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Alternative Medicine in the News
March 2009 edition 13
published weekly
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Homeopathy stops Epidemic
Cuba and Homeopathy
You gotta watch this on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K95QGrAFFPk
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Human body may be best defence against Malaria
Aspirin is detrimental in Malaria treatment
Friday, 6 February , 2009 http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2483916.htm
[note from AltMed editor: Read the labels. Aspirin is an ingredient in, for example, GlaxoSmithKline product Hedex]
TONY EASTLEY: Malaria is a scourge of developing countries; around 250-million cases of infection turn up each year. The WHO (World Health Organization) says a child dies from it every 30 seconds.
Now a group of Australian scientists has found that the best defence against the disease may exist inside the human body.
The Hobart based researchers have found that the platelets that clot human blood also kill the malaria parasite.
The discovery is being published in the scientific journal Science Today.
Felicity Ogilvie reports from Hobart.
FELICITY OGILVIE: The World Health Organization says every year 247-million people are infected with malaria after they're bitten by mosquitoes that carry the tropical disease.
Researchers in Hobart have been trying to find out why some people die from malaria while others survive.
Dr Brendan McMorran works at the Menzies Research Institute.
BRENDAN MCMORRAN: We've found that platelets seem to be important in the defence against infection. Specifically they're important in the very early stages of infection.
What we have found in our studies is that the platelets are able to bind to the red cell which is the cell which is infected by the malaria parasite and when these platelets bind, they are somehow able to kill the parasite inside the cell.
The platelet protective mechanism certainly isn't 100 per cent effective. We believe it acts as an early buffer or just an early break on the growth of the parasite but the parasite itself is incredibly well adapted to our bodies. It can grow very quickly.
FELICITY OGILVIE: At the moment there's no vaccine for malaria and no cure. Attempts to treat the disease with anti-malarials often fail because the disease has become resistant to many drugs.
BRENDAN MCMORRAN: This is one step along the process of trying to develop new anti-malarials. We believe the platelet probably contains compounds or factors that are able to target and kill the parasite and so our next step in the research is to identify what these factors or compounds are and see if any of those can be developed into an anti-malarial therapy.
FELICITY OGILVIE: People suffering from malaria won't have to wait years to benefit from the research.
The Director of the Menzies Institute, Simon Foote, says the discovery that platelets kill malaria will have an immediate effect on the way the disease is treated.
SIMON FOOTE: So for example in Africa, if you've got a child who has malaria, you take them into the closest aid station and you get an anti-malarial drug and aspirin. The aspirin is given because it actually treats the fever.
The thing about aspirin is that aspirin inhibits the function of platelets so it's quite possible that giving children aspirin is actually detrimental and it might actually encourage the growth of parasites because these parasites are not being killed off by platelets.
FELICITY OGILVIE: Professor Foote says if the human body is allowed to mount a defence against malaria it may just be the best chance a person has of fighting off the disease.
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A step forward towards integrative medicine in Connecticut
From Jayani Weerasinghe, a former volunteer of Abha Light and a student at the Canadian College of Natural Medicine.
We recently did a joint patient intake, case analysis and diagnosis on a
live patient with the conventional medical students at the Connecticut
University school of medicine. Our patient intake was just as logical as the the
conventional medical students but ours was much more thorough. Also, there were
so many leading questions on the part of the MDs which prevented them from
eliciting some of the information that ND students later extracted. Where our
approaches to health care diverged was in what we as naturopaths find acceptable
and what MDs find acceptable in terms of health status. The patient was a female
60+ YOA diagnosed with hypothyroidism and stress. Salivary cortisol levels were
considered above the normal range. Both MDs and & NDs arrived at a similar
diagnosis of hypothyroidism based on the test results. However, the
endocrinologist (MD) was really critical about the salivary cortisol test as
being an adequate test. She claimed that saliva was a "contaminated" fluid
unlike serum or urine & therefore we could not diagnose the patient as
suffering from "adrenal exhaustion". According to her, there is only Addison's
disease which is considered subclinical & not something worthy of treatment!
