by Case Adams
(GreenMedInfo) Biomedical researchers from Italy’s Chieti-Pescara University have confirmed what recent laboratory research has found: That the Ayurvedic herb turmeric (Curcuma longa) increases quality of life and reduces symptoms of non-cancerous enlarged prostate also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia.
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The ancient Ayurvedic herbal remedy joins the list of several other nutraceuticals that have now been scientifically confirmed to reduce enlarged prostate.
For six months the researchers gave 33 patients diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia with a turmeric extract of curcumin in a product called Meriva® in addition to standard conventional BPH treatment (no drugs). A control group of 28 BPH patients matched for age and severity received only the conventional BPH treatment (again, without drugs).
After the treatment the researchers utilized the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) to evaluate the results of the two groups treated. While both groups experienced improvement in most symptoms, the curcumin-treated group experienced greater improvement. The curcumin-treated group also experienced higher quality-of-life scores than did the conventional treatment group.
The researchers concluded:
“In patients with BPH, the addition of Meriva® to the standard treatment contributed to the reduction of signs and symptoms of the disease without causing any significant additional side effect. This pilot experience suggests a potential novel clinical application of curcumin…”
The Meriva product is a lecithinized curcumin product. Lecithinized refers to lecithin being sprayed onto the product during the manufacturing process. This gives the product the ability to deliver into the intestines with minimized dissolving.