Scientific Health Benefits of Turmeric Tincture

What is Turmeric Tincture?

Turmeric is a popular Indian spice that has been used in Eastern medicine for thousands of years. The active compound in turmeric is curcumin, which gives the spice its vibrant yellow color and provides extensive health benefits.

Turmeric tincture is a liquid extract made by soaking turmeric rhizomes (underground stems) in alcohol or vegetable glycerin. This allows the beneficial compounds like curcumin to be extracted into a highly concentrated form that is easy to consume.

Taking turmeric as a tincture can provide stronger medicinal effects than simply eating turmeric in food. The liquid delivery method allows the turmeric compounds to be absorbed more efficiently in the body.

Benefits of Curcumin in Turmeric

Curcumin is the key active ingredient in turmeric that provides all the amazing health benefits. This powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound has been extensively studied for its disease-fighting and preventative effects.

Research has shown curcumin to be beneficial for:

• Soothing inflammation
• Boosting antioxidant capacity
• Supporting healthy digestion
• Promoting cardiovascular health
• Balancing blood sugar levels
• Supporting healthy brain function
• Enhancing detoxification
• Stimulating the immune system

The next sections provide more details on some of the top scientifically-proven ways curcumin and turmeric tincture can improve health.

1. Protects Against Chronic Inflammation

Chronic, low-grade inflammation is believed to be a key driver of most chronic diseases. Studies show curcumin is highly anti-inflammatory, matching or even exceeding the effectiveness of some anti-inflammatory drugs in reducing inflammatory markers.

By regulating inflammatory pathways and cytokine activity, curcumin can help treat and prevent inflammatory-related disorders like arthritis, neurological disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity and more.

How Curcumin Reduces Inflammation

Research indicates curcumin activates antioxidants while suppressing pro-inflammatory factors like NF-kB, cytokine activity, and inflammatory enzymes like COX-2. The combination of these anti-inflammatory effects provides protection against many chronic diseases.

2. Protects Brain Cells from Toxic Compounds

Many common brain disorders like dementia, Alzheimers disease and Parkinsons disease have been linked to the build up of certain proteins and toxic plaque deposits in brain cells.

Studies demonstrate that curcumin can cross the blood-brain barrier and directly block the formation of these unneeded growths. By preventing the accumulation of harmful clumps, curcumin protects brain cells from degenerating.

Curcumin boosts levels of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), a key growth hormone that fosters the healthy development of new brain cells. By elevating BDNF, curcumin supports improved concentration, mood and memory retention.

Curcumin May Reverse Age-Related Cognitive Decline

Through its ability to stimulate neural regeneration and prevent neuro-degeneration, research shows curcumin reverses age-related cognitive decline. Elderly populations given curcumin perform significantly better on cognitive tests measuring attention, memory and mood.

3. Boosts Antioxidants and Detoxification

In addition to being a potent anti-inflammatory, curcumin is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants neutralize unstable free radical molecules that can damage cells through oxidative stress.

By scavenging these harmful free radicals, curcumin protects the body from chronic disease. Researchers believe boosting your bodys antioxidant capacity is crucial for longevity and healthy aging.

Studies also find curcumin upregulates production of glutathione and other antioxidants. Curcumin enhances phase II liver detoxification activity to further support elimination of toxins from the body.

Curcumin Combats Effects of Air Pollution

With increasing air pollution in many major cities, curcumin can provide a protective buffer. Studies demonstrate that curcumin reduces lung inflammation from air contaminants and balances cytokine levels caused by pollution-related oxidative stress.

4. Supports Heart Health

Thanks to curcumins antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, research shows it plays a valuable role in supporting cardiovascular function and healthy circulation.

Studies demonstrate curcumin combats multiple causes of heart disease, from high blood pressure and blood clotting to elevated bad cholesterol and low good cholesterol. By addressing all these risk factors, curcumin protects against life-threatening heart complications.

How Curcumin Benefits Heart Health

Research confirms curcumin:

• Prevents LDL cholesterol oxidation linked to plaque build-up
• Reduces development of blood clots
• Relaxes blood vessels to lower blood pressure
• Lessens inflammation damaging heart tissue
• Decreases stiffness in arteries to improve circulation

5. Balances Blood Sugar Levels

In addition to inflammation and oxidative stress, elevated blood sugar is another primary factor in chronic disease. Uncontrolled high blood sugar causes cumulative cell damage throughout the body, setting the stage for diabetes and its complications.

Human trials find curcumin extremely effective at stabilizing blood sugar. By regulating enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, curcumin prevents dangerous spikes and plunges in glucose.

Curcumin Rivaled Diabetes Medication

In a study comparing diabetic participants receiving either curcumin or diabetes medication, curcumin lowered blood sugar and hemoglobin A1C as effectively as the prescription drug. Researchers concluded curcumin should be first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes.

