Prevent and Treat Common Respiratory Infections with Turmeric
Turmeric and its compounds have antibacterial and antiviral properties that could help prevent and treat upper respiratory infections. These infections can affect the eyes, ears, nose, sinuses, throat, and lungs. (v.18, 23)
Some of the bacteria and viruses that cause upper respiratory infections include:
| PATHOGEN | WHAT IT IS |
|---|---|
|
Moraxella catarrhalis |
M. catarrhalis is a type of bacteria that causes upper respiratory infections. Mouth sores are frequently a side effect of cancer therapy. Cancer patients with them are susceptible to M. catarrhalis invasion through the inflamed sores. (v.32, 140) |
|
Paramyxoviridae |
Commonly known as human parainfluenza viruses, HPIVs cause common colds and sore throat symptoms. However, repeated infection by HPIVs can cause more serious diseases such as pneumonia and bronchitis. (v.141) |
|
Haemophilus influenzae |
H. influenzae are bacteria that cause upper respiratory infections, especially in children. These include infections of the: (v.18, 142, 143)
H. influenzae also cause urinary tract infections, vaginitis, and pneumonia. (v.18) |
|
Serratia marcescens |
Gram-negative type of bacteria that cause upper respiratory and urinary tract infections, usually in hospital patients. Respiratory infections caused by S. marcescens include pneumonia. (v.109, 144) S. marcescens infections occur more frequently in men. In heroin addicts, these infections can also cause serious inflammatory infections in the heart and bones. (v.109, 144) |
|
Klebsiella pneumoniae |
An opportunistic bacterium that causes infections in people with weakened immune systems. One of the more serious infections K. pneumoniae causes is pneumonia. (v.23) |
How Can Turmeric Help?
Turmeric and its compounds have antibacterial and antiviral effects against some of the microbes that cause upper respiratory infections. In addition, turmeric compounds have beneficial properties typically not found in conventional antimicrobial drugs. These can also help prevent and treat the flu, common cold, pneumonia, sinusitis, and ear infections: (v.9, 145)
| PROPERTY | WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? |
|---|---|
|
|
Turmeric Compound Activity
Many of turmeric's polyphenol and flavonoid compounds individually have a number of beneficial properties that could help prevent infections. Some have properties that may also relieve the symptoms from cold and flu bacteria and viruses. These include:
| COMPOUND | ANTI- BACTERIAL |
ANTI- INFLAMMATORY |
ANTI- OXIDANT |
ANTIVIRAL | BREAKS UP MUCUS |
COUGH SUPPRESSANT |
NASAL DECON- GESTANT |
SORE THROAT RELIEF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1,8-CINEOLE (v.71, 73, 153-155) |
♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ |
| ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | |||||
|
α-TERPINEOL (v.75, 81) |
♦ | |||||||
| ♦ | ♦ | |||||||
| ♦ | ♦ | |||||||
| ♦ | ||||||||
|
CAFFEIC ACID (v.71, 75, 83, 156) |
♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ||||
| ♦ | ♦ | |||||||
| ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ||||||
| ♦ | ||||||||
| ♦ | ||||||||
|
γ-TERPINENE (v.71, 73, 75) |
♦ | |||||||
| ♦ | ♦ | |||||||
| ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ||||||
| ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | |||||
| ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | |||||
| ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ||||
| ♦ | ♦ | |||||||
|
VANILLIC ACID (v.71, 75) |
♦ | ♦ | ♦ |
Evidence of Benefit
| MICROBE/ INFECTION |
STUDY RESULTS |
|---|---|
Recurrent Respiratory Clinical Study in Children |
Children given an oral supplement of curcumin combined with lactoferrin had less recurrent respiratory tract infections. (v.9) |
Acute Respiratory Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial |
A clinical study was conducted involving 110 patients with acute respiratory tract infection. Treatment was by intravenous injection for 3-5 days. (v.148) More of the patients given curcuma oil were cured than those not given the oil. Symptoms were also relieved faster than in the control group. (v.148) |
Haemophilus influenzae Lab |
Turmeric extract shows moderate antibacterial effects against H. influenzae. This bacterium is also the most common one found in lungs of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In an animal study, curcumin compounds from turmeric blocked the inflammation in COPD. (v.142, 143) |
Klebsiella pneumoniae Animal |
Animal studies suggest that curcumin can be used to reduce lung inflammation in pneumonia caused by K. pneumoniae bacteria. When used by itself, curcumin did not show any antibacterial effect. However, it enhanced the effectiveness of the antibiotic drug augmentin. (v.23)
|
Moraxella catarrhalis Lab |
A nasal spray made from curcumin stopped some of the infectious activity of M. catarrhalis. Specifically, curcumin suppressed production of inflammatory cytokine proteins triggered by the bacteria. (v.149)
|
Paramyxoviridae Lab and animal |
Studies show that zedoary turmeric oil spray blocks parainfluenza viruses. Its most potent effect was against type II. (v.10, 98, 150) Beta-elemene is considered the active ingredient in zedoary turmeric oil. It is also found in the rhizome of Curcuma longa, the plant species used for turmeric spice. (v.10, 98, 150) |
Serratia marcescens Lab |
Turmeric extract inhibited S. marcescens bacterial growth far better than the following conventional antibiotics: (v.151, 152)
Turmeric also showed slightly better effects than nelidixic acid and neomycin. (v.151, 152) Turmeric did not block S. marcescens as well as chloramphenicol, streptomycin, gentamycin, and ciproflexin. Although it was 77-90% as effective as these medications, turmeric may help counteract drug resistance in the bacteria. (v.151, 152) |
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