Should I Take Turmeric?

Have you been wondering about whether or not you should take Turmeric because it was recommended by your doctor, or you have seen it advertised?  I find this a bit annoying because it is indiscriminately recommended for everyone.  So, let’s look at what it’s for.

Turmeric is an Indian spice and can be used as an herbal supplement.  It contains Curcumin, the primary chemical constituent that gives it its anti-inflammatory properties along with its yellow color.  It widely used as one of the spices in curry powder.  It has become very popular, and is widely recommended as a dietary aid for inflammation and pain.  Some people have questions about it, and they wonder whether or not they should be taking it.  It may help if I break down its uses, and clarify when it wouldn’t be appropriate for someone to take it.

In Chinese Medicine this herb is called Jiang Huang (Turmeric).  Its flavors are spicy, bitter, and has an energetic warming affect on the body.

This herb helps blood circulation, and breaks up coagulation that may be the cause of pain related to traumatic injury, and it helps speed healing.  It moves Qi-energy of the liver, which means that it protects the liver from toxins, has antioxidant qualities, lowers cholesterol, reduces menstrual pain, and  decongests the liver.  The bitter and warming qualities improves joint swelling, shrinks uterine tumors, dissolves gallstones, and improves ligament flexibility.    Dosage as a single herb is 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. daily.  It is best when taken along with cinnamon bark (Rou Gui) or cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi) for dysmenorrhea, or joint pain such as in the shoulders.  It is usually added as an adjunct herb to enhance effects for relieving menstrual pain in an herbal formula such as Bupleurum and Dang Gui (Xiao Yao Wan) for instance.

This herb is not for you if you have blood deficiency without stagnant Qi-energy or blood stasis.  This means you don’t experience localized pain of a deep, sharp and piercing nature and inflammation that is worse at night, that is swollen, or you don’t have palpable solid, immobile masses, dark complexion, purple lips, fragile dry hair and skin, a purple tongue with purple spots.  If you feel weak, exhausted, have a pale complexion, experience light thin menstrual blood flow during your periods, dizziness, pale tongue or conjunctiva this herb is not for you.  Use caution if you are taking an anti-coagulant, anti-platelet medication.

I hope this helps?

*How Herbs are Prescribed in Chinese Medicine

*Let me start by saying that using herbs and spices in your cooking for flavoring is not necessarily the same thing as taking them as an herbal supplement.  Although, there may be some dietary value, there is not necessarily a therapeutic value that comes with potency and dosage. The spices and herbs found in your spice isle of the supermarket are going to be of a different quality, grade, and concentration than that found in an herbal tea or supplement.  Chinese Herbalists use high quality pharmaceutical grade herbs with high potency and bio-availability along with correct species identification.  The dosage matters as well.  In addition, herbs aren’t typically given singly, they are compounded together in a balanced formula that may include anywhere from two to ten or more herbs.  This way each herb works in a synergistic manner, and counteracts any negative affects.  This is much safer than taking only one ingredient long term.  As an example, you will find quite often that fresh ginger (Sheng Jiang), honey-fried licorice (Zhi Gan Cao), and red dates (Da Zao) are added to formulas to protect your stomach, and to harmonize all of the ingredients together.  Chinese Angelica Root (Dang Gui) is often combined with Ligusticum (Chuan Xiong), and White Peony (Bai Shao) to nourish blood, regulate the movement of blood, and sooth PMS symptoms and pain without causing too much thinning of blood, hemorrhage, or blood stasis and coagulation.  The flavors of bitter, sweet, spicy, salty, or sour as well as the energetic temperature of hot, warm, cooling, cold, have beneficial qualities on the body.  The herb’s flavors and temperature are taken into consideration when choosing an appropriate herbal remedy per one’s constitution.  Curcumin (Yu Jin) is spicy, bitter and cooling on the body.  Thus, it may not be for everyone.  You would need to consult with an expert herbalist that can evaluate your constitutional pattern of disharmony and recommend an appropriate herbal formula.

