Sacred herb turmeric may make at least 14 pharmaceutical drugs utterly obsolete

K. Hariharan Krishnamurthy (K. Hariharan)

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(NaturalNews) You may have already heard about the many amazing healing properties of the spice turmeric, which is also sometimes referred to as curcumin. But did you know that literally thousands of published, peer-reviewed studies conducted and compiled over the years lend credence to the notion that turmeric works the same as, or even better than, at least 14 pharmaceutical drugs currently on the market?

Sacred herb turmeric may make at least 14 pharmaceutical drugs utterly obsolete

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Sacred herb turmeric may make at least 14 pharmaceutical drugs utterly obsolete

It is true, and thanks to the diligent work of GreenMedInfo.com‘s Sayer Ji in compiling this valuable information, it is now available publicly for the benefit of your and your family’s health. Many of the most commonly prevalent chronic illnesses, it turns out, can be prevented, treated, and even cured using turmeric, so you will want to pay attention. Here are seven drugs and classes of drugs that science shows can be effectively replaced with turmeric:

1) Statin drugs for cholesterol. Popular cholesterol drugs like Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) and Crestor (rosuvastatin) are completely unnecessary when taking standardized doses of curcuminoids extracted from turmeric, according to a 2008 study published in the journal Drugs in R D. Researchers found that in patients with endothelial dysfunction, the underlying blood vessel pathology that leads to atherosclerosis, turmeric extract worked at least as good as the drugs at reducing inflammation and relieving oxidative stress in type 2 diabetics.

2) Corticosteroid drugs. Millions of people receive steroid injections every year to treat the inflammation associated with conditions like arthritis and even cancer. But a 1999 study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research found that turmeric’s primary antioxidant, curcumin, works just as well as steroid medications in the treatment of inflammatory eye disease. Several studies released in the years following found similar benefits for other inflammatory diseases commonly treated with steroids.

3) Antidepressants. Besides their copious side effects, antidepressant drugs like Prozac (fluoxetine) and Paxil (paroxetine) are extremely risky, as they can actually make depression symptoms worse for some people. But why even bother to use them when turmeric has been shown to effectively reduce depressive behavior the same or even better than these dangerous drugs?

4) Blood thinners. People at high risk of heart attack or stroke, or who require blood-thinning drugs to avoid these and other cardiovascular events, may simply be able to take turmeric instead. This suggestion is based on a 1986 study published in the journal Arzneimittelforschung, which found that curcumin has similar anti-platelet and prostacyclin modulating effects as aspirin, the blood-thinning drug of choice for many conventional doctors.

5) Anti-inflammatory drugs. Aspirin is also commonly prescribed for other inflammatory conditions, as is ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and a number of other pain pills. But these may be unnecessary as turmeric was shown in a 2004 study published in the journal Oncogene to exert similar anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activity, particularly against cancer cells, as these drugs.

6) Chemotherapy drugs. The cancer industry would have us all believe that chemotherapy drugs are one of the few methods we have at our disposal to treat cancer. But a 2007 study published in the International Journal of Cancer found that curcumin works just as well as oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) at treating colorectal cancer.

7) Diabetes drugs. Not only is turmeric a viable contender in treating diabetes, a 2009 study published in the journalBiochemistry and Biophysical Research Community found that it works up to 100,000 times better than the popular diabetes drug Metformin at increasing glucose uptake. Turmeric also helps suppress glucose production in the liver at least as well as the most popular diabetes drugs on the market today.

Beyond this, turmeric is a powerful cancer-fighting herb as well, which Ji expounds upon further in his turmeric review. Be sure to check it out at:http://www.greenmedinfo.com

K. Hariharan Krishnamurthy (K. Hariharan)

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Manjal Turmeric Part I & II

MANJAL (TURMERIC)

Dear friends

Yesterday I was just going through the Tamil TV news and was listening to the very low market value for Erode Turmeric. The farmers want Government to procure turmeric giving a support value to save the situation. The reason told was over flooding market with the product.

