Video Transcript:

Today’s question comes from a viewer who asks, “I purchased the Magi-Complexx essential oil to use directly on my breast to treat a tumor. Please ask Dr. Melissa if I should use one drop a day in liquid.”

So, this is an excellent question, and I really love the Magi-Complexx for a multitude of reasons. In this category of addressing a breast tumor, I recommend both taking the capsules internally while using oil topically. This is the kind of quantifiable data I’m going to share with you, specifically with breast tumors.

Frankincense Shown to Encourage Cell Apoptosis

The oil in the Magi-Complexx, the topical oil, we have frankincense, myrrh, and we also have turmeric. Frankincense specifically has had a high degree or an exhorted degree of clinical research [1]. Specifically in the frankincense, the capacity for that oil to address cancerous tumors. In the world of breast cancer specifically, breast tumors, we have seen a reduction, a cell apoptosis, in clinical research [2] that shows frankincense can be beneficial when used topically.

---

---

So, that’s where I like to recommend making sure you’re getting the Joint & Muscle Care (formerly Magi-Complexx capsules) in the capsule form so you’re internally combating inflammation, you’re addressing the degree of inflammation in and around the cells of the tumor. Because if we have any type of tumor, whether it’s benign or malignant, there’s this whole process of the inflammatory system, and sometimes a tampering down of the immune system in and around that area. If you take Joint & Muscle Care, you’re going to be deeply addressing systemic-related inflammation. So, that’s one thing.

Turmeric to Promote Circulation & Lymphatic Flow

The other thing, both internally and topically, we see frankincense, but specifically, turmeric is greatly beneficial at promoting both circulation, as well as lymphatic flow. As a lymphatic therapist [4], I work with breast cancer patients every day, and one of the big things, as they’re going through their different journeys with benign or malignant tumors, is we need to ramp up the lymphatic system promotion, we need to promote the lymph flow.

The breast tissue itself has a very large amount of lymphatic nodes and lymph vessels, lymph capillaries, and this whole entire lymph system is clearing and helping detox the organ to help promote healthy cells. When we get lymphatic congestion, that’s when we can deploy things like both turmeric, but also frankincense in that lymphatic promotion to help clear and detox cellular debris, as well as promote the immune system.

Micro-Dosing the Tumor Area

So, I’m going to recommend more than just one drop of the oil topically. I’m going to recommend multiple kind of micro-dosings of the oil on the actual area of the tumor. For many cases, the tumor doesn’t even have to be something that’s visible, and even in many cases with my patients, they don’t even feel these tumors. So, if you have had scans and you see that there are other areas potentially involved, I would do a more liberal application, but definitely, we’ll post down below some of the links to the research, but frankincense is wonderful for that.

So overall, the Magi-Complexx, I highly recommend using the capsules (now Joint & Muscle Care) internally and then using the oil topically on your breast itself. If you have any type of sensitivity to oils, because oils can be strong and powerful, frankincense specifically is a very grounding oil. Always test first by using a carrier oil, like an almond oil or coconut oil. So those are my recommendations, so I’m curious to see how you do with that.

The powerhouse trio of herbs in Magi-Complexx Essential Oil provides the strongest, most synergistic healing effect, helping sufferers of arthritis pain, constant muscle aches and pains, neuropathy, systemic inflammation, slowed wound healing, circulatory challenges, as well as skin irritations like eczema, psoriasis, and acne.

Video Transcript:

As a mom, a working mom, and a busy sometimes stressed-out mom, I want to share with you four amazing supplements that every mom, grandma, and female needs in their lives, particularly if you are experiencing fatigue, or need an energy boost to balance all of the balls that you have up the air, or you’re just dealing with overall stress. I am so excited to share these four with you.

Collagen – Not Just for Wrinkles

So, number one, in the anti-aging category, but also deep healing, I recommend collagen, Clean Sourced Collagens. Specifically, collagen is wonderful for women in reducing fine lines and wrinkles around the laugh lines, crow’s feet, your little furrows.

So, if you feel like the stress and everyday life is wearing you down and you’re physically seeing a reduction in the elasticity of your skin, a wonderful gift for yourself or any mom or grandma in your life is collagen.

Collagen has not just superficial anti-aging benefits that can be seen in two to four weeks and continues to compound, it also has massive benefits in healing your gut. So if you or a mom or grandma in your life experiences any type of gut imbalances, leaky gut, indigestion, IBS, bloating, gas, those are all going to be indicative of small intestinal imbalances, potentially something that we call leaky gut, where literally the structures in between these small little microvilli and single-cell lining of our small intestine, that gets opened up and the tissue itself is not as strong and supple.

