Nature has provided many remarkable natural plant sources of healing, and this one that you may not recognize is one of the most potent natural medicines known to man. This lesser-known natural remedy has been reported to fight cancerous tumors, free radicals, and help with many chronic illnesses. Let’s look more at how this one powerful natural medicine can be used to help you heal yourself and even prevent further illness.
Do You Recognize it? The Most Powerful Natural Medicine Known to Man
Those who enjoy the diverse food offerings of the Near East may recognize this powerful medicine with its mustard brown color, which is used as a flavoring spice in many Indian dishes. Turmeric is a spice and food preservative used primarily on Indian and Asian cultures, but its excellent health benefits are becoming more widely known in the Western world.
Turmeric looks like the root ginger, and its powerful medicine has been used as far back as 2500 BCE. Some Hindu communities believe its healing power extends to the spiritual realm and may wear a piece as a protective amulet. Turmeric is also used as a dye for cloth, giving the fabric a golden yellow color.
Ayurvedic medicinal practices use turmeric to help patients heal from various diseases. In some cases, the herb is revered as sacred and used in spiritual religious practices.
Health benefits of this powerful natural medicine
Curcumin is the component of turmeric that has gotten the most attention for its numerous medicinal properties. Researchers looking at the health benefits of this powerful natural medicine say that the curcumin of turmeric has the following remarkable properties:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antibacterial
- Anti-carcinogenic
- Anti-fungal
- Anticoagulant (blood thinning)
- Antioxidant
- Antiviral
- Anti-diabetic (decreases blood sugar levels)
- Antivenom
The researchers say ‘Curcumin is a non-toxic, highly promising natural antioxidant compound having a wide spectrum of biological functions. It is expected that curcumin may find applications as a novel drug shortly to control various diseases, including anti-inflammatory disorders, carcinogenesis and oxidative stress-induced pathogenesis.’
Current known health problems treated by this powerful natural medicine:
- Wound treatment
- Swelling caused by sprains
- Cough
- Anorexia
- Liver problems
- Rheumatism
- Arthritis
- Sinusitis
- Insomnia
- Acne
- Shingles
- Nausea
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Bruising
- Ulcers
- Diabetic wounds
- Diabetes
- Protect from cancer
- Reduce digestive gas
- Crohn’s disease
Much of the focus on the benefits of turmeric comes from its effect on reducing inflammatory diseases in the body. Many of the above listed diseases come from inflammation and the reaction of the body’s immune system to fighting off irritants from our diet and environment.
Inflammation causes swelling of the body’s tissues, causing pain, itching and pressure that is uncomfortable and can cause significant pain and discomfort. Having access to a natural medicine that reduces the inflammatory response in the body is a good way to reduce health problems that are caused by an overactive immune system.
How this powerful natural medicine works in the body
In the stomach, turmeric helps protect against ulcer formation. Inside the intestines, turmeric reduces digestive cramps and spasms and reduces gas production. In the liver, bile production increased with turmeric, and in the pancreas, plasma secretion increased with the use of turmeric.
In the heart, the curcumin from turmeric reduced cholesterol in high cholesterol rats. Also, turmeric showed that it protected against heart damage caused by a heart attack. The antioxidant properties of curcumin also protect against the damage of vascular dementia that affects the nervous system.
Other possible health benefits of the most powerful natural medicine known to man
Researchers studying baby mice and hamsters with cystic fibrosis found that curcumin showed the effect of correcting the cystic fibrosis defects which are mutations of the genes. Turmeric may also help improve mood problems such as anxiety and minor depression.
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Turmeric may be as effective as the typical aspirin and ibuprofen for thinning the blood and preventing clotting. It is also believed that the curcumin of turmeric is an effective painkiller by activating the opioid pain receptors in the brain, similar to morphine.
Caution with this powerful natural medicine
Use some caution when considering turmeric supplements. For example, turmeric has been shown to work as a contraceptive when fed to rats. Although this impact on fertility has not been shown in humans, those trying to conceive should be aware of this potential impact. Also, chromium and curcumin have been shown to cause DNA strand breaks in human lymphocytes and gastric mucosal cells. Avoiding chromium supplements while taking turmeric is recommended.
