Turmeric-A Nice Spice that Benefits People with Neuropathy
We often comb through health magazines and articles to find effective ways to keep us healthy and fight certain diseases. Some regimens may be quite involved and complicated. Here is a simple solution that you only need to travel to your spice rack in your kitchen. I am talking about called turmeric. Turmeric is a culinary spice, frequently used in Indian curries. Used as a both medicine and food for centuries, scientific studies are indicating that turmeric is a promising nutritional supplement that is effective in treating many disease processes. The National Institutes of Health lists 24 current studies on the effects of turmeric-which is closely related to the spice ginger. These studies suggest that turmeric (the active ingredient of this spice is called curcumin), has many beneficial health properties. The numerous studies indicate that turmeric has a wide variety of medical uses which are attributed to antitumor, antioxidant, anti-arthritic, anti-ischemic and anti-inflammatory properties.  As an anti-ischemic agent, turmeric can help increase blood supply to the peripheral nerves. Lack of blood circulation to the nerves in the feet and the hands are known contributing factors for causing peripheral neuropathy. Turmeric also acts as an anti-inflammatory which is a contributory cause of peripheral and diabetic neuropathy. A recent article the American Pain Management Journal links peripheral pain to small fiber nerve inflammation small nerve fiber inflammation. Researchers have found that turmeric works by inhibiting several different molecules that are involved inflammation including COX-02 (Celebrex® is a prescription Cox-2 inhibitor), nitric oxide and prostaglandins. As a natural ingredient turmeric is safe and non-toxic. Neuropathy pain, known as neuropathic pain, does not always translate as pain per se.  Many people with peripheral and diabetic neuropathy describe neuropathy as burning, tingling, numbness, electric shocks, numbness or “pins and needle sensations.” Studies, attributed to its antioxidant properties, have shown that turmeric is a natural pain reliever-which can be effective in treating the discomfort of neuropathy.  Besides benefiting people with peripheral neuropathy, turmeric can be helpful in a variety of other medical conditions including:
 

•    Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory that has been shown to relieve pain for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
 

•    Numerous studies of turmeric indicate that this spice can prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease
A study at Kansas State University Research Department indicated that turmeric can help prevent certain cancers
 

•    A study from the University of South Dakota indicates that pre-treatment with turmeric makes cancer cells more vulnerable to chemotherapy and radiation therapy
 

•    Animal studies at the University of Texas indicate that turmeric inhibits the growth of skin cancer-melanoma and also slows the spread of breast cancer into the lungs.
 

•    Turmeric seems to delay liver damage that can eventually lead to cirrhosis
 

Safety of Turmeric: Turmeric is a safe food spice that has been used especially in India for thousands of years.

Contraindications: Turmeric should not be used by people with gallstones or bile obstruction. Though turmeric is often used by pregnant women, it is important to consult with a doctor before doing so as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant.
 

The best ways to get turmeric in your diet: As a seasoning on foods: You can add turmeric in to wide variety of Asian dishes like Thai and Indian curry and Malaysian and Indonesian style dishes. It can also be added to your morning omelets.

Another excellent way to ingest turmeric is through various tea blends.
 

Turmeric capsules: Oral turmeric capsules are an easy way to obtain your daily source of this beneficial spice. Common daily dosages range between 400mg and 500 mg.