Collagen can actually strengthen those divides and create a situation where we can heal leaky gut. This is a permanent type of solution. So if you, as a mom, grandma, or have any moms or grandmas in your life that you want to help support their health, collagen, our Clean Sourced Collagens is great to use. You can use a scoop a day. Sometimes I’ll do two doses in the morning and the evening. You can add this to a tea or a coffee, yogurt, smoothie. There’s a lot of different ways to use this. And I even put it in our mommy cookies. I call them mommy cookies. And my son and my husband, we all eat these amazing plant-based raw cookies, and we put in collagen for an extra oomph of protein. So that’s number one.

Magnesium to Reduce Fluid Retention and Balance Sleep

Number two, I want to talk to all you ladies who might be experiencing imbalanced sleep, fluid retention – and this could be mild where you might notice that at the end of the day, your feet or ankles are swelling. You might notice that you feel more puffy and just holding maybe one to five pounds of excess fluid. Magnesium 7, this is our multi-complex magnesium blend. This has an assorted amount and assorted types of magnesium. They target certain body systems. But magnesium specifically is great for enhancing the fluid production and the flow of fluid that might be stagnant inside your body. And it’ll articulate it, so we can flush that out, the pathways, like our kidneys and our bladder. So magnesium can help reduce fluid retention. I recommend this for all my lymphatic patients, my patients with lymphedema, or folks with edema and light, gentle swelling.

But also, magnesium is great for balancing sleep. Magnesium, this particular mineral is a master mineral. We have over 600 enzymatic reactions in our body that need magnesium. So magnesium can improve sleep. It can calm the body, calm the central nervous system. So for women who have anxiety or even depression, just feeling like the brain is not optimized, you’re not feeling completely 100% yourself – personality or just mental health-wise – magnesium is great. So I always recommend that.

You can take a dose in the evening, that tends to be when we can get the max benefits for sleep. But you can also add a dose in the morning. So spacing it out in 10 to 12 hours is going to give us that max, multiple delivery long-term benefits of magnesium.

Functional Mushrooms Bring Massive Benefits

Number three, the next recommendation I’m really excited because this, I use to power me up to energize my body, to reduce inflammation, as well as any type of free radical damage from everyday allergens or viral or bacterial invasions.

I cannot speak enough to the massive benefits that we as women experience from functional mushrooms. Particularly, functional mushrooms support our brain. They support and balance our hormones. They can help us get through perimenopause, menopause. It also is very beneficial for women post-pregnancy.

Lower Stress Levels & Calm the Central Nervous System

What we find are functional mushrooms that we are going to get in our 7 Mushrooms blend. By the way, these are fermented and they are extremely powerful. Each of the mushrooms in this blend have massive amounts of clinical research that showcases the potency and the power of these medicinal mushrooms in helping lower our stress levels, calm our central nervous system, recalibrate our stress response mechanism – meaning that fight or flight, like we’re always in that kind of squirrel. You know when you’re driving around down the road and the squirrel’s like, “Eh,” and it doesn’t know what to do and it runs in front of your car? We are in that state on a daily basis. And as moms, grandmothers, and women who are caregivers, this is a massive, massive negative influence on our overall health and wellness.

And where I use functional mushrooms in not just my life, but the lives of my patients, is we can help support and balance the stress level, but also enhance our adaptogenic influences from functional mushrooms – meaning mushrooms in this blend, 7 Mushrooms blend, they can actually help your body adapt to and deal with stress better. So normally, you’re walking around with your glass, it’s full and overflowing, mushrooms let the valve out. So it releases some of that intensity, the pressure, and it calms the way you’re going to deal with everyday life. And if you are a mom watching this, you know that all the time, we’re managing and juggling a lot in our families and our kids’ lives and just all the things that are on our plate.

Brain Health & Immune Support Along with Minimizing Cancer Risk

So, the functional mushrooms are a really good way to support your body. They also have amazing benefits in supporting brain health. And we see some of these mushrooms are highly beneficial at minimizing our risk of cancer. They can support cell apoptosis of cancer cells, meaning cell death of cancer cells. They have a very powerful influence for balancing and modulating our immune response, and have anti-inflammatory impact. So overall, stress-lowering, inflammation-reducing. They are high in antioxidants, which keeps us youthful and helps support our cells. So mushrooms are always on my list for moms. Moms and mushrooms go hand-in-hand, powers you up.

Anti-Inflammatory Reduces Risk of Illness, Disease & Pain

And my last and final is really one of the things that we see with all illness and disease, but particularly with women. Some of the major common illnesses women experience are inflammatory in their orientation – meaning the cause of illness and disease is from an overwhelm of inflammation within the body. It’s systemic inflammation. And that inflammation can often cause pain, pains in our joints, in our muscles and tissue. Sometimes people will feel just this pain body, pain experience, aches and pains, just feel like you’re not as functional and fluid as you used to be.

