Essentially the benefit
is the same while lacking the nasty side effect. Turmeric needs to be in the diet of
everyone. It never was a significant
flavor enhancer but it is certainly clear why it was added to the spice blend
as a matter of course. It is why curries
are yellow.
The other item
establishes pretty clearly that it is also a powerful liver tonic. This needs to be used more plentifully by
chronic drinkers. In fact, someone needs
to create an appropriate bar food using enough.
The story line is great.
Otherwise sauté with
onions and use as a garnish with carrots.
That should work well and carrots need a little extra. It may also go well in kimchi.
Groundbreaking Study
Finds Turmeric Extract Superior to Prozac for Depression
24th
July 2013
By Sayer Ji
Contributing
Writer for Wake
Up World
A
new study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research has
confirmed for the first time in a randomized, controlled clinical trial that
the primary polyphenol in turmeric – known as curcumin – is both
safe and effective in treating serious states of depression.[1]
The
research was performed at the Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical
College, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India, and involved patients already diagnosed
with major depressive disorder (MDD). The objective of the trial was to compare
the efficacy and safety of curcumin with fluoxetine (Prozac) in 60 patients
diagnosed with MDD. Subjects were randomized to receive either a six week
treatment with fluoxetine (20 mg) and curcumin (1000 mg), individually or in
combination.
Success
of the treatment was evaluated using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17).
The results were reported as follows:
“We
observed that curcumin was well tolerated by all the patients. The proportion
of responders as measured by the HAM-D17 scale was higher in the
combination group (77.8%) than in the fluoxetine [Prozac]
(64.7%) and the curcumin (62.5%) groups; however, these data were not
statistically significant (P = 0.58).
“Interestingly,
the mean change in HAM-D17 score at the end of six weeks was comparable in
all three groups (P = 0.77). This study provides first clinical evidence that
curcumin may be used as an effective and safe modality for treatment in
patients with MDD without concurrent suicidal ideation or other psychotic
disorders.”
Discussion
If
the results of this relatively small trial are applicable to a wider
population, this is truly groundbreaking news. There was already a rather
sizable body of preclinical research indicating that curcumin is an effective
antidepressant in the animal model,[2] but this was not enough to sway
most physicians who practice so-called “evidence based medicine” into actually
suggesting it to patients as a Prozac or antidepressant alternative.
And
this is understandable, as the lack of solid human clinical evidence supporting
the use of a natural substance is no small matter from a legal-regulatory
perspective. Unless a substance has passed through the approximately 800 million
dollar financial gauntlet of phase I, II, and III clinical trials required to
apply for FDA drug approval, and has actually received that approval, there
is scant legal
protection for those who use natural medicines to prevent or treat
disease, and who might face a lawsuit (frivolous or genuine) as a result of a
claim of injury.
Curcumin,
of course, is extremely safe, with a 2010 phase I safety study finding that
oral doses as high as 8 grams a day were well tolerated.[3] Fluoxetine,
on the other hand, is highly controversial due to its well-known toxicity, and
its laundry list of side effects, which include suicidal ideation (not a good
side effect for someone already depressed!).
Also,
even though it would appear the study
found that curcumin and Prozac were equivalent in effectiveness, the fact
that curcumin comes “… without concurrent suicidal ideation or other
psychotic disorders,” clearly proves its superiority over Prozac. There are
also a wide range of additional side benefits that come with using curcumin,
including its powerful neuroprotective properties. You will find no less than
109 studies on GreenMedInfo’s database documenting curcumin’s ability to
protect, and in some cases restore brain function. [see research
here: curcumin's
neuroprotective properties]
Studies
like this are greatly encouraging as they confirm the timeless wisdom of plant,
mineral and nutrient-based medical interventions which were once the norm
before pharmaceutical medicine, only recently, attempted to dominate the
spectrum of alternatives available to the public.
Some
final details that may be of assistance are: (1) curcumin is approximately 3-4%
of the whole root powder by weight. (2) curcumin is poorly bioavailable,
as it is alcohol and not water or fat soluble, so must be taken in higher
quantities, or in combination with either carrier molecules such as the
phospholipid phosphatidyl choline or bioavailability enhancers such
as black pepper, or the primary compound responsible for increased absorption
in black
pepper: piperine.
For
additional information on the topics covered here read: 600
Reasons Turmeric May Be The World’s Most Important Herb
[1] Jayesh
Sanmukhani, Vimal Satodia, Jaladhi Trivedi, Tejas Patel, Deepak Tiwari, Bharat
Panchal, Ajay Goel, Chandra Bhanu Tripathi. Efficacy and Safety of
Curcumin in Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Phytother
Res. 2013 Jul 6. Epub 2013 Jul 6. PMID: 23832433
[2] GreenMedInfo.com, Animal
Research on Curcumin’s Anti-Depressive Properties
[3] Masashi
Kanai, Kenichi Yoshimura, Masanori Asada, Atsushi Imaizumi, Chihiro Suzuki,
Shigemi Matsumoto, Takafumi Nishimura, Yukiko Mori, Toshihiko Masui, Yoshiya
Kawaguchi, Kazuhiro Yanagihara, Shujiro Yazumi, Tsutomu Chiba, Sushovan Guha,
Bharat B Aggarwal. A phase I/II study of gemcitabine-based chemotherapy
plus curcumin for patients with gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer. Cancer
Chemother Pharmacol. 2010 Sep 22. Epub 2010 Sep 22. PMID:20859741
July
13, 2013
Sayer
J
You
know turmeric has health benefits, most notably reducing inflammation, but did
you know it may also protect and heal the damaged and diseased liver?
