Science Confirms Turmeric As Effective As 14 Drugs

Science Confirms Turmeric As Effective As 14 Drugs

Sayer Ji


Activist Post

Turmeric is one the most thoroughly researched plants in existence today. Its medicinal properties and components (primarily curcumin) have been the subject of over 5600 peer-reviewed and published biomedical studies. In fact, our five-year long research project on this sacred plant has
revealed over 600 potential preventive and therapeutic applications, as
well as 175 distinct beneficial physiological effects. This entire
database of 1,585 ncbi-hyperlinked turmeric abstracts can be downloaded
as a PDF at our Downloadable Turmeric Document page, and acquired either as a retail item or with 200 GMI-tokens, for those of you who are already are members and receive them automatically each month.

Given the sheer density of research performed on this remarkable spice,
it is no wonder that a growing number of studies have concluded that it
compares favorably to a variety of conventional medications, including:

• Lipitor/Atorvastatin (cholesterol medication): A 2008 study
  published in the journal Drugs in R & D found that a standardized
  preparation of curcuminoids from Turmeric compared favorably to the drug
  atorvastatin (trade name Lipitor) on endothelial dysfunction, the
  underlying pathology of the blood vessels that drives atherosclerosis,
  in association with reductions in inflammation and oxidative stress in
  type 2 diabetic patients. [i] [For addition curcumin and 'high cholesterol' research – 8 abstracts]
  
• Corticosteroids (steroid medications): A 1999 study published
  in the journal Phytotherapy Research found that the primary polyphenol
  in turmeric, the saffron colored pigment known as curcumin, compared
  favorably to steroids in the management of chronic anterior uveitis, an
  inflammatory eye disease.[ii]
  A 2008 study published in Critical Care Medicine found that curcumin
  compared favorably to the corticosteroid drug dexamethasone in the
  animal model as an alternative therapy for protecting lung
  transplantation-associated injury by down-regulating inflammatory genes.[iii]
  An earlier 2003 study published in Cancer Letters found the same drug
  also compared favorably to dexamethasone in a lung ischaemia-repurfusion
  injury model.[iv] [for additional curcumin and inflammation research – 52 abstracts]
  
• Prozac/Fluoxetine & Imipramine (antidepressants): A 2011
  study published in the journal Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica found that
  curcumin compared favorably to both drugs in reducing depressive
  behavior in an animal model.[v] [for additional curcumin and depressionresearch – 5 abstracts]
  
• Aspirin (blood thinner): A 1986 in vitro and ex vivo study
  published in the journalArzneimittelforschung found that curcumin has
  anti-platelet and prostacyclin modulating effects compared to aspirin,
  indicating it may have value in patients prone to vascular thrombosis
  and requiring anti-arthritis therapy.[vi] [for additional curcumin and anti-platelet research]
  
• Anti-inflammatory Drugs: A 2004 study published in the
  journal Oncogene found that curcumin (as well as resveratrol) were
  effective alternatives to the drugs aspirin, ibuprofen, sulindac,
  phenylbutazone, naproxen, indomethacin, diclofenac, dexamethasone,
  celecoxib, and tamoxifen in exerting anti-inflammatory and
  anti-proliferative activity against tumor cells.[vii] [for additional curcumin and anti-proliferative research – 15 abstracts]
  
• Oxaliplatin (chemotherapy drug): A 2007 study published in
  the International Journal of Cancer found that curcumin compares
  favorably with oxaliplatin as an antiproliferative agenet in colorectal
  cell lines.[viii] [for additional curcumin and colorectal cancer research – 52 abstracts]
  
• Metformin (diabetes drug): A 2009 study published in the
  journal Biochemitry and Biophysical Research Community explored how
  curcumin might be valuable in treating diabetes, finding that it
  activates AMPK (which increases glucose uptake) and suppresses
  gluconeogenic gene expres​sion(which suppresses glucose production in
  the liver) in hepatoma cells. Interestingly, they found curcumin to be
  500 times to 100,000 times (in the form known as
  tetrahydrocurcuminoids(THC)) more potent than metformin in activating
  AMPK and its downstream target acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). [ix]
  

Another
way in which turmeric and its components reveal their remarkable
therapeutic properties is in research on drug resistant- and multi-drug
resistant cancers. We have two sections on our site dedicated to
researching natural and integrative therapies
on these topics, and while there are dozens of substances with
demonstrable efficacy against these chemotherapy- and
radiation-resistant cancers, curcumin tops both lists:

• Cancers: Drug Resistant
  
• Cancers: Multi-Drug Resistant
  

We have found no less than 54 studies indicating that curcumin can
induce cell death or sensitize drug-resistant cancer cell lines to
conventional treatment.[x]

We have identified 27 studies on curcumin's ability to either induce
cell death or sensitize multi-drug resistant cancer cell lines to
conventional treatment.[xi]

Considering how strong a track record turmeric (curcumin) has, having
been used as both food and medicine in a wide range of cultures, for
thousands of years, a strong argument can be made for using curcumin as a
drug alternative or adjuvant in cancer treatment.

Or, better yet, use certified organic (non-irradiated) turmeric in lower
culinary doses on a daily basis so that heroic doses won't be necessary
later in life after a serious disease sets in. Nourishing yourself,
rather than self-medicating with 'nutraceuticals,' should be the goal of
a healthy diet.

source:-
http://www.activistpost.com/2013/05/science-confirms-turmeric-as-effective.html