Joint & Muscle Care is a big winner for my patients who experience pain and inflammatory disorders. If you have a mom or grandma or you yourself are suffering from one or many autoimmune dysfunctions, inflammation is the root cause.

---

---

Potent Trio of Ingredients

Joint & Muscle Care has three powerful ingredients: turmeric, myrrh, and it has frankincense. Those three have a long-term history as beneficial medicinals. Turmeric is a potent anti-inflammatory. So it can reduce inflammation, which will reduce nerve impact and nerve-related pain, i.e., your body’s registering pain. The other thing that we see with myrrh is just a really good balancer, and can reduce inflammatory conditions of our respiratory system, and can combat some of the allergen responses that we experience to our environment.

The other benefit with frankincense, frankincense is awesome. So let me share with you how awesome frankincense is. We have seen European studies showcase frankincense has anti-cancer properties. Frankincense is also a very grounding herb, and can help us root and recalibrate and balance our body and our parasympathetic nervous system. It helps keep us level and balanced.

So these three together in the Joint & Muscle Care are awesome for us women who might have current inflammatory conditions. You might feel aches and pains. And even hormone imbalance can kick off inflammation in the body. So combating systemic inflammation will greatly reduce your risk of illness and disease.

So for moms, grandmothers, and women who are seeking a complex, complete blend of powerful potent medicinals, these four: Collagen in powder form, 7 Mushrooms, the mushroom blend, Magnesium – major winner, the magnesium, I love magnesium – and it’ll also get you regular, so you’ll eliminate constipation, which 40% of breast cancer is caused from constipation. We actually see those links. And then also Joint & Muscle Care. So I’m excited for you to grab all four of these. Click on the link down below to get more information to order these products for you, your mothers, your grandmothers, aunts – all the women in your life can greatly benefit from these four items.

Joint & Muscle Care is a revolutionary supplement that takes three of the strongest inflammation support agents in nature (frankincense, myrrh, and turmeric), and combines them in the same perfect union treasured by the ancients. Available in capsule form or as an essential oil blend called Magi-Complexx.

Video Transcript:

Today, I want to share with you why I love Turmeric 3D so much for not just inflammation reduction and balancing our stress hormone, but also just overall supporting our brain function, our digestive function, and our cardiovascular function.

Maximizes Benefit & Bioavailability with Fermented Botanicals

One of the awesome things that we have harnessed here at Organixx is we have a unique fermentation process of the ingredients in a multitude of our supplements. And Turmeric 3D is a part of that fermentation process, which allows you as a consumer to get the max benefits of the turmeric and the ashwagandha, and the other botanical powerhouses in Turmeric 3D that will help lower inflammation, reduce excess fluid weight and retention, and can also help restore and rejuvenate your immune state, balance your stress levels, calm hormonal imbalances. 

---

---

Lowers Inflammation

And it even helps with your brain-based inflammation, which we’re seeing now with a lot of post-COVID infections. You don’t even have to qualify as a long COVID or a long hauler, but there are a lot of individuals that are still having residual inflammation and even patients that have auto-immunity or folks that have lymphedema or lipedema, or just overall notice they’re carrying more cellulite or excess weight. Those are all signs of an inflammatory state.

So, using Turmeric 3D allows you to harness the potency of turmeric, which has been heavily researched in its amazing power to lower inflammation markers in your body. It also has ashwagandha, which is a wonderful stress-balancing herbal, and in a fermented form, it actually is going to be more bioavailable. So, you need less and you get more power and more potency.

Addresses Vitamin D3 Deficiency

So, I’m excited to share that with you because one of the things that we love, not only are you getting the turmeric and the botanicals, but we also add D3 in a form, it’s a 5,000 IU form, which vitamin D3, I find almost all of my patients when I do a blood spot test, we do blood spot testing in my clinic, they are all in low or suboptimal levels or ranges of vitamin D3. And vitamin D3 has a lot to do with your mental outlook. It is a hormone precursor. It’s a building block. It’s an ingredient for your body, balancing your stress levels, your reproductive hormone levels, and overall, every cell has receptivity to vitamin D. 

Optimizes Overall Wellness

So, I’m very, very excited to recommend the Turmeric 3D. This is a powerful supplement here that has anti-inflammatory effects. It has stress-lowering, hormone-balancing, and overall will help support your body and optimize your wellness.