A
new clinical trial published in the journal BMC Complementary and
Alternative Medicine is shedding light on turmeric’s remarkable liver
protective and regenerative properties.[1]
South
Korean researchers at the Clinical Trial Center for Functional Foods, Chonbuk
National University Hospital, tested their hypothesis that turmeric may improve
liver function by administering a fermented form to
subjects, 20 years old and above, who were diagnosed mild to moderate elevated alanine
aminotransferase (ALT) levels, a maker for liver damage and/or dysfunction.
Sixty
subjects were randomized to receive 3.0 g per fermented turmeric powder (FTP)
or placebo 3.0 g per day for 12 weeks. The treatment group received two
capsules of FTP three times a day after meals, for 12 weeks.
What
were the results?
Not
only did FTP significantly reduce ALT levels in subjects but also reduced
serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), two
additional enzymes which when elevated are commonly associated with liver
damage. The effects were maintained as long as the subjects remained on the
treatment. Also, FTP was well tolerated and without significant adverse
effects.
This
study adds additional weight to a rather vast body of preclinical research that
has accumulated over the past two decades confirming turmeric and its primary
polyphenol curcumin’s liver protecting properties. The GreenMedInfo.com
database now contains 86 studies demonstrating the ability of turmeric (and curcumin)
to protect the liver against a wide range of chemical and drug exposures.[2]We recently
featured a study published in the Journal
of the Medical Association of Thailand which revealed the potential of
turmeric to protect and regenerate the diabetic liver.[3]
Turmeric
May Also Kill Liver Cancer
What
may be even more remarkable is the accumulating research on the anti-liver
cancer properties of turmeric (and curcumin). The GreenMedInfo.com has 26
preclinical studies showing it kills liver cancer cells and tumors, including
one case study involving a 6-month old infant with a life-threatening liver
vascular tumor (hemangioendothelioma) who was reported treated successfully
with a dietary supplement of curcumin, with 6-year
follow-up.[4]
One
of the most remarkable facts about turmeric as a potential drug and chemotherapy
alternative is its exceptionally high margin of safety. A 2001 study
in cancer patients reported that quantities of curcumin up to 8 g,
administered per day for three months, were not toxic and resulted in
significant anti-cancer properties in a number of those treated.[5] Considering
that turmeric is only 3-4% curcumin by weight, this implies that a larger
quantity of turmeric can be consumed safely, as well.
Of
course, while these results are promising, the real solution to elevated liver
enzymes is to identify the underlying causes, e.g. infection, NSAID use,
chemical exposures, dietary intolerances, etc., and remove them. Failing
that, those within the integrative medical field who are looking for
evidence-based ways to address the sometimes inevitable hepatotoxicity of
standard drug-based treatments may find a role for turmeric (curcumin) in their
practices. Other folks, simply looking for ways to improve their health
and to prevent liver problems may wish to consume smaller doses through
incorporating the spice (which must be organic to avoid the dangers of
irradiation) into traditional recipes at culinary doses. [see our EATomology project for guidance on
this]
For
more information on Turmeric’s amazing healing properties read our
article: 600
Reasons Why Turmeric May Be the World’s Most Important Spice.
About
the Author
Sayer
Ji is an author, researcher, lecturer, and advisory board member of
the National Health
Federation.
He
founded Greenmedinfo.com in 2008 in order to provide the world an open access,
evidence-based resource supporting natural and integrative modalities. It is
internationally recognized as the largest and most widely referenced health
resource of its kind.
Resources:
[1] Sang-Wook Kim, Ki-Chan Ha,
Eun-Kyung Choi, Su-Young Jung, Min-Gul Kim, Dae-Young Kwon, Hye-Jung Yang,
Min-Jung Kim, Hee-Joo Kang, Hyang-Im Back, Sun-Young Kim, Soo-Hyun Park,
Hum-Young Baek, Yong-Jae Kim, Joon-Yeol Lee, Soo-Wan Chae. The
effectiveness of fermented turmeric powder in subjects with elevated alanine
transaminase levels: a randomised controlled study. BMC Complement
Altern Med. 2013 ;13:58. Epub 2013 Mar 8. PMID: 23497020
[2] GreenMedInfo.com,
Professional Feature: Focus Turmeric’s
Hepatoprotective PropertiesArticles (86 abstracts)
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