Awww. Did we wuffle a few feathers?!!! Well, anyway, the MDs were content to
treat her with thyroid meds & leave it at that. We decided to go deeper and
address her adrenal issues and emotional mental issues surrounding stress in
addition to her thyroid hormone levels. Part of our regimen included changes to
diet, sleep hygiene and exercise as well as counselling.
The MDs were really curious about our use of supplements and diagnosis of
adrenal exhaustion. At the end of the session, one of the faculty members of the
Connecticut medical school asked the patient whether she felt better being
treated by the MDs or the NDs.
You could have heard a pin drop in the room.
Everyone in the room was waiting for the patient's response. I am not sure
whether I would have put the patient on the spot like that. She thought for a
minute and then she said, "Well, I didn't realise before this that I could solve
my health issues using diet and exercise. I would prefer that to taking drugs".
I had a lump in my throat when she said that. Isn't empowering patients to
access their own healing power at the heart of naturopathic medicine?
At the end of the session, the organiser from the Connecticut school of
medicine wanted to discuss the logistics of a joint rotation program with UBCNM
where MD students would do clinical rotations in UBCNM & vice versa. I
wished that more of my naturopathic colleagues from CCNM were there. What I
found so interesting is that the vast majority of the MD students, faculty and
other staff were so open & curious. In the discussion that I had with one of
the MD students, he mentioned that he was very interested in integrative
medicine and working with NDs when he graduates because of the time constraints
that MDs have in treating patients. I agreed with him. For my part, I have a
renewed respect for MDs as well. They sure put in their time in making certain
that the patient stays alive. That's not a "nice to have", it's a must have.
It's kind of like MDs manage disease and NDs facillitate health.
regards, -Jayani |
Zyprexa - Lilly's criminal drug marketing policies finally admitted
http://seroxatsecrets.wordpress.com/2009/01/17/zyprexa-lillys-criminal-drug-marketing-policies-finally-admitted/
January 17, 2009
In March 2007, I wondered "how does a
drug such as Zyprexa, that was approved for the treatment of adults
with schizophrenia, and a few years later, was approved for short-term
treatment of adults with manic episodes associated with bipolar
disorder, become such a HUGE selling medicine?
"Despite its extremely limited original approved uses, Zyprexa
has gone on to become the top selling antipsychotic worldwide with an
estimated 20 million people having used the drug and Lilly's
best-selling product, with $4.2 billion in sales in 2005, which
translates into 30% of its total revenues."
Well, finally we know how they did it - they simply broke the law...
This from Phil Dawdy at Furious Seasons:
News is out this morning (15 January) that, as expected, Eli Lilly has settled
claims against it by the feds and numerous states for illegal off-label
marketing of its antipsychotic Zyprexa. The company also pleaded guilty
to a criminal misdemeanor charge of violating the Food, Drug and
Cosmetic Act by promoting Zyprexa as a dementia treatment. The total
settlement comes to $1.42 billion, bringing the company's total Zyprexa settlements to date to about $2.7 billion. With more to come. Ten states have sued Lilly separately.
The settlement only covers off-label marketing of the drug for
dementia. So what the hell happened to charges relating to the
company's lies about the safety of its drug in on-label uses such as
schizophrenia and bipolar disorder? I think the feds and the states
walked away from this too easily because the company, which I can now
safely dub "criminal," lied about the fact that its drug caused
diabetes in all manner of patient populations. Surely, that's worth
something to the feds and the states.
Lilly has issued a statement:
"'We deeply regret the past actions covered by the
misdemeanor plea,' said John C. Lechleiter, Ph.D., chairman, president
and chief executive officer of Lilly. 'At Lilly we take seriously our
responsibilities to abide by all the laws governing our business
practices, and we realize that we have a tremendous responsibility to
the patients and healthcare professionals we serve. Every day and with
every interaction we strive to operate in a responsible and compliant
manner. Doing the right thing is non-negotiable at Lilly, and I remain
personally committed to all of us at Lilly maintaining the highest
standards of conduct.'"
Uh huh, just like with Prozac.
Two points come to mind about this story
First, although Lilley have paid out a huge amount - $3.12 billion in fines, they still have made money with Zyprexa, such are the levels of sales their illegal marketing achieved.