So I hope you check this out and it’s such a great resource for anybody who might be looking for a way to support their overall wellness and just know inflammation is the root of every illness and disease. Taming and calming inflammation levels in your body will increase and optimize your overall wellness. 

Turmeric 3D from Organixx provides you one of the most “bioavailable” forms of turmeric due to its unique fermentation process. This means your body experiences the maximum benefits of the purest, most potent turmeric available!

You’ve likely heard about the many health benefits of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and its compound curcumin. But did you know that it can be difficult to “unlock” the nutrients in turmeric so your body can actually take full advantage of them?

One popular way to make the compounds in turmeric more bioavailable (i.e., absorbable and usable to the body) is to pair it with another popular cooking spice: black pepper [1]. But what if there was a better way to improve absorption of curcumin than combining turmeric and black pepper? A way to boost turmeric’s bioavailability, allowing it to more safely and effectively support the natural healing process?

The Healing Power of Turmeric

Turmeric is a staple remedy from the traditional medicine systems of the Far East. Out of all herbs and spices, it seems like turmeric has gained the most widespread popularity as a “super” spice in the West in recent years.

Turmeric’s many health-supportive properties are attributed to curcumin, a key component of turmeric that’s been studied extensively for its:

• anti-inflammatory properties
• antioxidant properties
• impact on longevity

Curcumin is documented in the scientific literature as offering powerful support for the cardiovascular, neurological, metabolic, immune, and cellular systems. It’s also the part of turmeric that gives this root spice its rich, golden yellow color.

But the truth of the matter is that humans have a difficult time getting all the health benefits from turmeric when consuming the spice all by itself. Research shows that only a very small portion of its active ingredient (compound) is assimilated into the body when eaten in isolation.

Turmeric and Black Pepper Benefits

This is why many natural health experts suggest consuming turmeric along with black pepper (Piper nigrum). Black pepper contains a unique “bio-enhancer” compound known as piperine that significantly boosts turmeric’s bioavailability – by as much as 2,000 percent, in fact.

This is the reason why many turmeric and curcumin supplement products on the market today contain either black pepper or piperine.

The Problem: Black Pepper Isn’t Good for Everyone

This pairing approach of turmeric with black pepper (or curcumin with black pepper) comes with limitations, however, as too much black pepper can actually be detrimental to health – especially in people with gastrointestinal issues.
Research published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that consuming black pepper in excess can damage the mucosal lining of the gut, potentially causing bleeding or other injuries.

Consuming high amounts of black pepper, this same study found, is akin to taking the painkiller drug aspirin [2]. In other words, aspirin (along with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen) represents a similar threat to the gut lining in terms of its tendency to cause serious erosions and ulcers in the intestinal tract [3].

This isn’t to say that black pepper is inherently dangerous, and there’s no need to toss out the pepper shaker just yet. After all, the amounts of black pepper required to induce such harm are far greater than what the average person consumes in their food on a daily basis.

There’s also evidence to show that taking curcumin along with just piperine, black pepper’s primary alkaloid, is typically safe and causes “no adverse effects [4].”

Even so, there’s always the possibility that someone might react negatively to this combination – especially when taking very high doses of turmeric or curcumin for therapeutic purposes.

For this reason, science set out to determine whether or not it was possible to retain turmeric’s full bioavailability without the need for black pepper, piperine, or any other additive. And the good news is, it is possible.

Fermentation Increases the Bioavailability of Turmeric BETTER Than Black Pepper

As it turns out, by fermenting turmeric its active constituents can be drawn out and made more potent in a way similar to, and potentially even greater than, black pepper.

Here’s another reason why fermented turmeric may be superior to turmeric and black pepper. Besides possibly upsetting a person’s digestive system, black pepper is known to interfere with a process known as glucuronidation that’s necessary for eliminating toxins from the body [5].

Put simply, too much black pepper can cause a buildup of xenoestrogens (harmful chemicals found in plastic and other everyday products) and other toxins that would otherwise be quickly eliminated from the body [6].

With simple fermentation, however, there’s little-to-no risk of these types of complications. That’s because there’s nothing like black pepper getting in the way to block the body’s important detoxification pathways.

It’s rather like eating fresh turmeric, which still contains all of the volatile (essential) oils that help to deliver the herb’s active compounds throughout the body. Fermentation may even go a step beyond this by further optimizing turmeric’s absorption potential.

Research conducted on rat models found that fermented turmeric is, indeed, the best form of turmeric because it contains the most antioxidant power. Compared to ground turmeric in powder and probiotic forms, fermented turmeric led to substantially higher plasma antioxidant concentrations in test subjects [7].

In terms of how it affects the liver, fermented turmeric was shown in a 2013 paper out of South Korea to be powerfully hepatoprotective, meaning it shields the liver from damage.

