin has been used safely as a culinary spice in Asia for centuries. It is estimated that adults in India ingest 80-200 mg of curcumin daily. There are no reported adverse effects of curcumin or turmeric, except potbelly upset, nausea and diarrhea and some rare cases of hypersensitive contact dermatitis. There is a caution when taking Warfarin, blood thinners or having a bleeding disorder. Some reports show that taking turmeric along with blood thinning medications such as Plavix, Aspirin or warfarin (warfarin) might increase the risk of bleeding. If in that location is a presence of stomach ulcers, caution is advised as turmeric may worsen live stomach problems. Curcumin is also kn own to cause the gallbladder to contract and can worsen any conditions that may already be present. (Fetrow/Avila, 2000, NCCAM, 2010)In conclusion, there is the hope that turmeric (curcumin) will lead to a promising interposition for AD. The clinical studies of the chemical properties of curcumin and its various effects on AD shows that gain research is submited to develop better drugs based on curcumin for treating AD. The need for large-scale human studies is required to identify the therapeutic effects of curcumin.However, several(prenominal) unanswered questions remain What is the one main chemical property of curcumin that can be exploited in treating AD? What is the role of curcumin in some other neurological disorders such as Parkinsons, Huntingtons and other forms of dementias? How does curcumin interact with neuronic plaques? Is it effective only as a food additive? Would it be effective when used alone or with other anti-inflammatory drugs? at one time researches can answer these questions, maybe there will be a clearer path to the treatment of Alzheimers disease.