It is very common in Asian countries to use turmeric for inflammation. One of its active compound curcumin is anti-inflammatory. It also possesses antioxidant properties. Turmeric reduces pain, redness, swelling and heat created in the inflamed area.
Inflammations are the body's natural reaction to injuries, viral, bacterial and fungal infections, muscle spasms and conditions like arthritis to heal them. You can use turmeric in many different ways to get it's ant-inflammatory benefit. Some of the most common ways include adding to food and drinking it's tea.
What is Turmeric?
Turmeric is widely used in indian subcontinent, Middle East and Southeast Asia as spice and medicinal herb for centuries.
Botanical name for turmeric is curcuma longa. It belongs to the Ginger family and it's rhizomes are used fresh or in dried powder form.
Although turmeric has been used in ayurvedic medicine since ancient times, the western world has now begun to realise its importance. Many research studies have found it compounds curcuminoids rendering medicinal properties. One of the most important compounds is curcumin which has anti-inflammatory properties.
Curcumin is not absorbed easily by the body so you have to consume it in a large quantity to get the medicinal advantages. Curcumin extract is more potent than simply consuming curcumin in your food. According to a scientific study curcumin absorption is increased by almost 2000 % if it is consumed with black pepper due and active alkaloid piperine.
What causes Inflammations?
Inflammation or defence mechanism your body to counter external invaders internal injuries. It is part of a healing process.
When Your immune system recognizes damaged cells, irritants and pathogens it begins to act on it to heal it.
As a result of this reaction by the immune system the affected area under attack or injury may get swelling, redness, pain, heat and immobility. These are the signs that the healing process has already begun.
Infections, wounds and damaged tissue can't be healed without inflammatory response by the body. If the healing process takes longer then it becomes chronic inflammation which may cause diseases including arthritis and cancer. Anti-inflammatory substances like turmeric become very useful under those circumstances to heal fast.
How to Use Turmeric for Inflammations
In order to get best results you will need a large quantity of turmeric so that you get enough curcumin as well as sufficient black pepper to help curcum absorption. You can use Turmeric in the following 5 different ways to reduce Inflammations.
1. Turmeric Milk
Turmeric milk is the most popular way to use Turmeric for Inflammations.
- Add one teaspoon of turmeric to 1 glass of milk in a heating pot
- Keep it on burner and let it boil
- Remove it from burner and let it cool to palatable temperature.
- Add a pinch of black pepper powder and mix well
- Drink it warm
2. Turmeric Tea
Simple turmeric tea is very good to deal with inflammation caused by throat infections.
- Add one Teaspoon of turmeric powder and half teaspoon of black pepper powder to a glass of water
- Boil it and let it simmer for 2-5 minutes
- Cool it to make it palatable
- Drink it warm
3. Turmeric with Ginger
This is a small variation of the above turmeric tea.Ginger is also anti-inflammatory so it adds more power to the drink to fight inflammations.
- Add 1 teaspoon turmeric powder, half teaspoon black pepper powder and 1 teaspoon of finely chopped fresh ginger in a glass of water
- Heat it to boiling
- Let it cool a bit
- Strain and drink
4. Turmeric and Honey
Turmeric and honey is an excellent combination to deal with throat infections caused by viral and bacterial infections. All three ingredients are anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidants.
- Take one tablespoon of turmeric powder in a bowl
- And a teaspoon black pepper powder
- And one tablespoon of honey in add 1 tablespoon of honey in mix all 3 ingredients well to make a thick paste.
- Make 5-6 small size balls from the paste.
- Keep one ball in the mouth and let it melt itself slowly to move down your mouth into the throat. Don't chew or swallow. Let it just follow on its own with saliva.
- Do it 2-3 times a day
These 5-6 turmeric paste balls can be consumed in 2-3 days.
5. Topical Application
You can put turmeric paste on the inflamed area, minor wound or paining joints.
- Take 2 tablespoons of turmeric powder
- Add one tablespoon milk and mix well to make paste.
- Add more milk if the paste is too thick
- Apply on the affected area and keep it for 30 minutes until it dries
- Wash with warm water
It may leave your skin yellow for sometime. This will gradually fade and completely remove.
How Much Turmeric for Inflammation is Good Enough?
Turmeric extract has been used safely in the doses of 500 milligrams to 1500 milligrams daily for 8 weeks without any side effects.
Higher doses than 1500 milligrams of turmeric may cause nausea, stomach upset acid reflux and other severe gastrointestinal conditions.
Even when doctors recommend 1500 milligrams of turmeric extract per day they recommend to consume it in 3 divided doses of 500 milligrams each.
Tips and Precautions
- Turmeric is generally a very safe herb. It does not cause any significant side effects. However you have to take the following Precautions in the use of turmeric.
- Turmeric stains your clothes. Take proper precautions particularly when you are applying it topically.
- Too much consumption of turmeric can cause constipation and other stomach upset complications.
- Avoid use of turmeric if you have gallbladder problems or bile duct obstructions as it can worsen these conditions.
- Large consumption of turmeric may interfere with iron absorption.
- Turmeric is a blood thinner also, so if you are taking any other blood thinning medicines then avoid using turmeric. It will slow down blood clotting.
- Turmeric might reduce sperm movement in some people causing infertility. If you are planning a baby then avoid turmeric.
Bottom line is occasional consumption of turmeric to reduce inflammation is very helpful.