Not only that, but fermented turmeric was also shown to help improve the liver’s functional detoxification potential [8] – as opposed to black pepper-potentiated turmeric that can inhibit natural detoxification.

Fermented turmeric also contains more curcumin (the beneficial compound) than unfermented turmeric, by volume. In addition to improving both its antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity, fermenting turmeric draws out an impressive 11% more curcumin compared to what’s found in raw turmeric.

Fermentation also makes turmeric 3.1 times more effective at scavenging oxidizing free radicals from the body [9].

Another area where fermented turmeric has a leg up on both unfermented turmeric and turmeric combined with black pepper is in the area of inflammation.

Research published by The Korean Society for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology in 2011 found that fermented turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory, possessing the ability to inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines much more effectively than any other known form of turmeric. Fermented turmeric was further shown in this same study to protect against acute anaphylactic, or allergic, reactions [10].

From an antimicrobial perspective, fermented turmeric shows incredible potential against a wide variety of pathogenic bacteria, including drug-resistant “superbugs.”

Research out of the Middle East in 2016 found that fermented turmeric provides broad-spectrum protection against harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus (Staph), Entreococcus faecalis, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumonia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosae [11].

Earlier research out of China found that fermented curcumin can be a powerful weapon against high cholesterol, also known as hyperlipidemia. While unfermented curcumin showed minimal-to-no benefits during the evaluation, its fermented counterpart significantly reduced serum lipid levels in animal test models [12].

Fermented Turmeric Increased Fat Loss in Animal Test Subjects

Fermented turmeric also shows promise in fighting another undesirable form of fat: the obesity kind.

Research out of South Korea in 2015 found that consumption of fermented turmeric can alter the expression of certain genes involved with lipid accumulation, effectively preventing them from communicating to the body that it’s time to pack on extra pounds [13].

Related research published a year later, also out of South Korea, reiterated these findings while building upon them. Obese rats fed a high-fat diet not only didn’t gain more weight when also consuming fermented turmeric, but they further lost weight as a result of consuming the herb as part of their daily eating routines [14].

Preventing Impairment of Learning and Memory

Research has shown that fermented turmeric can also play a role in brain health. Among the findings fleshed out in a 2017 paper published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine was evidence suggesting that fermented turmeric has the potential to mitigate memory impairment while supporting optimized learning and memory ability in mice [15].

While more research needs to be done, the evidence so far seems clear… fermentation is the key to “unlocking” the incredible healing potential of turmeric, while avoiding the potential side effects of combining turmeric and black pepper.

Turmeric, the bright-orange root so frequently used in the cuisine of India and Asia, has been a revered cooking ingredient for centuries. Modern research, however, is also delving into its incredible array of health-promoting benefits of turmeric. According to National Institutes of Health, “Today, turmeric is used as a dietary supplement for inflammation; arthritis; stomach, skin, liver, and gallbladder problems; cancer; and other conditions [1].”

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a perennial herbaceous plant from the Zingiberaceae family, the same plant family as ginger. The word “turmeric” comes from the Latin “terra merita” meaning meritorious or sacred earth. The aroma of turmeric essential oil is very much like the freshly cut root − rather spicy, a little sweet, with undertones of earthy and woodsy.

Turmeric essential oil is many times more concentrated than the powdered herb. It’s made from the plant’s underground roots, called rhizomes, and is extracted from the rhizome by steam distillation.

Both powdered turmeric spice and turmeric essential oil are a bright yellow or orange in color due to the pigment curcumin. Curcumin is one of the principal healthy components of turmeric and is what gives the color to curries and mustard and is even used for dyeing fabric.

You’ll sometimes hear the terms “curcumin” and “turmeric” used interchangeably, but keep in mind that curcumin is only one of many compounds found in the turmeric plant.

The Phytochemical Profile of Turmeric Essential Oil

The phytochemical (plant-based, all natural components) content of turmeric essential oil is surprisingly complex. Over 300 phytochemicals contribute to making turmeric essential oil an excellent choice for supporting overall good health.

The major phytochemicals in turmeric oil are ar-turmerone (20-25 percent), alpha-turmerone (18 percent), beta-turmerone (12-13 percent) and curcumin (2-5 percent). The first three are classed as sesquiterpenes − molecules which help to carry oxygen in the body.

Other special phytochemicals found in turmeric oil include zingiberene (sesquiterpene), beta-caryophyllene (sesquiterpene), eucalyptol (a monoterpene, which helps to reprogram DNA), alpha-phellandrene (monoterpene), beta-sesquiphellandrene (sesquiterpene) and curcumenol [2]. There may well be many other phytochemicals in turmeric essential oil which have yet to be identified and studied.