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We all have stress. Stress at work, stress at home, stress, stress, stress. And most of us know how harmful chronic stress can be to our bodies and minds. Stress can cause us to be fatigued, irritable, sad, restless, anxious and unmotivated. It can also lead to detrimental habits like smoking, drinking, drug usage and overeating.

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13 Habits for Good Health

General Philosophy of Chinese Medicine and Healthy Eating

-Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) meals focus on whole plant foods including vegetables, beans, sea vegetables, rice, millet, and other grains, with smaller amounts of animal foods such as meat, poultry, and fish than the typical American diet.

-Animal products, fats, oils, are considered concentrated foods; so, although, individual needs vary for animal products, it generally takes a smaller amount than plant foods for balanced health.

There are some General Food Rules for Balanced Health for all constitutional types and patterns of imbalance.  These guidelines help to Balance and prevent the signs of weak, damp spleen-pancreas Qi and poor digestion.  Spleen-pancreas Qi is explained further below.

-Most food in TCM can be used therapeutically depending on quantity (dose dependent), quality, season, and needs of the person.  This even includes coffee and chocolate.

-When out of balance, or when a pattern of disharmony is present, Chinese Medicine (TCM) emphasizes specific foods and restricts others to balance the organs and pattern of disharmony contributing to signs of discomfort and disease.

First, it is imperative to understand what healthy digestion is before any guidelines can make sense.

-Good Digestion is Good Spleen-Pancreas Qi, it

Requires appropriate food choices for one’s individual body pattern.  Each person may differ in physical needs, mental, emotional tendencies; we each respond differently to foods.

Foods we think are good for us can lead to digestive and other health problems if we are unable to assimilate them properly.

Good habits to engender good digestion and spleen Qi:  for Balanced Health for all constitutional types and patterns of imbalance.  These guidelines help to Balance and prevent the signs of weak, damp spleen-pancreas Qi and poor digestion.  These are good habits and foods to eat regularly.

             Follow the 80/20 rule, ALWAYS!

1. Fill your plate with 80% greens and vegetables, 20% proteins and good fats.
2. Stop eating when you’re 80% full.
3. Eat 3 regular meals each day; develop a routine with 25% food intake at breakfast, 50% at lunch, and 25% at dinner.
4. Take time out for relaxation
5. Enjoy meals in a calm state, don’t eat standing up or while working or reading.
6. Chew food thoroughly, eat slowly, it takes 20 min. for your stomach to know it’s full.
7. Choose foods appropriate for your constitution
8. Most meals should be warm
9. Most meals should provide a balance of 5 flavors or tastes, sour, bitter, sweet/bland, spicy/pungent, salty, and vary the types of foods you eat; 20% each.
10. Most meals should provide a balance of 5 colors, reds, yellow-oranges, greens, purple-dark, white-tan; 20% each.
11. Meals should leave you feeling satisfied but not full. 80/20 rule
12. Regular sleep patterns
13. Regular exercise, at least 3-5 times per week.

We are all busy during this time of year.  Thus, there is no better time than now to address our immunity, digestion, stress, and emotional balance.

Here are some ways on how you can feel your best during this holiday season using Chinese Herbal teas (pharmaceutical grade concentrated herbal granule extracts) and Essential Oils (Use only CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® essential oils from doTERRA).

For Immune support, and transition from feeling lonely or sad

Cinnamon Tea (Gui Zhi Tang):  To support your immunity, and strengthen your metal-lung energy.  Dose 3g mixed with a cup of warm water once or twice per week (Build Immunity).

Frankincense, cardamom, OnGuard® Protective blend:  Diminish feelings of grief, loss, loneliness and move to a place of harmony with inspiration, purity, worthiness, responsibility, honesty, sincerity and feeling connected to the divine.  Apply over lung area, heart center (on center of breast bone), bottom of feet, over third eye (on forehead between eyebrows), or inhale the aroma.  

