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Turmeric

Overview

Turmeric is a spice that comes from the turmeric plant. It is commonly used in Asian food. You probably know turmeric as the main spice in curry. It has a warm, bitter taste and is frequently used to flavor or color curry powders, mustards, butters, and cheeses. But the root of turmeric is also used widely to make medicine. It contains a yellow-colored chemical called curcumin, which is often used to color foods and cosmetics.

Turmeric is commonly used for conditions involving pain and inflammation, such as osteoarthritis. It is also used for hay fever, depression, high cholesterol, a type of liver disease, and itching. Some people use turmeric for heartburn, thinking and memory skills, inflammatory bowel disease, stress, and many other conditions, but there no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Don't confuse turmeric with Javanese turmeric root (Curcuma zedoaria).

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Some experts warn that turmeric may interfere with the body's response against COVID-19. There is no strong data to support this warning. But there is also no good data to support using turmeric for COVID-19. Follow healthy lifestyle choices and proven prevention methods instead.

Classification

Is a Form of:

Spice

Primary Functions:

Pain, inflammation, fever

Also Known As:

Curcuma, Curcuma aromatica, Curcuma domestica, Curcumae longa

How Does It Work?

Turmeric contains the chemical curcumin. Curcumin and other chemicals in turmeric might decrease swelling (inflammation). Because of this, turmeric might be beneficial for treating conditions that involve inflammation.

Uses

  • Hay fever. Taking curcumin, a chemical found in turmeric, seems to reduce hay fever symptoms such as sneezing, itching, runny nose, and congestion.
  • Depression. Most available research shows that taking curcumin, a chemical found in turmeric, reduces depression symptoms in people already using an antidepressant.
  • High levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia). Turmeric seems to lower levels of blood fats called triglycerides. The effects of turmeric on cholesterol levels are conflicting. There are many different turmeric products available. It is not known which ones work best.
  • Buildup of fat in the liver in people who drink little or no alcohol (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD). Research shows that taking turmeric extract reduces markers of liver injury in people who have a liver disease not caused by alcohol. It also seems to help prevent the build-up of more fat in the liver in people with this condition.
  • Osteoarthritis. Some research shows that taking turmeric extracts, alone or in combination with other herbal ingredients, can reduce pain and improve function in people with knee osteoarthritis. In some research, turmeric worked about as well as ibuprofen for reducing osteoarthritis pain. But it does not seem to work as well as diclofenac for improving pain and function in people with osteoarthritis.
  • Itching. Research suggests that taking turmeric by mouth three times daily for 8 weeks reduces itching in people with long-term kidney disease. Also, early research suggests that taking a specific combination product (C3 Complex, Sami Labs LTD) containing curcumin plus black pepper or long pepper daily for 4 weeks reduces itching severity and improves quality of life in people with chronic itching caused by mustard gas.

Recommended Dosing

BY MOUTH:

  • For hay fever. 500 mg of curcumin, a chemical in turmeric, has been used daily for 2 months.
  • For depression. 500 mg of curcumin, a chemical in turmeric, has been taken twice daily, alone or along with 20 mg of fluoxetine daily, for 6-8 weeks.
  • For high levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia): 1.4 grams of turmeric extract in two divided doses daily for 3 months has been used.
  • For buildup of fat in the liver in people who drink little or no alcohol (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD): 500 mg of a product containing 70 mg of curcumin, a chemical in turmeric, has been used daily for 8 weeks. Also, 500-mg tablets (Meriva, Indena) containing 100 mg curcumin twice daily for 8 weeks has also been used.
  • For osteoarthritis: Most often, 500 mg of turmeric extract has been taken two to four times daily for 1-3 months.
  • For itching: 1500 mg of turmeric in three divided doses daily for 8 weeks has been used. Also, a specific product containing turmeric extract (C3 Complex, Sami Labs LTD) plus black pepper or long pepper has been used daily for 4 weeks.

CHILDREN

BY MOUTH:

  • For high levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia): 1.4 grams of turmeric extract in two divided doses daily for 3 months has been used in children at least 15 years-old.

Turmeric Supplements Frequently Asked Questions

What are turmeric supplements good for?

Turmeric and especially its most active compound curcumin have many scientifically-proven health benefits, such as the potential to prevent heart disease, Alzheimer's and cancer. It's a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and may also help improve symptoms of depression and arthritis.

How much turmeric should you take as a supplement?

Effective Doses

Studies typically use doses of 500–2,000 mg of turmeric per day, often in the form of an extract with a curcumin concentration that is much higher than the amounts naturally occurring in foods.

Is it safe to take turmeric every day?

Turmeric is safe for most people when consumed in amounts found in food. But turmeric can have side effects when taken in large doses. Some supplements contain up to 500 milligrams of turmeric extract, and their labels recommend taking four capsules per day. Little research has been done on excessive doses of turmeric.

Can turmeric supplements be harmful?

