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Turmeric
May
Fight
Multiple
Sclerosis
Preliminary
studies
in mice
suggest
that
curcumin,
a
compound
found in
the
curry
spice
turmeric,
may
block
the
progression
of
multiple
sclerosis.
Researcher
Dr.
Chandramohan
Natarajan
of
Vanderbilt
University
found
that
mice
specially
bred to
develop
an
MS-like
illness
called
experimental
autoimmune
encephalomyelitis
(EAE)
showed
little
or no
signs of
disease
symptoms
after
being
injected
with
curcumin,
while
animals
without
the
treatment
went on
to
severe
paralysis.
(EAE is
an
autoimmune
condition
used by
researchers
as a
model
for
multiple
sclerosis
because
it also
results
in the
slow
erosion
of
myelin.)
Turmeric
May Help
Prevent
Arthritis
An
ancient
Asian
spice
may hold
the key
to
preventing
rheumatoid
arthritis.
A
University
of
Arizona
researcher
has
found
that
turmeric,
known
for
giving
curry
its
yellow
color,
is
effective
in
reducing
flare-ups
and
staving
off
rheumatoid
arthritis.
The
bitter
spice
acts as
an anti-inflammatory.The
three-year
study by
Associate
Professor
Janet
Funk
appears
in the
November
issue of
the
Arthritis
and
Rheumatism
journal.
Funk
isn't
ready to
recommend
that
people
rush out
and buy
turmeric
supplements.
More
research
is
needed.
The
turmeric
has been
tested
in
animals
but
still
needs to
go
through
clinical
testing,
which
could
take
another
five
years.
If you use herbs, do so
responsibly. Consult your doctor about your health conditions and use of
herbal supplements. Herbs may be harmful if taken for the wrong
conditions, used in excessive amounts, combined with prescription drugs
or alcohol, or used by persons who don't know what they are doing. Just
because an herbal remedy is natural, does not mean it is safe! There are
herbs that are poisonous such as Poison Hemlock, Jimson weed, and many
more.
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