Turmeric Treatment: The Golden Spice

What Is Turmeric? 

Turmeric, the source of curcumin, is a spice of the ginger family, commonly used as a spice in food, and has a long history of medical use in South Asia dating back to 250 BC [1,2]. Today, curcumin is purported for its wide array of benefits including anti-diabetic properties, rapid wound healing, alleviating joint pain, depression, and acne. Most of these benefits are derived from the powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin. 

Consumption and Bioavailability 

A common misconception regarding curcumin is that ingesting it will cultivate its health benefits. Unfortunately, research has found that due to its poor bioavailability, ingesting curcumin alone does not lead to its correlated benefits as a result of its poor absorption and quick metabolism [3]. 

However, further studies found that when pepper is combined with curcumin, the active component from black pepper, piperine, causes an increase in bioavailability by 2000%. Therefore, curcumin together with black pepper is an effective combination hosting a range of health benefits. 

Several components can increase bioavailability. For example, piperine is the major active component of black pepper and, when combined in a complex with curcumin, has been shown to increase bioavailability by 2000% [4]. Curcumin with piperine also stays longer in the system [5,6] Curcumin combined with enhancing agents provides multiple health benefits.

Rapid Wound Healing

Many of the health benefits of curcumin come from its strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties [7,8]. Inflammation happens when the immune system initiates the process of healing when exposed to an irritant such as pathogens, bacteria, fungi, external injuries, and the effects of chemicals and radiation [9]. 

Many studies have shown that curcumin has a positive impact on major events in the wound healing process [10]. By reducing inflammation and speeding the oxidative elimination process, wound healing is rapidly increased. 

Many diseases and conditions are caused, developed, or worsened due to inflammation such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, meningitis, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, asthma, bronchitis, psoriasis, cancer, bronchitis, and acquired immune deficiency syndromes (AIDS) [11,12,13]. Hence why curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties are vitally important in strengthening the immune system. 

Acne Treatment

In addition to rapid wound healing, curcumins anti-inflammatory properties can play a significant role in eliminating acne. Evidence suggests that acne is an inflammatory disease and is caused by inflammation and bacteria, amongst other factors [14,15]. Curcumin inhibits the growth of acne by addressing the underlying cause of acne, that is, fighting off pathogens while reducing inflammation [8,9,16]. It quenches free radicals and fights off propionibacterium species which is the main cause of inflammatory acne [17]. Turmeric is an excellent supplementation for those seeking to eliminate their acne from inside-out, naturally. 

Pain Relief

Another natural benefit derived from curcumin is its pain relief properties similar to some anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. Ibuprofen works by blocking COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes which cause blood clotting and inflammation. Studies found that curcumin inhibits COX-1 and COX-2, bearing the same effects as these over-the-counter pain-relieving drugs [18]. 

Further studies on osteoarthritis patients found improvements in knee function, pain, and quality of life post-supplementing with curcumin [19]. Evidence suggests that curcumin may be an effective treatment for arthritis symptoms, however, further research is required to provide conclusive evidence. 

Mood & Memory

In addition to the pain-relieving properties, research suggests that curcumin relieves depression symptoms and improves working memory [20]. A double-blind study by Adrian Lopresti et al., found that after just 8 weeks of supplementation with turmeric, participants reported overall increased mood while depression symptoms declined [21]. Curcumin supplementation is also reported to increase serotonin and dopamine levels which are some of the body’s feel-good chemicals [22,23]. More recent research also found an increase in monoamines (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine) in rats post-ingestion of curcumin [24,25]. This evidence shows a strong correlation between turmeric intake and improved mood. Supplementing with curcumin is highly encouraged for individuals struggling with depression looking to improve their overall mood. 

Another fascinating benefit of curcumin is the improvement in working memory. Myelin degradation, which is caused by low levels of inflammation, has been correlated with cognitive decline. Due to curcumin’s effects on inhibiting neuroinflammation, monkeys who were supplemented with turmeric for 4 years showed improved learning ability [26]. Similarly, another study on a healthy older generation found working memory and mood were enhanced with curcumin supplementation [27]. While the effects of curcumin on memory are yet to be deeply investigated, these studies show a significant correlation between curcumin consumption and increased cognitive function. 

