Pain, Inflamation, Diabetes?----Try Turmeric

“Time is an herb that cures all Diseases.”

 Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Poor Richard's Almanac

Ben Franklin was thinking more about the passage of time than natural healing when he wrote this quote. Yet there is a spice that does as least as well as the passage of time, a spice that is able to help with so many diseases: turmeric.

Turmeric is a member of the ginger family and is known as a sacred herb with remarkable healing properties since its first mention in the Atharvaveda 6000 years ago. Today, India’s Ayurvedic healers consider it to be a profoundly balancing and deeply purifying spice.

A World Wide Healing Tradition

From Hawaii to the rain forests of Central & South America, in China, Africa, Jamaica, Japan, Thailand and South East Asia-turmeric has been used as a valuable traded good for dyeing cloth, flavoring food and as a soil building crop.  Healers applied it to the body for itching, skin ulcers & wounds as well as to keep the skin youthful looking. It has been consumed for headaches, inflammation, weight loss, jaundice, fluid retention, diarrhea, eye conditions, ringworm, fertility issues, flatulence, colic, colds and fevers, parasites, leprosy, cancer and respiratory problems, as a children's remedy and to ease childbirth.

Today its use is widespread and now includes treatment for cataracts, liver diseases, atherosclerosis, Crohn’s disease and cystic fibrosis. Numerous studies have confirmed it’s value as a potential therapy for Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.1 

Turmeric Is Unique

Turmeric blocks the inflammatory enzymes that produce pain, swelling and inflammation as effectively as today’s hydrocortisone. It can actually slow the brain changes of early Alzheimer’s disease. As it moves through the blood stream turmeric normalizes insulin levels in type 2 diabetes and helps to balance blood lipids.2

Turmeric is rich in antioxidants. It is a good source of vitamin C, magnesium, fiber, vitamin B6, iron, potassium and manganese. Combining turmeric with black pepper, ginger or garlic enriches it’s ability to support your immune system and reduce inflammation.

Start Out With a Great Curry

Indian curries flavored with turmeric, ginger, black pepper and other spices are delicious and can be a fun way to enjoy turmeric. By itself it can taste a little bitter if you are not used to it.  

At home - you can  use also use turmeric for musculoskeletal  pain, feeling run down or to soothe your digestive system. It is considered very safe but if you are taking any prescription medication check with your MD before you try turmeric. Also its brilliant yellow color can stain your clothes so be careful with it.

How Much Turmeric to Use?

Drink  1-2 cups of Turmeric tea a day-it’s similar to chai in flavor but does not contain any caffeine.  Or you can use 400 mg of powdered turmeric in capsule 3 times a day. These two tea recipes are wonderful:

Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Tea

From littlefig.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/anti-inflammatory-turmeric-tea/‎

32 ozs boiling water

½ Tbsp turmeric powder or 1 thumb size piece of grated turmeric root

1 handful of cilantro chopped

1 clove of garlic peeled and crushed

1TBSP olive oil

2 lemons juiced

5 peppercorns whole

10 drops stevia or 1 2/2 TBSP raw honey

Cayenne pepper to taste

Place all ingredients in boiling water and let steep for 10 minutes then strain and enjoy. 

Turmeric Tea

1 cup almond milk, rice milk or Silk Coconut drink

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp turmeric powdered

¼ tsp powdered ginger

1 tsp honey or a few drops of stevia

Whisk the powdered ingredients thoroughly into to your liquid. Bring  it almost to a boiling point- then turn off flame and let steep for 2 minutes. Strain and enjoy. 

So whether you try a healthful Indian meal, add turmeric to your cooking or drink some turmeric tea….  I invite you to check this out for yourself.  Give it a try for a few weeks I‘d love to hear about your experiences.

References:

1.James A. (Jim) Duke.“The Garden Pharmacy:Turmeric, the Queen of COX-2 Inhibitors: Alternative and Complementary Therapies. October 2007, 13(5): 229-234. doi:10.1089/act.2007.13503.

2.Skulas-Ray AC, et al "A high antioxidant spice blend attenuates postprandial insulin and triglyceride responses and increases some plasma measures of antioxidant activity in healthy, overweight men" J Nutrition 2011; DOI: 10.3945/jn.111.138966.

 

Who Needs Clinical Detox?