Turmeric usually does not cause significant side effects; however, some people can experience stomach upset, nausea, dizziness, or diarrhea. In one report, a person who took very high amounts of turmeric, over 1500 mg twice daily, experienced a dangerous abnormal heart rhythm.

Who should not use turmeric?

Turmeric should be used with caution in people with iron deficiency. Surgery: Turmeric might slow blood clotting. It might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using turmeric at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Who shouldnt take turmeric?

So, “the consumption of [even] moderate amounts of turmeric would not be recommended for people with a tendency to form kidney stones.” Such folks should “restrict the consumption of total dietary oxalate to less than 40 to 50 mg/day,” which means no more than, at most, a teaspoon of turmeric.

What time of day should you take turmeric?

Bottom line: I recommend taking 400-800 mg of a curcumin supplement on an empty stomach (30 minutes before a meal or two hours after one). If you experience heartburn simply take it with food. If it tempts your tastebuds, add it to entrees as well.

Is Turmeric bad for your kidneys?

Too much turmeric, though, may increase the risk of kidney stones. As I mentioned in a previous video, turmeric is high in soluble oxalates, which can bind to calcium, and form insoluble calcium oxalate, which is responsible for approximately three-quarters of all kidney stones.

How many teaspoons of turmeric should I take daily?

Daily Dosage of Turmeric

Here are a few helpful tips to get you started. Sayer uses 1/2 - 1.5 teaspoons per day of the dried root powder, certified organic. A typical dose of supplemental curcumin is about 250mg per day, and often increased when dealing with a condition.

What medications should not be taken with turmeric?

Moderate Interaction

Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Does turmeric make poop?

Besides being lauded for its natural anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is a natural laxative.

Can turmeric raise blood pressure?

Turmeric is safe for most people when consumed in amounts found in food.  High doses of turmeric can lower blood sugar or blood pressure, Ulbricht said, which means people taking diabetes or blood-pressure medication should use caution while taking turmeric supplements.

What are the side effects of turmeric pills?

Turmeric usually doesn't cause serious side effects. Some people can experience mild side effects such as stomach upset, nausea, dizziness, or diarrhea. These side effects are more common at higher doses.

Which is better turmeric or curcumin?

It contains curcumin, which has proven antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. There is no official consensus on whether it's best to take curcumin or turmeric supplements. Most studies use extracted turmeric with a high concentration of curcumin or curcumin alone.

Does turmeric keep you awake at night?

From fighting inflammation to supplying ample antioxidants, turmeric does it all. The common Ayurvedic medicinal spice is also widely used to aid in sleep quality. Initial mice studies have found that turmeric can protect against oxidative damage and sleep deprivation.

Can turmeric make you smell?

This stench introduces itself in the socially-crippling form of flatulence. You can also par-boil to remove some of the stench before you finish cooking them. In the meantime, spices like coriander, turmeric, and caraway will not only leave you smelling fresh, they'll help control your bottom.

How long does it take turmeric to work?

You can buy turmeric powder or you can even take turmeric in the form of capsules. Once the curcumin level starts to build up in your system, that's when you will start to see the beneficial effects. Subject to your body mass and condition, it will take approximately 4 to 8 weeks for you to see visible results.

Is Turmeric bad for your liver?

Hepatotoxicity. Both turmeric and curcumin are considered to be generally safe and have not been linked to liver injury in any consistent way.

Is it better to take turmeric in the morning or at night?

Here are some amazing health benefits of drinking warm turmeric water or turmeric tea every morning on an empty stomach. You can get even more health benefits from turmeric when you drink it diluted in warm water every morning. It helps to improve digestion and metabolism.

Should I take turmeric supplements?

Research suggests 500–2,000 mg of turmeric per day may have potential benefits, particularly in extract form. The risk of side effects is minimal but turmeric supplements are unsuitable for some people. As with any supplement, turmeric should be used with caution and you should discuss its use with your doctor.

Can I take turmeric before bed?

From fighting inflammation to supplying ample antioxidants, turmeric does it all. The common Ayurvedic medicinal spice is also widely used to aid in sleep quality. Slip this super spice into your bedtime ritual to relax, improve mood, help depression , and potentially lower your anxiety levels (as seen in mice).

Does turmeric really work?

Turmeric and especially its most active compound curcumin have many scientifically-proven health benefits, such as the potential to prevent heart disease, Alzheimer's and cancer. It's a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and may also help improve symptoms of depression and arthritis.

How much turmeric should I take for inflammation?

“If you want anti-inflammatory effects you need to get 500 to 1,000 milligrams of curcuminoids per day.” When using the spice on its own, the common rule of thumb is that there are 200 milligrams of curcumin in one teaspoon of fresh or ground turmeric (though it varies a bit depending on the source and origins).

Can turmeric be used for weight loss?

Turmeric is said to help one deal with stomach issues, metabolic disorders, obesity and many more problems. Though having huge quantities of turmeric is surely not a way to lose weight, but turmeric is said to reduce the inflammation associated with obesity. Thus, it can give your weight loss plan a boost.

Clinical Studies