Turmeric? Who has used as an immune booster, & can you give feedback?

[Wynette]

I found only ONE thread on BYC:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1771

which is quite old, and didn't include many posts. There is an article on the Web referenced, but it was written in medical-ease which I cannot really interpret.

Does anyone use it, and what is your opinion on its effectiveness?

 

[faykokoWV]

I've not heard of this, but I'd be interested to see what responses you get.

 

[Rootball]

I use it myself, but have never given it to my chickens.

When I am in Bali my cook makes me a freshly grated turmeric drink every morning made with turmeric, honey, lemon juice. We buy the root from an 80 year old woman who passes by the house to go out and dig it from her field, then Nyoman, my cook grates it for me fresh every morning. It stains her hands quite yellow.

I have taken to juicing it at home myself and find its fabulous when mixed with cantaloupe juice (in fact im thinking of patenting this recipe so dont tell anyone that I told you)

one of the compounds inside turmeric, curcumin, has been found to have anticancer properties, and many groups of ethnic Indians have been studied because when turmeric was removed from their diets via emigration the instances of cancer in their populations shot up.


I drone on.....sorry I couldn't give a poultry related answer, but Im sure it will be beneficial to your chickens.

 

[bryan8]

We also drink the juice mixed with cantolope juice. Also honey-dew juice is extremly good with it.

 

[sweet tweets]

Quote:
there you go, sprinkle it on catelope for the chickies to eat, and then take some yourself. but be warned - it may change your urine color just fyi so you don't freak

 

[1birdlady]

This is interesting.....(went a searchin' on turmeric and poultry).

I have an interest in this *spice* as a anti cancer as well.

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/1997/971028.htm

"Also of interest to the scientists is cucurmin, an antioxidant from turmeric, a popular cooking spice used in curries and other ethnic foods. Turmeric targets protozoa infecting the mid-gut. Compared to untreated control birds in the study, turmeric-fed chicks had 58 percent fewer lesions from E. maxima. Turmeric also increased the chicks' weight by 35 percent."

 

[speckledhen]

All I know is that Dr. Peter Brown recommends it as a immune booster. Haven't tried it, but I probably will.

 

[Wynette]

Cyn, Peter B. indicated the same to me when I asked him what a good immune stimulant was, but he didn't have any research he could steer me toward. I was really hoping someone that actually uses it for their chooks would pop onto this thread so I could get some "real world" feedback, but it sure does sound like a good idea to add to my regimen! Let me know if/when you decide to try it....I'd be curious to know your opinion on it!

 

[dtimms]

How much turmeric would you add to the food?

 

[ranchhand]

I have an old, arthritic dog, Wolfie. One of my vets has been studying and been certified in Chinese veterinary medicine and between the accupuncture and the new homemade diet he is thriving.

The diet calls for 1/2 tsp. of turmeric in about 1-2 pounds of the food mix. I make it in the crockpot and freeze it, and the dog(s) love it! Turmeric is somewhat expensive, but a little goes a long way.

I can't speak strictly for the immune booster properties, but I do think it does some good, somehow.

BTW, if anyone would like the general recipe for the homemade dog food, just PM me.