Turmeric – The “Plant Gold” in the Field of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Turmeric – The “Plant Gold” in the Field of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Turmeric, with its distinctive golden color and remarkable medicinal properties, holds a prestigious position in the realm of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), earning the moniker “the qi – regulating herb for blood disorders.” Derived from the rhizomes of plants in the Zingiberaceae family, turmeric is not only a staple spice in Southeast Asian cuisine but also a renowned blood – activating wonder documented in Compendium of Materia Medica. Spanning from its traditional uses in treating qi stagnation and blood stasis to contemporary anti – inflammatory research, turmeric, with its pungent, dispersing, and warm nature, serves as a prime example of the connection between traditional medicine and modern science. This article delves into the medicinal wisdom and practical applications of turmeric in daily life.

1. Basic Information of Turmeric

• Taste, Nature, and Meridian Tropism: Turmeric is warm in nature, pungent and bitter in taste, and acts on the spleen, liver, and pericardium meridians.
• Efficacy: It has the effects of promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, regulating qi to relieve pain, dispelling wind and dampness, and reducing swelling and resolving nodules.
• Usage: For oral administration, it can be decocted with a dosage of 3 – 10 grams, or made into pills or powders. (Contraindicated during pregnancy.) For external use, it can be ground into powder and mixed for application or made into ointments to treat traumatic swelling and pain and the initial stage of carbuncles.

2. Origin and Folklore of Turmeric

• Origin: Native to tropical regions of Southeast Asia, in China, it is mainly produced in Sichuan, Fujian, Guangdong and other places. The “Chuan Turmeric” from Qianwei, Sichuan is of the best quality, featuring large rhizomes, orange – red cross – sections, and a strong aroma.
• Folk Wisdom:
  • Dietary Culture: In Ayurvedic medicine of India, “Golden Milk” (a blend of turmeric powder, warm milk, and black pepper) has been a traditional anti – inflammatory beverage for thousands of years.
  • Healing Tradition: In southern Fujian, turmeric powder is often mixed with rice wine and applied topically to alleviate swelling from acute sprains and contusions.
  • Cultural Significance: The Dai ethnic group uses turmeric as a natural dye for coloring Buddhist robes and festival fabrics. Its pigment components also have the functions of repelling insects and inhibiting bacteria.

3. Differences between Turmeric and Similar Plants

• Are Turmeric and Ginger the Same? Although turmeric and ginger share similar names and appearances and both belong to the Zingiberaceae family, they are distinct plants. Turmeric is derived from Curcuma longa, while ginger comes from Zingiber officinale.
• Turmeric and Curcuma Aromatica – Different Medicinal Parts, Different Efficacy Turmeric and Curcuma aromatica are different medicinal parts of the same plant, Curcuma longa. Turmeric is the dried rhizome, while Curcuma aromatica (specifically, the tuberous root called Huangsi Curcuma) has different properties. Turmeric is warm in nature, while Curcuma aromatica is cold. They both have the effect of promoting blood circulation and relieving pain for qi stagnation and blood stasis syndromes. However, Curcuma aromatica can clear heart heat, be used for febrile diseases with coma, epilepsy with phlegm obstruction, and can also reduce qi and stop bleeding for hematemesis and epistaxis caused by qi – fire reversal, as well as promote gallbladder function to relieve jaundice. Turmeric, on the other hand, is excellent at dispelling wind and dredging the collaterals, especially in relieving pain in the limbs and arms, and can be used externally for sores and swelling.

4. Records in Ancient Medical Texts

• Newly Revised Materia Medica states: “It mainly treats accumulations in the heart and abdomen, counteracts pathogenic qi, promotes qi – descending and blood – breaking, dispels wind – heat, and reduces swelling of carbuncles.”
• Compendium of Materia Medica records: “Turmeric, with a pungent and bitter taste, warm nature, and yellow color, acts on the hand and foot Taiyin meridians (spleen and lung) and Jueyin meridian (liver). It treats wind – dampness – induced arm pain, promotes qi movement and blood circulation, and regulates qi stagnation in the blood.”
• Systematic Explanation of the Materia Medica explains: “Turmeric, with its pungent property for dispersion, bitter property for purging, and warm property for free flow, mainly treats accumulations in the heart and abdomen and pathogenic qi – related disorders (such as sudden chest pain), promotes qi – descending and blood – breaking…”

5. Classical Formulas: The Wisdom of Compatibility for Promoting Blood Circulation

• Jianghuang Powder (from Complete Record of Holy Benevolence ): Composed of 15 grams of turmeric, 15 grams of Angelica sinensis, 10 grams of Aucklandia lappa, and 10 grams of Lindera aggregata. It is applicable for chest and rib stabbing pain and abdominal distension caused by qi stagnation and blood stasis. It can be decocted for oral administration or ground into powder and taken with warm wine.
• Juanbi Decoction (from Insight into Medicine ): Formulated with 10 grams of turmeric, 12 grams of Notopterygium incisum, 15 grams of Angelica sinensis, 10 grams of Paeonia lactiflora, 10 grams of Saposhnikovia divaricata, and 6 grams of honey – fried Glycyrrhiza uralensis. It has the functions of dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation, and dredging the collaterals, mainly treating shoulder and arm pain and limited mobility caused by wind – cold – dampness pathogens blocking the meridians.
• Modified Danshen Drink (a clinical experience formula): Consisting of 12 grams of turmeric, 30 grams of Salvia miltiorrhiza, 6 grams of Santalum album (added later), and 6 grams of Amomum villosum (added later). It can promote qi and blood circulation, remove blood stasis, and relieve pain, and is suitable for patients with coronary heart disease and angina pectoris belonging to the qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome.

