For those people whom for any reason (foggy) cannot do their own
research....

I have other credible sources than this quoted text that are not dancing
around the Hepatitis C issues nearly so much; such as:  "Herbs for Heaptitis
C and the Liver", author Stephen Harrod Buhner, published in 2000 by Storey
Books, ISBN 1-58017255-5 (pbk.)  Web search for the ISBN, the author or look
at publisher pages located online at:  http://www.storey.com  It is very
comprehensive and much of the Western terminology is way above my current
comprehension, such as the liver function and the interactions.

Cactus Jammies
.............................

!!!The use of COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE DOES NOT ELIMINATE HEPATITIS C
VIRONS!!!

from http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/turmeric-000277.htm
complete with bonafides, citations, and review info....

forwarded without permission, but allowed thru compassion.  #:-p    (### my
empahsis shown as:  !!!!****)

***see precautions, in this text***.

Over the last several years, there has been increasing interest in turmeric
and its medicinal properties. This is
partially evidenced by the large numbers of scientific studies published on
this topic. Turmeric ( Curcuma longa ), a
flowering plant in the ginger family, is widely used as a food coloring and
is one of the principal ingredients in
curry powder. Turmeric has long been used in both Ayurvedic and Chinese
medicine as an anti-inflammatory, to
treat digestive disorders and liver problems, and for the treatment of skin
diseases and wound healing. The active
ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which has been the subject of numerous
animal studies-but as of yet, very few
studies on people-demonstrating various medicinal properties. Curcumin has
been shown, for example, to
stimulate the production of bile and to facilitate the emptying of the
gallbladder. It has also demonstrated in animals
a protective effect on the liver, anti-tumor action, and ability to reduce
inflammation and fight certain infections.

Plant Description
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.

Parts Used
The aboveground and underground roots, or rhizomes, are used in medicinal
and food preparations. These are
generally boiled and then dried, turning into the familiar yellow powder.
Curcumin from turmeric, as well as other
substances in this herb, have antioxidant properties, which some claim may
be as strong as vitamins C and E.

Medicinal Uses and Indications
While turmeric has a long history of use by herbalists, most studies to date
have been conducted in the laboratory or
in animals and it is not clear that these results apply to people.
Nevertheless, research suggests that turmeric may be
helpful for the following conditions.

Digestive Disorders
(stomach upset, gas, abdominal cramps): The German Commission E (an
authoritative body that determined which
herbs could be safely prescribed in that country and for which purpose[s])
approved turmeric for a variety of
digestive disorders. Curcumin, for example, one of the active ingredients in
turmeric, induces the flow of bile,
which helps break down fats. In an animal study, extracts of turmeric root
reduced secretion of acid from the
stomach and protected against injuries such as inflammation along the
stomach (gastritis) or intestinal walls and
ulcers from certain medications, stress, or alcohol. Further studies are
needed to know to what extent these
protective effects apply to people as well.

Osteoarthritis
Because of its ability to reduce inflammation, turmeric may help relieve the
symptoms of osteoarthritis. A study of
people using an Ayurvedic formula of herbs and minerals containing turmeric
as well as Withinia somnifera (winter
cherry), Boswellia serrata (Boswellia), and zinc significantly reduced pain
and disability. While encouraging for
the value of this Ayurvedic combination therapy to help with osteoarthritis,
it is difficult to know how much of this
success is from turmeric alone, one of the other individual herbs, or the
combination of herbs working in tandem.

Atherosclerosis
Early studies suggest that turmeric may prove helpful in preventing the
build up of atherosclerosis (blockage of
arteries that can eventually cause a heart attack or stroke) in one of two
ways. First, in animal studies an extract of
turmeric lowered cholesterol levels and inhibited the oxidation of LDL
("bad") cholesterol. Oxidized LDL deposits
in the walls of blood vessels and contributes to the formation of
atherosclerotic plaque. Turmeric may also prevent
platelet build up along the walls of an injured blood vessel. Platelets
collecting at the site of a damaged blood
vessel cause blood clots to form and blockage of the artery as well. Studies
of the use of turmeric to prevent or treat
heart disease in people would be interesting in terms of determining if
these mechanisms discovered in animals
apply to people at risk for this condition.

Cancer *****
There has been a substantial amount of research on turmeric's anti-cancer
potential. Evidence from laboratory and
animal studies suggests that curcumin has potential in the treatment of
various forms of cancer, including prostate,
breast, skin, and colon. Human studies will be necessary before it is known
to what extent these results may apply
to people.

Roundworms and Intestinal worms
Laboratory studies suggest that curcuminoids, the active components of
turmeric, may reduce the destructive activity
of parasites or roundworms.

Liver Disease *****
Animal studies provide evidence that turmeric can protect the liver from a
number of damaging substances such as
carbon tetrachloride and acetominophen (also called paracetamol, this
medication, used commonly for headache
and pain, can cause liver damage if taken in large quantities or in someone
who drinks alcohol regularly.) Turmeric
accomplishes this, in part, by helping to clear such toxins from the body
and by protecting the liver from damage.

!!!The use of COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE DOES NOT ELIMINATE HEPATITIS C
VIRONS!!!

