Curcumin (Curcuma longa) is the primary polyphenol in the ancient Indian herb better known as ‘turmeric’. A relative of the ginger family, turmeric is a perennial plant grown in Southern Asia (primarily India) where it has been used for centuries as a spice in curry, as a dye in food and clothing, and in (5,000 year old) Ayurvedic medicine for its healing and body cleansing properties. Current extensive research has confirmed that curcumin, taken in capsule form, has at least 600 health benefits!

Here’s a list of just a few primary diseases curcumin (turmeric) has been proven to cure or treat, as effectively or better than, many prescription medications with little or no side effects:

• Cancer: Curcumin stops the reproduction of cancer stem cells, leaving healthy cells unaffected. In this same manner it also protects the skin from burning during radiation treatments.

• Diabetes: When curcumin is ingested AMPK (which increases our glucose uptake) is activated, thus suppressing glucose production in the liver and lowering the body’s blood glucose level.

• Arthritis & Inflammation: The recommended dose of curcumin has shown to halt cellular inflammation and oxidative stress by triggering a gene called cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), thus reducing swelling and tenderness of the joints.

• Depression: Curcumin raises the levels of particular neurotransmitters within the brain that when low, are known to cause depression. It also induces neurogenesis (birth of neurons) in the hippocampus, being the cerebral cortex of the brain.

• Detoxification: A regular dose of curcumin will improve the rhythmic contractions which move food through the intestinal tract, allowing for better nutritional absorption, elimination of waste and regularity. It also increasing the body’s own powerful antioxidant (glutathione) found in the liver which assists in detoxifying pesticides, heavy metals, and other harmful chemicals from the body.

• Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Curcumin suppresses the formation of pathological amyloid–beta plaque found in patients, and with vitamin D3 this process is enhanced decreasing, and sometimes eliminating, memory loss.

Remember, we have only touched on a few healing properties of this amazing herb and there are many more! Please discuss with your doctor before taking to be sure the correct dose is being administered and that there are no contraindicative side effects when taken with other medications.