KACHEN #16 (Autumn 2018) English edition

WELLNESS n
TEXT & PHOTO MASSIMO GHERARDI
Most people know turmeric only from their spice cabinet. This
golden powder is often used in Asian cuisine to give foods
colour and flavour. Curry, for example, would be unimaginable
without turmeric.
The turmeric plant, aka curcuma or Gelbwurz, has extravagantly
elongated blossoms and loves a tropical climate that's warm and
humid. There are around 80 different types of this plant, which is a
member of the ginger family. The spice is obtained from the lateral
shoots of the rhizome, also called a root tuber, and then marketed as
curcuma longa. This contains, along with starch and essential oils,
yellow curcumin, which has positive effects on health.
Turmeric has long been used as a remedy for digestive problems. It
stimulates bile production, which is helpful in the digestion of fats. It
also helps upset stomach and bloat, and was once used to treat liver
diseases.
Research has also turned an eye to curcumin after new potential
and spectacular properties were discovered. In medicine, curcumin
is mainly known as an anti-inflammatory substance. When taken in
the medium to long term, it lessens symptoms of arthritis, rheumatic
complaints and tendinitis, improves joint fluid and mobility, and all
with only very minor and infrequent side effects such as dry mouth
or minor gastric irritation. Curcumin is not recommended for
people with gallbladder diseases, such as gallstones, for pregnant and
breastfeeding women, or for children, as there have been no studies
concluded on its safety.
Research is also focusing on even more spectacular applications
involving Alzheimer's, cardiovascular diseases, cholesterol, and
diabetes. In cancer therapy there have already been animal experiments
with regard to prevention and treatment, but the positive results are
still difficult to transfer to humans. It indicated, however, that turmeric
indeed has something to offer.
Unfortunately curcumin does not dissolve easily in water, and
therefore is not easily reabsorbed. The powder has therefore only
limited effects if taken. The same applies to tinctures and dry
extracts. The pharmaceutical industry, however, has succeeded in
significantly increasing the solubility of curcumin and thus the effect
of the preparations as well. These improved curcumin extracts are
then processed into pills or capsules, often with added substances,
an sold as medicine. These additives can also greatly increase the
bioavailability of curcumin, such as piperine obtained from pepper,
which inhibits the glucuronidation of curcumin in the liver, thus
reducing its excretion.
The turmeric plant therefore has come a long way from culinary
seasoning and traditional medicinal use to modern medical research.
And it's only just begun. But above all, turmeric represents and
alternative treatment option that advocates conscious consumption
and endorses the renunciation of drugs with side effects. This in turn
is the reason why turmeric enjoys an increasing popularity.
© Marc Klein
2018 / 3 | KACHEN | 123