According to a recent study in the journal Gut, Curcumin — a component of the Indian spice turmeric — may delay the inflammation-related liver damage that leads to cirrhosis.
This comes as no surprise to many as turmeric has been considered by many to be one of the most beneficial spices one could add to his or her diet.
A relative of ginger, turmeric is a perennial plant that grows 3 to 5 feet high in the tropical regions of Southern Asia, with trumpet-shaped, dull yellow flowers. Turmeric is fragrant and has a bitter, somewhat sharp taste.
In addition to liver disease here are just some of the studied medicinal uses of turmeric:
- Digestive Disorders
- Osteoarthritis
- Atherosclerosis
- Cancer
- Roundworms and Intestinal worms
- Bacterial Infection
- Wounds
- Mosquito Repellent
- Eye Disorder
In this recent study (from medicinenet.com):
Researchers analyzed tissue and blood samples from mice with chronic liver inflammation before and after curcumin was added to the rodents’ diet for a period of four and eight weeks.
Consuming curcumin significantly reduced bile duct blockage and curbed liver cell damage and liver scarring (fibrosis). Curcumin interferes with several chemical signaling pathways involved in the inflammatory process, said Michael Trauner, of Medical University in Graz, Austria, and colleagues.
The benefits were seen at both four weeks and eight weeks. No such effects were noted in mice with chronic liver inflammation that were fed a normal diet. The findings suggest that curcumin may offer a promising treatment for liver inflammation, the researchers said.
Turmeric is commercially available a capsules, tablets and softgels as well a liquid extract and tinctures. Two of my favorite products are New Chapter’s Turmeric Force and Nature’s Way’s Turmeric Standardized Extract.
–Michael Ventresca