I just thought about turmeric on listening news. Turmeric is an essential item in the kitchen. Even all the masala items produced contain surely turmeric. Always there will be turmeric powder in kitchen as well as store as spare. All the vegetables are boiled adding turmeric powder, to remove poisonous effects if any.

We apply turmeric powder on bee stinging,thezl kottal, pazhuthara stinging, or any sudden boils. There are many creams having turmeric base itself.

For all our poojas the sastrikal write manjal, kumkum first in the list. Pullayar for pooja is made out of manjal powder, probably recollecting the first creation of Pullayar by Goddess Parvathi using manjal applied to the body with slight oil as guard inducing life in to it.

If at all some suspicion of poison is there in a food intake, turmeric water is made to drink, so that it will reduce the poison effect.

In all Naga temples and Devi temples turmeric powder is used much in pooja. Abhishekam is done with turmeric powder mixed in water in Devi temples. On naga deities turmeric powder is put on them as offering and to cool them. Prasadam too is called Manjalprasadam.

When we exchange a horoscope for marriage purposes or during preparation manjal powder is applied in corners and centre. Account books are normally having marks of turmeric application. Front doors in many houses are provided with a mark of turmeric and kumkum.

I was not knowing the speciality of erode turmeric before coming to Chennai. It was told by my Tamil friends about speciality of Patthamada pulpai, Tirunelveli Halwa, Dindugal murukku, Madurai iddali, Kodaikkanal grapes, Kallidai kurichi appalam, Pollachi coconut etc.

Before starting today’s topic I desire to thank one of our esteemed lady member who sent to me a few adages after reading my VELLATHINU MUKALIL POKUNNATHU VALLAM.

Two of them are very much thought provoking which are reproduced below.

1.Samsaara saagarm kadakkaan manushyanu Adhdhyaathma chinthaye thoni.

2.Vellathile vallathinoru dwaaram veenaal Vellavum vallavum samam

The rough TRANSLATIONS are as follows

1. to cross the ocean of life, divine thinking is the sure boat
2. If a hole come in the boat floating in the water, boat will be in level with water.

I have responded to her appreciating the adages.

I am thankful to all the members responding to me after reading my postings.

Sincerely
Gopala Krishnan 8-6-2012

1. Anjanamennal enikkariyam, manjalu polae veluthirikkum

Once a knowledgeable person was talking to an audience. The talk came about Anjanam. He put the query to audience- Any one knows about Anjanam?

While others were thinking, one hurrying less knowing person got up and said – Anjanamennal enikkariyam, manjalu polae veluthirikkum.

I know anjanam; it appears like manjal which is WHITE in colour. Either he knows anjanam or manjal.

In day to day life we see many such people in every walk of life. The one telling the COMBINATION PERCENTAGE of different metals in pure gold of 99.96 purity is such a person.

They are not munthirikkottai since some times they only be hurrying, but knowing things.

2. Manjal abhishekam in temples

I had a thinking about manjal abhishekam- if at all any poisonous material form due to different abhisekams in random, any poisonous effect formed would be removed.

Similarly in olden days in Ammikkal and now a day in mixi, use of manjal will remove any adhering with poisonous effect.

Even after best cleaning by Droupadi if Lord Krishna could get a cheera bit from Akshayapathra, what about cleaning by lady servants and keeping them with out supervision.

I have seen my wife making double check before using milk boiling valpathram, and many a times do a 2nd cleaning as if she is just cleaning.

3. Manjal and women

Sumangalies are offered on their visit to other houses as a gesture, kumkum and manjal. If they come as guests, in addition saree or blouse bits are also offered. Earlier it was only blouse bits- Now saree too got added since every body’s standard of living has increased or it has become the order of the day.

Some thing like split AC has become common in all houses. Once A C was seen as luxury or of richness of a person.Now it has changed.

Last week a worker coming to my house for garden works owning house was telling. In the hall now I have provided AC for the hot summer. Not able to manage sir..

