Turn up the Turmeric.

5 min readJan 13, 2020

In March 2007, Dinneke Ferguson was diagnosed with MGUS(monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance), by May 2008 it developed into multiple myeloma (a type of blood cancer).

After three rounds of chemotherapy and four failed attempts to harvest stem-cells for a stem-cell transplant, it felt all hope was lost for Mrs. Ferguson.

In 2008, because of the cancer, she lost her memory for three days and as a result of the myeloma, two of her vertebrae collapsed in November 2008, which subsequently were fixed with kyphoplasty, a type of Vertebral Augmentation.

By May 2011, no other traditional medical options were available. According to statistics at the time, her life expectancy was, at the very best, one more year.

Through Margaret’s Corner blog, Mrs. Ferguson found out that curcumin could potentially not only reduce but keep her cancer at bay. And in May 2011 she started to take high doses of curcumin (8g a day).

The protocol that she has been following as described in Margaret’s Corner blog, is the protocol used by the curcumin-myeloma clinical trial (2007) at the MD Anderson Cancer Research Centre, Houston, Texas.

Eight years down the line her cancer count is stable and not causing any more damage. As a result, her case was published in the British Medical Journal in April 2017 — Long Term Stabilisation of Myeloma with Curcumin. Subsequently, in May 2017, the BBC Radio 4 Food Programme in their Programme on Turmeric interviewed Dieneke and her consultant and co-author of the report Prof Jamie Cavenagh (Consultant Haematologist at London’s Barts Hospital ).

So, what is curcumin and why do people not know about this highly beneficial and natural compound?

Turmeric is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant and belongs to the ginger family Zingiberaceae, which is native to tropical Southeast Asia. The east has been reaping the medicinal benefits of this special spice for a long time, but it is fairly new in the west.

Turmeric is known as the “Indian Saffron” with more than 53 different names in Sanskrit. The use of turmeric dates back nearly 4000 years to the Vedic Period in India.

In the last 25 years, there have been more than 3000 publications highlighting the benefits of turmeric, hence proving it’s recognition in modern medicine.

Curcumin and its Benefits

Curcumin is the main active ingredient in Turmeric. It is the main compound that gives Turmeric the bright yellow color along with its healing properties.

Studies have found a strong link between curcumin and improved health. The therapeutic use of curcumin is linked to many diseases.

Turmeric is Anti-inflammatory

One of the most researched properties of curcumin is its anti-inflammatory activity. Long-lasting or out of control inflammation is one of the main causes of many health-related problems. These include painful conditions like arthritis, heart diseases, obesity, etc.

Curcumin is a powerful anti-oxidant. But, the content of curcumin in turmeric is not sufficient. To gain the benefits of curcumin, the food source is not enough. To gain the full benefits of curcumin opting for a supplement is wise.

Turmeric aids in digestion

Turmeric works as a cholagouge. It stimulates bile production in the liver and encourages the gallbladder to release bile into the digestive tract. Bile then helps in breaking down and digesting the fats in our foods.

Fats play a vital role in our body. Fats keep our eyes, brain, and heart-healthy. It is also used in the production of hormones like testosterone and oestrogen. We also need fat for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, like Vitamin A, D, E and K.

Turmeric also protects the liver. The liver converts food into energy — making it one of the most important organs in the body. Studies have shown that curcumin protects against liver diseases and helps in detoxification.

Conclusion

Curcumin has received worldwide attention for its multiple health benefits, which appear to act primarily through its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

The benefits of curcumin are best achieved when it is combined with piperine (black pepper). Piperine increases the bioavailability of curcumin by 2000%. Combine some black pepper with turmeric for better absorption.

Curcumin is also fat-soluble. To gain the best results, eat it alongside some olive oil or coconut oil.

Research also suggests that curcumin can help in the management of oxidative and inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndrome, arthritis, anxiety, and hyperlipidemia. It may also help in the management of exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness, thus enhancing recovery and subsequent performance in physically active people.

In addition, a relatively low dose can provide health benefits for people that do not have diagnosed health conditions.

How to Increase your turmeric intake

Add it to your food (you can add a pinch or two of ground turmeric to your smoothie, toss some fresh vegetables in turmeric and a dash of olive oil or smash avocado with turmeric and chili flakes and use it as a spread).
Add it to curries or a tsp to your stir fry dish.
Add it to your scrambled eggs.
Add it in your soups.
Make some turmeric tea.
Make these turmeric gummies for cold and flu.