Other studies of pharmaceutical antidepressants have found that they negatively impact all processes in the body that are regulated by the hormone serotonin (2). Among these functions are sleep, mood, appetite, digestion, memory, and sexual desire. Regular use of these drugs has been found to significantly compound the accumulation of plaque in the arteries, leading to heart disease.
2. Anti-inflammatory Drugs
Curcumin and resveratrol (an antioxidant anti-inflammatory found in red-colored foods like grapes) were among the most potent anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative substances tested in one study. In comparison, aspirin and ibuprofen were the least (3).
3. Blood Thinners (ASA, aspirin)
With implications for circulatory and heart conditions, curcumin has been found to be an anticoagulant, preventing blood clots (thrombosis) (4). Unlike aspirin, Turmeric won’t cause ulcers or deterioration of the stomach lining.
4. Cholesterol Medication (Lipitor)
Curcumin has long been known as effective as atorvastatin (trade name: Lipitor) in regulating epithelial dysfunction, the condition in which inner linings of blood vessels are damaged and plaque stick to artery walls, leading to heart disease.
In two 2008 studies, curcumin showed anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and improvement of epithelial function as well as reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL, “bad”) and overall cholesterol levels (5, 6).
This is a very good thing, as statin medications such as Lipitor have been found to create over three hundred adverse reactions in those who take them.
5. Steroid Medication (corticosteroids)
Corticosteroids are prescribed for inflammation-related conditions including skin irritation, asthma, and arthritis. Dexamethasone is a common corticosteroid.
Curcumin has been found to be as effective in reducing inflammation as this toxic chemical (7). It’s interesting to note that dexamethasone was used as the intoxicating factor in another trial of curcumin-related to testicular cancer. That is, researchers used dexamethasone to cause cancer in mice, then treated it with curcumin—successfully (8)!
Corticosteroids are also sometimes used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, a malady caused by immune system dysfunction). Long-term used of this type of medication is not recommended by physicians because of negative side effects, e.g., diabetes. A comprehensive study of curcumin on IBD concluded:
“Curcumin is a natural compound that reduces the development of chronic experimental colitis and alleviates the inflammatory response whose precise modes of action is still unclear, and it seems likely that its molecular targets differ according to cell and disease system. Several studies have demonstrated the promising role of curcumin as a novel therapy for children and adults with IBD.” (9).