Introduction
Turmeric is a spice that’s been used in food and medicine since ancient times. It’s made from the dried root of a plant in the ginger family and has a mild, slightly peppery taste. Turmeric contains curcumin, which can be extracted from the root or synthesized in laboratories for use as a dietary supplement or medication.
There are several health conditions for which turmeric might be helpful, including Alzheimer’s disease, breast cancer and osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis). However, scientific studies on these uses have had mixed results so far: Some studies show that turmeric helps promote healing; other studies show no benefit at all. More research is needed before scientists can say whether it really works for any condition.
Turmeric is used for many conditions, but so far, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to determine whether it is effective for any of them.
Turmeric is used for many conditions, but so far, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to determine whether it is effective for any of them.
Turmeric has been used in cooking and medicine for centuries. It may be helpful as a supplement if you’re not getting enough of the spice through your diet. However, some studies suggest that turmeric can cause side effects when taken at high doses or with other medications.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says that while the spice has potential benefits, more research is needed to prove whether it works as well as other treatments or if its use is safe over time.
Curcumin, a chemical in turmeric, may reduce swelling and help ease symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
You can get the benefits of turmeric by using curcumin supplements. Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric, and it has anti-inflammatory properties. It can reduce swelling and ease symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. And because curcumin has antioxidant properties, it may also help protect your body from certain types of cancer and heart disease.
It’s not clear how much curcumin you need for these health benefits. The daily recommended amount is 400 to 600 mg per day for adults over 18 years old—but some research suggests that taking larger doses may be even more beneficial than smaller ones (up to 12 grams per day).
Curcumin appears to block the growth of certain kinds of tumors.
Curcumin is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, and several studies have shown that it can inhibit the growth of certain kinds of tumors in animal models. For example, one study found that curcumin reduced the size of breast cancer tumors in mice. However, it’s not clear whether this effect would translate into humans or help prevent cancer or treat it. More research is needed before any conclusions can be drawn about using turmeric for this purpose.
Another study found that curcumin shrank bowel cancer tumors in rats by about 50%. This result was impressive enough to prompt a small clinical trial with human patients (amounting to only 15 people), which also showed good results: 10 out of 14 participants experienced shrinkage in their tumors after taking daily doses of 200 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) body weight for three months—that’s equivalent to around 800 mg per day for an average person weighing 160 pounds (72 kg). However, since these results were based on such a small number of patients and weren’t randomized like most clinical trials are, there’s still no conclusive evidence supporting turmeric as an effective treatment against colorectal cancer
It can help prevent (and perhaps even treat) cancer.
Turmeric may help prevent cancer, but the evidence is not yet conclusive. A 2013 meta-analysis of studies on turmeric’s use in treating cancer found that it slowed the growth of certain types of tumors in lab animals, but the results were mixed for humans.
Turmeric seems to slow blood clotting and might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery.
Turmeric seems to slow blood clotting and might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery.
If you have a bleeding disorder, don’t take turmeric without talking with your healthcare provider. It’s not known whether turmeric will affect blood clotting in people without bleeding disorders, so it’s best to avoid taking it if you’re at risk of having bleeding problems, such as those with hemophilia or other inherited platelet disorders.
It’s also not known if taking turmeric by mouth in medicinal amounts is safe when breast-feeding.
Eating turmeric in large amounts during pregnancy might promote menstrual periods and stimulate the uterus, posing a threat of miscarriage. It’s not known if turmeric taken by mouth in medicinal amounts is safe when breast-feeding.
It’s not known if turmeric taken by mouth in medicinal amounts is safe when breast-feeding.
Because turmeric is a popular spice, there are many products that contain it. Some people use the spice to make curry, which can have high levels of turmeric in it. There are also supplements and skin creams that contain curcumin, a chemical found in turmeric that has some medicinal properties. Most research on this supplement has been done on animals or cells cultured outside the body; little research has been conducted on humans, who may have different reactions than animals do.
Common side effects include upset stomach, constipation and headache.
Side effects of turmeric can include:
Headache
Constipation
Upset stomach
Turmeric has been shown to be safe for most people when taken by mouth or applied to the skin for 3 months or less.
Turmeric is a spice that is used in cooking, and it has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. It comes from the tropical plant Curcuma longa. Turmeric has been shown to be safe for most people when taken by mouth or applied to the skin for 3 months or less.
However, you should not apply turmeric to open wounds because it may cause them to enlarge and get infected.
Conclusion
Turmeric is a spice that has been used for centuries in cooking and Ayurvedic medicine. It’s derived from the root of a plant called Curcuma longa, and it contains a chemical called curcumin that may have anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also thought to be beneficial for cancer prevention, but more research is needed before doctors can recommend taking turmeric as a preventative measure against any disease.
