The Evidence for Herbal and Botanical Remedies, Part 2

Cancer. There has been a great deal of research on turmeric’s anti-cancer properties, but clinical evidence is lacking. In vitro evidence, animal studies, and small clinical trials suggest that curcumin may help prevent or treat several types of cancers, but the overall evidence is poor. Nonetheless, curcumin and turmeric have been or are currently being evaluated for the treatment or prevention of prostate, liver, breast, skin, gynecologic, hematologic, pulmonary, thymic, bone, brain, and colon cancer. ^13-18

Oral submucous fibrosis . A small randomized trial found improvement in oral function with curcumin lozenges, when compared to placebo, indicating that turmeric may hold promise as a treatment of oral submucous fibrosis. ¹⁹

Uveitis. A small pilot study of 32 patients suggested that oral curcumin may be as effective as corticosteroids for uveitis. ²⁰

Heart disease . Curcumin may have a cardiovascular protective role, as it has been shown to reduce atherosclerosis, but a reduction in myocardial infarction or stroke has not been documented. ²¹

Alzheimer’s dementia . Animal studies have shown a reduction in amyloid plaque formation with curcumin. ²²

Adverse effects (and precautions)

Turmeric in food is considered safe. A variety of animal and human studies have also indicated that curcumin is safe and well tolerated, even at very high doses. ¹³ However, taking large amounts of turmeric for long periods of time could cause stomach upset and gastric ulcers. In addition, patients with gallstones or bile obstruction should use it with caution due to increased bile production. ⁷

Because turmeric may lower blood sugar levels, patients with diabetes should monitor for hypoglycemia when using turmeric in combination with diabetic medications. Similarly, those with bleeding disorders taking blood thinners should use turmeric and curcumin with caution, because it can inhibit platelet aggregation. ²³

Although it is safe to eat foods with turmeric during pregnancy, pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take turmeric supplements, as the safety of large doses in pregnancy is unknown.

The bottom line

Turmeric/curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties and may be useful as an adjunct for ulcerative colitis and to improve the symptoms of OA. It may also have anti-carcinogenic properties, although definitive data are lacking. Those with a history of gastrointestinal conditions such as gastric ulcer, patients taking blood thinners, and patients with diabetes who are prone to low blood sugar levels should use turmeric/curcumin with caution.

Chamomile

Overview

Chamomile, a member of the Asteraceae/Compositae family, is one of the oldest herbal medicines. It has been used for hay fever, inflammation, muscle spasms, menstrual disorders, insomnia, ulcers, wounds, gastrointestinal disorders, rheumatic pain, and hemorrhoids. Essential oils of chamomile are used extensively in cosmetics and aromatherapy. Many different preparations have been developed, the most popular being herbal tea. ²⁴

A controlled clinical trial of chamomile extract suggested that it may have modest anxiolytic activity in patients with mild to moderate generalized anxiety disorder.

Individuals with a hypersensitivity to plants of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family such as ragweed ( Ambrosia spp. ), marigold flower ( Calendula officinalis ), and chrysanthemum ( Chrysanthemum spp. ) may show a similar reaction to chamomile. ²⁵