Turmeric and Multiple Sclerosis why this herb is important?
Common questions about Turmeric and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). And find out why this herb is so important, it may be the key to your health.
Multiple Sclerosis is often thought of as a rare disease, and relatively speaking it may be. To the 2.5 million people worldwide who suffer from the disease, it can be a source of daily pain and discomfort. For those that may not know, Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, is a degenerative disease that strikes the nervous system. Specifically, it produces a breakdown in communication between the brain and other vital organs. Depending on the person, this effect can be mild or painfully severe. This situation is thought to be caused by deposits of plaque that form on nerves. This plaque is thought to erode a neuro-protective substance known as myelin. Once this myelin has been destroyed, the door is open to a host of strange neurological effects
Symptoms of MS will vary from person to person, but some of the most common effects include:
- Fatigue.
- Dizziness.
- Blurred vision.
- Loss of the ability to talk.
- Loss of basic motor skills.
- Inability to walk or to write.
- Pain.
- Mood disturbances.
- Loss of memory.
- Loss of bladder control.
- Heat and cold sensitivity.
That is quite a list of symptoms. At the current time, the exact cause of these symptoms is still being investigated. Some researchers believe it to be an expression of some kind of autoimmune response. Others believe that it is caused mostly by external factors. While the debate goes on, people continue to suffer from its debilitating effects. But there is good news on the horizon. Turmeric that is showing promise as a way to battle this dangerous disease, but more human trials are needed before we can firmly establish exactly how curcumin works to slow down the progression of MS.
Benefits of turmeric and Multiple Sclerosis
Turmeric is also widely known as Indian Saffron. It is a delicious spice, derived from the root of the Curcuma longa plant that is indigenous to middle Asia. It is known for its pungent taste and brilliant yellow colors, both a result of the curcumin that is its main ingredient. Curcumin is thought to have many neuro-protective effects, and it has shown promise in battling illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease. One of the ways that it accomplishes this in the case of MS is by preventing the breakdown of the protective myelin sheathing that is the putative culprit..
How is it thought to do this? Turmeric tends to interact with a wide variety of bodily chemicals such as enzymes, hormones, and other proteins. One kind of protein that is involved in myelin breakdown is known as il-12. Research has suggested that curcumin has a role in blocking the manufacture of this protein, thereby conserving the myelin and preventing related symptoms. This is one if the truly great benefits of Turmeric for multiple sclerosis. Research suggests that many of the compounds in turmeric (curcumin) may help block the inflammatory damage associated with MS.
Turmeric and multiple sclerosis
Turmeric and multiple sclerosis reseach studies are promising. Studies on turmeric compounds have mostly been done on curcumin. Evidence suggests that this ability, as well as its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, could provide additional benefit to MS treatments. Animal and lab research demonstrate curcumin’s possitive effects against the inflammatory proteins and immune system cells that cause demyelination and brain cell damage. Curcumin promotes antioxidant and anti-inflammatory proteins, gets rid of free radicals, helps repair the blood brain barrier and helps reduce the toxic accumulation of iron in the brain. And helps repair the blood brain barrier to reduce the toxic accumulation of iron in the brain.
Modeling turmeric and multiple sclerosis in laboratory animals, mice given curcumin in their diet during an active periode of the disease and recovered faster than the untreated control group. Other animal studies show that curcumin treatment reduces the severity of MS symptoms. Curcumin is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and get into the areas affected by multiple sclerosis. However further studies are needed to assess current outcome indicators.