Turmeric, an ingredient in most curries and mustards, has a history of being used as more than just a spice. Turmeric's deep-orange pigment has long been used as a dye, and both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine traditions use turmeric in treatments. Turmeric has also held a place in religious ceremonies across India for thousands of years. Today, supplement makers say turmeric may be useful for people with inflammation or joint pain, or for those who want to take antioxidants, which turmeric contains. Turmeric is also purported to treat heartburn, stomach ulcers, gallstones, wounds and eczema. Some claim turmeric can aid digestion and regulate menstruation. The turmeric plant, or Curcuma longa, is an herb closely related to ginger. It's cultivated in tropical climates across Asia for its rootstocks, which supply the flavor and pigment of the plant. The rootstocks — which grow underground, but are more of a stem than a true root — can be ground into a paste, or dried and ground into a powder.
Turmeric contains beta-carotene, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), calcium, flavonoids, fiber, iron, niacin, potassium, zinc and other nutrients. But the chemical in turmeric linked to its most highly touted health effects is curcumin. Few studies have been done to reliably prove or disprove turmeric's purported benefits. But there is some preliminary evidence to suggest curcumin has use as a supplement, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Turmeric has shown some effectiveness in treating peptic ulcers, and there is some suggestion it helps to prevent and treat cancer. In one study of human saliva, curcumin interfered with cell signals that drive the growth of head and neck cancer, according to the 2011 study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research. There is also evidence that topical application of turmeric can relieve itching caused by skin cancer. However, turmeric's primary effect on the body is that it decreases inflammation, which is associated with many health conditions.
[9 Healthy Habits You Can Do in 1 Minute (Or Less)] One experiment in rats showed that curcumin may ease joint swelling from rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers gave rats turmeric extracts before and after inducing rheumatoid-arthritis symptoms in the animals. Some extracts contained only curcuminoids, the family of chemicals that include curcumin, while other extracts contained curcuminoids along with other compounds. The study, published in 2006 in the Journal of Natural Products, found that pure curcuminoid extracts were more effective in treating rheumatoid-arthritis symptoms, and that curcuminoids worked better in preventing new joint swelling than in treating existing swelling. Turmeric may also help prevent bone loss resulting from osteoporosis. In a 2010 study, researchers induced menopause symptoms in rats, because menopause often leads to bone loss. The rats were then treated with high and low concentrations of curcuminoids, before and after the induced menopause. Low concentrations of curcuminoids had little effect, but the rats treated with curcuminoids extracts that were 94 percent pure showed up to 50 percent less bone loss during the two-month experiment, according to the study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
While these and other animal studies of curcumin indicate a possible medicinal use, results in animals don't always translate to humans. More evidence is needed to examine turmeric's effect on the conditions it is purported to treat, including jaundice, hepatitis, fibromyalgia, liver and gallbladder problems, headache, ringworm, bruising, eye infections and skin rashes. Preliminary evidence from studies in people suggests turmeric may be effective in the management of pain, dyspepsia (upset stomach) or hyperlipidemia (high lipid levels in the blood). "However, currently, high-quality clinical evidence for the use of turmeric in any human indication is lacking," said Catherine Ulbricht, senior pharmacist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and co-founder of Natural Standard Research Collaboration, which reviews evidence on herbs and supplements. Overall, the Natural Standard Research Collaboration graded turmeric as a "C," on a scale of A to F, for the strength and amount of evidence supporting claims for any health benefit.
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. 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. People preparing for surgery should avoid turmeric supplements because turmeric can increase the risk of bleeding. Turmeric may also interfere with how the liver processes certain drugs, so it is best to consult a doctor before taking large doses of turmeric alongside medication. Blood thinners can interact with large doses of turmeric, as can drugs that reduce blood clotting. People may experience bleeding or bruising when combining large doses of turmeric with aspirin, warfarin, anti-platelet drugs and NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen.
Turmeric also increases the blood-thinning effect of herbal remedies, including angelica, clove, Danshen, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, Panax ginseng, red clover and willow, Ulbricht said. Little research has been done on excessive doses of turmeric. A few medical reports of people taking extremely high doses of turmeric suggest it can cause an altered heartbeat. Excessive doses of turmeric may also cause delusion, mild fever, upset stomach or kidney stones. Turmeric may exacerbate gallbladder problems or worsen acid-reflux or heartburn symptoms. Large doses of turmeric may also worsen arthritis symptoms and cause skin rash. Pregnant women should avoid taking large amounts of turmeric, Ulbricht said. Turmeric at supplement doses may promote menstruation, or stimulate the uterus enough to put the pregnancy at risk. Turmeric should not be confused with Javanese turmeric root (Curcuma zedoaria), which has its own medicinal uses and side effects.PreviousNext Arthritis Pain ReliefThere are dozens of supplements that claim they’re effective arthritis treatments, but can they really help improve your arthritis pain?