Obesity 

Obesity commonly develops due to symptoms occurring from metabolic syndrome such as excessive waistline body fat, abnormal cholesterol levels, elevated blood pressure, and high blood sugar. Metabolic syndromes increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Curcumin works by alleviating the symptoms of metabolic syndrome which can lead to concomitant weight loss. Curcumin has been shown to decrease blood sugar levels while relieving oxidative stress [28]. It improves metabolism while also alleviating the symptoms of metabolic syndrome thus curcumin may lead to concomitant weight loss [29]. 

Spiritual Associations

There are interesting theories about turmeric in many cultures around the world. Many doctrines believe there is an association between curcumin and the third eye, which is an esoteric concept of an invisible eye located on the forehead between the eyes. It is believed that the third eye allows for clear thought, spiritual contemplation, and self-reflection. A common spiritual belief rooted in Indian history suggests that turmeric opens the third eye through fluoride detoxification. While a study by Sharma et al., found that curcumin does decrease neurotoxicity caused by fluoride [30], this does not provide any evidence of correlation to a third eye due to the immeasurable nature of the concept.

You may be wondering how to consume turmeric as its taste can be quite overpowering, particularly in large quantities which need to be consumed daily to reap its benefits. The best solution for this is to buy turmeric capsules or make turmeric capsules at home. 

Turmeric is known as the golden plant, and according to this statistical evidence, it can be said that turmeric is nothing short of gold for mental, physical, and perhaps spiritual health. Its benefits are countless including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardioprotective, radioprotective, antiseptic, and anti-depression. 

1. Priyadarsini, Kavirayani Indira. “The chemistry of curcumin: from extraction to therapeutic agent.” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 19,12 20091-112. 1 Dec. 2014, doi:10.3390/molecules191220091

2. Prasad S, Aggarwal BB. Turmeric, the Golden Spice: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; ch. 13, 2011. 

3. Anand, Preetha et al. “Bioavailability of curcumin: problems and promises.” Molecular pharmaceutics vol. 4,6. 2007, doi:10.1021/mp700113r

4. Hewlings, Susan J, and Douglas S Kalman. “Curcumin: A Review of Its Effects on Human Health.” Foods (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 6,10 92. 22 Oct. 2017, doi:10.3390/foods6100092

5. Suresh, D, and K Srinivasan. “Tissue distribution & elimination of capsaicin, piperine & curcumin following oral intake in rats.” The Indian journal of medical research vol. 131, 2010.

6. Shoba, G et al. “Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers.” Planta medica vol. 64,4, 1998, doi:10.1055/s-2006-957450

7. Gupta, Subash C et al. “Therapeutic roles of curcumin: lessons learned from clinical trials.” The AAPS journal vol. 15,1. 2013, doi:10.1208/s12248-012-9432-8

8. Aggarwal, Bharat B, and Kuzhuvelil B Harikumar. “Potential therapeutic effects of curcumin, the anti-inflammatory agent, against neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases.” The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology vol. 41,1. 2009, doi:10.1016/j.biocel.2008.06.010

9. InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. What is an inflammation? 2010 Nov 23 [Updated 2018 Feb 22]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279298/

10. Emiroglu, Gokhan et al. “The Effects of Curcumin on Wound Healing in a Rat Model of Nasal Mucosal Trauma.” Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM vol. 2017, 2017, doi:10.1155/2017/9452392

11. Panahi, Yunes et al. “Effects of curcumin on serum cytokine concentrations in subjects with metabolic syndrome: A post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial.” Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie vol. 82. 2016, doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2016.05.037

12. Lao, Christopher D et al. “Dose escalation of a curcuminoid formulation.” BMC complementary and alternative medicine vol. 6 10. 17 Mar. 2006, doi:10.1186/1472-6882-6-10

13. Jurenka, Julie S. “Anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, a major constituent of Curcuma longa: a review of preclinical and clinical research.” Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic vol. 14,2, 2009. 