Second - they broke the law which they admit - and in all
probability the company has been directly responsible for the deaths of
patients who took Zyprexa because of this illegal marketing.
And they've got away with it.
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Integration of homeopathy into primary care in UK
http://news.cenacletreatmentcentre.co.uk/2009/01/integration-of-homeopathy-into-primary-care.html
The potential role of complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies in the future of the National Health Service is an issue which cannot be ignored. Patients vote with their feet, and the popularity of CAM therapies is clear. An estimated 5.75million people a year in the UK seek treatment from a CAM practitioner and approximately one in four members of the public would like to access complementary medicine on the NHS.1
In 2000, a House of Lords Select Committee report on Complementary and Alternative Medicine listed homeopathy as a "group one" therapy, along with osteopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture and herbal medicine. Group one therapies are recognised as having their own diagnostic approach and treatment methods.2
Homeopathy is well-established in the UK, having been available through the NHS since its inception in 1948. In addition to the five NHS-funded homeopathic hospitals (in Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Tunbridge Wells), over 400 GPs use homeopathy in their everyday practice3 and the Society of Homeopaths (the largest body representing professional homeopaths in the UK) has 1,500 registered members. However by comparison with European countries, the UK's homeopaths are a relatively untapped resource.4 One reason for this could be the misconception that homeopathy lacks a scientific evidence base.
Can homeopathy be considered an evidence based medicine?
Homeopathy is an individualised system of medicine such that the choice of treatment is dependent upon the patient's symptoms in each case. Homeopathic remedies are prepared from highly diluted substances and hence controversy has arisen in the UK about its efficacy. However critics often ignore the fact that the production of remedies involves vigorous agitation or succussion between dilutions. It is this succussion that makes the difference between an inert solution and an active homeopathic remedy.
Preclinical evidence from multiple independent laboratories around the globe is that ultra-high dilutions (UHDs) prepared using this method of succussion, have measurable biological effects both in in vitro and in vivo animal studies.5,6,7,8 For example, a European multisite study demonstrated how UHDs of histamine modulates basophil activation in vitro.9
Whilst there is research to demonstrate that UHDs can have a biological effect, the mechanism of action of homeopathic medicines is currently unknown; we don't yet understand how homeopathy works, but there is a growing body of scientific evidence to show that it does work.
Many people regard the randomised control trial (RCT) as the 'gold standard' of scientific research methods.10 By the end of 2007, 134 RCTs of homeopathy had been published in peer-reviewed journals. Of these trials, 59 are positive i.e. demonstrating that homeopathy has a statistically significant effect beyond placebo; eight are negative and the remaining 67 are inconclusive.11
Systematic reviews of the results from multiple RCTs are considered one of the strongest forms of research evidence.12 Such reviews suggest that homeopathic treatment is effective for the following specific medical conditions: allergies and upper respiratory tract infections,13 childhood diarrhoea,14 influenza treatment,15 post-operative ileus,16 rheumatic diseases,17 seasonal allergic rhinitis18,19,20 and vertigo.21
There is a need for more research into all aspects of homeopathy - particularly to assess the efficacy of homeopathic treatment in treating specific conditions, and with larger sample sizes to avoid inconclusive results - but this work will be building on the solid scientific evidence base which already exists. Meanwhile there is the pressing issue of whether homeopathy has already been proven to be of value in patient care.
210 primary care doctors were surveyed to find out what forms of evidence they would want before using or recommending an unorthodox therapy.19 The highest rated form of evidence was systematic examination of outcome, whilst theoretical or laboratory evidence was considered to be least important. These results suggest that different forms of evidence are useful when assessing the evidence for particular medical interventions. What happens under laboratory conditions is useful, but finding out what happens in a real clinical setting is essential. Does homeopathy work in clinical practice? Is it cost-effective? Does it have a useful role to play alongside conventional treatment options? These are key questions to which health care providers need answers.
How does homeopathy perform in clinical practice?
