Botanical Index No. 1055

Turmeric

curcuma longa

Medicinal Actions

Antiulcer activity, Elephantiasis, Alterative, Amebicide, Analgesic, Antiaggregant, Antiangiogenic, Antiarthritic, Antibacterial, Anticholeretic, Antidote, arsenic, Antiedemic, Antifertility, Antihistaminic, Anti-HIV, Antiinflammatory, Antiintegrase, Antileukemic, Antileukotriene, Antilymphomic, Antimutagenic, Antioxidant, Antiprostaglandin, Antipsoriatic, Antipyretic, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antithromboxane, Antitumor, Antiulcer, Astringent, Cardioprotective, Carminative, Chemopreventive, Cholagogue, Choleretic, Cholecystokinetic, Cyclooxygenase Inhibitor, Cytotoxic, Decongestant, Depurative, Digestive, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Expectorant, Fibrinolytic, Fungicide, Gastroprotective, Hepatoprotective, Hepatotoxic, Hypocholesterolemic, Hypolipidemic, Hypotriglyceridemic, Immunostimulant, Laxative, Lipolytic, Litholytic, Mucogenic, Mucolytic, Myorelaxant, Nematicide, ODC Inhibitor, Parasiticide, Phagocytotic, Protisticide, Secretagogue, Secretolytic, Stimulant, Stomachic, TNF Inhibitor, Tonic, Ulcerogenic, Uterotonic, Colic, antiinflammatory, antihistaminic, antiulcer activity

Primary Conditions Treated

Curcumin and sodium curcuminate were more potent than phenylbutazone in acute and chronic arthritic models protecting against the ulcerogenic activity of phenylbutazone Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Dysuria Eczema Edema Enterosis Epilepsy Epistaxis Fever Fibrosis Fungus Gallstone Gas Gastrosis Gonorrhea Gray Hair Headache Hematemesis Hematuria Hemorrhoid Hepatosis High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol High Triglycerides HIV Hyperlipidemia Hysteria IBS Immunodepression Infection Inflammation Itch Jaundice Laryngosis Leprosy Leukemia Leukoderma Lymphoma Malaria Mania Morning Sickness Mucososis Mycosis Nephrosis Obesity Ophthalmia Osteoarthrosis Ozena Pain Parasite Polyp Psoriasis Puerperium Radiation Restenosis Rheumatism Rhinosis Ringworm Scabies Smallpox Sore Sore Throat Sprain Staphylococcus Stone Stroke Swelling Syphilis Trauma Tumor Ulcer Uveosis VD Vertigo Vomiting Wart Water Retention Whitlow Worm Wound Yeast Antacid Aperitif Bitter Dusgeusia Hemostat Insectifuge Lice NO Scavenger Vermifuge Vulnerary Abscess Adenopathy Allergy Alzheimer’s Ameba Amenorrhea Anorexia Arthrosis Asthma Atherosclerosis Athlete’s Foot Bacteria Bite Bleeding Boil Bronchosis Bruise Bursitis Cancer abdomen breast colon joint mouth nose sinew Cardiopathy Cataract Catarrh Chest Ache Childbirth Cholecystosis Cold Coma Congestion Conjunctivosis Constipation Coryza Cramp Cystosis Dermatosis Diarrhea Dropsy improved joint swelling morning stiffness and walking time in people with rheumatoid arthritis reduced urinary excretion of mutagens in an uncontrolled trial of 16 chronic smokers dramatically decreased blood lipid peroxide levels in 18 male subjects more potent than phenylbutazone in acute and chronic arthritic models

General Dosage

If administered with piperine, absorption is improved more than 150% in rats. But in human volunteers, 20 mg piperine increases bioavailability of curcumin 20-fold. 4 g turmeric powder in water 1–2 ×/day; 3–9 g crude turmeric/day; 4.5–9 g rhizome/day as tea; 0.1 g rhizome up to 20 g/day; 1.5–3 g rhizome; 0.5–1 g rhizome several ×/day between meals, or 1.5–3 g day, often with warm milk; 1 tsp rhizome/cup warm milk; 0.5–1 g oral rhizome infusion 3 ×/day; 5–14 ml fluid rhizome extract divided in 4–5 doses; 3–5 g fresh herb; 0.3–0.5 g dry herb; 0.4 g dry herb:2 ml alcohol/2 ml water; 1.5–3 g crude drug/day; 400 mg curcumin 3 ×/day; 1200 mg curcumin; 1 StX capsule 2–3 ×/day; 300 mg capsules to 3 ×/day. curcumin. At a dose of 1.5 g/day/30 days, turmeric reduced urinary excretion of mutagens in an uncontrolled trial of 16 chronic smokers. Turmeric extract for 45 days dramatically decreased blood lipid peroxide levels in 18 male subjects. But in human volunteers, 20 mg piperine increases bioavailability of curcumin 20-fold.

Safety & Contraindications

While ulcerogenic in large doses, curcumin is only about one-third as ulcerogenic as the phenylbutazone. In low doses, curcumin had antiulcer activity, protecting against the ulcerogenic activity of phenylbutazone. LD50 ether extracts 12,200 mg/kg orl rat, LDlo curcumin >2000 mg/kg orl mus, LDlo curcumin >5000 mg/kg orl rat. Class 2b. Emmenagogue and uterotonic. Contraindicated in patients with bile duct obstruction, gallstones, hyperacidity, and stomach ulcers. While in moderate doses, turmeric is said to inhibit cancers, lymphomas and ulcers, overdoses of curcuminoids may possibly be cytotoxic and ulcerogenic, and may lead to diminution of red and white corpuscles. Still, Commission E approves 1.5–3 g/day, not nearly enough to provide 1200 mg curcumin. Commission E also reports contraindications: biliary obstruction; adverse effects: GI irritation from continued use; consult physicians before using if a patient has gallstones. At 10% of diet, turmeric caused some loss of hair in rats. Care should be taken in women who wish to conceive or patients complaining of alopecia. Rather frightening what one reads in UPW: Laboratory animals treated with it are reported to have been rendered entirely infertile. Women who are pregnant, or children with gallbladder or liver disease or ulcers, should avoid turmeric. Limit internal use to 10 days. EO showed significant antihistaminic and antiinflammatory activity, the latter at 0.1 ml/kg, which translates to 10 ml for me, a rather dangerous dose. Turmeric had no effect on serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate amino transferase, blood glucose, creatinine, and lipid profile. While ulcerogenic in large doses, curcumin is only about one-third as ulcerogenic as the phenylbutazone. LD50 ether extracts 12,200 mg/kg orl rat, LDlo curcumin >2000 mg/kg orl mus, LDlo curcumin >5000 mg/kg orl rat.

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