Turmeric (herb) Medicinal Use

[Erny]

I received an email today from someone who just periodically sends through little snippets to those on his email list. This one spoke of Turmeric (herbal) and its good use in medicinal quarters, along with a note that he gives his own dogs a quarter of a teaspoon on their food daily.

As my boy has issues which seem to be relating to digestion and liver, this one sparked my interest.

A link to the information supplied is below. Does anyone else here know of its use, tried it, or have any comments they could put here as to any reason why I shouldn't try it?

I'm only considering it at the moment and it is something I'll address to my dog's Naturopath before I do but was interested to 'bounce' it around DOL first to see if anyone has thoughts and/or experience with it.

TURMERIC MEDICINAL USE - DIGESTIVE

Turmeric Medicinal Use

From many years awareness of turmeric and its use as medicine is continuously Turmeric Medicinal Use

increasing. A flowering plant, Turmeric, in the ginger family, is commonly used as a food coloring and is one of the basic ingredients in curry powder. To heal many health disorders like liver problems, digestive disorders, treatment for skin diseases and wound healing turmeric has long been used in Medicinal as an anti-inflammatory. Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric which has been shown to have a wide range of therapeutic effects.

Digestive Disorders

Turmeric is considered as a digestive bitter and a carminative. It can be added into foods including rice and bean dishes to improve digestion, reduce gas and bloating. It is a cholagogue, stimulating bile production in the liver and encouraging excretion of bile via the gallbladder. This improves the body's ability to digest fats. For chronic digestive weakness and/or congestion turmeric is recommended. It can be taken as a single extract or in the form of digestive bitters, which combine turmeric with other bitter and carminative herbs. Turmeric is beneficial for people who feel tired after consuming meals or who experience gas and bloating. Whatever way turmeric is consumed it is beneficial to both the digestive system and the liver.

Liver Diseases

Turmeric is beneficial for its influence on the liver. In spring more consumption of herbs and foods can strengthen the liver. Turmeric shares similar liver protectant compounds that milk thistle and artichoke leaves contain. It is said to shrink engorged hepatic ducts, so it can be useful to treat liver conditions such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and jaundice.

Cancer

Recent scientific research confirm that turmeric can cure host of diseases, also they found that turmeric restrain the growth of various types of cancer. Turmeric is used for the treatment of skin cancer or pre cancerous skin conditions. Both topical and internal uses are beneficial.

Atherosclerosis

Turmeric may helpful in preventing the blockage of arteries that can gradually cause a heart attack or stroke in one of two ways. Turmeric makes cholesterol levels low 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.

Osteoarthritis

Turmeric may help relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis because of its ability to reduce pain and disability.

Menstrual problems of Woman

For women who experience monthly menstrual cramps, try using turmeric extract or bitters twice daily for two weeks prior to expected menstruation. Turmeric is an antispasmodic to smooth muscles so it reduces digestive and menstrual cramping. It should reduce the severity of pain, if not ease them completely. Certainly, diet and standard of living have a reflective influence on the menstrual cycle, but turmeric is a great addition.

Bacterial Infection / Wounds

Turmeric is useful as an external antibiotic in preventing bacterial infection in wounds.

Eye Disorder

Curcumin may prove to be as effective as corticosteroids in the 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) the type of eye disorder.

Other Health Disorders

Turmeric decreases congestion and inflammation from stagnant mucous Turmeric Medicinal Use

membranes. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory to the mucous membranes, which coat the throat, lungs, stomach and intestines. Regular use of turmeric can benefit from Colitis, Crohn's disease, diarrhea, and post-giardia or post salmonella conditions. The itching and inflammation that accompanies hemorrhoids and anal fissures can reduce by use of turmeric. Turmeric can also benefit skin conditions including: eczema, psoriasis and acne, for those it is potent detoxifier.

"Turmeric gives the energy of the Divine Mother and grants prosperity of health. Turmeric is effectual for purification the chakras, as well as purifying the path of the subtle body."

Edited March 26, 2010 by Erny

[Skruffy n Flea]

wow! how interesting! there might tho be a palate issue cuz i think it has quite a distinctive taste and/or smell!??!

i'd be willing to give it a go erny even just to see if it did help ... it can't hurt unless it has an adverse effect when taken in conjunction with something else. i'm sure the naturopath will clear that up for you...

good luck and i'll keep checking back for progress reports

[blacklabrador]

From what I know you need to be taking a supplement because of the concentrations needed to get a result. You'd need to take a lot of the root as a food to get the benefits.

I first knew of it when I looked after Islander women who would rub it into cuts - I couldn't work out why their wounds were yellow

[Erny]

wow! how interesting! there might tho be a palate issue cuz i think it has quite a distinctive taste and/or smell!??!