A service evaluation at Bristol Homeopathic Hospital recorded the outcome of homeopathic treatment in over 6,500 consecutive patients over a 6 year period. At follow-up, 70% of patients reported an improvement in their health. Conditions which responded well to homeopathy included: childhood eczema and asthma, migraine, menopausal problems, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, depression and chronic fatigue syndrome.22
A recent study in Germany was commissioned by a health insurance company to see whether they should continue to cover homeopathic treatment. The outcomes and costs of homeopathic and conventional treatment were compared in 493 patients being treated for chronic conditions commonly seen in general practice.23 This controlled but non-randomised study concluded that patients receiving homeopathic treatment had better outcomes for similar cost.
There are numerous examples of small trials which are positive for homeopathy when used for conditions commonly seen in primary care. A study comparing the homeopathic and conventional treatment of ear infections (acute otitis media) in children concluded that homeopathy should be the first line treatment for this condition. In the homeopathic group the response to treatment was quicker and the likelihood of recurrence during the following year was reduced.24
Small trials can be valuable for identifying areas where homeopathy may be either as effective or better than conventional treatments, justifying further investment in research.
In a double-blind randomised trial involving 65 patients with osteoarthritis, homeopathic medicines were found to provide a level of pain relief that was superior to the commonly prescribed analgesic Acetaminophen, and produced no adverse reactions.25 With studies such as this, where the research design is of high quality (with double-blinding, randomisation and lack of publication bias), the results may be surprising to those who have previously considered homeopathy to be 'impossible'.
Is homeopathy cost effective?
In 2005 the results of an investigation by leading economist Christopher Smallwood were published.26 He took a fresh and independent look at the contribution which complementary therapies can potentially make to the delivery of healthcare in the UK. Having considered evidence from the literature, in practice and case studies he concluded that if only 4% of GPs were to offer homeopathy as a major frontline approach to treatment, a saving of £190 million would result.
Savings achieved by the use of homeopathy largely relate to reduced drug bills in certain clinical areas. A series of small studies demonstrate the potential in this area. For example in a 500-patient survey at the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital, 72% of patients with skin complaints reported being able to stop or reduce their conventional medication.27 Swayne (1992) conducted a study of the prescription costs of 22 doctors and found that, on average, practices with GPs using homeopathy prescribed 12% fewer items of medication (including conventional and homeopathic) per patient than other practices in the area.28 If this figure was extrapolated to a national level the number of items would be reduced by 41.5 million.26
The role of homeopathy when conventional treatments are contraindicated or fail
Sheffield's NHS community menopause clinic has run a homeopathy service since 1998, providing an alternative treatment option for those women who cannot take hormone replacement therapy, do not want it, have found it ineffective, or have been advised to stop it.
An audit of all patients referred to this service between 2001 and 2003 reported significant benefit from the service, with 81% of 102 women reporting improvement in their menopausal symptoms following treatment.29 The greatest response was seen in those reporting headaches, vasomotor symptoms, emotional/psychological symptoms and tiredness/fatigue as their primary symptoms.
The truth is that most people only seek help from a homeopath once they have already tried conventional approaches to treatment. A fact that makes results from observational studies such as those from the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital described above, even more impressive. Homeopathic literature describes thousands of individual case studies which highlight the important role homeopathy has to play in situations where all conventional approaches to treatment have failed. However relegating homeopathy to the position of a treatment of last resort prevents full exploitation of this valuable therapy.
Integrated healthcare ensures patient safety and the best clinical results
Full integration of homeopathy into primary care would respect and preserve patient choice, improve patient safety and lead to the best possible clinical results. With full communication between conventional and CAM practitioners the most appropriate treatment can be selected depending on the case - whether that be a conventional drug, homeopathic medicine or some other intervention - and patient safety can be maintained. Referrals for homeopathic treatment should be made only to qualified and registered homeopaths. Registered members of the Society of Homeopaths (identified by the designation RSHom) have met required standards of education, are fully insured and have agreed to abide by a strict Code of Ethics and Practice.
