Re: Turmeric
 

I am thinking of taking tumeric. Any side effects I might want to be aware of? I read that it may possibly cause slow clotting or bleeding. I had that problem with the baby aspirin so now I take it every other day instead of daily. (problems with bruising) For that reason I want to take tumeric, but am a bit hesitant.

Elaine, you had mentioned milk thistle in an earlier post on this thread. I had read that milk thistle can mimic estrogen and therefore should be possibly avoided if the breast cancer tumor was hormone sensitive. Comments?

Re: Turmeric
 

Harrie,
There are a few things to be aware of with Tumeric. You are right that Tumeric acts as a mild blood thinner so if you happen to take Coumadin you should speak with your physician. Here is a great resource complete with studies.

http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/turmeric

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Turmeric

Healthcare ProfessionalConsumer

Scientific Name
Common Name
Clinical Summary
Food Sources
Purported Uses
Constituents
Mechanism of Action
Pharmacokinetics
Warnings
Contraindications
Adverse Reactions
Herb-Drug Interactions
Herb Lab Interactions
Literature Summary and Critique
References
Scientific Name
Curcuma longa, Curcuma domestica
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Common Name
Indian saffron, curcumin, jiang huang

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Clinical Summary
Turmeric is a plant that is native to South Asia but is cultivated in tropical areas around the world. The rhizome is used as a spice in regional cuisines, and as coloring agent in food and cosmetics for its yellow-orange color. It is also used in traditional medicine for circulation and digestion. The extract is marketed as a dietary supplement to improve memory, for arthritis, and for cancer prevention. The active constituents are turmerone oil and water-soluble curcuminoids, mainly curcumin which is the focus of most research. In vitro studies suggest that curcumin, the principal bioactive ingredient of turmeric, acts as a weak phytoestrogen (1), and exhibits neuroprotective (2), choleretic (3), anti-inflammatory (4), immunomodulatory (5), anti-proliferative (3), and chemopreventive effects (6) (7) (8). Curcumin, its analogs, and liposomal formulations have also produced chemosensitizing (9) (10) (11) and radiosensitizing effects (12) (13).

Re: Turmeric
 

I have a list of foods that I try to eat on a regular basis, including the cabbage family, as mentioned, bright veggies, berries, legumes, fish with omega 3, cooked tomatoes, garlic, turmeric, etc. On days where I do not have certain foods as part of meals, I do the following, e.g., 1/4 cup of cooked strained tomatoes, a spoonful turmeric, some pepper and a tsp of garlic, minced or strained. I mix it all together, and eat it like I would a cold soup. Tastes not bad, and makes me feel I am helping. I prefer getting the "good stuff" from foods, not supplements, with only several exceptions, eg Vit. D.

Re: Turmeric
 

Hema takes her turmeric in two different ways.The most used is to add turmeric powder to milk (a little effort is needed to get used to the taste) or seperated buttermilk/curd.She takes turmeric powder on alternate days with her seperated butter milk.
The other method is to pickle fresh turmeric in lime juice.We have some pickle also.
So far there has been no side effects.In our part of India turmeric is a household remedy for anti septic and burns.