6. Protects Against Neurodegenerative Disease

Progressive destruction of nerves leads to disabling conditions like Alzheimers disease and Parkinsons disease. Due to curcumin optimizing levels of inflammation and boosting BDNF growth hormone, research confirms curcumin exhibits neuro-protective activities.

Through its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and bind to beta-amyloid proteins to prevent inflammatory plaque, studies show oral curcumin stopping progression of Alzheimers in mouse models. Analyses predict curcumin delays Alzheimers onset by up to a decade.

Curcumin May Reverse Certain Neurological Disorders

Remarkable research also indicates curcumin effectively reverses development of Alzheimers disease in mice. After just 30 days of curcumin, animals improved cognitive function by clearing amyloid plaque buildup.

7. Protects Liver Health

The liver performs essential detox and metabolic roles. Over time toxins, drugs, excess fat and oxidative stress can overburden liver function.

Fortunately, research confirms curcumin protects the liver against injury and fibrosis by enhancing xenobiotic metabolism and reducing inflammation. Curcumin has even demonstrated the ability to regenerate liver tissue.

Curcumin Effectively Treats Liver Disease

A systematic review of clinical trials concluded curcumin successfully treats various liver disorders like fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver damage from environmental toxins. Researchers cited significant improvements in liver function tests and disease-related symptoms.

8. Prevents Cancer Development

One of the most profound properties of curcumin is its ability to inhibit tumor cell growth and block angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth feeding tumors).

Extensive research over the past few decades confirms curcumin combats cancer initiation, growth, and metastasis for a variety of tumor cell lines including breast, brain, liver, stomach, ovarian, head/neck, intestinal, pancreatic and prostate cancers.

Curcumin Restricted Cancer in Human Trials

Encouraging human research demonstrates curcumin treatment slows precancerous lesion development in the stomach, intestines and colon. Administering curcumin to cigarette smokers led to significantly fewer pre-malignant mouth sores compared to placebo.

9. Relieves Symptoms of Arthritis

Joint pain and inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis can severely impact quality of life. Due to curcumin regulating inflammatory cytokines, enzymes and proteins, research confirms curcumin strongly reduces joint inflammation and stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

In multiple clinical trials comparing curcumin to arthritis medications, curcumin was found to be equally or even more effective - providing long-term improvement in arthritis symptoms and pain-related mobility issues.

Curcumin Compared to NSAIDs for Arthritis

Looking at osteoarthritis patients taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs versus the same amount receiving curcumin supplements, the curcumin group experienced significantly less pain during movement and greatly enhanced quality of life compared to NSAID treatment alone.

10. Alleviates Depression

In addition to physical symptoms, curcumin also helps treat emotional health. Nine clinical trials report curcumin reduces incidence of depression among the elderly, heart disease patients and people with various health conditions. Curcumin was also shown to enhance the effect of antidepressants.

Through boosting serotonin, dopamine and endorphin neurotransmitters, curcumin elevates mood and emotional resilience. Studies find curcumin modulates release of stress hormones providing an anxiolytic effect to combat anxiety and depression.

How Curcumin Benefits Mental Health

Research confirms curcumin:

• Increases production of feel-good neurotransmitters
• Protects brain cells from inflammation and oxidative stress
• Elevates neurogenesis - growth of new brain cells
• Lowers release of stress chemicals

11. Enhances Skin Health and Appearance

From protecting and nourishing skin cells to smoothing out wrinkles, research shows oral and topical curcumin benefits skin health in multiple ways. Used for skin rejuvenation in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines for thousands of years, curcumin exhibits potent anti-aging effects.

Curcumin enhances skin cell regeneration and turnover for improved elasticity and suppleness. By increasing collagen, curcumin boosts epidermal thickness resulting in smoother, firmer skin less prone to wrinkles.

Curcumin Repairs UV Damage to Skin

Studies find curcumin able to reverse DNA mutations and oxidative damage in skin cells caused by exposure to ultraviolet light. When taken orally or applied topically to the skin, curcumin acts as a safe, natural sunblock to protect and treat sun-damaged skin.

12. Relieves Symptoms of IBS and IBD

Gut inflammation is a major contributor to irritable bowel (IBS) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin have been found extremely therapeutic for improving intestinal disorders.

Multiple studies demonstrate curcumin supplementation significantly reduces abdominal pain, diarrhea, and disease activity for both IBS and IBD patients. Curcumin was also shown to help maintenance medications work better and prolong remission.

Curcumin Rivaled Maintenance Medication

Looking at ulcerative colitis patients in remission taking either curcumin or the standard maintenance medication (mesalamine), relapse rates were identical for both groups at approximately 20%. Researchers concluded curcumin is just as effective for preventative treatment of UC flare-ups.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.