The way forward
When it comes to decisions about health care provision, homeopathy should be considered dispassionately and without prejudice - judged on its performance in terms of clinical outcomes and economics. The evidence is available to show that homeopathy works, that it is cost-effective and that patients want it. As drug bills spiral and the public's interest in CAM therapies continues to grow, maybe it's time for a truly integrated approach to primary care, allowing patients and healthcare providers alike to reap the benefits of exploiting the relatively untapped resource of the UK's qualified and registered professional homeopaths.
References
All references supplied on request from the Society of Homeopaths.
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Randi Backs Out of Challenge with Homeopath George Vithoulkas
www.NaturalNews.com
A long tussle concerning the validity of Homeopathy between the world's most famous homeopath and probably the world's most well known 'quackbuster' appears to have come to head in December 2008 after 5 years of to-ing and fro-ing. On the one side is Homeopath George Vithoulkas, whose International Academy for Classical Homeopathy is based on the island of Alonissos in Greece. On the other is American magician and skeptic, James Randi who heads what he calls The James Randi Educational Foundation, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Vithoulkas and Randi are equally passionate in their diametrically opposed views and an easy meeting of minds was never very likely.
For several years James Randi has had one million dollars on offer to anyone that can demonstrate paranormal or supernatural powers or events. Understandably he has very strict criteria and rules to the challenge, and to date nobody has passed even the preliminary stages of the application process. Various psychics, astrologers, clairvoyants and dowsers have applied over the years. Also listed as failed applicants on his website are practitioners of arts that could redefine the meaning of the word esoteric, such as, 'paranormal urination' and 'internet sex dowsing' and someone called a 'metal visionary'.
Like all members of the skeptic fraternity, Randi is anti alternative medicine. He considers homeopathy to be bogus and classes it as supernatural because homeopaths use remedies diluted beyond Avogadro's constant. These remedies therefore should not, according to conventional science, have any biological effect. Randi has been involved in a few attempts at debunking homeopathy over the years, and is one of it's fiercest critics.
A group of homeopaths led by the renowned Greek homeopath George Vithoulkas began the process of attempting to win Randi's one million dollars in 2003. Vithoulkas was largely responsible for the resurgence of interest in classical homeopathy in the 1970s and 1980s . He had been upset by what he considered to be badly constructed experiments previously carried out in the hope of demonstrating the validity of Homeopathy. One of these failed experiments, involving James Randi, was broadcast on BBC television in 2003. It was one of the main impetuses behind Vithoulkas' decision to devote his 40 years of Homeopathic experience to putting the record straight.
A team of skeptics was set up to represent Randi. This team, and the group of homeopaths led by George Vithoulkas, started conducting preparatory work to the trial in 2003. A protocol was devised by a group of international scientists and the experiment was to take place in a hospital in Athens. The experiment involved homeopaths, under Vithoulkas' supervision, prescribing individualized remedies to a number of patients in a double blind fashion with half of the patients receiving placebo, and the other half a real remedy.
All seemed to be going well when in August 2006, Vithoulkas received a signed agreement from Randi in which he stated that he was satisfied with the suggested protocol. He also waived the need for a preliminary test - the part of the process that had foiled every applicant up to that point. However Randi then delayed the start of the experiment owing to health problems and lack of sufficient funding. Apparently Randi was asked by Vithoulkas to assign a representative in his absence while funding was being sought but Randi refused to do so. He also told the homeopaths that he needed 6 months to recuperate from his unspecified health problems.
This 6 month period, according to Vithoulkas, was critical. It coincided with the appointment of a new Mayor of Athens who installed a new chairman of the scientific committee and a new president of the hospital that was to be used for the experiment. Vithoulkas claims that Randi knew of theses impending changes and was looking for a way of getting out of the challenge. It certainly was the most rigorous and well organized attempt to win the one million dollars that had ever been attempted. The Homeopaths believe that Randi got cold feet for this reason.
After a further 2 years of negotiating with the new authorities, the Homeopaths finally got the go ahead in Athens and started putting the final touches to the arrangements. In September 2008, a two day meeting was held in Greece between two of Randi's representatives, plus Dr. Menachem Oberbaum, principal investigator of the experiment, and George Vithoulkas.
