Courtesy: Alternative Mental Health.

Curcumin, a yellow pigment of the spice turmeric, commonly found in
curry, has proven to be a cornucopia of health benefits. It has
already been found to be a potential cancer preventative and
rejuvenator of the liver, bones, and cartilage.

In 2004, UCLA researchers found it effective in preventing brain
deterioration that contributes to Alzheimer's Disease, thus possibly
explaining why inhabitants of India over age 65, where curcumin is
consumed regularly, have less than a 1% rate of Alzheimer's Disease.

A study done at Peking University in 2005 offers strong evidence that
curcumin may be helpful against depression. The herb is an active
component in Xiaoyao-san, the traditional Chinese medicinal formula
which has been used to effectively manage stress and
depression-related disorders in China.

The study used the force swim test in rats, a common method of testing
antidepressants that forces rats to swim in a tank to create stress
and depression symptoms. The study also used another test in rats
which causes depressive symptoms, the removal of the olfactory bulbs,
brain regions that contribute to the sense of smell.

In both instances, curcumin significantly reduced the symptoms of
depression. In the case of the surgically-altered rats, low levels of
brain chemicals such as serotonin "were completely reversed by
curcumin administration."

The research is reported in the September 2005 issue of Pharmacology
Biochemistry and Behavior.