Turmeric and its amazing healing power

First, I want to clarify some concepts: Curry is a mixture of spices, usually cardamom, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, cloves, coriander seeds, cumin, fennel seeds, fenugreek, nutmeg, red and black pepper, poppy and sesame seeds, saffron and large amounts of turmeric (20-30%). Turmeric powder is obtained by grinding the dried rhizome of the Curcuma longa plant. It was already one of the 250 medicinal plants mentioned in a series of medicinal treatises dating from approximately 3.000 BC. Curcuminoids are the main compounds in turmeric (around 5% of the weight of the dried root) and are not only responsible for turmeric’s bright yellowish colour, but also of the beneficial effects, being the main component called curcumin. [1-3] Curcumin has shown to have a large list of beneficial actions:

• It is a potent anti-inflammatory and therefore helpful in any inflammatory conditions.[4,5,43]
• It helps preventing not only cardiovascular disease but also Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.[6-8]
• Is has also shown to ease digestive disorders, including inflammatory bowel diseases.[9]

       Including the following anti-cancer properties (Curcumin is known as the most powerful anticancer substance [10,11,44,45]):

• Its anti-inflammatory quality reduces pain produced by cancer, both primary tumours and metastasis similar to mistletoe.
• Stops progression of metastasis [12]
• Induces apoptosis (cancer cell suicide) [13]
• Its anti-oxidant effect prevents free radicals to damage our DNA [14,15]
• It stimulates our immune system [16]
• It inhibits the NF-kappa B factor (a factor that protects the tumour from our immune system) [17]
• It not only enhances the effect of the chemotherapy, but also protects our mucus membranes, liver and kidneys from its toxic effects [18-21]
• It enhances the effect of the radiotherapy [22]

In addition, curcumin has shown to have a similar effect to some of the drugs designed to fight cancer: Remicade, Humira, Enbrel (inhibitors of the production of tumor necrosis factor), Avastin (inhibits production of vascular endothelial growth factor) and Herceptin (blocks Her2 receptors).[23]

Due to its notorious effects, currently, more than 20 clinical trials are underway to measure the effectiveness of turmeric and curcumin treating various cancers (colon, breast, pancreas and melanoma). Preliminary effects are very encouraging as they do not have side effects (or very few).

In one study carried out on patients with pancreas cancer in the terminal phase, administering curcumin led to a dramatic reduction in tumour size (73%) in a patient and stabilised the disease. [24-26]In other studies, curcumin as shown to inhibit the growth of all cancers (ovary, breast, uterus, liver, bile ducts, lung, pancreas, prostate, stomach, leukaemia, neck , melanoma, osteosarcoma, etc) [27- 42] and that it helps preventing and treating cancer, including metastasis [46-48] 

How to take it: Ideally, you should have at least 5g (1 tea spoon) every day. Be aware that turmeric delivered in capsules is very poorly absorbed by the digestive system [24]. In fact, if it’s not mixed with oil (ideally olive or linseed due to their own beneficial properties) and pepper or ginger, it does not pass the intestinal barrier.

Pepper multiplies the body’s absorption of turmeric by two thousand, as it contains a substance called pipperine which helps the curcumin to be absorbed [49-50].

You can prepare yourself a curcumin-drink: boil 200ml of water, dissolve 1 teaspoon of turmeric, add black pepper and some olive oil, let it cool down and drink it within 4 hours. Human trials have shown that curcumin can be used in doses up to 8g daily for up to 18 months without toxicity. [51]

Caution: if you are taking anticoagulants (blood- thinners) as turmeric can interfere increasing their effect. The easiest and most efficient way, however, is having it in its original form, as curry and adding it to your food. Its combination of various spices has shown to work together and having a great cytotoxic effect on cancer cells.

One study showed that after exposing oesophagus cancer cells to the extracts of curry, 88% of the cancer cells diet after 24hours! [52]T his may explain the much lower cancer rates in India, when compared with USA, despite the Indian’s exposure to numerous carcinogens in their environment, often on a worse scale that in the West. [53]  

 Integrated therapies for Cancer

The Integrated and Holistic Medicine now offers the Mistletoe therapy and IV drip therapy as cancer complementary treatments.

The IV drip therapy is available at our London clinic or you can have your your iv drip at your home.

References:

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