Historical Use of Turmeric

Turmeric has been used for millennia in ancient healing traditions. In Indian Ayurvedic medicine it has been used traditionally to warm and strengthen the entire body, as a blood purifier, digestive aid, to eliminate worms, improve intestinal flora, and relieve gas.

It is also used in India as a liver and gallbladder cleanser and strengthener, to normalize menstruation, to relieve arthritis and joint swelling, for sprains, burns, bruises, cuts and insect bites, for soothing coughs, easing asthma symptoms, as an antibacterial and antifungal agent.

In traditional Chinese medicine turmeric has been used for indigestion, sore throats and colds, liver ailments, and for wound healing.

6 Ways Turmeric Can Support Good Health

While there are a myriad of traditional uses for turmeric, here are six ways that turmeric and/or turmeric essential oil can be used to support general health and well-being:

#1. Promotes Clear, Unblemished Skin

The antiseptic and antioxidant properties of turmeric essential oil make it a wonderful acne fighter. It is also known to reduce facial hair, and combined with lemon juice, helps to naturally lighten hyperpigmentation of the skin.

A study published in the Dec 2011 issue of the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found that skin creams with Curcuma longa extract have photoprotective effects, which means protection against effects of the sun.

According to the study, “Ultraviolet radiations generate reactive oxygen species, leading to adverse effects on skin properties. Botanical extracts are multifunctional in nature having various properties like photoprotection, anti-aging, moisturizing, antioxidant, astringent, anti-irritant, and antimicrobial activity [3].”

The researchers reported their results as being that: “The photoprotective properties of the constituents of C. longa extract and hydrant, moisturizing lipid components of nano vesicles with better skin penetration resulted in improvement in skin properties like skin hydration and sebum content [4].”
Tip for Use for Acne: Do a patch test in a small inconspicuous place on your inner arm prior to trying this to ensure you don’t have a sensitivity to turmeric essential oil.

In a glass mixing bowl combine two drops turmeric essential oil with one to two tablespoons organic raw honey. Mix well and apply to face as a mask. Leave on for 15 minutes and then wash off. While you wait, wash anything the paste came into contact with as it can stain (be sure to protect your clothes!).

A quality turmeric oil mixed with raw honey is gentle, nourishing, and helps promote smooth, unblemished skin. The honey should also help to keep the turmeric from staining the skin, although it’s a good idea to also test the paste first on the inside of your wrist before applying to your face. For best results use the mask no more than 1-2 times per week.

#2. Supports Well-Functioning Joints

Doctors from Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic traditions have used turmeric to address joint issues for centuries. Many recent studies have investigated turmeric’s ability to impact the pain, stiffness, and inflammation associated with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

One study of note published in the Journal of Medicinal Food in August 2016 was a joint effort by Korean and American researchers. These researchers analyzed all of the randomized clinical trials that had been done to the date of the article.

The researchers stated that the results of the trials “provide scientific evidence that supports the efficacy of turmeric extract (about 1000 mg/day of curcumin) in the treatment of arthritis [5].”

It’s important to note that the researchers also stated that “more rigorous and larger studies are needed to confirm the therapeutic efficacy of turmeric for arthritis [6].”

#3. Improves Mood and Sense of Well-being

Turmeric essential oil has a long tradition of use for its relaxing and mood balancing properties. Try diffusing some turmeric essential oil into the air while praying, meditating, reading, at bedtime, or anytime you want to feel more calm and relaxed.

Research has shown that consuming curcumin (the key compound in turmeric) may also be beneficial for improving mood and happiness levels in those suffering with depression and anxiety.

In a 2014 study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, researchers “hypothesised that curcumin would be effective for the treatment of depressive symptoms in individuals with major depressive disorder [7].”

Here’s the methodology the researchers used: “In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 56 individuals with major depressive disorder were treated with curcumin (500 mg twice daily) or placebo for 8 weeks. The primary measure was the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology self-rated version (IDS-SR30). Secondary outcomes included IDS-SR30 factor scores and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) [8].”

After the 8-week study was completed, they reported the following results:

“From baseline to week 4, both curcumin and placebo were associated with improvements in IDS-SR30 total score and most secondary outcome measures. From weeks 4 to 8, curcumin was significantly more effective than placebo in improving several mood-related symptoms … Greater efficacy from curcumin treatment was identified in a subgroup of individuals with atypical depression [9].”

#4. Helps With Digestive Issues

Turmeric is considered to be exceptionally helpful with digestive problems. It has been used to help relieve gas, and promote healthy digestion and elimination.

