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The Wonders of Turmeric: Giving Your Defenses a Boost

5 min read time Jan 27, 2025

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Well, here we are at the end of the rainbow. You have made it to week five of our New Year series, which discusses foods and herbs that nourish the immune system.

As we get started, we invite you to review our year-end article reviewing excellent topics on setting your natural food and wellness goals for the new year:

How to set your natural food and wellness goals for the new year

Also, to review the first four articles in this series about supporting a healthy immune system, go here:

Let’s get started.

The Nourishing Magic of Turmeric and Curcumin

Today’s final article will discuss turmeric/curcumin’s nourishing properties, potential mechanisms of action, and effects on the immune system.

We will also discuss the best way to use this miraculous food known as the king of anti-inflammatories in the world of natural medicine.

However, what you will learn may surprise you. So, let's begin.

Since you don’t have to read this series in any specific order, and today’s article may be your first, here is some crucial information regarding the medicinal qualities of herbs and food.

The part of the plant used is vital when determining the action we seek from that plant.
Many medicinal plants have parts that can be used as individual entities for acute and chronic illness stages, especially when combined with other supportive herbs.
When both parts are combined and used as a whole herb, the same herb can take on a tonic role.
Sometimes, determining whether a substance is used as a medicinal or tonic is as simple as selecting the dosage and frequency.

Next, because turmeric and its constituent curcumin are known for directly affecting the inflammation cascade, here is some basic information about inflammation and its role in health.

The following was stated in a review discussing Inflammatory responses and inflammation-associated diseases in organs.

Inflammation is a biological response of the immune system that various factors, including pathogens, damaged cells, and toxic compounds, can trigger.
These factors may induce acute and/or chronic inflammatory responses in the heart, pancreas, liver, kidney, lung, brain, intestinal tract, and reproductive system, potentially leading to tissue damage or disease.
Infectious and non-infectious agents and cell damage activate inflammatory cells and trigger inflammatory signaling pathways, most commonly the NF-κB, MAPK, and JAK-STAT pathways.

Contrary to popular opinion, while curcumin is derived from turmeric, consuming a whole version of turmeric rather than a product with concentrated levels of curcuminoids produces some unique qualities and differences in the end result.

What are Curcuminoids?

A curcuminoid is a small class of secondary metabolites that include curcumin, Demethoxycurcumin, and Bisdemethoxycurcumin, all of which are isolated from Turmeric.

These compounds are phenols and are responsible for turmeric's yellow color.

Within the curcuminoid family, curcumin is the primary compound, and the other two curcuminoids are analogs of curcumin. An analog is a compound with a molecular structure that is similar to the primary compound.

While Demethoxycurcumin and Bisdemethoxycurcumin are believed to act similarly to curcumin, it is not explicitly known if they act to the same extent.

To simplify this explanation, think of a lock, and each of these three compounds has a key that fits the lock, but only curcumin can open it. It is important to note that all curcumin extracts naturally contain curcumin and both analogs, but the analogs are often not standardized to a specific percentage.

However, research has shown that curcumin-free turmeric extracts are just as capable of supporting a healthy inflammation response. The following statement was made in a review discussing the identification and effectiveness of specific compounds found in turmeric,

Recent research has identified numerous chemical entities from turmeric other than curcumin.
It is unclear whether all of turmeric's activities are due to curcumin or whether other compounds in turmeric can manifest these activities uniquely, additively, or synergistically with curcumin.
However, studies have indicated that turmeric oil, present in turmeric, can enhance the bioavailability of curcumin.
Furthermore, specific essential oils in turmeric are necessary to utilize curcumin properly.

Curcumin’s strength lies in immune support, not just reducing inflammation

Curcumin's ability to support a healthy inflammation response as one of its key benefits has produced a fallacy that turmeric is an anti-inflammatory.

The results of human research, the experience of many top herbalists, and the fact that turmeric has many modes of action (upwards of 300 activities have been ascribed to it) show its ability to work as an amphoteric.

What is the function of an Amphoteric?

An Amphoteric herb acts bidirectionally, often acting on the HPA Axis and endocrine system to normalize and balance an organ or system's function. Depending on the change needed to restore homeostasis, it may increase or decrease specific markers. Some examples are hawthorn, licorice, turmeric, and black cohosh.

The primary difference between an inflammation and an immune response is that inflammation is a part of the innate immune (nonspecific) system you were born with, while the immune system is broader and includes innate and adaptive immunity.

So, how exactly does curcumin affect the inflammation and immune response?

Curcumin is touted as one of the most remarkable compounds for supporting a healthy inflammation response due to its unique mechanisms of action (Modulating Nuclear factor-kappa B). Nuclear factor-kappa B is a protein complex that turns on genes that produce inflammation. Its three main jobs are the transcription of DNA, cytokine production, and cell survival.

By modulating its action, this, in turn, prevents the rest of the cascade-like cyclooxygenases (COX 1 and 2), Lipoxygenase (lkb4) enzymes, and inducible nitric oxide synthase from responding in an unhealthy way.

Furthermore, the following was stated in a review looking at the impact of curcumin on the immune response.

Curcumin cooperates with various cells such as macrophages, dendritic cells, B, T, and natural killer cells to modify the body's defense capacity.
Curcumin inhibits inflammatory responses by suppressing different metabolic pathways, reducing inflammatory cytokine production, and increasing anti-inflammatory cytokine expression.
Curcumin may also affect oxidative stress and the non-coding genetic material.

In conclusion, it is reasonable to conclude that turmeric and curcuminoids potentially create powerful immune amphoteric effects. The versatility of this herb and its active constituents show great potential for a wide array of uses for acute and chronic situations.

When used in appropriate amounts individually or combined with other herbs, turmeric and curcumin show great potential as part of your acute cold/flu and bacterial infection protocols due to their ability to limit the replication of many different fungi, bacteria, and viruses.

However, using turmeric or a standardized curcumin product as a daily tonic in moderate amounts to support a healthy immune system response and down-regulate the inflammation cascade offers more significant long-term benefits.

Whether added to your food, smoothies, or daily consumption of capsules, turmeric, and curcuminoids are a great choice to support your foundational wellness protocol.

For more information about our Organic Turmeric Root Powder, go here:

Organic Turmeric Root Powder

For more information about our Turmeric Root Extract (Curcumin) Powder, go here:

Turmeric Root Extract (Curcumin) Powder

To review all of our Seasonings & Spices, go here:

Seasonings & Spices Collection

About Michael Stuchiner, Master Herbalist

Michael Stuchiner is a Master Herbalist and proud graduate of The School of Natural Healing and has worked in different areas of this field for over 25 years. He is a retired elite-level powerlifter who competed for 27 years. As an avid international traveler, he is passionate about the use of medicinal and tonic herbs, as well as foods traditionally found in local markets in the 35 countries he has visited. Michael brings you his years of experience as a Master Herbalist, traveler, and athlete through the hundreds of articles he has written and his YouTube channel (A Master Herbalist Perspective). He is considered a true educator in this field. For more articles written by Mike, go here: Master Herbalist.