6. Efficacy Applications

• Dysmenorrhea of Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis Type: 3 grams of turmeric powder (finely ground) mixed with 15 grams of brown sugar, taken with warm water 3 – 5 days before menstruation and continuously for 5 days.
• Periarthritis of the Shoulder (Syndrome of Wind – Cold – Dampness Obstruction): 15 grams of turmeric, 30 grams of Morus alba twigs, and 12 grams of Notopterygium incisum are decocted, and the hot liquid is used to fumigate and wash the shoulder twice a day.
• Fatty Liver (Syndrome of Phlegm – Dampness and Blood Stasis Obstruction): Under the guidance of a professional doctor, standardized curcumin preparations (containing 95% curcumin, with a daily dosage of 250 – 500mg) can be taken, combined with 10 grams of Crataegus pinnatifida and 10 grams of Cassia obtusifolia boiled in water for drinking instead of tea.
• Traumatic Bruises and Swelling: An appropriate amount of turmeric powder is mixed with honey or petrolatum to form an ointment, which is applied externally to the affected area (avoiding broken skin), and the dressing is changed once a day.

7. Modern Scientific Research

• The Golden Value of Curcumin: The core components of turmeric include curcuminoids, such as curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bis – demethoxycurcumin, accounting for about 3 – 6% of the total components. Curcumin is the main active ingredient, which exerts its effect by inhibiting the NF – κB inflammatory pathway. The volatile oil contains turmerone, ar – turmerone, etc., which can enhance the lipid – solubility and bioavailability of curcumin.
• Pharmacological Research:
  • Anti – Inflammatory and Anti – Cancer: Multiple pre – clinical studies have shown that curcumin can induce apoptosis of tumor cells and has potential inhibitory effects on colorectal cancer, breast cancer, etc.
  • Joint Protection: Randomized controlled trials have indicated that curcumin extracts are as effective as ibuprofen in relieving pain in rheumatoid arthritis, with fewer gastrointestinal side effects.
  • Neuroprotection: Animal experiments have found that curcumin can cross the blood – brain barrier, inhibit the deposition of β – amyloid protein, and delay the pathological process of Alzheimer’s disease.

8. Health – Preserving Diet Recipes Based on the Concept of Medicine and Food Sharing the Same Source

• Anti – Inflammatory Golden Milk (Modified Ayurvedic Version): Heat 200ml of almond milk or coconut milk until it simmers, then add 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder, black pepper, and coconut oil. Stir well before drinking. Piperine in black pepper can increase the absorption rate of curcumin by about 20 times.
• Blood – Activating and Body – Warming Tea: Use 5 grams of turmeric slices (or 3 grams of turmeric powder), 6 pitted red dates, and 3 slices of ginger. Boil them and then simmer for 10 minutes. Drink it as tea.
• Turmeric – Roasted Chickpea Salad: Soak and cook chickpeas, then mix them with turmeric powder, olive oil, and salt for seasoning. Roast in an oven at 180°C for 20 minutes. Combine with kale, carrot shreds, cherry tomatoes, and dress with lemon juice and Dijon mustard sauce.

9. Precautions for Consumption

• Contraindicated for Pregnant Women: Turmeric has a strong effect on promoting blood circulation and regulating qi, which may stimulate uterine contractions, especially in the early stages of pregnancy.
• Caution for Those with Yin Deficiency and Exuberant Fire: People with symptoms such as dry mouth and throat, hot flashes, night sweats, and constipation should use it with caution. Long – term and excessive use may exacerbate the heat symptoms.
• Drug Interactions: When used simultaneously with anticoagulants such as warfarin and aspirin, it may increase the risk of bleeding. It is recommended to take them with an interval of more than 2 hours. For patients with gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers, it should be used with caution. If necessary, it is advisable to combine it with herbs such as Paeonia lactiflora and Glycyrrhiza uralensis to relieve pain.

From the description of “promoting qi – descending and blood – breaking” in Newly Revised Materia Medica to the modern – day molecular mechanism research on curcumin, turmeric has withstood the test of time over thousands of years, verifying the scientific value of the concept of “medicine and food sharing the same source.” Whether used for regulating qi and blood stasis or as an antioxidant food in daily life, this “golden herb” should be used rationally under the guidance of syndrome differentiation.

Tips: High – quality turmeric has firm rhizomes, bright orange – red cross – sections, and a pungent and fragrant smell. Avoid sulfur – fumigated products with gray – white cross – sections, faint odors, or sour smells. The formulas described in this article should be used based on syndrome differentiation. Please follow the doctor’s advice for specific applications.

References

• Bensky, D., Clavey, S., & Stöger, E. (2004). Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica. Eastland Press. This comprehensive materia medica provides in – depth knowledge about turmeric’s properties, functions, and traditional uses.
• Aggarwal, B. B., Sung, B., & Kim, J. H. (2007). Curcumin: Getting back to the roots. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1119, 88 – 100. This research article explores the scientific basis of curcumin’s anti – inflammatory and anti – cancer properties, which are important aspects of turmeric’s modern – day applications.
• Kuttan, G., & Kuttan, R. (1985). Immunomodulatory and therapeutic effects of curcumin. Cancer Letters, 29(3), 197 – 202. It offers insights into the immunomodulatory role of curcumin, which is relevant to turmeric’s overall health – promoting effects.