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The superspice that could save us from superbugs
I’m sure that the fact that foods, herbs, and spices can heal us is not news to you.
Nor is it a surprise that some of these natural cures have been proven even more powerful than the drugs we take.
This is especially good news now that the problem of antibiotic resistance has reached epidemic proportions. More and more disease-causing bacteria are immune to our drugs, with no good or safe replacements on the horizon.
That’s why new research into the healing properties of one spice, in particular, is so exciting. This spice has a long, long history of healing, but now it looks like it could also save us from succumbing to the “superbug” infections that kill thousands of people each year…
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Curcumin: the golden spice with amazing powers
Turmeric is at the top of the superfood list, and curcumin is the spicy compound that gives it so many well-documented healing properties.
Research has shown that turmeric has anti-cancer properties. It can improve memory, help manage and reverse prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland), and help control seasonal allergy symptoms.
Turmeric has long been used in Chinese medicine to fight depression, and some research has even shown it to be more effective than Prozac. Turmeric also is known to help control inflammation that leads to heart disease and diabetes.
In a recent study, researchers found that curcumin could stimulate immune cells called macrophages to remove the bacterium that causes tuberculosis from cells into which it had been injected.
But even more exciting, it now appears that this spice could be the thing that saves us from succumbing completely to the antibiotic-resistant superbugs that threaten to overwhelm us.
Curcumin fights a “nightmare bacteria”
Curcumin has already been shown to inhibit a range of common and virulent bacteria and viruses, including:
- E. coli
- Helicobacter Pylori ( a common cause of peptic ulcers)
- HIV virus
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Hepatitis C virus
Now, research has shown that curcumin could also fight one of the most antibiotic-resistant bacteria out there.
The CDC calls methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) a “nightmare bacteria.” First discovered in 1961, it is now resistant to all of our most common antibiotics, including methicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin, and oxacillin.
Researchers at Wonkwang University in Korea built on their previous findings which showed that curcumin acts in synergy with certain antibiotics, meaning that it strengthens their effects and helps the drugs work, without any added side effects.
In their most recent study, the team focused on the deadly MSRA bacterium. They wanted to see if this same synergistic activity could occur to help fight this antibiotic-resistant strain.
What they found was that, in the presence of curcumin and antibiotics, the cell walls of the bacterium became more permeable, and that growth of the bacterium was inhibited by at least 59 percent.
The researchers concluded that “…the mechanism of antimicrobial activity of curcumin may be potentially invaluable.”
How to use turmeric
Turmeric is an Indian spice, so incorporating it into curries and other spicy dishes comes easy. But there are other ways to include it in your diet:
- Add it to rice
- Toss it with cooked vegetables
- Use it in soups
- Make Golden Milk
Of course, like many healthy food compounds, curcumin can also be found in supplement form. About 2000 mg daily is the most you should use. For controlling hay fever and rhinitis, 500 mg daily is recommended.
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A few precautions
As with many natural substances, there are a few precautions to be aware of.
Blood thinning. Turmeric is a blood thinner, so if you are taking blood thinning medication such as Coumadin, or if you are using aspirin for blood thinning, consult your doctor before using turmeric.
Stomach upset. Turmeric can upset some people’s stomachs and can aggravate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Again, consult with your doctor before using turmeric.
Sources:
- Could Turmeric Save Us From The CDC’s ‘Nightmare Bacteria’? — greenmedinfo.com
- CDC’s ‘Bacteria of Nightmares’: A Monstrosity Created by Outdated Theory and Practice — greenmedinfo.com
- Curcumin Reverse Methicillin Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus — Molecules
- Antibacterial Action of Curcumin against Staphylococcus aureus: A Brief Review — Journal of Tropical Medicine
- Synergistic antibacterial effect of curcumin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus — Phytomedicine
By Joyce Hollman
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