Medical practices and products can be grouped into two. These include standard medical care and complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). The former entails medicine that is furthered by individuals that have either a medical doctor (M.D) or doctor of osteopathy (D.O) degree. Standard medical care is also practised by such health professionals as psychologists, physician assistants, and registered nurses ( Söllner et al., 2000 ). This form of medical health is also referred to as allopathic, mainstream, biomedicine, orthodox, western, or regular medicine. Practicing standard medicine does not prevent one from practicing CAM. Thus, in some cases, medical care practitioners may practice both ( Lewis et al., 2003 ). Complementary medicine, on the other hand, refers to treatments that may be used in combination with standard medical treatments though they are not standard treatments per se. An excellent example in this regard is acupuncture which is used to reduce the side effects of cancer treatment. Lastly, alternative medicine entails treatments can be used in place of standard medical treatments. This can be exemplified by the use of particular diets in treating cancer as opposed to anticancer drugs as prescribed by an oncologist. Thus, CAM refers to the practices and products that deviate from standard medical care. In this paper, I will highlight the integration of a CAM into my life. In particular, it will cover the putting of one spoon of smoothie in my smoothie every morning.
Turmeric, also scientifically referred to as Curcuma domestica or Curcuma longa falls under the family of ginger or Zingiberaceae. It is often thought to have its origins in the Indian sub-continent. Thus, the plant is grown commercially in China, India, as well as numerous regions in South Asia ( Singletary, 2010 ). The plant is famous for its culinary use as one of the critical components of curry powder. However, in the United States (U.S) it is used as a food additive and thus is available commercially at a low cost. Consequently, it has been adopted as a coloring agent and is used in such items as yellow mustards, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics (Lewis et al., 2003). It is also used to make dyes that are used for fur or hair. Turmeric is used extensively in indigenous systems of medicine.
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In Indian-based Ayurvedic and Chinese indigenous systems of medicine, turmeric has been used for centuries to treat numerous inflammatory diseases and conditions. In India, turmeric is traditionally used to treat muscular and arthritic disorders, wounds, skin diseases, and liver problems. However, in China, the therapy has been adopted as a topical analgesic or pain killer and thus treats various conditions including hepatitis, colic, flatulence, ringworm, and chest pain ( Singletary, 2010 ). In Europe, curcumin, a constituent of turmeric is used in relieving dyspeptic conditions. Notable among these conditions include the feeling of fullness that are experienced postprandial, gallbladder and liver complaints, and loss of appetite ( Singletary, 2010 ). Further, curcumin is used in treating chronic anterior uveitis and rheumatoid arthritis. It is also used in treating smallpox, conjunctivitis, chickenpox and skin cancer. When used in conjunction with neem turmeric can treat scabies.
Scholars argue that the use of Turmeric has spanned 4,000 years with a broad variety of conditions being treated in the process. Generally, turmeric helps in fighting various infections and cancers, managing digestive problems, and reducing inflammation ( Chattopadhyay et al., 2004 ). Numerous studies have been conducted in animals and test tubes. In some instances, an injectable form of curcumin has been used. While results of the different studies have sometimes given conflicting results, there is a consensus about the therapeutic use of turmeric among other applications. The plant is used widely in cooking. Indians use it in their curries owing to its yellow color and flavor. It is also used to color cheese and butter, as well as in mustard. Curcumin acts as a powerful antioxidant. These are elements that scavenge molecules in the human body acting as free radicals. The radicals are responsible for damaging cell membranes, tampering with the DNA, and ultimately causing death. The antioxidants are responsible for fighting free radicals and at the same time reduce or aid in preventing the damage that may be caused by the radicals ( Mishra & Palanivelu . 2008 ). Further, curcumin is vital in lowering the levels of two enzymes in the human body that are responsible for causing inflammation. It also plays a critical role in stopping platelets from clumping together, in which case this leads to the formation of blood clots.
