An estimated 75% of deaths globally are expected to be attributable to chronic disease within the next four years. Trillions of dollars are spent in the US each year on treating chronic illnesses and developing new therapies. But a large portion of our healthcare system is dependent on prescription drugs, which can have harmful side effects like mental illness, weakened immunity, and neurological issues.
To help keep chronic illness at bay, people are turning to other sources for a cure. Aside from exercise, rest, and a healthy diet, turmeric has been linked to healing illnesses. Many recent studies have proven turmeric is as effective as 34 prescription medications without resulting in side effects.
The active component in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin exerts strong anti-inflammatory effects, which are quite protective against some chronic diseases. Additionally, curcumin has anti-cancer effects independently from its anti-inflammatory effects and therefore has been heavily researched to treat diseases.
Health Benefits of Turmeric
The yellowish orange pigment of turmeric is more potent than its volatile oil. This is the curcumin portion of the spice and is known to be the primary pharmacological agent in. Curcumin, unlike other medicinal drugs, produces no toxicity. This makes turmeric provide an inexpensive and well-tolerated, yet effective treatment for chronic diseases.
How to Take Turmeric
Using extra turmeric on food seems like the simple way to add more of this spice to the diet, but it might not be the most effective. One teaspoon of ground turmeric powder has about 45 mg of curcumin, but the research conducted on the use of turmeric uses doses that exceed 100 mg and may reach up to 3000 mg each day. This means that the easiest way to get effective results is by ingesting turmeric in a non-food form. Instead, turmeric can be taken in supplement form, a liquid form, or liposomal form.
Drugs to Swap with Turmeric
Depression Medication
Prozac, Sarafem, Fluoxetine, and Tofranil can all be swapped out with turmeric. To make this exchange, take 500 mg of curcumin in capsules twice a day. This will relieve side effects that the drugs cause such as joint or muscle pain, mood changes, anxiety, restlessness, and skin inflammation.
Diabetes Medication
Glucophage, Glumetza, and metformin can be substituted for 250 mg of curcumin with food. This can help to avoid side effects such as painful urination, difficulty breathing, muscle pain, depression, and chest pain.
Medications for Inflammation
Advil, Ibuprofen, Ecotrin, aspirin, Clinoril, Aleve, Naprosyn, Naproxen, Anaprox, Indocin, Indocin SR, Tivorbex, Voltaren, diclofenac, Cataflam, Cambia, Decadron, Dexamethasone, and Celebrex. Taking 500 mg of curcumin in a capsule with food twice a day can help avoid side effects such as dyspepsia, heart disease, renal failure, hypersensitivity, and seizures.
Cholesterol
Lipitor can be swapped with 500 mg of curcumin with food each day. This will help to avoid a weakened immune system, inflammation, and kidney failure.
Peptic Ulcer and Gastritis
Prilosec, Prevacid, Aciphex, Nexium, and Protonix can all be substituted with 300mg of turmeric with food. The side effects of these medications that will be avoided are bloody urine, unusual bleeding or bruising, joint pain, and stomach pain.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Taking 360 mg of curcumin in a tablet can replace Azasan, Purixan, Humira, and corticosteroids. This will help avoid body aches, difficulty breathing, stomach pain, dehydration, chest pain, and bleeding gums.
Alzheimer’s
Medications used for memory loss that is caused by Alzheimer’s include Aricept, Razadyne, and Exelon. These can be switched with 100mg of curcumin with food to avoid nervousness, vomiting, weight loss, joint pain, and changes in vision.
For all of these dosages, make sure to take a liquid form of turmeric that includes liposomal technology. If you opt to take a capsule, be sure it is bound to fat so it can get absorbed.
Switching out prescription medications for turmeric is safe and effective. This is a great way to avoid unwanted side effects of harsh drugs and use a less expensive remedy that works with your body.