Lower inflammation with turmeric.

Turmeric is a great natural and inexpensive tonic, exhibiting proven anti-inflammatory effects across the body. Most of the beneficial effects derive from turmeric’s ability to decrease oxidative stress, and as a result, inflammation. Better still, turmeric is dirt cheap, with even a year’s supply (500g) of organic turmeric still costing under £8.

Turmeric is a spice obtained from the plant Curcuma longa, taken from its underground stems (rhizomes). The stems look a bit like ginger, but have a famous bright yellow/orange colour when cut open. It grows in the tropics, with India being the largest producer of turmeric since ancient times.

The whole turmeric plant - the underground rhizomes shown at the bottom.

Turmeric contains a number of biologically active compounds that work together, the most well known being curcumin. These compounds inhibit numerous pro-inflammatory molecules (cytokines and interleukins) in the body, and have been shown to reduce inflammation in joints and the digestive and nervous systems. Turmeric has also been shown to be beneficial for the liver, lungs and heart.

Importantly for me, turmeric also has well documented anti-cancer properties, and therefore is part of my daily personal supplement regime. It’s turmeric's ability to lower inflammation which is the key to its anti-cancer effect, with inflammation being a key risk factor for promoting cancer.

A number of scientific studies have shown that turmeric (curcumin) is generally safe to consume, even at doses of up to 11 grams a day! Personally, I take much less, stirring about 1g (¼ teaspoon) into my morning coffee. Rarely, some people do experience mild effects like nausea and diarrhoea after taking too much turmeric, so do your own research if you are thinking of supplementing with it.  

If you are looking for an Osteopath in East Grinstead, please get in touch with:

Cliff Russell, Registered Osteopath

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