Research shows that some really may help and might even enable you to take lower doses of prescription drugs, says Nathan Wei, MD, a board-certified rheumatologist and director at the Arthritis Treatment Center in Frederick, Md. There are some other supplements, however, that you should probably leave on the shelf.There are a number of things to keep in mind even about those arthritis supplements that may be helpful. For one, they aren’t free of side effects and they aren’t regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That means you’ll have to do your own research to find out which ones are effective and to determine those that could interact with your other medications. Always discuss any supplements with your doctor before taking them to avoid potentially dangerous drug interactions. GlucosamineGlucosamine is thought to help with osteoarthritis pain and protect cartilage from deteriorating, while helping your joints to move better. A large National Institutes of Health (NIH) study of glucosamine and chondroitin had lukewarm results, showing that glucosamine may have an effect on moderate and severe arthritis, but didn’t seem to help mild arthritis pain, Dr. Wei says.
Studies performed in Europe, however, have shown that glucosamine may be a more widely effective arthritis treatment, and the reason may be the type of preparation used. Studies of the sulfate preparation of glucosamine suggest it really does help ease arthritis pain, Wei says. Chondroitin SulfateChondroitin sulfate can help slow down osteoarthritis progression and may lower arthritis pain and inflammation. Experts believe this arthritis treatment works by helping to keep cartilage healthy, and a review of studies found that it significantly improved joint function and helped with pain and inflammation. An NIH study found that this arthritis supplement is more effective when taken in combination with something else, such as glucosamine sulfate, discussed on the previous page. SAM-eSeveral studies have found S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM-e), a chemical that occurs naturally in the body, to be helpful for osteoarthritis. Research has even shown that it may be as effective an arthritis treatment as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).“
I have patients who come in and say they take SAM-e and it seems to help,” says Wei. While you should always be sure to tell your doctor when you take any arthritis supplement, be certain to discuss taking SAM-e, as it can cause a number of side effects such as upset stomach and diarrhea. It can also interfere with other medications, including antidepressants and drugs for Parkinson’s disease. Omega-3 Fatty AcidsThere’s good evidence that omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory effects, Wei says. Experts say fish oil, which contains omega-3s, can help treat rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other inflammatory conditions. Studies have found that omega-3s can help people with rheumatoid arthritis lower their doses of corticosteroids or NSAIDs.Omega-3s are found in cold-water fish such as mackerel and salmon, but because there’s risk of getting too much mercury from eating more than six to eight ounces of fish a week, it’s a good idea to take fish oil supplements for this arthritis treatment.
Plant sources, such as flax and flaxseed oil, are other good ways to add omega-3s to your arthritis diet, Wei suggests. MSMMSM, which stands for methylsulfonylmethane, is naturally found in healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, and is thought to help form connective tissue in the body and may possibly reduce arthritis pain. Some studies have supported the claim that MSM can lower inflammation, Wei notes, but the effects are modest. In one review of studies on MSM, researchers found that it seemed to have a positive effect on knee osteoarthritis, but the results weren’t conclusive because of flaws in the design of the studies. Likewise, not much is known about the possible side effects associated with MSM. It should be avoided if you’re taking any blood-thinning medications. Vitamin CSome studies have found that the antioxidant vitamin C is important for building connective tissue, but it’s hard to say whether that translates to less arthritis pain, Wei says. Rather than taking vitamin C as a supplement, he recommends getting it through a healthy diet.
Research has found that people with the least amount of vitamin C in their diet were three times more likely to develop arthritis than people whose diets included plenty of fruits and vegetables. Devil's ClawThe South African herb devil’s claw is thought to help with pain and inflammation. Wei says he has doubts about whether it can play a helpful role in arthritis treatment, though, and adds that “studies have been inconclusive.” Devil’s claw can interfere with diabetes medications, blood thinners, and other prescription drugs. Once again, be sure to talk to your doctor before taking this or any arthritis supplement. GingerGinger root, either fresh or dried, is known to improve joint pain and reduce inflammation for people with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Wei recommends adding ginger to your diet as an arthritis treatment to reduce inflammation rather than taking it in supplement form. Ginger in supplement form can interact with blood thinners and can aggravate gallbladder disease.