Top Curcumin Uses as a Natural Medicinal Remedy

Many of curcumin’s uses in natural medicine practices relate to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is the bioactive constituent of turmeric, the spice derived from the plant Curcuma longa.

Turmeric has been used in India for thousands of years as a culinary ingredient and therapeutic. In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric is used for the prevention and treatment of a number of ailments, including depression, infection, digestive disorders and liver disease.

Curcumin is concentrated in the rhizomes (underground stems) of C. longa, which are boiled, dried and ground to make turmeric powder. Curcumin is responsible for turmeric’s distinctive yellow/gold pigment. Turmeric is one of the main ingredients in curry and plays a central role in Indian cooking; most Indians consume it every day.

Turmeric and curcumin supplements are now used for a variety of conditions, many of which relate to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Some of curcumin’s many contemporary uses include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, bloating, dyspepsia, liver/gallbladder conditions and inflammatory skin conditions.

Curcumin

Anti-Inflammatory

Joints

Health

Anti- Aging

How It Works:

• Effective anti-inflammatory supplement
• Shown to improve joint functionality
• Anti-oxidant to supper general health

Dosage:

Between 1 - 3 g per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

Top Curcumin Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

Using Curcumin Supplements

There are a number of different brands of curcumin and turmeric supplements available today.

However, neither is well absorbed when taken orally in pure form. Only a small portion of the active ingredient will enter the circulating bloodstream.

Combining curcumin with black pepper or a constituent of black pepper – piperine – has been observed to improve bioavailability.

Look for curcumin supplements that contain piperine or black pepper in addition to a high standardized level of curcuminoids (around 95%).

Curcumin Uses for Inflammation

Curcumin is a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. It is commonly used to address conditions related to chronic inflammation. Contemporary research indicates that curcumin plays an integral role in turmeric’s observed anti-inflammatory effects.

Inflammation is part of a healthy immune response. It is the first line of defense against injury and infection. When inflammation occurs, blood, white blood cells and other immune cells rush to the site of injury or infection to help clear away dead tissue and ward off disease and infection.

This form of inflammation, otherwise known as acute inflammation, plays a crucial role in keeping us healthy. However, prolonged or chronic inflammation is increasingly being connected with a number of diseases, including cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and depression.

Although researchers are beginning to understand the relationship between chronic inflammation and disease, it is still unclear what causes systemic and chronic inflammation.

There are probably many different causes of chronic inflammation. One hypothesis is that chronic inflammation is caused when food, bacteria or environmental chemicals are able to escape the digestive tract.

This is often referred to as Leaky Gut Syndrome or LGS. LGS is not an accepted diagnosis in conventional Western medicine, but some nutritionists and naturopathic doctors suggest it as a cause of chronic inflammation.

In LGS, environmental toxins, food, parasites and bacteria are said to escape the intestine and enter the blood stream. The immune system detects these constituents as foreign material that needs to be expelled, which triggers inflammation.

In acute inflammation, a number of immune cells (such as white blood cells or leukocytes) are directed to the affected area. This area may redden, swell and go warm. As the harmful substances are cleared away, the redness, heat and swelling naturally subside. However, when the source of the inflammation is not cleared, the process simply continues and chronic inflammation occurs.

Although LGS is not a recognized medical diagnosis, there have been some discussions on the role of digestion in chronic inflammation. [1]

Curcumin Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Curcumin has been observed to lower the level of certain enzymes involved in the inflammatory process. Some use curcumin to help keep inflammation at bay in the hopes of warding off diseases related to chronic inflammation.

They sometimes cite the low incidence of inflammatory diseases in countries that have turmeric as part of their culinary tradition. For example, population studies in India reveal that the country’s inhabitants have a comparatively low level of inflammatory disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

However, in clinical studies curcumin supplementation has not been observed to affect the symptoms of the disease, which may suggest a more preventative role for turmeric.

Using Curcumin for Oxidative Stress

Curcumin is a natural antioxidant. Antioxidants can neutralize negatively charged molecules called free radicals. Free radicals are a type of ROS (reactive oxygen species) that can cause damage to cell structures and DNA.

Oxidative stress results when the immune system is unable to effectively prevent and repair the damage caused by ROS. ROS agents include free radicals like superoxide, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radicals and peroxides.

Curcumin supplement use can help neutralize free radicals and prevent further cellular damage. Neutralizing these ROS agents is important because they can disrupt the usual mechanisms of cellular signaling.

These signaling disruptions, coupled with the damage caused by oxidative stress, may lead to the development and onset of various diseases, including: cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and depression.

Other Curcumin Uses

Aside from its strengths as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent, curcumin also demonstrates other therapeutic properties in in vitro and animal trials. Turmeric and curcumin show antibacterial, antifungal, anti-diabetic, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, renoprotective and chemopreventive properties.

Curcumin is used for a variety of indications, but the scientific evidence available to support these uses varies considerably from one to another. Curcumin is commonly used for the following:

• Jaundice, hepatitis and other hepatic disorders
• Fever, headaches and the common cold
• Acne, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis and various other dermatologic conditions
• Poor appetite, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues
• Disorders of the bone and joint, including arthritis, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis

Research into the therapeutic and preventative uses of curcumin and turmeric continues.

Is Curcumin Safe to Use?

Curcumin is generally well tolerated. The Natural Medicines therapeutic database rates curcumin as “Likely Safe” when used orally and appropriately.

Curcumin may interact with a number of prescription and over-the-counter medications. It may also affect pre-existing medical conditions. Speak to your doctor before using curcumin to make sure the supplement is safe for you.

Rate This Article

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5, rated)