What Are The Health Benefits Of Turmeric?

health benefits of turmeric

What Are The Health Benefits Of Turmeric?

Learn about the health benefits of turmeric, regarded as the star of the spice world. Known as ‘the Golden Spice’, the turmeric root has been used in Indian cuisine and traditional Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. It is famous for its vibrant yellow colour and has a warm bitter taste. Also known as Curcuma longa—a member of the ginger family, it is primarily cultivated from the rhizomes, or roots, of the flowering turmeric plant in India and other parts of Southeast Asia.

 

Research On Health Benefits Of Turmeric

Research has shown that turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which can support brain and gut health, promote a healthy immune system and benefit a range of inflammatory conditions. Registered Nutritional therapist Clarrissa Lenherr states that ‘turmeric has been shown in emerging science to be anti-inflammatory, so it can really help bring down inflammation that can occur in the body, whether that is from poor diet, stress, stimulant use, pollution, and lots of causes.’ You can watch Clarrissa explain the benefits of turmeric and curcumin and why she is a fan of Your Bodhi Natural Turmeric

 

Active Ingredients In Turmeric

Turmeric is made up of bioactive compounds, collectively known as curcuminoids. Curcumin is the primary curcuminoid and the most active ingredient in turmeric. Research shows that curcumin is a powerful polyphenol with anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to increase the amount of antioxidants our body produces. Curcumin: A Review of Its’ Effects on Human Health –  Susan J. Hewlings, Douglas S. Kalman.  Turmeric contains around 3% curcuminoids and therefore one teaspoon of turmeric powder (about 5,000 mg) only provides about 150 mg of curcuminoids.

Many studies have shown that it is the curcumin that is responsible for many of the health benefits associated with turmeric and that taking curcumin regularly can have a wide range of benefits. These benefits can include:

health benefits of turmeric, medical research on turmeric

Supporting Your Immune System

A strong and healthy immune system is essential for your body to fight invaders, such as viruses, bacteria, and foreign bodies. Studieshave demonstrated that turmeric contains excellent anti-oxidant, anti-viral and anti-microbial properties, which can help to support a healthy immune system. Research also shows it can help to regulate different signalling molecules which are essential for the functioning of a health immune system.

 

Alleviating Joint Pain

Inflammation in the joints can be very painful, causing swelling and restricting movement. Studies have shown that turmeric and curcumin’s powerful anti-inflammatory properties may reduce joint pain and tenderness, cartilage degeneration and joint inflammation. In particular, a study by Vilai Kuptniratsaikul et al. has shown that curcumin can reduce pain and improve physical function in patients with arthritis.

 

Reducing symptoms of Skin Inflammation

Inflammation is part of the body’s healing process. However long term chronic inflammation of the skin can lead to eczema and damage the skin. Studies have shown that curcumin can suppress pro-inflammatory signals, which gives it powerful anti-inflammatory effects. These properties make curcumin perfectly placed to help alleviate the symptoms of eczema.

A 2016 systematic review of clinical evidence by Alexandra R Vaughn et al has shown that curcumin can help to reduce itchiness and scaling for people with eczema.

 

Supporting Gut Health

Our gut health is not just important for digestion but a healthy gut supports the immune system and contributes to general health and wellbeing. Registered Nutritionist Clarris Lenherr states that ‘turmeric is full of polyphenols, which are kind of antioxidants that can actually feed and really nourish the beneficial bacteria that we have living in our digestive system. So it’s a great way to actually support digestive health’.

Studies have shown that curcumin can have positive effects on human gut microbiota, reducing intestinal inflammation, as well as supporting diverse gut bacteria which supports a strong immune system.

 

Reducing Muscle Inflammation and Soreness

Working muscles hard can often lead to damage to the muscle fibres which can cause soreness and stiffness. Muscle damage can be caused by overexertion or wrong use of a muscle.

 

Curcumin And Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

A recent study in 2017 by Jäger R et al. Efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts in patients with knee osteoarthritis shows that groups of those provided with curcumin had a ‘measurable impact on muscle damage and recovery in 59 healthy, physically active, young adult participants after downhill running’. The findings were that those in a curcumin group ‘had significantly reduced elevation in creatine kinase levels, which are elevated when there is muscle damage’ and ‘Self-reported pain scores were significantly reduced as well in curcumin groups compared to placebo groups.’

 

Turmeric and Black Pepper

Turmeric and curcumin are poorly absorbed by the human body on their own. Pairing turmeric with black pepper extract known as piperine can increase the bioavailability and absorption. Proper absorption of turmeric has been shown to enhance curcumin absorption by up to 2,000%. This means that you should add some black pepper whenever you are cooking with turmeric, or make sure you choose a turmeric or curcumin supplement that contains piperine.

Your Bodhi’s Natural Turmeric

Sophie Nazareth, the Founder of Your Bodhi set up her business to share the amazing benefits of turmeric and curcumin. After personally struggling with a chronic illness for years, discovering curcumin helped her to regain control of her life.

Check Out Your Bodhi’s Natural Turmeric Curcumin Click Here 

Ayurvedic Medicine – The Origins of Ayurveda

Ayurvedic Medicine – The Origins of Ayurveda

Ayurvedic Medicine is one of the ancient forms of traditional medicine which is in practice from over 6,000 B.C. Indian mythological texts, the Vedas refer to this traditional medicine and its importance. Ayurveda focuses on the entire body healing with the help of detoxification. This eastern medicine’s main focus is on boosting the immune system, the energy systems through natural remedies. This world’s oldest holistic healing therapy is believed to bring balance between the mind, body, and spirit for better health.