Aged women now too use during bath to apply turmeric paste on the face and wash. It was a practice for married women to use turmeric paste during bath every day before years. I do recollect my mother specially requesting for muttan manjal for this application. (Special quality manjal)

Whether use or not manjal will be in all houses.

4. Manjal – colour of Mahavishnu

Manjal is told as the colour of Mahavishnu and to appease Planet Guru, it is suggested to wear yellow items since his god is Vishnu.

5. Light yellow- colour of Onakkodi.

It is a practice to wear kids with yellow small dhothies ( Kutti mundu) during Onam festival. Onakkodi also is light yellow mundu and sari in the original form.

6. Kanikkonna

Kani kkonna is yellowish in colour which is seen in the morning of Sankranthi day ( Meta vishu).

7. Palani and yellow dress.

Those going to Palani muruga on pilgrimage wear yellow dress. Some groups to Sabari malai also wear yellow dress.

Many temple priests wear colour dress in Tamilnadu and one among them is yellow.

It has also become a practice of many men who do NOT TO WEAR white dhothies to wear colour dhoties instead now. How this conversion occurred is not known. Now we can see many iyers wearing colour dhothies in the house.

8. Manjappai

Now too many of use a yellow bag which is a sign of auspiciousness on important occasions to carry things. We can find sastrikals keeping yellow bag while coming for auspicious occasions.

I will continue with turmeric in next posting also.

MANJAL PART 2
Continued from part1

Dear friends

In Chennai, near Perumal kovil in Devaraja Mudali street in Flower Bazar (2nd stop from Central railway station to Parry’s corner) a few shops are there selling turmeric and kumkum alone earlier. Now they have added other pooja items also. We could see merchants dressed in red dhothi sitting before heaped kumkum of varieties, manjal of varieties in very big thambalams for sales. The shops are seen always with clients and crowded with people in the evening. On those days the prices appeared slightly high but the products were of EXCELLENT quality.

These shops came to my remembrance first today while start writing. While I was in Chennai in 1966’s I used to get my mother in native these items packed in abundance.

Every time she got the packets, she used to tell; I should leave for abode, with manjal and Kumkum and apply a large quantity on the face. As she desired in 1972 middle she left for abode with Manjal and Kum kum.

Sincerely
Gopala Krishnan 15-6-2012

9. Medicinal properties of Manjal

The Turmeric plant, though long used as an important ingredient for curries and other foods, is also an important medicinal herb, used by Ayurvedic medicine practitioners.

Known also by its Latin name curcuma longa or simply curcumin, the Turmeric plant is used to treat a number of medical disorders, including digestive disorders, liver problems, and skin diseases.

It has also been proven effective in stimulating improvement in bile flow, making it very beneficial for people suffering for both digestive and gall bladder problems.

As a medical preparation, it is used for curing digestive disorders, helping to break down fats during the digestion process. It also has been proven useful for stomach problems ranging from gastritis to stomach problems caused by stress or alcohol. The Turmeric herb is also said to be very effective in treatment for inflammations caused by osteoarthritis and for helping to unclog arteries partially blocked by atherosclerosis.

Its use in breaking down saturated facts in cholesterol is becoming well accepted. Turmeric’s effectiveness against cancer and liver disease is being studied as well.

10 Relative of inchi

The plant is a relative of the Ginger plant, and grows to a height of 5 feet in tropical parts of southern Asia. The plant is characteristic in having a sharp, bitter taste.

The Turmeric roots are dried and boiled to make the familiar yellow powder most commonly used in food preparations.

11. Controlled use of manjal

Even in dishes, manjal is required to be added, but in LIMITED QUANTITY. Adding more turmeric powder can create complications also.

Besides the common powder for cooking uses, Turmeric is also available in Turmeric capsules and as an extract. Though it can be used by virtually all ages of people, it must not be over ingested as various side effects can occur.

These include stomach upsets and even ulcers. The herb’s possible interaction with other herbs or drugs could be problems; and amounts exceeding recommended doses should not be taken.

