Turmeric has a lengthy and interesting history as a medicinal substance, coloring agent, and as a common household spice. Turmeric essential oil can be described as an exemplary natural health agent. This is because it possesses some interesting and very promising anti-cancer effects.
This should not come as a surprise, as turmeric is known to have at least twenty molecules with antibiotic properties. Fourteen molecules in turmeric have been identified as cancer preventatives, and twelve molecules are anti-tumor and twelve molecules are anti-inflammatory. Turmeric has at least ten different antioxidants. The benefits of turmeric stem from its alkaloids, phenols, and vitamins that all promote good health.
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Turmeric oil is quite similar to turmeric powder, as it is a potent anti-worm, antiviral, anti-parasitic, anti-fungal, antimicrobial, antibacterial and anti-allergic. Furthermore, it is a strong balancer and relaxant. Ayurvedic medicine believes that the energizing herb can support the imbalance experienced in Kapha body type.
9 Important Turmeric Essential Oil Benefits
It is because of the numerous beneficial components of turmeric that turmeric essential oil is associated with an array of health benefits. The following are the notable ways by which turmeric essential oil can improve an individual’s health:
Colon Cancer
The Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture at Kyoto University in Japan conducted a study in 2013 that indicated the aromatic turmerone (ar-turmerone) and curcumin, which is the main active ingredient, contained in turmeric essential oil both showed the capacity to fight colon cancer. The tests were done on animal models. This was a promising discovery, especially for human beings who have been diagnosed with colon cancer. When turmerone and curcumin were combined and administered orally at doses that were both high and low, it stopped the formation of tumors.
Researchers concluded that turmerone is a novel candidate for the prevention of colon cancer following a publication in BioFactors. In addition, researchers believe that the combination of curcumin and turmerone is a powerful way to prevent inflammation that is associated with colon cancer.
Neurologic Diseases
Reputable studies indicate that turmerone is an important bioactive compound in turmeric essential oil. This is because it inhibits the activation of microglia. Microglia can be defined as a kind of cell that is located over the spinal cord and brain. Usually, the activation of microglia is a strong indication of brain disease.
This is why the fact that there is a compound that can stop the harmful cell activation that is contained in turmeric essential oil is quite helpful because the information can be applied in both the prevention and the treatment of brain disease.
A study performed on animal subjects indicated that aromatic turmerone can also cause a rapid increase in the number of neural stem cells both in vivo and vitro. Aromatic turmerone contained in turmeric essential oil is thought to be a potential natural way by which to support regeneration required for improvement of neurologic diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, spinal cord injury, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Epilepsy
Turmeric essential oil is believed to be able to treat epilepsy. This is because its sesquiterpenoids and anticonvulsant properties were previously indicated in both mouse and zebrafish models of seizures that were induced chemically.
Research that was conducted more recently in 2013 has indicated that there are anticonvulsant properties in aromatic turmerone within the acute seizure models performed on mice. Furthermore, turmerone was successful in modulating the expression patterns of two genes in zebrafish that are seizure-related.
Arthritis And Joint Issues
Turmeric was traditionally used in both Indian and Chinese Ayurvedic medicine in the treatment of arthritis. This is because the active components in turmeric are able to block inflammatory enzymes and cytokines. This is the main reason why it is referred to as one of the best essential oils available on the market today for the treatment of arthritis.
Studies also indicate that turmeric has the ability to decrease stiffness, inflammation, and pain associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. A study that was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry carefully evaluated turmeric essential oil’s anti-arthritic effects and established that its oral administration at a dose that corresponds to 5,000 milligrams daily in human beings showed an anti-inflammatory effect that was modest on animal subjects’ joints.
Liver Health
Turmeric is renowned the world over for its potency in improving the health of the liver. The liver is considered to be a very vital detoxifying organ, thus its condition has an effect on the whole body. Numerous reputable studies have indicated that turmeric is indeed hepatoprotective, i.e. protective of the liver.
This is partly because of the anti-inflammatory activity of turmeric. BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine recently published some research that was particularly focused on methotrexate (MTX). Methotrexate is basically an antimetabolite that is widely utilized in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer. The comprehensive study indicated that turmeric assisted in the protection of the liver from liver toxicity induced by MTX.
Turmeric was found to act as a preventative liver cleanse that is effective. Turmeric was also found to be incredible by the fact that it could offer protection to the liver from the harmful effects of such a strong chemical.
Furthermore, studies performed on animals have indicated an increase in the antioxidant enzymes in the serum and blood of subjects that had turmeric oil administered to them. Turmeric oil also indicated a great effect on antioxidant enzymes found in the liver tissues of mice after a treatment duration of 30 days.
