Turmeric
Background
Turmeric, a plant related to ginger, is grown throughout India, other
parts of Asia, and Central America. Javanese turmeric
(Curcuma xanthorrhiz) is a
different plant and not discussed in this fact sheet.
Historically,
turmeric has been used in Ayurvedic medicine, primarily in South Asia,
for many conditions, including breathing problems, rheumatism, serious
pain, and fatigue.
Today, turmeric is used as a dietary
supplement for inflammation; arthritis; stomach, skin, liver, and
gallbladder problems; cancer; and other conditions.
Turmeric is
a common spice and a major ingredient in curry powder. Its primary
active ingredients, curcuminoids, are yellow and used to color foods
and cosmetics.
Turmeric’s underground stems (rhizomes) are
dried and made into capsules, tablets, teas, or extracts. Turmeric
powder is also made into a paste for skin conditions.
How Much Do We Know?
We have a lot of research, including studies done in people, on
turmeric for a variety of health conditions.
What Have We Learned?
Claims that curcuminoids found in turmeric help to reduce inflammation
aren’t supported by strong studies.
Preliminary studies found that curcuminoids may:
Reduce the number of heart attacks bypass patients had
after surgery
Control knee pain from osteoarthritis as well as ibuprofen did
Reduce the skin irritation that often occurs after radiation treatments
for breast cancer.
Other
preliminary studies in people have looked at curcumin, a type of
curcuminoid, for different cancers, colitis, diabetes, surgical pain,
and as an ingredient in mouthwash for reducing plaque.
The
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) has
studied curcumin for Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and
prostate and colon cancer.
What Do We Know About Safety?
Turmeric in amounts tested for health purposes is generally considered
safe when taken by mouth or applied to the skin.
High doses or long-term use of turmeric may cause
gastrointestinal problems.
Keep in Mind
Tell
all your health care providers about any complementary or integrative
health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to
manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
Key References
- Di
Lorenzo C, Dell’Agli M, Badea M, et al. Plant
food supplements with anti-inflammatory properties: a systematic review
(II). Critical Reviews in Food Science
and Nutrition. 2013;53(5):507-516.
- Funk
JL. Turmeric. In: Coates PM, Betz JM, Blackman MR, et al., eds.
Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements, 2nd ed. New York, NY: Informa
Healthcare; 2010.
- Garg
SK, Ahuja V, Sankar MJ, et al. Curcumin for maintenance of remission in
ulcerative colitis. Cochrane Database of Systematic
Reviews. 2012;(10):CD008424.
Accessed at http://www.thecochranelibrary.com(link
is external) on
April 13, 2015.
- Meng
B, Li J, Cao H. Antioxidant
and anti-inflammatory activities of curcumin on diabetes mellitus and
its complications. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 2013;19(11):2101-2113.
- Ryan
JL, Heckler CE, Ling M, et al. Curcumin
for radiation dermatitis: a randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled clinical trial of thirty breast cancer patients. Radiation Research. 2013;180(1):34-43.
- Turmeric.
Natural Medicines Web site. Accessed at
naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/ on April 13, 2015.
[Database subscription].
- Wongcharoen
W, Jai-Aue S, Phrommintikul A, et al. Effects
of curcuminoids on frequency of acute myocardial infarction after
coronary artery bypass grafting. American Journal of Cardiology. 2012;110(1):40-44.
-NIH
