Turmeric, a bright yellow spice which has been used in Asia cookery for thousands of years, possesses potent medicinal properties, a new research has suggested. This ubiquitous spice from the rhizome of the Curcuma longa plant may help reduce the size of a haemorrhagic stroke, the new study by U.S. researchers has discovered.

According to the scientists at the U.S. based Medical College of Georgia, besides lowering chances of getting cancer define [2]and Alzheimer's disease, Turmeric, also called curcumin, may reduce the chances of haemorrhagic stroke, a medical condition in which vessels within the brain start bleeding.

Indian-American scientist Krishnan Dhandapani, neuroscientist at the MCG School of Medicine, and a Second-year medical student Jay McCracken found that an ingredient in the deep yellow spice turmeric can be a boon for patients who often do not know they have had a stroke.

“Usually, patients can experience other symptoms like seizures, vision or cognitive problems, so they come to the emergency room fairly quickly under most circumstances” said Dhandapani.

“Many patients also arrive due to head trauma and are seen within an hour or so. However, treating these injuries, even after an hour, can be tricky” he added.

For their research, Dhandapani and McCracken used the animal models to determine the effects of turmeric, the warm and aromatic spice with bitter undertones, on intracerebral haemorrhages (ICH). The scientists dissolved the turmeric powder in corn oil and injected it into the abdomen define [3] of an animal model of haemorrhagic stroke three times over three hours.

"We found that curcumin significantly decreases the size of a blood clot, but we're not sure why it happens" McCracken said adding that thy think it may be because of turmeric’s anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They also believe this aromatic spice with bitter taste may also help prevent strokes.

ICH is a medical condition indicated by the rupturing of a blood vessel in the brain and the subsequent bleeding into the tissues of the brain. It is a common and serious disease. About 1 to 2 out of 10 patients with stroke have an ICH.

Up to half of hypertensive patients who suffer ICH are either unaware of their hypertension or non-compliant with the medication or fail to control periodically their blood pressure levels. ICH, which mostly occurs in people with low cholesterol levels, often exhibits symptoms like headache and nausea.

Turmeric is the root of a tropical plant related to ginger, which has long been used in Eastern medicine - both oriental herbal medicine and Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine from India.

Both Indian Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines use turmeric for the treatment of inflammatory and digestive disorders. It is also used in Hindu religious rituals in India.

Some earlier studies have found that turmeric could be an effective enhancer of an enzyme that protects the brain against oxidative conditions. Researches have also shown that turmeric has other health benefits - it aids digestion, helps fight infection and guards against heart attacks.