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Turmeric contains curcumin, an ingredient with medicinal benefits. People use it to help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and promote healing. However, turmeric may also have some adverse effects.
The turmeric that we see on shelves and in spice cabinets is made of the ground roots of the plant. The bright yellow color of processed turmeric has inspired many cultures to use it as a dye. Ground turmeric is also a major ingredient in curry powder. Capsules, teas, powders, and extracts are some of the turmeric products available commercially.
Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric, and it has powerful biological properties. Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional Indian system of treatment, recommends turmeric for a variety of health conditions. These include chronic pain and inflammation. Western medicine has begun to study turmeric as a pain reliever and healing agent.
Keep reading to find out more about how turmeric might benefit your health, as well as some of its negative side effects.
It’s anti-inflammatory
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The Arthritis Foundation cites several studies in which turmeric has reduced inflammation.
This anti-inflammatory ability might reduce the aggravation that people with arthritis feel in their joints.
The foundation suggests taking capsules of 400 to 600 milligrams (mg) of turmeric up to three times per day for inflammation relief.
It can relieve pain
Many people, including doctors, cite their own anecdotal experience with turmeric as a pain reliever. The spice is reputed to relieve arthritis pain as well.
Studies seem to support turmeric for pain relief, with
It improves liver function
Turmeric has been getting attention recently because of its antioxidant abilities. The antioxidant effect of turmeric appears to be so powerful that it may
It may help reduce the risk of cancer
Curcumin shows promise as a cancer treatment.
It can aid your digestion
Part of the reason that turmeric is in curry powder is because it adds an element of deliciousness to food. But turmeric can also play an important role in digesting that food. Because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric can contribute to healthy digestion.
It’s used in ayurvedic medicine as a digestive healing agent. Now Western medicine has
It can upset your stomach
The same agents in turmeric that support digestive health can cause irritation when taken in large amounts. Some participants in studies looking at the use of turmeric for cancer treatment had to
It thins your blood
Turmeric’s purifying properties may also make you bleed more easily. It’s not clear why this happens. Other suggested benefits of turmeric, such as lowered cholesterol and lowered blood pressure, probably have something to do with the way turmeric functions in your blood.
People who take blood-thinning drugs like warfarin (Coumadin)
It may stimulate contractions
You may have heard that eating foods seasoned with curry can stimulate labor. Although there’s little clinical data to back up this claim,
Because of its blood-thinning effects alone, pregnant women should avoid taking turmeric supplements. Adding small amounts of turmeric as a spice to food shouldn’t be a problem.
Here are some frequently asked questions about turmeric.
Who should not take turmeric?
Doctors advise against some people taking turmeric, including:
- pregnant people and
those who are breastfeeding - people having chemotherapy
- people with liver or bile duct problems
- people taking anticoagulant or antidiabetic medications
- people who had surgery within the past 2 weeks
What medications should you not take with turmeric?
Turmeric can interact with other medications and supplements. People taking the following types should be cautious and contact a doctor before trying turmeric:
- blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin and clopidogrel
- blood-thinning supplements, such as angelica, clove, danshen, ginkgo, ginger, garlic, Panax ginseng, and willow
- antidiabetic medications, such as glyburide
- supplements that reduce blood glucose levels, such as fenugreek, guar gum, horse chestnut, psyllium, and eleuthero
- chemotherapy drugs, such as doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, paclitaxel, and docetaxel
- medications metabolized by CYP450 enzymes
- hormone replacement therapy
- loratadine, losartan, midazolam, and verapamil
- norfloxacin
- statins
- sulfasalazine
- colchicine, a gout medication
- fezolinetant, a medication prescribed for menopausal hot flashes
Is it safe to take turmeric every day?
Most people can add turmeric to their diet safely every day. However, the concentration of curcumin, turmeric’s active ingredient, in supplements is much higher than in fresh or dried turmeric, so supplements pose a higher interaction risk.
If someone is taking other medications or supplements, is pregnant or breastfeeding, or has liver or bile duct problems, they should contact a doctor before trying it.
It appears that there are health benefits to including turmeric in your diet. The golden spice supports immune health, helps relieve pain, and can aid in digestion, among other things. But because of some of its side effects, turmeric may not be worth taking for some people.
It’s important to use caution when deciding whether turmeric is something you need to try. As with any alternative therapy, speak with your doctor before you use turmeric to treat any health condition that you have.
If you want to buy a turmeric or curcumin supplement, then there is an excellent selection online with thousands of great customer reviews.