Bacterial Infection ****
Turmeric's volatile oil functions as an external antibiotic, preventing
bacterial infection in wounds.

Wounds
In animal studies, turmeric applied to wounds hastens the healing process.

Mosquito Repellent
A mixture of the volatile oils of turmeric, citronella, and hairy basil,
with the addition of vanillin (an extract of
vanilla bean that is generally used for flavoring or perfumes), may be an
alternative to D.E.E.T., one of the most
common chemical repellents commercially available.

Eye Disorder
One study of 32 people with uveitis (inflammation of the uvea, the middle
layer of the eye between the sclera [white
outer coat of the eye] and the retina [the back of the eye]) suggests that
curcumin may prove to be as effective as
corticosteroids, the type of medication generally prescribed for this eye
disorder. The uvea contains many of the
blood vessels that nourish the eye. Inflammation of this area, therefore,
can affect the cornea, the retina, the sclera,
and other important parts of the eye. More research is needed to best
understand whether curcumin may help treat
this eye inflammation.

Available Forms
Turmeric is commercially available in the following forms:

Capsules containing powder
Fluid extract
Tincture
Bromelain enhances the absorption and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin,
the best studied active ingredient of
turmeric; therefore, bromelain is often formulated with turmeric products.

How to Take It
Pediatric
While turmeric may be helpful for the treatment of inflammatory conditions
in children, appropriate doses have not
yet been established. Until more information is available, consider
adjusting the recommended adult dose to account
for the child's weight. Most herbal dosages for adults are calculated on the
basis of a 150 lb (70 kg) adult.
Therefore, if the child weighs 50 lb (20 to 25 kg), the appropriate dose of
turmeric for this child would be 1/3 of

the adult dosage.

Adult
*****The following are doses recommended for adults*****:

Cut root: 1,500 to 3,000 mg per day
Dried, powdered root: 1,000 to 3,000 mg per day
Standardized powder (curcumin): 400 to 600 mg, 3 times per day (SPICE JAR)
Fluid extract (1:1) 30 to 90 drops a day
Tincture (1:2): 15 to 30 drops, 4 times per day

Precautions *******
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and
treating disease. Herbs, however,
contain active substances that can trigger side effects and interact with
other herbs, supplements, or medications.
For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of
a practitioner knowledgeable in the
field of botanical medicine.

Turmeric and curcumin are considered safe when taken at the recommended
doses. However, extended or excessive
use of curcumin may produce stomach upset and, in extreme cases, ulcers.
(Note: normal therapeutic doses of
turmeric protect from ulcers - see earlier discussion - but, at very high
doses, it may induce ulcers. This is why it is
very important to stick with the recommended dose of this herbal remedy.)
Turmeric should not be taken by those
who have been diagnosed with gallstones or obstruction of the bile passages
without explicit direction from a
qualified practitioner.

While pregnant women needn't avoid foods containing turmeric, its use as a
medicinal herb is not recommended
during pregnancy because the effects are not fully known. Studies in
pregnant rats, mice, guinea pigs, and monkeys
suggest that it is safe for those animals, but safety in pregnant women has
not been tested.

Possible Interactions ***** !!!!!
If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications,
you should not use turmeric or curcumin in
medicinal forms without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Blood-Thinning Medications
Although no scientific reports have documented a bleed or other adverse
interaction, turmeric, taken in medicinal
doses may theoretically increase the blood thinning effects and, therefore
the risk of bleeding from, drugs such as
warfarin and aspirin.

Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Turmeric has shown protection in animals from the development of ulcers due
to this class of medications. NSAIDs
include indomethacin, ibuprofen, and many other drugs that are often
prescribed for pain and inflammation, such as
that of arthritis.

Reserpine
Turmeric protected animals from increased gastric secretions (secretions in
the stomach that can lead to damage
along the walls of this organ) from reserpine used for high blood pressure.

(end of pages)
.......................... bonafides, citations .........................
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Review Date: 4/1/2002
Reviewed By: Participants in the review process include: Jacqueline A. Hart,
MD, Department of Internal
Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Harvard University and Senior Medical
Editor Integrative Medicine,
Boston, MA; Gary Kracoff, RPh (Pediatric Dosing section February 2001),
Johnson Drugs, Natick, MA; Steven
Ottariono, RPh (Pediatric Dosing section February 2001), Veteran's
Administrative Hospital, Londonderry, NH; R.
Lynn Shumake, PD, Director, Alternative Medicine Apothecary, Blue Mountain
Apothecary & Healing Arts,
University of Maryland Medical Center, Glenwood, MD; David Winston,
Herbalist (January 2000), Herbalist and
Alchemist, Inc., Washington, NJ. All interaction sections have also been
reviewed by a team of experts including
Joseph Lamb, MD (July 2000), The Integrative Medicine Works, Alexandria,
VA;Enrico Liva, ND, RPh (August
2000), Vital Nutrients, Middletown, CT; Brian T Sanderoff, PD, BS in
Pharmacy (March 2000), Clinical Assistant
Professor, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy; President, Your
Prescription for Health, Owings Mills,
MD; Ira Zunin, MD, MPH, MBA (July 2000), President and Chairman, Hawaii
State Consortium for Integrative
Medicine, Honolulu, HI.
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