All these discoveries combined are what contributes to the reasons why researchers believe that turmeric can help in both the treatment and prevention of liver disease.
Breast Cancer
The Journal of Cellular Biochemistry published research findings that indicated aromatic turmerone in turmeric essential oil actively inhibits the undesirable enzymatic expression and activity of COX-2 and MMP-9 found in human breast cancer cells.
In addition, turmerone greatly inhibited invasion, migration, as well as colony formation that is TPA-induced in the cells of human breast cancer. This finding is very is very significant, as the components of essential oil have the ability to inhibit the capacity of TPAs.
Leukemia Cells
The International Journal of Molecular Medicine published a study that was interested in the effects of aromatic turmeric when it is isolated from turmeric of the human leukemia cell lines’ DNA. The research established that turmerone was responsible for the selective induction of programmed cell death in the human leukemia HL-60 and Molt 4B cells.
Unfortunately, the turmerone failed to possess a similar positive effect on the cancer cells of the human cells. Nonetheless, it is promising research for ways to help fight leukemia naturally in the future.
Depression And Anxiety
Turmeric essential oil is believed to be a potent balancer and relaxant. Studies indicate that it is effective in fighting against two major mood disorders, anxiety and depression. This means that it can improve positive feelings and mood.
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study comprising of 56 individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorders was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders in 2014 had interesting results. They indicated that the supplementation with BCM-95 curcumin was successful in decreasing the overall symptoms associated with depression.
It also functioned as an anti-anxiety agent when it was administered over a duration of 8 weeks. The manufacture of BCM-95 curcumin is through the synergic combination of turmeric essential oil and curcumin, but without any synthetic additives.
The Common Cold
The anti-inflammatory ability of turmeric essential oil is very useful with regard to improving nasal congestion that works in tandem with the common cold. To get the benefits, all you have to do is to add a few drops of turmeric oil to a diffuser bowl of hot water and quickly inhale the vapors in order to alleviate a stuffy nose. Furthermore, when turmeric essential oil is inhaled, it can help in fighting germs that are responsible for causing colds.
Plant Origin And Chemical Composition
Turmeric, also known as Curcuma longa, can be defined as a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the ginger family (Zingiberacea). The plant can grow up to a height of approximately 3 feet and is characterized by yellow flowers. It has bright orange roots and a thin skin that is brownish in color. It is native to Indonesia and Southern India, where it is cultivated in both the mainland as well as the islands of the Indian Ocean.
Turmeric essential oil is a derivative of the plant’s underground roots, or tuberous rhizomes. It is typically obtained from the plant’s roots via steam or CO2 distillation, with the help of solvent hexane. It is yellow in color and has a characteristic sweet and woody scent.
The components that are found in abundance in turmeric essential oil are curlone, a-turmerone, and aromatic turmerone. Some of its other constituents comprise of a-phellandrene, eucalyptol, and caryophyllene. These are the components that make turmeric essential oil very potent with regard to fighting off an array of health concerns in a natural way.
History And Interesting Facts
Turmeric’s use dates back to nearly 4,000 years ago in the Vedic culture in India. It was mainly used in cooking for religious ceremonies. It reached China, East Africa, and West Africa between 700 AD – 1200 AD and then in Jamaica sometime in the 18th century.
The plant was referred to as the Indian saffron in the Middle Ages due to its orange-yellow color.
Turmeric is associated with a long history of medicinal use in South Asia, according to Unani and Ayurvedic systems and Sanskrit medical treatises. It was traditionally used as a natural skin care so as to discourage facial hair in women, acne, and as an antiseptic.
How To Use Turmeric Essential Oil
Turmeric essential oil is readily available in online stores and health stores at very affordable rates. Individuals who are preparing homemade aromatherapy products should know that turmeric essential oil is known to blend nicely with cinnamon, cardamom essential oils, vanilla, ylang ylang, grapefruit, blood orange, cinnamon, and ginger.
Turmeric essential oil should be used as follows:
- Diffuse or inhale 2 – 3 drops of the oil for aromatherapy and stress relief.
- Create a massage oil by careful diluting five drops of turmeric essential oil with five drops of a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, and apply to external body parts to relieve pain and inflammation.
- A single drop of turmeric essential oil should be added to water or mixed with a teaspoon of smoothie or honey for internal use.
Turmeric essential oil should always be stored in a cool and dark place.
Side Effects
The potential side effects of turmeric essential oil include the following:
- It can stain the skin and clothes.
- It can make the human skin more sensitive to UV light.
Turmeric essential oil should only be used after consultation with a qualified health practitioner.
Turmeric Essential Oil Conclusion
Turmeric essential oil is an effective and natural way of fighting a number of ailments apart from cancer, as shown by the above insightful information.
