For several thousand years turmeric has been used by alternative medicinal therapies in India and China to treat various ailments. In addition to treating physical health disorders, turmeric has been used to cure diseases related to mental health as well.
The biological name of turmeric is curcuma longa, a plant that grows in India. It is a popular cooking spice which is rich yellow in color. Curcumin, the most active ingredient in turmeric is well known for its therapeutic effects. It is known to have significant potential to treat arthritis, diabetes and several types of cancer.
Depression is not just about feeling blue, rather a serious health condition that can affect your ability to perform routine activities. It can also affect your thought process and confidence levels. According to a popular health publication, depression can affect your sleep cycle, lead to severe changes in eating patterns, cause irritation and decrease energy levels considerably. It can even cause you to lose interest in activities that you once loved doing. The worst part of depression is that it can lower you self confidence and self esteem.
Clinical medicine treats depression using drugs, however drugs can cause side effects when used in the long run. Majority of people who treat depression using antidepressants experience some side effects such as weight gain, sleeping disorders, suicidal thoughts and anxiety. Some people don’t even respond to pharmaceutical drugs that are used to treat depression. Thus it is natural for people to lean towards alternative forms of healing such as yoga, breathing exercises, meditative techniques, lifestyle changes and natural supplements that can provide a holistic cure for depression.
Many tests conducted on animals have demonstrated that turmeric is effective to cure depression. One such study asserts turmeric is effective in reducing symptoms of depression. These results can also be comparable to humans, however specific studies on humans may be more applicable. Few other studies based on animals, states that curcumin present in turmeric has the capability to increase serotonin levels that can reduce depression. In addition to increasing serotonin levels, curcumin was also known to improve the regulation of dopamine that helps to reduce stress and depression. Using a specially formulated curcumin supplement with increased bio-availability, can treat depression better than drugs by obstructing inflammation and stimulating neuro-geneis that aids in development of new neurons in the brain.
Stress causes reduction in the level of a protein named brain-derived neurotrophic factor that helps existing neurons to survive, and curcumin has the potential to reverse this condition.
If you are suffering from depression and looking for natural medicine such as turmeric to treat depression, then it is wise to consult a healthcare specialist before planning to use it as a healthcare supplement. The interaction of turmeric with other drugs and the side effects it may cause based on your specific health condition needs to be analyzed before actually taking the plunge to use turmeric as an alternative medicine.
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