#5. Supports a Healthy Liver

Turmeric is highly esteemed in holistic medicine for its ability to support liver health. Since the liver is the main organ of detoxification, keeping it in tip-top shape is vital for good health.

#6. Supports Oral Health

Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is a pathogen in the mouth that’s believed to be associated with the progression of periodontal disease. The aim of a 2016 study published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research “was to substantiate the antimicrobial activity of various essential oils; eucalyptus oil, chamomile oil, tea tree oil and turmeric oil against P. gingivalis [10].”

After testing various concentrations of the essential oils against P. gingivalis, the researchers concluded that “At 100% concentration all the tested oils possess antimicrobial activity against P.gingivalis with eucalyptus oil being most effective followed by tea tree oil, chamomile oil and turmeric oil [11].”

Precautions When Using Essential Oils

Only Use Quality Oils:

The quality of essential oils available on the market is widely varied. Always ensure you are using high quality essential oils, preferably organic.

It is important to discover whether the maker of an essential oil uses organic growing methods, knows how to distill the oils so that they contain the essential phytochemicals, and avoids the use of toxic chemicals when growing the plants and extracting the oils. Always purchase essential oils from a trusted source. Cheaper is not always better.

Dilute:

It is recommended to use an organic carrier oil like olive, jojoba, almond, coconut, hemp, or argan to dilute prior to putting any essential oil on the body.

Using a carrier oil aids in absorption, does not affect the potency of the essential oil, and increases the cost-effectiveness of using essential oils for health.

Keep Oils Away From Sensitive Areas:

Never apply essential oils anywhere near eyes, inside ears, or too close to sensitive regions of the body. If this happens by accident, use a carrier oil to dilute − water will not help!

Do a Patch Test Before Using an Oil for the First Time:

Before applying any essential oil, perform a patch test on a small area of skin such as the inside of the elbow. This is important for anyone, but especially critical if you have sensitive skin.

If a reaction occurs, dilute essential oils heavily with an organic carrier oil like olive oil, jojoba, almond, coconut, hemp, or argan oils and test again.

For Babies and Children:

Be very cautious when using essential oils with or around babies and children. They have delicate skin and their bodies are much smaller than adults. Always dilute heavily and seek guidance from a qualified healthcare practitioner before using.

In Pregnancy:

Some essential oils should be avoided during pregnancy. Low doses of turmeric are considered to be safe during pregnancy, but caution should be exercised when using full-strength turmeric oil.

One or two studies showed that consumption of turmeric might stimulate the uterus (the worry being that could possibly increase the risk of premature birth or miscarriage).

However, other studies have demonstrated that curcuminoids actually have a relaxing effect on uterine muscle. While contradictory, what is known is that millions of pregnant women in India and Asia have taken small amounts of turmeric in their daily diet for centuries, without any adverse effects being reported.

Always remember that essential oils are much more concentrated than the whole plant materials they’re extracted from. Therefore always exercise caution when using them − especially when pregnant. Dilute heavily and work with an experienced healthcare provider.

Have you ever partaken of an Indian or South Asian curry? The reason they are typically yellow in color is because they contain the root spice turmeric. Known scientifically as Curcuma longa, turmeric is found all over South Asia and is believed to have been in use in India as both a spice and as a medicinal component for at least 5000 years.

The many health benefits of turmeric have long been exploited in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine. According to customary Ayurvedic practice:

• Turmeric maintains gut flora and protects against stomach disorders. It’s also a natural antiseptic and is useful for disinfecting cuts, burns, wounds, and other skin infections.
• Turmeric detoxes the liver. Curcumin (a primary compound of turmeric root) has been found to increase the flow of bile, which is necessary for breaking down dietary fat during digestion.
• Turmeric can help to manage blood sugar.
• Due to its anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties, turmeric is used for treating arthritis inflammation and pain.

Traditionally, turmeric is also used to treat cough, tonsillitis, sore throat, swollen gums and canker sores, upper respiratory congestion, dry cough, and asthma.

Turmeric Contains More Than 300 Bioactive Components

But it’s not just traditionalists who value turmeric. According to modern science, the list of turmeric’s health benefits – specifically, of its more than 300 bioactive components known as “curcuminoids,” which exert various beneficial biological actions in our body – is growing by the day.

Thousands of scientific studies have been carried out on curcumin, the main curcuminoid and active ingredient present in turmeric. This research is demonstrating that curcumin has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and is believed to be mainly responsible for many of turmeric’s health benefits.

Why Is Inflammation Bad News for Your Health?