After this meeting the homeopaths thought everything was ready to go ahead but they were in for a rude surprise. In October 2008, one month after the meeting, they received the following communication from Randi:
"Forget all previous correspondence exchanged on the subject. What appears here is the current status. First, we require that George Vithoulkas submit a regular, properly-filled-out application and submit it just as we require everyone to do. After that has been received, we'll go ahead as with any regular applicant - with the arrangements, including the requirement for the preliminary stage".
This new turn of events understandably infuriated Vithoulkas after his 5 years of toil. To make matters worse, Randi, according to Vithoulkas, claimed on his website (www.randi.org) that the homeopaths had withdrawn from the experiment. This accusation is strenuously denied by Vithoulkas.
It seems that all is not lost however (apart, maybe from $1,000,000). The experiment may still go ahead with the participation of skeptics Alec Gindis and Hrasko Gabor who were originally representing Randi. They apparently wish to see through to the end what has been a long drawn out process. Vithoulkas is also keen to persevere as he believes strongly that the right type of experiment can prove to the critics that Homeopathic remedies do have a biological effect.
A complete account of the story can be found on George Vithoulkas website www.vithoulkas.com
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Aggressive Use of Diabetes Drugs Kills More People Than it Helps
www.NaturalNews.com
Aggressive use of drugs to radically lower blood sugar in hospitalized diabetics is no longer widely recommended as it was just a few years ago, with more and more researchers arguing that such treatments may actually end up killing more people than they save.
In 2001, a clinical trial concluded that critically ill diabetes patients undergoing surgery were 33 percent less likely to die in the hospital if their blood sugar levels were aggressively controlled. That single study led a number of health organizations to start recommending aggressive blood sugar management for all hospitalized diabetics.
That consensus radically changed this year, when two similar studies on the issue came up with wildly different results.
An Australian study called Advance seemed to back up the original 2001 study, finding that aggressively treated hospitalized diabetics had 20 percent lower risk of developing kidney disease, and no increased risk of mortality. The North American Accord study, however, observed such an alarmingly elevated rate in death among participants that it had to be halted early.
The Accord study was conducted on Type 2 diabetics with a high risk of heart conditions.
In order to shed more light on the controversial topic, researchers from the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in White River Junction, Vt., reviewed the data from 29 prior studies on the issue, involving a total of 8,432 patients. They found that while the rates of death were fairly similar between those who received more conventional hospital treatment and those who underwent aggressive blood sugar control, those in the latter group had five times the risk of hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a common and potentially dangerous side effect of diabetes treatment.
The researchers concluded that it would be irresponsible to continue recommending aggressive diabetes treatment, considering the potential risks.
"Given the overall findings of this meta-analysis, it seems appropriate that the guidelines recommending tight glucose control in all critically ill patients should be re-evaluated until the results of larger, more definitive clinical trials are available," they wrote.
Sources for this story include: www.reuters.com.
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Selenium proves itself as powerful anti-cancer medicine
The mineral selenium has been shown in multiple studies to be an effective tool in warding off various types of cancer, including breast, esophageal, stomach, prostate, liver and bladder cancers. Not many people get the recommended dose of 200 micrograms a day.
Today, research shows selenium, especially when used in conjunction with vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene, works to block chemical reactions that create free radicals in the body.
Selenium acts to prevent tumors from developing. "It contributes towards the death of cancerous and pre-cancer cells. Their death appears to occur before they replicate, thus helping stop cancer before it gets started," says Dr. James Howenstine.
Selenium makes chemotherapy safer, more effective
In addition to preventing the onset of the disease, selenium has also been shown to aid in slowing cancer's progression in patients that already have it. The use of selenium during chemotherapy in combination with vitamin A and vitamin E can reduce the toxicity of chemotherapy drugs.
Food sources of selenium
Although too much selenium can actually be toxic to the system, research indicates the majority of the population is not getting enough of the essential mineral. So, how can we up our intake of selenium and help our bodies fight cancer? The good news is there are some good dietary sources of selenium: Mushrooms, egg yolks, seafood, poultry and kidney, liver and muscle meats contain the mineral. Vegetables -- garlic, onions, broccoli, asparagus, tomatoes and others -- as well as whole grains and seeds can also be good sources of selenium.