Eliminating Toxins and Detoxing the Body Explained
 There is a difference between eliminating waste from the body and detoxing your body by removing residues of heavy metals, pesticides, petrochemicals etc. An adult eliminates 25 lbs of normal waste each day in the form of urine, intestinal waste, perspiration and gases from the lungs. The urinary system, skin, lungs and intestines are the organs of elimination but they also do a small amount of detoxification.

It is the liver that breaks down the environmental toxins, processing them so they can be safely eliminated. The liver also protects the body from the harmful effects of the partially decomposed toxins.

Detoxification is a sophisticated conversion process which involves enzyme pathways in the liver called Phase 1 and Phase 2.

Phase 1-the transformation process of getting the compounds ready so they can ultimately leave the body safely-begins. As the toxic compounds are converted and changed-- harmful free radical chemicals and other toxic byproducts are released- these have the potential to cause rapid aging, fermentation and disease if they are not neutralized properly and adequately prepared for safe transport out of the body.

Phase 2-protective compounds are attached to the partially broken down toxic elements, free radical chemicals & toxic byproducts. Then protective measures are taken so the body is not harmed as the toxins are removed.

Phase 1 and Phase 2 must work in good balance with each other to be effective.  Once this work is completed the toxins are carried out of the body by the organs of elimination-the intestines, kidneys & bladder, lungs and skin.

It takes a very high level of metabolic energy for the liver to do this job. It is important to eat well and have substantial nutrition with lots of phytonutrients and water for healthy detox to be successful. Phytonutrients are the chemical compounds in fruits and vegetables which assist the liver in the detoxification process. They also keep the enzyme pathways in balance and assist the organs of elimination in getting the toxins out of the body as quickly as possible.

People on a deficient diet or with immune challenges, low energy, fatigue or too much stress may not be able to get rid of these toxins-- so they begin to build up in the body. As the toxins build up in addition to the orginal health challenges the individual's problems are compounded by this toxic burden.

To maintain good vitality, vibrant health and strength it's a good idea to complete a detoxing program on a regular basis.  How often this needs to be done varies greatly depending on one's state of health and their levels of exposure.

Nutritional Support for Detoxification
Fasting has long been touted as a good way to detox. Yet the body must have a high level of energy to detox in a balanced effective manor.  A fairly high degree of metabolic stress occurs during fasting which can actually break down the tissues.

People often feel good from fasting because they are saving energy by not having to digest food. Fasting can be a good way to give the body a rest especially if you are very tired and run down or have been eating unwisely.

Fasting in the traditional sense on water or with juice alone cannot meet the high metabolic demands required to break down toxins and safely get them to leave the body. Instead of fasting --a simple diet with frequent small servings of something known as Medical Foods along with vegetables and fruits, modest amounts of gluten free carbohydrates and healthy fats is ideal for rapid, safe, effective clinical detox.

Medical Foods
Medical Foods are high quality protein and fiber combinations which are non allergenic and require no digestion. They are designed to support the liver and enzyme pathways of detox while supplying high energy levels for good metabolic support and to prevent your  body from being damaged by the release of toxin.

Extracts from pomegranate, water cress, milk thistle, artichoke and green tea combined with B vitamins, amino acids and other forms of liver support offer dynamic protection for the liver as it deals with converting, changing and then releasing  toxic byproducts of the environmental contaminants in the body.

How Long Does it Take to Make a Difference?
It can happen in as little as 10-28 days but an active illness or a state of exhaustion & burn out usually requires a slow gentle approach over a 1-2 month period for most effective detoxification.

Who Needs to Detox?
In our chemically burdened world it is no longer a matter of just eating healthy-- for us to have adequate vibrant energy we must also reduce the toxic load on our bodies. Anyone who has lived on this planet long enough to take in this toxic load whether or not they feel it’s presence in their body is a good candidate for at least a 10 day Clinical Detoxing program. 

Do you just want to clean up a little?
Are you actually suffering with symptoms indicating a need for detoxing?
Do you have a chronic illness?

The goal of Clinical Detox is to heal fully and permanently so you enjoy optimal health for the rest of your life.

For more information on how Clinical Detoxing can help you subscribe to my email in the subscribe box listed below. Ask about Clinical Detox and what types of Medical Foods would work best for your body.