The power of Turmeric in beating depression

[Guest guest]

I put this on my PSSD site recently.

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Depression : Beat the blues with Curcumin

http://www.power-of-turmeric.com/curcumin-and-depression.html

Extract:

Depression : Beat the blues with Curcumin

Depression is a highly disabling affliction that targets an estimated 21% of the world's population (Schechter et al., 2005). It is an exceedingly common disorder and, sadly, the symptoms often go undiagnosed. A great number of studies have been carried out on the causes of depression and chronic stress is often implicated. Reports indicate that chronic stress perpetuate learned helplessness behavior and decreases hippocampal cell proliferation. Although the exact neural substrates underlying the disorder are still under investigation, the hippocampus has received much attention in psychosocial research paradigms.

Curcumin is the active ingredient in Curcuma Longa, more commonly known as the Asian yellow spice, Turmeric. Curcumin's many therapeutic properties include antioxidant, anti- inflammatory, immunodulatory and neuroprotective activities. Turmeric is well known as an ancient remedy used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. It is also the major constituent of Xiaoyao-san and Jieyu-wan, the traditional Chinese herbal medicines, which have been used to effectively manage stress and depression-related disorders in China. It is used to treat the symptoms of mental stress, hypochondriac pain and mania.

Curcumin's antidepressant activity has been attributed to its two primary effects. It is responsible for neurogenesis in the hippocampus and secondly, it raises the level of certain neurotransmitters that have been implicated in causing depression.

Recent studies show that stress-induced damage to hippocampal neurons may be the reason behind depression. Reductions in neurogenesis in the hippocampus and concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) generally result in stress, anxiety and depression. There are, however, a few ways to increase neurogenesis. These include high impact exercise, learning, bright light, and the use of antidepressants. Curcumin also positively affects neurogenesis.

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But it is very difficult to get curcumin, a component of turmeric, into the brain., but making a curry seems to help with its absorbtion. You can also wisk it in a blender with some oil and egg yok which seems to work fairly well, apparently. But don't despair because scientists discovered the powers of turmeric when they noticed that people that ate curry regurlary had less brain diseases, which means that some of the turmeric, or rather, cucumin, does enter the brain when eaten this way.

But if PSSD ever gets recognised we might even be able to try pure CNB- 001, a synthetic component derived from cucumin. I have been contacting some more jouranalists about PSSD recently, so fingers crossed

Another interesting fact is that too much cucumin in the brain (scientists inject animals with it) doesn't work that well, which means you need the right amount (a low dose). So small amount from a curry might be enough afterall.

http://www.bcenter.com/2011/04/spice-being-used-to-repair-brain-cells-after-stroke/

Extract:

A new semi synthetic molocule made from turneric called CNB-001can enter the brain which can then stimulate the regeneratrion of new brain cells.:

Scientists have created a new molecule from curcumin, the key chemical component of the spice turmeric. In laboratory experiments, the molecule was shown to affect the mechanisms that protect and regenerate brain cells after a stroke.

The new curcumin compound, called CNB-001, actually repairs stroke damage at the molecular level that feed and support the all-important brain cells, neurons.

The spice turmeric is known to have many health benefits, yet this is the first significant research to show that it could be beneficial to stroke patients by encouraging new cells to grow and preventing cell death after a stroke.

Kv

I put this out on my PSSD site recently.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Depression : Beat the blues with Curcumin

http://www.power-of-turmeric.com/curcumin-and-depression.html

Extract:

Depression is a highly disabling affliction that targets an estimated 21% of the world's population (Schechter et al., 2005). It is an exceedingly common disorder and, sadly, the symptoms often go undiagnosed. A great number of studies have been carried out on the causes of depression and chronic stress is often implicated. Reports indicate that chronic stress perpetuate learned helplessness behavior and decreases hippocampal cell proliferation. Although the exact neural substrates underlying the disorder are still under investigation, the hippocampus has received much attention in psychosocial research paradigms.

Curcumin is the active ingredient in Curcuma Longa, more commonly known as the Asian yellow spice, Turmeric. Curcumin's many therapeutic properties include antioxidant, anti- inflammatory, immunodulatory and neuroprotective activities. Turmeric is well known as an ancient remedy used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. It is also the major constituent of Xiaoyao-san and Jieyu-wan, the traditional Chinese herbal medicines, which have been used to effectively manage stress and depression-related disorders in China. It is used to treat the symptoms of mental stress, hypochondriac pain and mania.

Curcumin's antidepressant activity has been attributed to its two primary effects. It is responsible for neurogenesis in the hippocampus and secondly, it raises the level of certain neurotransmitters that have been implicated in causing depression.

Recent studies show that stress-induced damage to hippocampal neurons may be the reason behind depression. Reductions in neurogenesis in the hippocampus and concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) generally result in stress, anxiety and depression. There are, however, a few ways to increase neurogenesis. These include high impact exercise, learning, bright light, and the use of antidepressants. Curcumin also positively affects neurogenesis. The effect of Curcumin on neurogenesis was similar to the impact of exercise and environmental enrichment. Studies involving rats using the chronic unpredictable stress model of depression evinced antidepressant activity of Curcumin. In a 2006 study, the behavioral alterations and elevated serum corticosterone levels in chronically stressed rats were reversed by chronic Curcumin administration as compared to normal mice.

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But it is very difficult to get curcumin, a component of turmeric, into the brain., but making a curry seems to help with its absorbtion. You can also wisk it in a blender with some oil and egg yok which seems to work fairly well, apparently. But don't despair because scientists discovered the powers of turmeric when they noticed that people that ate curry regurlary had less brain diseases, which means that some of the turmeric, or rather, cucumin, does enter the brain when eaten this way.

But if PSSD ever gets recognised we might even be able to try pure CNB- 001, a semi synthetic derivative of cucumin. I have been contacting some more jouranalists about PSSD recently, so fingers crossed

Another interesting fact is that too much cucumin in the brain (scientists inject animals with it) doesn't work that well, which means you need the right amount, which happens to be a low dose. So a small amount from a curry might be enough afterall.

http://www.bcenter.com/2011/04/spice-being-used-to-repair-brain-cells-after-stroke/

Extract:

A new semi synthetic molocule made from turneric called CNB-001can enter the brain which can then stimulate the regeneratrion of new brain cells.:

Scientists have created a new molecule from curcumin, the key chemical component of the spice turmeric. In laboratory experiments, the molecule was shown to affect the mechanisms that protect and regenerate brain cells after a stroke.

The new curcumin compound, called CNB-001, actually repairs stroke damage at the molecular level that feed and support the all-important brain cells, neurons.

The spice turmeric is known to have many health benefits, yet this is the first significant research to show that it could be beneficial to stroke patients by encouraging new cells to grow and preventing cell death after a stroke.

Kv