It should not be taken by people suffering from gall stones or partial bile passage blockage without the approval of a qualified herbal medicine practitioner. Turmeric may also interact with drugs such as resprine; used to treat high blood pressure.

Even in dishes over addition create a vomiting sensation.

12. Turmeric cultivation

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a perennial plant of the ginger family; it is native to tropical South Asia and needs temperatures between 20 °C and 30 °C and a considerable amount of annual rainfall to thrive. Plants are gathered annually for their rhizomes, and propagated from some of those rhizomes in the following season.

During pongal season we get plant with leaves and roots and sub routes. If we plant in a shady area and water, such roots may come as plant. It can be in kitchen garden. The leaves itself will give a smell, and nothing to worry of creepers.

13. Curcumin
What the curcumin do? Every one of us knows- but not the word curcumin. Read the paragraphs below.

When not used fresh, the rhizomes are boiled for several hours and then dried in hot ovens, after which they are ground into a deep orange-yellow powder commonly used as a spice in curries and other South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine, for dyeing, and to impart colour to mustard condiments.

Its active ingredient is curcumin and it has a distinctly earthy, slightly bitter, slightly hot peppery flavour and a mustardy smell.

Curcumin can be used to test the alkalinity or acidity of foods and other items. IT TURNS YELLOW IN AN ACIDIC, AND IT TURNS RED IN AN ALKALINE.

Now recollect- It is the curcumin which make the lime water added with turmeric powder make it dark red during AARATHI.

14. Turmeric Production

Nizamabad, a city in the south Indian state of Andhra pradesh, is one of the largest producers of turmeric .Erode in Tamil Nadu is another important turmeric trading centre that receives turmeric produced not only from Tamil Nadu, but also from the neighbouring state of Karnataka. In history, Erode is also known as the “Turmeric City”.

Sangli, a town in the southern part of the Indian western state of Maharashtra, is another large trading centre for turmeric in Asia. Our esteemed member SRI SAIKRISHNAN had already given this information as response to part 1 of the posting and many members would have read it already.

Kasur district of Pakistan is the largest producer of turmeric in Pakistan.

15. Other names of manjal

Turmeric is commonly called Pasupu in Telugu, Manjal in Tamil and Malayalam, Arisina in Kannada, Haridra in Sanskrit and Haldar or Haldi in Hindi.

16. Leaves in dishes and for preparation

In Indonesia and Sumatra leaves of manjal plant are used in dishes.

Although most usage of turmeric is in the form of root powder, in some regions (especially in Maharashtra, Goa, Konkan and Kanara), leaves of turmeric are used to WRAP AND COOK FOOD. This usually takes place in areas where turmeric is grown locally, since the leaves used are freshly picked. This imparts a distinct flavour.

I have seen my mother using leaves of manjal plant for keeping kakkapodi during pongal time.

17. Colouring

In recipes outside South Asia, turmeric is sometimes used as an agent to impart a rich, custard-like yellow colour. It is used in canned beverages and baked products, dairy products, ice cream, yogurt, yellow cakes, orange juice, biscuits, popcorn colour, sweets, cake icings, cereals, sauces, gelatins, etc.

It is a significant ingredient in most commercial curry powders. Turmeric is mostly used in savoury dishes, as well as some sweet dishes, such as the cake sfouf.

18. Turmeric pickle

Although usually used in its dried, powdered form, turmeric is also used fresh, much like ginger. It has numerous uses in Far Eastern recipes, such as FRESH TURMERIC PICKLE, which contains large chunks of soft turmeric. (I have just read from net. I have not tasted or seen it)

18. Turmeric in Devi temples

We can find wider use of turmeric powder in Devi temples, Naga temples and hill temple Sabarimala at Malikappuram Devi.
We can also get from sellers forest turmeric bigger in size, which could be about double the size of normal turmeric. This type manjal was used by / is used by married woman during bath for application in face.