14. Sutaria AH, Masood S, Schlessinger J. Acne Vulgaris. [Updated 2021 Aug 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459173/

15. Tanghetti, Emil A. “The role of inflammation in the pathology of acne.” The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology vol. 6,9 (2013): 27-35.

16. Liu, Chi-Hsien, and Hsin-Ying Huang. “In vitro anti-propionibacterium activity by curcumin containing vesicle system.” Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin vol. 61,4 (2013): 419-25. doi:10.1248/cpb.c12-01043

17. Vaughn, Alexandra R et al. “Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) on Skin Health: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence.” Phytotherapy research : PTR vol. 30,8 (2016): 1243-64. doi:10.1002/ptr.5640

18. Goel, A et al. “Specific inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression by dietary curcumin in HT-29 human colon cancer cells.” Cancer letters vol. 172,2 (2001): 111-8. doi:10.1016/s0304-3835(01)00655-3

19. Chin, Kok-Yong. “The spice for joint inflammation: anti-inflammatory role of curcumin in treating osteoarthritis.” Drug design, development and therapy vol. 10 3029-3042. 20 Sep. 2016, doi:10.2147/DDDT.S117432
20. Fusar-Poli, Laura et al. “Curcumin for depression: a meta-analysis.” Critical reviews in food science and nutrition vol. 60,15 (2020): 2643-2653. doi:10.1080/10408398.2019.1653260

21. Lopresti, Adrian L., et al. “Curcumin for the Treatment of Major Depression: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Study.” Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 167, 2014, pp. 368-375. ProQuest, https://proxy.library.carleton.ca/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fscholarly-journals%2Fcurcumin-treatment-major-depression-randomised%2Fdocview%2F1705040039%2Fse-2, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.06.001.

22. Xu, Ying et al. “Curcumin reverses impaired hippocampal neurogenesis and increases serotonin receptor 1A mRNA and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in chronically stressed rats.” Brain research vol. 1162 (2007): 9-18. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2007.05.071

23. Kulkarni, Shrinivas K et al. “Antidepressant activity of curcumin: involvement of serotonin and dopamine system.” Psychopharmacology vol. 201,3 (2008): 435-42. doi:10.1007/s00213-008-1300-y

24. Chang, Xue-Run et al. “Analysis of anti-depressant potential of curcumin against depression induced male albino wistar rats.” Brain research vol. 1642 (2016): 219-225. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2016.03.010

25. Yohn, Samantha E et al. “Oral Ingestion and Intraventricular Injection of Curcumin Attenuates the Effort-Related Effects of the VMAT-2 Inhibitor Tetrabenazine: Implications for Motivational Symptoms of Depression.” Journal of natural products vol. 80,10 (2017): 2839-2844. doi:10.1021/acs.jnatprod.7b00425

26. Uprety, Ajay, et al. “Curcumin Improves Reversal Learning in Middle-Aged Rhesus Monkeys.” Behavioral Neuroscience, 2021. ProQuest, https://proxy.library.carleton.ca/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fscholarly-journals%2Fcurcumin-improves-reversal-learning-middle-aged%2Fdocview%2F2597534547%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D9894, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/bne0000497.

27. Cox, Katherine H M et al. “Investigation of the effects of solid lipid curcumin on cognition and mood in a healthy older population.” Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) vol. 29,5 (2015): 642-51. doi:10.1177/0269881114552744

28. Arun, N, and N Nalini. “Efficacy of turmeric on blood sugar and polyol pathway in diabetic albino rats.” Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands) vol. 57,1 (2002): 41-52. doi:10.1023/a:1013106527829

29. Alappat, Lini, and Atif B Awad. “Curcumin and obesity: evidence and mechanisms.” Nutrition reviews vol. 68,12 (2010): 729-38. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00341.x

30. Sharma, Chhavi et al. “Curcumin attenuates neurotoxicity induced by fluoride: An in vivo evidence.” Pharmacognosy magazine vol. 10,37 (2014): 61-5. doi:10.4103/0973-1296.126663