Indications

Musculoskeletal
• arthritis
- osteoarthritis (OA)
- rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• osteoporosis
• plantar fasciitis

Gastrointestinal
• poor digestion (abdominal pain, bloating, cramping)
- dyspepsia
- colic
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• inflammation and catarrh of the alimentary tract
- gastritis
- peptic ulcer (H. pylori)
- infectious diarrhea
- ulcerative colitis
- inflammatroy bowel disease (IBD)
- HIV-associated diarrhea
- diverticulitis

Hepatobiliary
• atonic biliary conditions
- cholestasis
- cholelithiasis (gallstones)
- cholecystitis
- biliary dyskinesia
• non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Cardiovascular
• hyperlipidemia
• atherosclerosis
• coronary artery disease
• stroke

Infection
• bacterial
• viral
- Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) - mononucleosis
• fungal (candidiasis)

Dermatologic
• fungal infections (dermatophytes)
- Tinea pedis
• viral infection
- herpes simplex virus (HSV)
• bruises
• psoriasis

Nervous
• neurodegenerative disorders
- Parkinson's disease
- Alzheimer's disease
• multiple sclerosis (MS)
• carpal tunnel syndrome*

Cancer
• prostate cancer
• breast cancer
• ovarian cancer
• multiple myeloma
• pancreatic cancer
• colon cancer

Endorine
• pancreatitis

Gynecological
• endometriosis

Actions

• antiinflammatory
• antirheumatic
• carminative
• anticancer
• antioxidant
• antispasmodic
• antiemetic
• vulnerary
• hepatoprotective
• antiseptic
• antimicrobial
• antiviral
• antithrombotic

Constituents

• Polyphenols (e.g. curcuminoids: curcumin)
• Essential oils

Posology

• Liquid extract (1:1 45% EtOH): 1-3 tsp tid
• Decoction (dried herb): 1-2 tsp qd

Safety

Pregnancy: Safe when consumed as directed.

High doses: May relax lower esophageal sphincter (LES) tone and lead to heartburn (e.g. GERD, reflux); due to carminatives.

References

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Barnes J, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines, 3rd ed. London: Pharmaceutical Press, 2007.

Bone K. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 2000.

Bone K. A Clinical Guide to Blending Liquid Herbs: Herbal Formulations for the Individual Patient. St Louis, MO: Churchill Livingstone, 2003.

Brinker F. The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines, 3rd ed. Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications, 2000.

Felter HW, Lloyd JU. King's American Dispensatory. 1898. http://www.ibiblio.org/herbmed/eclectic/kings/main.html. Accessed: August 19, 2006.

Hoffman D. Medical Herbalism. Rochester, Vermont: Healing Arts Press, 2003.

Weiss RF. Herbal Medicine. Beaconsfield, England: Beaconsfield Publishers Ltd, 1988.

Williamson EM, ed. Major Herbs of Ayurveda. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 2002