Not too much of a problem. I already syringe different things down my boy's throat to ensure he's getting what he needs and he's such a trouper. He even gives me a tail wag when I tell him he's a good boy in between the little breaks I give him as a chance for him to swallow. Bless him. He's only 21 months old, a big dog and strong. Yet he's so compliant. Gotta luv 'em.

From what I know you need to be taking a supplement because of the concentrations needed to get a result. You'd need to take a lot of the root as a food to get the benefits.

Oh - I was thinking it was a powder form. I'll check with the Naturopath about it. I'm thinking of taking it myself as well. The part about 'falling asleep after eating' (or wanting to) is a symptom I've been experiencing of late. My boy is already on a couple of other supplements and for all I know, maybe this is part of it. I don't want to double up or give him something that's incompatible with what he already is getting, so I'll definitely check first.

[labsrule]

My lab boy I lost in Sept to Cancer (RIP darling) was being treated by a Holistic Vet and one of the supplements she prescribed was Tumeric to be added to his food and I had to give him as much as he could tolerate. I used to sprinkle it over his food.

[Erny]

Hi Labsrule - thanks for your post, but sorry for the passing of your lab boy .

What do you mean by "as much as he could tolerate" ? How much was that and what were the signs of him not being able to tolerate it?

[Erny]

Well, I won't be able to update on this for a while, it seems. Emailed our Naturopath about it and the message I received back was that she wanted me to stick with what I'm already doing at the moment.

I don't know what she actually thinks/knows about the Turmeric as a herbal additive for medicinal purposes. I'll ask her more about it when I see her next (no appointment arranged as yet, but I'm sure to be seeing her in due course).

[FionaC]

Well, I won't be able to update on this for a while, it seems. Emailed our Naturopath about it and the message I received back was that she wanted me to stick with what I'm already doing at the moment.

I don't know what she actually thinks/knows about the Turmeric as a herbal additive for medicinal purposes. I'll ask her more about it when I see her next (no appointment arranged as yet, but I'm sure to be seeing her in due course).

that makes perfect sense to me Erny cause when we are coming up with a treatment plan for someone (or a dog/cat) we have to look at the way all the herbs we are prescribing interact with each other - its a balancing act as all have major areas that the work on as well as minor "bonus" results ... too much of one thing can throw the whole treatment plan out of whack ....

S/he may already have Mandela on herbs that do the same thing but work better within their treatment plan they have devised than Turmeric ....

I like Turmeric myself but there are other herbs I'd sometimes use before it just out of personal preference and depending on the client :D

Edited March 27, 2010 by FionaC

[blacklabrador]

wow! how interesting! there might tho be a palate issue cuz i think it has quite a distinctive taste and/or smell!??!

Not too much of a problem. I already syringe different things down my boy's throat to ensure he's getting what he needs and he's such a trouper. He even gives me a tail wag when I tell him he's a good boy in between the little breaks I give him as a chance for him to swallow. Bless him. He's only 21 months old, a big dog and strong. Yet he's so compliant. Gotta luv 'em. :D

From what I know you need to be taking a supplement because of the concentrations needed to get a result. You'd need to take a lot of the root as a food to get the benefits.

Oh - I was thinking it was a powder form. I'll check with the Naturopath about it. I'm thinking of taking it myself as well. The part about 'falling asleep after eating' (or wanting to) is a symptom I've been experiencing of late. My boy is already on a couple of other supplements and for all I know, maybe this is part of it. I don't want to double up or give him something that's incompatible with what he already is getting, so I'll definitely check first.

Sorry - what I meant is that you need to take it AS a supplement rather than eating the root. The supplement form has it in concentrated form so you get enough to make a difference. I think otherwise you'd have to eat 30g of root every day which would be horrible.

[labsrule]

Hi Labsrule - thanks for your post, but sorry for the passing of your lab boy .

What do you mean by "as much as he could tolerate" ? How much was that and what were the signs of him not being able to tolerate it?

Tks Erny - if I remember correctly, I think initially, the ultimate goal was to have a teaspoon sprinkled over his food, but because he was having side affects from the chemo, I was to start with a lower amount of say 1/4 tsp and then increase gradually up to a teaspoon if he tolerated it ok i.e. didn't worsen his diarrhoea or make him vomit. Unfortunately his 3rd and 4th (last) chemo treatments knocked him around badly, so I had to vritually stop giving him majority of supplements and ultimately stopped the chemo as his quality of life was being too heavily impacted.