[AltNews editor adds: & brazil nuts]
However, because the amount of selenium in vegetables and grains depends on the selenium content in the soil in which they are grown, it can be hard for average consumers to know how much of the mineral they are actually getting in their diets. "The selenium content of food is largely dependent on the content of volcanic ash in the soil on which the food was grown, with higher volcanic ash content yielding higher selenium levels.
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Super Spice Secrets: Can This Miracle Spice Stop Cancer, Alzheimer's and Arthritis?
www.Mercola.com
For more than 5,000 years, turmeric has been an important part of Eastern cultural traditions, including traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. Valued for its medicinal properties and warm, peppery flavor, this yellow-orange spice has more recently earned a name for itself in Western medicine as well.
Turmeric comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant, which is native to Indonesia and southern India, and is widely used as an ingredient in curry dishes and yellow mustard. As research into this powerful spice has increased, it has emerged as one of nature's most powerful potential healers.
Said Dr. David Frawely, founder and director of the American Institute for Vedic Studies in Santa Fe, New Mexico:
"If I had only one single herb to depend upon for all possible health and dietary needs, I would without much hesitation choose the Indian spice Turmeric. There is little it cannot do in the realm of healing and much that no other herb is able to accomplish.
"Turmeric has a broad spectrum of actions, mild but certain effects, and is beneficial for long term and daily usage. Though it is a common spice, few people, including herbalists know of its great value and are using it to the extent possible. It is an herb that one should get to know and live with."
Turmeric's Beneficial Effects in a Nutshell
Strengthens and improves digestion
- Reduces gas and bloating
- Assists in the digestion of protein and with rice and bean dishes
- Improves your body's ability to digest fats
- Promotes proper metabolism, correcting both excesses and deficiencies
- Maintains and improves intestinal flora
- Improves elimination of wastes and toxins
Supports healthy liver function and detox
- Turmeric helps increase bile flow making it a liver cleanser that can rejuvenate your liver cells and recharge their capability to break down toxins
- Helps to prevent alcohol and other toxins from being converted into compounds that may be harmful to your liver
- Supports formation of healthy tissue
Purifies your blood
- Stimulates formation of new blood tissue
- Anti-inflammatory: Helps to reduce irritation to tissues characterized by pain, redness, swelling and heat
Contains curcuminoids that fight cancer, arthritis, and Alzheimer's
- Curcuminoids are potent phytonutrients (plant-based nutrients) that contain powerful antioxidant properties
- Counteract the damaging effects of free radicals in your body
- Relieve arthritis pain and stiffness, anti-inflammatory agent
- Anti-carcinogenic: "Curcumin has been shown to prevent a large of number of cancers in animal studies. Laboratory data indicate that curcumin can inhibit tumor initiation, promotion, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis."[1]
- Supports treatment of Alzheimer's disease: "Because Alzheimer's disease is caused in part by amyloid-induced inflammation, curcumin has been shown to be effective against Alzheimer's. Clinical trials are in progress at UCLA with curcumin for Alzheimer's."[2]
Curcumin: Turmeric's Active Anti-Inflammatory "Ingredient"
Most notably turmeric is known for its potent anti-inflammatory properties, which come from curcumin -- the pigment that gives turmeric its yellow-orange color, and which is thought to be responsible for many of its medicinal effects. There are an estimated three to five grams of curcumin in 100 grams of turmeric.
Curcumin has been shown to influence more than 700 genes, and it can inhibit both the activity and the synthesis of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) and 5-lipooxygenase (5-LOX), as well as other enzymes that have been implicated in inflammation.[3]
Turmeric's Cancer-Fighting Properties
In India where turmeric is widely used, the prevalence of four common U.S. cancers -- colon, breast, prostate and lung -- is 10 times lower. In fact, prostate cancer, which is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in U.S. men, is rare in India and this is attributed, in part, to turmeric.