I will have a 3rd part also about turmeric

Compiler- R. Gopala Krishnan, 68, retired Asst General manager, Kerala Telecom, Trivandrum.

__._,

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Manjal- Termeric Part III

MANJAL PART 3 (LAST PART)
Continued from part 2

19. Cosmetic use

Turmeric paste is traditionally used by Indian women to keep them free of superfluous hair and as an antimicrobial. Turmeric paste, as part of both home remedies and Ayurveda, is also said to improve the skin and is touted as an anti-aging agent. Turmeric figures prominently in the bridal beautification ceremonies of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

Staining oneself with turmeric is believed to improve the skin tone and tan. Turmeric is currently used in the formulation of some sunscreens.

20. As Dye

Turmeric makes a poor fabric dye, as it is not very light fast. However, turmeric is commonly used in Indian and Bangladeshi clothing, such as saris and Buddhist monks’ robes.

21 Gardening

Turmeric can also be used to deter ants. The exact reasons why turmeric repels ants are unknown, but anecdotal evidence suggests it works. So snakes too will not come to eat ants.

22 Ceremonial uses

Turmeric is considered highly auspicious in India and has been used extensively in various Indian ceremonies for millennia. Even today it is used in every part of India during wedding ceremonies and religious ceremonies.

23 Vigna vinayaka

It is used in Poojas to make a form of Hindu god Ganesha. Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, is invoked at the beginning of almost any ceremony and a form of Ganesha for this purpose is made by mixing turmeric with water and forming it into a cone-like shape.

24 Gaye holud
Literally “yellow on the body” is a ceremony observed mostly in the region of Bengal (comprising Bangladesh and Indian West Bengal). The gaye holud takes place one or two days prior to the religious and legal Bengali wedding ceremonies.

The turmeric paste is applied by friends to the bodies of the couple. This is said to soften the skin, but also colours them with the distinctive yellow hue that gives its name to this ceremony. It may be a joint event for the bride and groom’s families, or it may consist of separate events for the bride’s family and the groom’s family. (As read from Wikipedia)

25. Pongal and turmeric

During the south Indian festival Pongal, a whole turmeric plant with fresh rhizomes is offered as a thanksgiving offering to Surya, the Sun god. Also, the fresh plant sometimes is tied around the sacred Pongal pot in which an offering of pongal is prepared.

26. In place of mangla sutra
In southern India, as a part of the marriage ritual, dried turmeric tuber tied with string is used to replace the Mangalsutra temporarily or permanently. THE HINDU MARRIAGE ACT RECOGNIZES THIS CUSTOM.

In western and coastal India, during weddings of the Marathi and Konkani people turmeric tubers are tied with strings by the couple to their wrists during a ceremony called KANKANABANDHANA.

27. Contents of turmeric

Turmeric contains up to 5% essential oils and up to 5% curcumin, a polyphenol. Curcumin is the active substance of turmeric and curcumin

Curcumin is a pH indicator. In acidic solutions (pH <7.4) it turns yellow, whereas in basic (pH > 8.6) solutions it turns bright red

28. Turmeric cultivation

The plant of Turmeric is an herbaceous perennial, which is 60 -90 cm high. It has a short stem. It has LARGE LEAVES OBLONG AND EVEN UP TO ONE METER LONG.

Flowers of the turmeric appear on a spike like the stalk. Its flowers are yellow white in colour. They are sterile and do not produce viable seed

28aCultivation methods:

Turmeric plant is panted in the month of September to October (After Onam festival). It grows in light black, black clayey loams, and red soils in irrigated and rain fed conditions. The rhizomes are planted 5 7 cm deep. This crop is planted by the small rhizomes with one or two buds.

IT IS HARVESTED AFTER 9 -10 MONTHS OF PLANTING. The lower leaves turn yellow and fall with age.

29 Medicinal uses:

It is taken as the blood purifier and is very useful in the common cold, leprosy, intermittent, affections of the liver, dropsy, inflammation and wound healing.