[stormie]

Royal Canin have used it in their Skin Support food, but I can't remember exactly what their claim for it is, just beneficial to skin somehow.

[Erny]

Oh, Labsrule. I'm really sorry and I hope me asking didn't bring on a flurrish of hurt. I have an inkling of how you would have felt as I too have been in the position where you try to do everything for them, but sometimes what's within our powers is just not enough or not possible for other reasons. I lost my avatar girl and stopped my quest on her behalf due to complications to her already serious health problems and had to accept that sometimes life has an 'other' plan and no matter what, it will steer in that direction. Sometimes you just need to go with the flow and follow for the 'quality' aspect. I hope your boy has met up with my girl and are buddies keeping each other company whilst they wait for us on the other side of the rainbow bridge.

Stormie - thanks for that bit of insight regarding the Turmeric being in RC. I might contact them or at least investigate what's in RC skin issue diet. I'm a HUGE advocate for raw/natural, but honestly, I'm not sure if I'm really targeting the core of my boy's issue (if it is possible to target at all) and feel as though we're always on the brink of going backwards (which we sometimes do) even though he might be looking really good at any particular time. Don't know yet. I won't rush to a change of diet. Hard to know if I'm on the right track already and perhaps all we need is a good dose of time. If that's the case, wish it would hurry up.

[Staff'n'Toller]

I'm pretty sure that RC use it for the reason quoted.

Turmeric can also benefit skin conditions including: eczema, psoriasis and acne, for those it is potent detoxifier.

Their Skin Support formula is the only one developed for generalised atopy and helps to strengthen and support the skin barrier AFAIK. I had excellent results with Gypsy on it but after two attempts she stopped eating it after a period of time, since you can actually see that it contains a good amount of turmeric we surmise she just got sick of the taste!

I would have suggested it earlier to you Erny but I know your preferences as far as raw and didn't want to push something on you that you weren't interested in, however I would be VERY interested in knowing whether it would have an effect on Mandela, I can send you their product profile for that product if you wish. Just PM me a postal addy.

[Erny]

I'm pretty sure that RC use it for the reason quoted.

Turmeric can also benefit skin conditions including: eczema, psoriasis and acne, for those it is potent detoxifier.

Their Skin Support formula is the only one developed for generalised atopy and helps to strengthen and support the skin barrier AFAIK. I had excellent results with Gypsy on it but after two attempts she stopped eating it after a period of time, since you can actually see that it contains a good amount of turmeric we surmise she just got sick of the taste!

I would have suggested it earlier to you Erny but I know your preferences as far as raw and didn't want to push something on you that you weren't interested in, however I would be VERY interested in knowing whether it would have an effect on Mandela, I can send you their product profile for that product if you wish. Just PM me a postal addy.

Thanks SnT. I'm not sure that I will switch, just yet. I've used a couple of well known and well respected brands of food since Mandela came to me. The pattern so far is that he seems to do ok/better on the 'new' food for approximately 6 months (give or take) then it all goes to poo (pardon the pun). Switch again, and I get the same result. I feel I need to stick with what I'm now doing otherwise I won't be able to confirm as to whether there is a real pattern going on or not. But along the way, as I hear and learn of things, I'm trying to keep them in mind for if/when what I'm doing is not achieving the results I want. As it is, even with the raw food diet, I seem to have to keep switching meats (which isn't great when it comes to setting up for elimination diets, if that's what I eventually have to do - even if I don't think this is a food allergy thing) because he'll favour one for a while, then completely goes off it. Which is why I have a whole freezer full, dedicated to his food, with barely any foods in it that he'll actually eat at the moment. If he was a dog who would carry more weight I'd stick with one meat source for longer, but he isn't and so he therefore can't afford to lose weight.

It's darned frustrating. But hey ..... I wasn't handed out a double dose of "stubborn" when I stood in the 'character' queue at birth, for nothing .

Edited March 28, 2010 by Erny

[Staranais]

Which is why I have a whole freezer full, dedicated to his food, with barely any foods in it that he'll actually eat at the moment. If he was a dog who would carry more weight I'd stick with one meat source for longer, but he isn't and so he therefore can't afford to lose weight.

It's darned frustrating. But hey ..... I wasn't handed out a double dose of "stubborn" when I stood in the 'character' queue at birth, for nothing .

Mandela fell on his feet when he ended up at your house, Erny! He's a lucky wee boy to have an owner who is so determined to sort out his issues.

[Erny]

.... I think that's why I was put on this earth, Star. It's not a purpose I'm ashamed of, by any stretch (although it does stretch the purse strings as many many others, including yourself, who also go the extra mile for their animals would know).

Thanks for the compliment. It is one of the highest, in my books .