General Information

• Turmeric-Cucurmin.com
• Turmeric — An Amazing Healer, by Anne McIntyre
• [need to go through these and get effects to put below]
• Turmeric (Cucurma longa) — this page at intelliHealth is rather negative, saying studies done are not adequate, and listing many problems that could "theoretically" be true of turmeric.
• HerbMed / Cucurma longa — links to extensive research listings

Uses

• Inflammation
  • An Australian study of Ayurvedic Medicine
• Candida
• Cholesterol: interferes with its absorption in the intestine and also improves the body's ability to break down and eliminate cholesterol.
• AIDS/HIV
• Cancer (inhibits tumor formation)
• Hinders the activity of microbes
• Improves blood circulation
• Blood-thinnning / anti-clotting: in one study "turmeric was found to be so effective that the authors who reported it in a 1986 article in a German medical journal regarded it as the treatment of choice for anyone prone to developing blood clots." (Quoted from Info Source #1, below)
• Possibly Genital Herpes (topically)
• Protects the liver
• Increases the activity of glutathione S-transferase
  • (See A Review of Plants Used in the Treatment of Liver Disease: Part Two, by Scott Luper, ND. Originally published in Altern Med Rev 1999;4(3):178-189)
  • also UDP glucuronyl transferase (UDPGT); they're both important for the promotion of Phase II detoxification reactions (The Basics of Detoxing Your Liver, by Frances Albrecht, M.S., C.N. originally published in Plant Foods & Human Nutrition, 1993, vol. 44, no. 1).

Other active ingredients

Supplementation

• Vitacost.com says for treatment of atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, the recommended dosage is 400 mg three times daily.
• Always take it with food

Contraindications

• Increases bile flow: should not be taken if gallstones (or any biliary tract obstruction) are present.
• Avoid high doses when taking blood-thinning drugs

More Info Sources

1. Herbs for Health and Healing > Arteriosclerosis — information taken from the Rodale Press book, Herbs for Health and Healing, by Kathi Keville and Peter Korn. The whole book is available online. The authors mention studies, without referencing them. However often they give enough information that you can then find better references through a Web search.
2. Turmeric Root at Dr.Genie.com. Extensive references.