For Digestive Support, and transition from worry, anxious feelings, and lethargy

Six Gentlemen Decoction with Aucklandia (Xiang Xia Liu Jun Zi Tang):  To support healthy digestion, fluid metabolism, and nutrient absorption.  Dose 3g mixed with a cup of warm water three times per day.

Cinnamon, ginger and geranium:  Diminish feelings of neediness, worry, anxiety, brooding, obsession, domineering, intrusiveness, self-centered, sluggish, stuck, unmotivated, lethargy.  Move to a place feeling stable, grounded, nourished, motivated, sympathetic, with clear thinking, ability to study, and independence.  Apply over and under left rib cage, arch of feet, mid-line of upper and lower abdomen or smell the aroma.  Other oil ideas are:

DigestZen® digestive blend).  As needed to aid in digestive sluggishness or occasional stomach upset.

For rebellious stomach energy (which is going the wrong way up instead of down), or soothe symptoms associated with H. Pylori, try:

Ginger essential oil 2 to 4 drops to 1 cup of hot water

1. Add 2 to 4 drops of ginger essential oil into the hot water.
2. Allow it to stay for about 30 minutes.
3. Stir the drink.
4. Drink the mixture 20 minutes before your meal.

Precaution: Do not take aspirin for at least 2 hours after the intake of ginger

Peppermint essential oil, 1 drop to 1/2 tsp. organic raw apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp. organic raw unpasteurized honey, mixed with a glass of warm water.  Sip slowly every morning before you eat or drink anything else.

Wild orange essential oil 1 drop mixed with 1 tsp. raw organic unpasteurized honey, added to warm water.

For constitutional support and transition from feelings of overwhelm

Eight Flavor Tea with Rehmannia (Ba Wei Di Huang Wan):  To reinforce Yang-vital function, generate warmth for constitutional and kidney support as well as growth, development, and proper aging.  Dose 3g mixed with warm water three times per day.

Douglas fir, white fir, and basil: Douglas fir is the oil from the Christmas tree, a symbol of new beginnings.  Together with white fir and basil diminish feelings of dread, fear, intimidation, and overwhelm.  Move to a space of resolve, drive, aspiration, will power, wisdom, endurance, appropriate fear, and courage.  Apply over adrenals, ovaries, lower chin, below belly button, bottoms of feet, spine, or back of the neck.

Support For Fat, Chemical Metabolism and Transition from feelings of frustration, anger, or repression

Rambling Powder (Xiao Yao Wan):  Harmonize functions of liver and spleen, relieve stagnation of vital Qi-energy of Liver, replenish blood.  Releases emotional constraint, irritability, frustration, depression, anger, short temper, resentment, stress, and poor coping abilities.  Dose 3g three times per day.

Thyme and Wintergreen:  Diminish feelings or behaviors of excessive or inappropriate anger, rage, violence, aggression, frustration, irritation, tension, controlling, inflexible, snapping, or disorganized.  Move to a place of creativity, innovation, organized planning, knowing direction, clear vision with determination to achieve goals, flexibility and able to adapt to circumstances, able to assert yourself, true to oneself.  Apply over right rib cage, top of foot on web between big and second toes.

For Warmth, Circulation, and Transition from feeling overstimulated, anxious, sad, or apathetic

Restore the Spleen Tea (Gui Pi Wan):  Help ease symptoms of withdrawal, forgetfulness, anxiety, worry, overthinking, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep.  Dose 3g morning and evening, take on an empty stomach for best effects.

Rosemary, ylang-ylang, clove, and rose:  Diminish feelings of apathy, loss of laughter, no joy, flat affect, discouragement, despondency, despair, nervous exhaustion, lack of intimacy, heart break, over-elation, over-excitement, overzealous, or panic.  Find space for loving and feeling loved, sharing, passion, and confidence.  Place oils over heart center, inner wrist and elbow creases, and third eye.

For your own customized herbal tea or your own doTERRA essential oils please call (858) 613-0792

Happy Holidays to you and your family

Dr. Michele Arnold-Pirtle