Inflammation has been getting a bad rap in the media recently. Inflammation is our body’s natural response to cellular and tissue damage caused by:

• injury
• harmful external invaders such as bacteria and viruses
• toxic pollutants that enter our bodies via our diet or from the environment

Inflammation starts out as a protective response that works to eliminate the original cause of damage, clear out damaged and dying cells, and begin the process of repair and healing.

Although inflammation is beneficial for our body in the short term, ongoing inflammation is now known to play a major role in almost every chronic disease including:

• diabetes
• heart disease
• Alzheimer’s and other brain degenerative diseases
• cancer

Inflammation and Heart Disease

Inflammatory mechanisms have been linked to the development of atherosclerosis, an early step in the formation of heart disease. Inflammatory mechanisms have also been shown to trigger thrombosis, leading to heart infarcts (attacks) and strokes.

Inflammation and Cancer

Similarly, chronic inflammation is a necessary component for cancer formation and progression. The so-called “tumor microenvironment” – largely controlled by inflammatory cells – plays an active role in the growth, survival, and spread of cancer cells.

The tumor microenvironment is the environment in which the tumor exists and usually includes blood vessels, immune cells such as lymphocytes, inflammatory cells, and various signaling molecules.

Curcumin has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for inflammatory conditions. This is supported by scientific research published in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, which shows that curcumin fights inflammation by interacting with and blocking the actions of a number of different molecules that play a role in the inflammatory process.

Results from the Phase IIa Clinical Trial of Curcumin for the Prevention of Colorectal Neoplasia indicate that curcumin is well tolerated, with only mild gastrointestinal disturbances. In other words, turmeric’s health benefits don’t come with a laundry list of side effects, like many mainstream drugs do.

Fighting Free Radicals and Boosting Natural Antioxidants with Turmeric

Free radicals are highly reactive chemicals that are formed daily in our bodies as a result of normal biological metabolic activity. However, thanks to the ever-increasing levels of toxic chemical pollution in our environment, we’re now being bombarded with many more free radical attacks than ever before.

Free radicals can damage cellular structures including the outer protective cell membrane, cellular proteins, and even DNA – paving the way for chronic diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and cancer to develop. Free radical damage is also believed to contribute significantly to the aging process.

According to Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, Turmeric contains powerful curcuminoid antioxidants which can neutralize harmful free radicals and minimize the damage they cause in our bodies.

Not only that, but in a 2013 study published in Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, turmeric was shown to enhance the activity of our body’s natural antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase.

SOD helps to break down and inactivate harmful superoxide radicals. Catalase protects our cells from oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are a type of harmful free radical that contains oxygen. Similarly, the main biological role of glutathione peroxidase is to protect our cells from oxidative damage.

In other words, the antioxidant benefits of turmeric include neutralization of free radicals as well as enhancing the activity of natural enzymes in our body that also inactivate them.

Can Turmeric Help Protect Against Many Types of Cancer?

Extensive research indicates that the health benefits of turmeric may include both prevention and treatment of cancer.

In studies, curcumin has been shown to block the proliferation of a wide variety of tumor cells by turning off multiple molecular mechanisms that otherwise allow them to grow uncontrollably.

Some researchers believe curcumin may interfere with up to a hundred different cell signaling pathways – including those of the cell cycle, apoptosis (programmed cell death), proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels to support tumor growth), metastasis, and inflammation.

Not surprisingly perhaps, curcumin has been reported to have anti-cancer activity against leukemia, melanomas, sarcomas and lymphomas – as well as against gastrointestinal, breast, ovarian, head and neck, and lung cancers.

Evidence also suggests that curcumin may even help to prevent cancer from developing at all. In a 2012 Phase II clinical trial published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, curcumin was given to 44 smokers daily for 30 days, with 8 of them already showing lesions in the colon that sometimes turn into colorectal cancer.

Of the 41 subjects that completed the study, 4 grams of curcumin given daily reduced the number of lesions by 40%, reducing the likelihood that they will develop colorectal cancer.

How Can You Get Enough Curcumin?

One of the major problems with curcumin is that it’s poorly absorbed in our gut. Also curcumin is fat soluble, but not water soluble. So it’s advisable to consume it in a meal cooked with a high-quality fat source such as extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil.

How Much Curcumin Is in Turmeric?

The curcumin content of turmeric is only around 3% by weight – which is why most studies looking at turmeric’s health benefits use extracts that have been standardized to include large amounts of curcumin, usually at doses of 1 gram per day or even more.

It would be very difficult to consume such a high dose of curcumin every day solely from the turmeric present in curry dishes. To help take advantage of the many diverse health benefits being credited to turmeric, you may wish to consume a proven, reliable extract containing significant amounts of curcumin that is more available to your body.