Turmeric Health Article

Preparations

Turmeric root is cleaned, boiled, and dried in the oven before being powdered. This pulverized root can then be dissolved in either water or alcohol. It is usually dissolved in boiling alcohol and filtered to make a medicinal tincture.

In India and Pakistan, turmeric is dissolved in water for use as an eyewash, and in milk to make a soothing skin lotion.

Precautions

Practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine advise against using turmeric during pregnancy.

Side effects

Like other anti-inflammatory agents, turmeric has been found to contribute to the formation of stomach ulcers.

BOOKS

Grieve, M., and C. F. Leyel. A Modern Herbal: The Medical, Culinary, Costmetic and Economic Properties, Cultivation and Folklore of Herbs, Grasses, Fungi, Shrubs and Trees With All of Their Modern Scientific Uses. New York: Barnes and Noble Publishing, 1992.

Molony, David, and Ming Ming Pan Molony. The American Association of Oriental Medicine's Complete Guide to Chinese Herbal Medicine. New York: Berkley Publishing, 1999.

Phillips, Ellen, and C. Colston Burrell. Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Perennials. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, Inc., 1993.

Srimal, R. C. Turmeric: A Brief Overview of Medicinal Properties. London: Filoterapia, 1997.

PERIODICALS

Anto, R. J., A. Mukhopadhyay, K. Denning, and B. B. Aggarwal. "Curcumin (Diferuloylmethane) Induces Apoptosis Through Activation of Caspase-8, BID Cleavage and Cytochrome C Release: Its Suppression by Ectopic Expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl." Carcinogenesis 23 (January 2002): 143-150.

Ireson, C. R., D. J. Jones, S. Orr, et al. "Metabolism of the Cancer Chemopreventive Agent Curcumin in Human and Rat Intestine." Cancer Epidemiology and Biomarkers 11 (January 2002): 105-111.

Shukla, Y., A. Arora, and P. Taneja. "Antimutagenic Potential of Curcumin on Chromosomal Aberrations in Wistar Rats." Mutation Research 25 (March 2002): 197-202.

Joan Schonbeck

Rebecca J. Frey, PhD