Ayurvedic medicine is considered as an alternative to many western medicines and treatments. But in fact it is a holistic treatment that can be used alongside modern medicine. In the USA, Ayurvedic medicine treatments are considered a type of CAM (complementary and alternative medicine). The origins of the vedas and ayurvedic treatment are completely holistic.

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How the Vedas and Ayurveda relate to each other?

Ayurveda has its roots originated earlier than the 8th century. The Vedas is the ancient Hindu religious textbooks that deal in healthcare techniques, astrology, spirituality, politics, human behaviour etc. Altogether there are four Vedas, the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda. Each of these Vedas deals in specific things with relation to society and living.

The Atharva Veda is an ancient book that deals with ancient medical practices. It has a details description of Ayurveda and various types of Ayurvedic treatments using plants with medicinal values. All these books were written in Sanskrit which was later translated into Chinese, Greek, and many other languages.

 

How is Ayurvedic Medicine linked with your life energy?

The yogic theory believes that when the mind, body, and soul connect with each other in harmony, it brings good health. Meditation,   Relaxation and balance helps to keep them working harmoniously. It is also believed that the human body is made up of five basic elements like air, fire, water, earth, and space. These elements combine together in pairs and form life energy or doshas which controls the working of your body. There are three major types of dosha as mentioned in Ayurveda. They are:

  • Vata dosha is a combination of Space and Air.
  • Pitta dosha consists of the two vital elements of fire and water.
  • Kapha dosha consists of elements of water and earth.

 

These doshas control different functions of the body. Whenever there is any disbalance in these doshas, a person falls into dis-ease, becomes sick. An Ayurveda practitioner will first understand a person’s dosha and recommend a specific treatment to balance it.

 

ayurvedic medicine - the origins of ayurveda

What Happens If The Doshas Get Imbalanced?

 

Vata Dosha

Vata Dosha is believed to the strongest among the three doshas. This traditional medicine theory underlines the fact that Vata Dosha controls cell division which is the fundamental of life. It controls your bowel movements and other organs of the body like heart, blood flow, etc. Vata Dosha also controls your mind and breathing rate. There are various reasons for which disbalance occurs in its functioning. Like unhealthy and improper diet, less sleep, fear, grief, etc. Once there is disbalance, there are high chances to develop conditions like heart disease, blood pressure, stress, anxiety, and even rheumatoid arthritis. Ayurveda deals with these health issues and offers natural remedy with the use of herbal medicines, detoxification techniques, etc.

 

Pitta Dosha

When there is a problem with regards to your digestion, it is believed that there is a disbalance in Pitta Dosha. The energy center in Pitta Dosha controls your metabolism. Once it functions properly it helps to break down the food with the help of various digestive hormones. If you are suffering from digestion problems, acidity or constipation, it means there is a disbalance in Pitta Dosha. If Pitta Dosha stops functioning properly there are high chances for these conditions to develop. When you eat too much junk food, drink less water or expose yourself to excess heat, you are likely to develop this problem. Ayurveda deals with these health issues and offers a natural remedy to treat them.

Kapha Dosha

Kapha Dosha, which is a combination of water and earth, controls your muscle growth and body strength. It also gives you stability, makes your immune system strong and keeps your weight under control. An unhealthy lifestyle like improper sleep, eating too much sugar and fast food, etc. can disrupt it. In case it gets disturbed, patients are seen to develop many health issues like cancer, diabetes, obesity, etc. The natural herbal healing techniques used in Ayurveda can help solve the root of these problems by rebalancing Kapha Dosha.

 

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How Do You Become An Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurvedic medicine practitioners are called Vaidya which is a Sanskrit word. In English it means physician. If you wish to learn Ayurveda and become a Vaidya there are various approved training programs. The course-curriculum covers a detailed study of dosha, yoga, meditation, and various herbal treatments. It is important you choose a properly accredited and recognized course in this area.

 

What are the different branches in Ayurveda?

Ayurveda medicine has eight different branches of treatment. They are listed below:

  • Internal medicine or Kayachikitsa – It deals with the overall treatment of the body with the use of herbal oils, lotions, and creams.
  • Treatment for children or Baala Chikitsa – It focuses on all treatment with regards to a child’s development.
  • Psychiatry treatment or Graha Chikitsa – It focused to cure various mental problems with the help of yoga, meditation, and deep breathing.
  • Urdhyaanga Chikitsa – This branch of Ayurveda emphasis to cure health issues with regards to eyes, ears, nose, and throat.
  • Surgery or Shalyaroga Chikitsa – Deals with any kind of surgery using surgical instruments.
  • Toxicology or Damstra Chikitsa – Deals to remove toxic elements from your body.
  • Geriatric or Jara Chikitsa – Deals with various therapies on anti-aging.
  • Reproductive health or Vajjikaran Chikitsa – Deals with infertility and sexual health.
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Benefits of Ayurvedic Medicine

Centuries ago there was no such thing as cosmetic or modern medicine. People only had access to natural medicine. Ayurvedic treatments focus on eliminating the root of these health issues. Using nature and a state of balance. It can be a slow but effective process to cure various illnesses using natural medicine. We all know plants have medicinal properties. Ayurveda uses those medicinal properties to give relief from different illnesses without the usual side effects associated with modern medicine.

 

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Would you like to know your Dosha body type?

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Know your unique body type to get your own personalized formula to living blissfully.