Numerous studies have looked into this potential cancer-fighting link, with promising results. For instance, curcumin has been found to:
- Inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells
- Inhibit the transformation of cells from normal to tumor
- Help your body destroy mutated cancer cells so they cannot spread throughout your body
- Decrease inflammation
- Enhance liver function
- Inhibit the synthesis of a protein thought to be instrumental in tumor formation
- Prevent the development of additional blood supply necessary for cancer cell growth
As for the results of research studies, a study in Biochemical Pharmacology found that curcumin can slow the spread of breast cancer cells to the lungs in mice.[4]
"Curcumin acts against transcription factors, which are like a master switch," said lead researcher, Bharat Aggarwal. "Transcription factors regulate all the genes needed for tumors to form. When we turn them off, we shut down some genes that are involved in the growth and invasion of cancer cells."
A second study in Biochemical Pharmacology also found that curcumin inhibits the activation of NF-kappaB, a regulatory molecule that signals genes to produce a slew of inflammatory molecules (including TNF, COX-2 and IL-6) that promote cancer cell growth.[5]
Turmeric's Essential Role for Your Liver
Your liver's primary role is to process and remove toxins carried in your bloodstream. When functioning at its peak, it can filter up to two liters of blood per minute and easily break apart toxic molecules to reduce their toxicity. Your liver is also a crucial part of vitamin, mineral, protein, fat, carbohydrate and hormonal metabolism.
However, poor diet, allergens, pollution and stress can cause your liver to become sluggish, and this can impair its vital functions. This is where turmeric can be a very useful part of your liver support system. Studies have shown that it:
- May increase important detoxification enzymes in your liver
- Induces the formation of a primary liver detoxification enzyme, glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes
Turmeric is also a natural cholagogue, a medicinal agent that promotes the discharge of bile from your system. Increased bile flow is important to help your liver detoxify and to help your body digest fats.
Turmeric for Your Heart, Brain and Overall Health
Turmeric inhibits free radical damage of fats, including cholesterol. When cholesterol is damaged in this way, or oxidized, it can then damage your blood vessels and lead to a heart attack or stroke. Therefore, research suggests that turmeric's ability to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol may be beneficial for your heart. It's also rich in vitamin B6, high intakes of which are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease.
Meanwhile, turmeric appears to be highly protective against neurodegenerative diseases. In fact, in India levels of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's are very low, and studies have shown that curcumin can slow the progression of Alzheimer's in mice. The compound has also proven capable of blocking the progression of multiple sclerosis.
Further, Professor Moolky Nagabhushan from the Loyola University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, who has been studying turmeric for the last 20 years, believes that turmeric can protect against harmful environmental chemicals, and in so doing protect against childhood leukemia. The research showed that curcumin in turmeric can:[7]
- Inhibit the toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (cancer-causing chemicals in the environment)
- Inhibit radiation-induced chromosome damage
- Prevent the formation of harmful heterocyclic amines and nitroso compounds, which may result in the body when eating certain processed foods, such as processed meat products
- Irreversibly inhibit the multiplication of leukemia cells in a cell culture
Turmeric's volatile oils also have external anti-bacterial action. As such, they may help prevent bacterial wound infections and accelerate wound healing. Johnson & Johnson even sells a curcumin-containing Band-Aid in India!
And the therapeutic potential of turmeric and curcumin do not end there. Evidence suggests the spice may also be beneficial for:
- Cystic fibrosis
- Type 2 diabetes
- Crohn's disease
- Psoriasis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Cataracts
- Gallstones
- Muscle regeneration
- Inflammatory bowel disease
Which Type of Turmeric is Best?
For use in cooking, choose a pure turmeric powder, rather than a curry powder. At least one study has found that curry powders tend to contain very little curcumin, compared to turmeric powder. Turmeric is also available in supplement form and for many this is a more convenient method to obtain these health benefits discussed above, especially if they are from a high-quality organic source and if one doesn't particularly enjoy the taste of curry.
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Medical Disclaimer:
The information contained within does not take the place of medical diagnosis or
prescription. See your health care provider in case of sickness.
Editorial Disclaimer: Publication of these articles are to promote food for thought. The opinions expressed in these articles may not be the opinion of editors.
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