SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the treatment of medical disorders and ailments comprising the administration of an effective amount of turmeric. Various disorders and ailments can be treated in accordance with the present invention, including skin conditions, gastrointestinal disturbances, pain, and other medically troublesome disorders. Treatment with turmeric is an effective method to achieve rapid relief naturally. In another aspect of the invention, turmeric is utilized prophylactically as a dietary supplement to promote health and a sense of well-being.

Skin conditions that can be treated with turmeric include acne and other skin conditions, especially those associated with blemishes or pimples. Acne types that can be treated include, e.g., artificialis, atrophica, cachecticorum, ciliaris, conglobata, decalvans, indurata, keloid, urticaria, varioliformis, and vulgaris. To enhance the effect of turmeric, a short exposure to natural or artificial (e.g., 20 minutes in a conventional tanning bed) sun can be employed. Turmeric is also a beneficial therapy for skin conditions that arise during childhood and adolescence, e.g., as a consequence of puberty or other physiological changes in body chemistry that occur during maturation. Turmeric is also used to heal skin, e.g., caused by the normal aging process, sun exposure, contact with environmental irritants, including pollution, smoke, and ozone. After the administration of turmeric, the skin is restored to a healthier and smoother appearance having improved texture and resilience. Turmeric can also be employed to restore skin color to its normal hue when discolored. In accordance with the present invention, the skin disorders are preferably treated by administering turmeric orally.

In addition, gastrointestinal and other internal disturbances can be treated in accordance with the present invention. For example, stomach disorders can be treated by administering turmeric. The stomach disorders include, e.g., infections caused by bacteria and other pathogenic organisms, sour stomach, alcohol-related ailments, ulcers, and pain. Liver ailments are also treatable in accordance with the invention, e.g., pain, infections, jaundice, cancer, and alcohol-related disturbances. Turmeric is also useful to treat hemorrhoids, e.g., by promoting healing, eliminating pain, and stopping or slowing bleeding. Constipation can also be relieved treated by administering turmeric, especially in the oral doses described below. Turmeric is also useful for eliminating body odors, such as those produced by stomach acidity.

An effective amount of turmeric can be administered prophylactically to prevent the recurrence of any of the above-mentioned disorders and ailments. For example, in the case of acne associated with adolescence, a prophylactic dose of turmeric can be orally administered on a daily basis. Once a patient having a skin condition is treated and cured, the patient can continue to ingest turmeric, e.g., 500 mg to 5 gm, preferably 2 gram, per day, to promote healthy skin and deter further acne. Turmeric is also used to promote healthy and vitality, e.g., as an anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogen, and anti-bacterial agent for such use, the turmeric can be administered in amounts of, e.g., e.g., 500 mg to 5 gm, preferably 2 gram, per day.

An effective amount of turmeric is administered to a host who is to be treated. An effective amount is a quantity of turmeric which produces the desired effect, e.g., which treats (e.g., ameliorates) the skin disorder, hemorrhoids, constipation, liver disorder, stomach ailment, gastrointestinal disorder, or stomach flu. The turmeric is generally administered from about 250 milligrams to 10 grams per day, preferably about 2-4 gram per day. In one treatment regime, about 1 gram of turmeric is administered in the first day, and 2 grams of turmeric is administered on subsequent days, e.g, until the condition is ameliorated, e.g., from about 2-4 days. Thus, about 7 grams is administered in a single treatment regime. Other treatment regions can use 7-14 grams in a single treatment. The turmeric is preferably administered as a soft gel containing 500 mg turmeric with 8 ounces of water. For example, an adult to be treated in accordance with the present invention can take two to four soft gels (e.g., 1 gram), twice a day with a cup of water. The effective amount of turmeric can be administered in the morning (with breakfast) and in the afternoon (with lunch). The turmeric is administered preferably a meal time. Children from about 12 to 16 years of age can be treated with turmeric, but with half the dosage used for an adult human. Before starting the treatment regime, a patient should be tested for food allergy or other contraindications by ingesting a small quantity of turmeric. It is especially preferred that the turmeric is administered along with large quantities of water, e.g., a standard cup of water. It is recommended that the host cleanse his stomach one day before treatment by abstaining from the ingestion of meat, vegetables, and fruits. The same dosages are applicable when turmeric is used as a dietary supplement.

Turmeric is a member of the family Zingiberaceae. It is generally obtained from the rhizome of the plant Curcuma loga. Turmeric can be obtained from various sources, including commercially available sources. Various forms of turmeric can be utilized in accordance with the present invention, including fresh, powdered, liquid juice, pulp, or resin. The amounts of turmeric discussed herein refer to grams per dry weight of powder. When pulp or liquid turmeric is utilized, the amount of turmeric is calculated based on the weight of the staring material. When fresh turmeric is utilized, the effective amounts are about 3-10 times the amount for powdered turmeric. The amounts recited in this application refer to powdered turmeric.

Turmeric in accordance with the present invention, optionally with other active or inactive agents, can be administered by various routes, e.g., enteral, parenteral, oral, nasal, rectal, intervenous (e.g., using a catheter), subcutaneous, sublingual, buccal, topical, intramuscular, by inhalation, percutaneous, vaginal, intra-arterial, intradermal, epidural, systemically, topical, intraperitoneal, intrapleural, etc. Endoscopic injections of gastrointestinal regions, as well as suppository treatments can also be used.

Turmeric can be formulated as a oral or topical preparation by bringing it into a suitable dose form, e.g., together with an excipient or auxiliary, and, if desired, with one or more further active compounds. The preparations can be utilized in both human and veterinary medicine. Suitable excipient include, e.g., organic and inorganic substances which are appropriate for enteral, parenteral, or oral administration, e.g., water, saline, buffers, vegetable oils, mineral oils, benzyl alcohol, cyclodextrin, hydroxypropylcyclodextrin (especially beta-type), polyethylene glycols, glycerol triacetate and other fatty acid glycerides, gelatin, soya lecithin, carbohydrates such as lactose or starch or other sugars, magnesium stearate, talc or cellulose. The preparations can be sterilized and/or contain additives, such as preservatives or stabilizers. Turmeric can be formulated with various oils, including coconut, sunflower, mustard, almond, sesame, safflower, or peanut. For a soft gel, powdered turmeric can be combined with a syrup, e.g., a sugar-based syrup