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Discover the Superpowers of Turmeric

A cousin of ginger, turmeric is of the Zingiberaceae family indigenous to India and southern Asia. The West is beginning to understand its benefits besides being a natural-food coloring (ie. mustard). Its powerful anti-inflammatory properties are joined with anti-oxidative and anti-tumor properties. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medical systems have used it for centuries as a liver tonic and for digestive complaints.

Curcumin, which gives turmeric that golden yellow color, directly inhibits the activity of COX-2 inflammatory prostaglandins, as stated in the 1999 article in Cancer Research. The phytonutrients in turmeric inhibit TxA2, which facilitates angiogenesis—the growth of new blood vessels into regions of tumor proliferation. Arachidonic acid (AA) or Omega-6 metabolism, plays a part in inflammatory hormones in the body.

Other ways that curcumin works is by modulating nitric oxide. It is also anti-ulcerative, DNA-protective, stimulates glutathione, and can be applied topically to skin tumors. This is just a small list of its benefits.

Want to learn more about other Herbal COX-2 Inhibitors like green tea and holy basil? We’ve got an information-packed blog post that you can read here.