The rhizome of the turmeric plant is highly aromatic and antiseptic. It is even used for contraception, swelling, insect stings, wounds, whooping cough, inflammation, internal injuries, pimples, injuries, as a skin tonic.

Sweetened milk boiled with the turmeric is the popular remedy for cold and cough. It is given in liver ailments and jaundice.

30 Other uses:

The powered rhizome of this plant is used as a condiment and as a yellow dye. Its is used to colour and flavour the foodstuff. It is used in the preparation of medicinal oils, ointments and poultice. It is even used in the cosmetics.

31 Cultural Importance:

For thousand of years it has been used in the Hindu religious ceremonies. It is the common belief among the Hindus that TURMERIC IMPROVES FERTILITY.

The dry turmeric root is considered as the symbol of purity and prosperity. It is used in Indian rites and rituals.

Turmeric mixed in water is poured on the God and Goddesses.

The dried turmeric roots in betel leaves are given to the women during the ceremonies as they are considered as fertile and bring good luck.

Turmeric power is applied on the main entrance of the Indian Houses.

The priests in the temples put tilak on the forehead with the turmeric power. Married women in India have to put Sindur a vermilion paste (mixture of turmeric with camphor).

Compiler- R Gopala Krishnan, 68, retired AGM Telecom Trivandrum.

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Medicinal Properties of Turmeric

New Study Shows Some Curry Dishes Boost Immune System

An international team of researchers has identified why some curry dishes, made with spices humans have used for thousands of years, might be good for your health.

Curcumin, a principal curcuminoid found in the popular Indian spice turmeric (Brovi PL)

A new study, published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, suggests that curcumin, a compound found in the cooking spice turmeric, can cause a modest but measurable increase in levels of a protein that’s known to be important in the “innate” immune system, helping to prevent infection in humans and other animals.
This cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) is part of what helps our immune system fight off various bacteria, viruses or fungi even though they hadn’t been encountered before.

Prior to this, it was known that CAMP levels were increased by vitamin D. Discovery of an alternative mechanism to influence or raise CAMP levels is of scientific interest and could open new research avenues in nutrition and pharmacology.

Turmeric is a flavorful, orange-yellow spice and an important ingredient in many curries, commonly found in Indian, South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. It has also been used for 2,500 years as a medicinal compound in the Ayurvedic system of medicine in India – not to mention being part of some religious and wedding ceremonies.
“This research points to a new avenue for regulating CAMP gene expression,” said lead author Dr Adrian Gombart, an associate professor of biochemistry and biophysics at the Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute. “It’s interesting and somewhat surprising that curcumin can do that, and could provide another tool to develop medical therapies.”

“The impact of curcumin in this role is not nearly as potent as that of vitamin D,” Dr Gombart said, “but could nonetheless have physiologic value. Curcumin has also been studied for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.”
“Curcumin, as part of turmeric, is generally consumed in the diet at fairly low levels,” Dr Gombart added. “However, it’s possible that sustained consumption over time may be healthy and help protect against infection, especially in the stomach and intestinal tract.”

In this study, Dr Gombart and his colleagues looked at the potential of both curcumin and omega-3 fatty acids to increase expression of the CAMP gene. They found no particular value with the omega-3 fatty acids for this purpose, but curcumin did have a clear effect. It caused levels of CAMP to almost triple.

There has been intense scientific interest in the vitamin D receptor in recent years because of potential therapeutic benefits in treating infection, cancer, psoriasis and other diseases, the researchers noted in their report. An alternative way to elicit a related biological response could be significant and merits additional research, they said.

The CAMP peptide is the only known antimicrobial peptide of its type in humans, researchers said. It appears to have the ability to kill a broad range of bacteria, including those that cause tuberculosis and protect against the development of sepsis.

One small note of caution: curcumin (=turmeric) should be used in small amounts – a small pinch, not by spoons. It is very important that turmeric not be thrown in for colour and used in large quantities.

It should be used with great caution when having drugs such as warfarin (prescribed to loosen clots) since it is known to inhibit this class of drugs.

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