Trying Turmeric
from Sherry S.

Hi Ed:  Yesterday a friend suggested I try turmeric as a topical, so I'm on line reading about it.  She suggested not buying it at Safeway but going to an organic store, which means I'll get it when I have other things to do down in Berkeley, a half  hour away, maybe later this week.

She said a friend of hers mixed it with lime juice and “cured” his psoriasis.  I think lime juice is too caustic for me, but I'll find something to mix it with that I like better, maybe olive oil.

Here are two paragraphs from an article about it at http://www.bri.ucla.edu/bri_weekly/news_060206.asp

The uses of turmeric, some described in ancient Indian medical texts, are indeed numerous. Indians put the spice on their Band-Aids as a disinfectant (Johnson & Johnson even makes turmeric Band-Aids for the Indian market) and sprinkle the powder on wounds to help them heal faster. People gargle with turmeric when they have laryngitis and rub it on the skin to cure cuts and psoriasis.  They swallow it to treat bronchitis and chronic diseases such as diabetes....

Dr. Madalene Heng, a Ventura County-based dermatologist, is already marketing a curcumin-based product. She has developed Psoria-Gold, a topical ointment that she says will treat psoriasis, acne and rosacea. A 6-ounce vial costs $89.95, but Heng says the cream is so potent even in small doses that it will last six months. One treatment for psoriasis will make the skin disease disappear, Heng claims.

And, she says, it will even smooth away wrinkles.  -Original source: http://www.latimes.com

I must admit that the line about smoothing away wrinkles makes me think she's peddling snake oil.  But at NPF came this encouraging thread with a lot of praise for Dr. Heng: http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21471

Via flakehq.com, searching Turmeric, I located www.RaySahelian.com and found psoriasis mentioned on the turmeric page but not on the curcumin page — kind of odd.

This is more than enough, Ed, especially if you've checked out the stuff already.  When I buy it (turmeric/circumin or curcumin), I'll try it on a few spots and let you know if it helps or hurts.  If you've had experience with it, good or bad, let me know, okay?  -Sherry S.

*****

Ed’s Response: Thanks for sharing the good research, Sherry. I haven’t tried it myself, so am looking forward to your report. 

P.S. to Readers:  Sherry S(heehan) is FlakeHQ's Poet Laureate, click here for her page at FlakeHQ.com.

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