Informed by the above, my chosen therapy is the addition of one spoon of turmeric in my smoothie each morning. Various factors informed the decision to embrace this therapy. Firstly, it is based on my understanding that turmeric is anti-inflammatory. Through curcumin, the therapy is able to assist me in developing healthy inflammation responses. The need for this is anchored on the fact that the conventional diet in the developed world comprises of such components as processed foods, alcohol, and sugars. Consumption of such foods results in chronic inflammation which has severe adverse effects ( Chainani-Wu , 2003 ). In particular, inflammation makes the body susceptible to such diseases as obesity, cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s ( Mishra & Palanivelu . 2008; Robotin & Penman , 2006) . Thus, by taking a spoon of turmeric every day, I am in a position to reduce inflammation considerably.
Turmeric plays a vital role in promoting the health of both the heart and the entire cardiovascular system. Given the numerous lifestyle conditions and factors that are likely to cause heart disease, taking turmeric shields against heart attacks or heart disease. Particularly, turmeric improves the endothelium ( Singletary, 2010 ). When this feature, which is also the lining of blood vessels is not working optimally, regulation of blood pressure and clotting become a challenge, hence increasing the risk of heart disease onset. Turmeric also promotes maintenance of cholesterol at healthy levels. Elevated cholesterol levels are caused by oxidative stress which also closely associated with chronic inflammation and high levels of blood sugar.
Living in the 21 st century is associated with increased stress levels. This fact informs my daily intake of turmeric. Owing to curcumin, turmeric acts as an adaptogen which is vital in counteracting the adverse effects of day-to-day stress on the human body ( Singletary, 2010 ). By taking turmeric, I boost my capacity to modulate the production of stress hormones. Consequently, I am better placed to adapt to both emotional and physical stress. This is crucial in increasing my resilience to the inevitable challenges that I'm likely to face daily. Moreover, I can maintain a healthy hormonal balance. Another important motivation for embracing turmeric as an alternative therapy is its role in supporting a healthy metabolism. Specifically, the plant helps in the maintenance of normal levels of sugar. Due to this attribute, turmeric is very useful in the treatment of diabetes ( Singletary, 2010 ). Curcumin aids in stabilizing the levels of glucose in the blood and thus actively addresses diabetes-related complications. The agent may also reduce the likelihood of development of diabetes particular in high risk individuals.
My ability to perform adequately deliver on my daily pursuits is dependent on my ability to maintain a healthy body. Turmeric helps me achieve this by facilitating the optimization of my vitality. The therapy, by fighting excess free radicals, promotes health by preventing cell damage ( Chattopadhyay et al., 2004 ). The antioxidants also help in this ultimately preventing development of neurodegenerative ailments among other disorders. This is an important attribute given that modern diets are comprised of processed foods. Besides the above, the other reasons for my daily intake of turmeric include its ability to promote brain health, skin vitality, regulate mood, enhancing digestion, healthy joints and mobility. Overall, the adoption of turmeric as an alternative therapy has been significantly beneficial to various aspects of my health.
References
Chainani-Wu, N. (2003). Safety and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin: a component of tumeric (Curcuma longa). The Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine , 9 (1), 161-168.
Chattopadhyay, I., Biswas, K., Bandyopadhyay, U., & Banerjee, R. K. (2004). Turmeric and curcumin: Biological actions and medicinal applications. CURRENT SCIENCE-BANGALORE- , 87 , 44-53.
Lewis, C. R., de Vedia, A., Reuer, B., Schwan, R., & Tourin, C. (2003). Integrating complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into standard hospice and palliative care. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® , 20 (3), 221-228.
Mishra, S., & Palanivelu, K. (2008). The effect of curcumin (turmeric) on Alzheimer's disease: An overview. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology , 11 (1), 13.
Robotin, M. C., & Penman, A. G. (2006). Integrating complementary therapies into mainstream cancer care: which way forward?. Medical Journal of Australia , 185 (7), 377-379.
Söllner, W., Maislinger, S., DeVries, A., Steixner, E., Rumpold, G., & Lukas, P. (2000). Use of complementary and alternative medicine by cancer patients is not associated with perceived distress or poor compliance with standard treatment but with active coping behavior: a survey. Cancer: Interdisciplinary International Journal of the American Cancer Society , 89 (4), 873-880.
Singletary, K. (2010). Turmeric: An overview of potential health benefits. Nutrition Today , 45 (5), 216-225.
