Turmeric has been the subject of nearly 6,000 peer-reviewed and published biomedical studies. Researchers have been studying the powerful spice for years. Thanks to piles of research, scientists have come to the conclusion that turmeric has some major health benefits for the body and brain. Its active ingredient – curcumin – is so powerful that turmeric can be used to replace many dangerous medications. It serves as a safer, more natural options sans harmful side effects.
Here are seven drugs you can replace with turmeric:
1. Liptor/Atorvastatin (Cholesterol Medication)
In a 2008 study, researchers found that a standard preparation of curcuminoids from turmeric performed better than the drug atorvastatin or Lipitor. Turmeric was more effective at reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes.
2. Corticosteroids (Steroid Medications)
A study published in Pytotherapy Research found that curcumin, the primary polyphenol in turmeric, was able to better manage an inflammatory eye disease compared to steroids. Another study published in Critical Care Medicine found that curcumin was also more effective than steroids at regulating inflammatory genes.
3. Prozac/Fluoxetine & Imipramine (Antidepressants)
According to a 2011 study published in Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica, cucumin was more effective than both Prozac and Imipramine at reducing depressive behavior in an animal model.
4. Aspirin (Blood Thinner)
Studies have shown that curcumic contains anti-platelet effects, which indicates that it may be a safer and more natural treatment option than aspirin, for patients who are prone to vascular thrombosis.
5. Metformin (Diabetes Drug)
In a 2009 study, researchers found that curcumin is able to activate AMPK, which increases glucose uptake. According to the study, curcumin was found to be 500 times to 100,000 times more potent than metaformin in activating AMPK.
6. Oxaliplatin (Chemotherapy Drug)
A study published in the International Journal of Cancer in 2009 found that curcumin was more effective as an antiproliferative agent in colorectal cell lines, compared to the chemotherapy drug oxaliplatin. Other studies have shown that curcumin is able to target several different types of cancer, including lung cancer, melanoma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and gastrointestinal cancers.
7. Anti-inflammatory Drugs
According to a 2004 study published in the journal Oncogene, curcumin was found to be an effective alternative to many anti-inflammatory drugs, thanks to its powerful natural anti-inflammatory properties. The study showed that curcumin may be used instead of:
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
- Sulindac
- Naproxen
- Diclofenac
- Celecoxib
- Tamoxifen
- Phenylbutazone