Herbs & Supplements

Should I take it?

Turmeric belongs to the same family of plants that includes ginger. An attractive plant, which may be as tall as 6 feet, turmeric has a large spike of yellow and white flowers that is surrounded by long leaves. Turmeric plants make bulbs like tulips and they also send out rhizomes, which are fleshy extensions of their stems that run just under the ground and produce shoots and roots for new plants. Both of these underground parts of turmeric are collected in the fall of the year after the plant's leaves have died down. Occasionally shredded and used fresh, turmeric is more often dried and powdered for use in cooking or medicine. Pale tan or yellow on the outside, turmeric bulbs and rhizomes are orange on the inside.

Even though turmeric is grown on farms in many tropical countries, most of the world's supply of turmeric is produced in India, where it is also used extensively. Perhaps best known as the ingredient that gives curry spice its peppery taste and characteristic yellow color, turmeric is also used in making mustard, coloring butter and cheese, and flavoring various foods. Turmeric has also been added to oils as a preservative. It produces a brilliant yellow dye for fabrics and, when it is mixed with lime juice and processed, it becomes the red coloring that Buddhist and Hindu women use to mark their foreheads. The oil of turmeric adds a spicy aroma to air fresheners, perfumes, and soaps; and it may be used to color beverages, cosmetics, drugs, and foods.

Most commonly used as a spice, turmeric has also had uses in medicine throughout much of Asian history. Curcumin, which gives turmeric its characteristic yellow color, is also the most active medical component in turmeric. However, other chemicals in turmeric may also have medical activity. As long as 4,000 years ago, records from traditional healers of India and China mention tumeric's oral use as a remedy for many conditions, including eye infections, intestinal worms, and leprosy. Topically, turmeric has been used to relieve numerous skin conditions ranging from snakebites to acne.

Dosage and Administration

As a flavoring, turmeric is consumed in varying--often quite large--amounts by individuals of all ages. In clinical studies of humans, oral doses of turmeric ranged from about 500 mg (0.5 gram) to several grams per day. One-time doses of 12,000 mg (12 grams) and daily oral doses of up to 8,000 mg (8 grams) of turmeric for as long as 3 months produced no apparent side effects for the individuals who took them.

Dosage recommendations for turmeric and chemicals derived from it differ widely, however, depending on the condition being treated and the product being used. In general, for oral use, powdered or extracted turmeric products are preferred to teas, because the active chemicals in turmeric do not dissolve well in water. Extracts are concentrated liquid preparations usually made by soaking chopped or mashed plant parts in a liquid such as alcohol, and then straining out the solid parts.

For application to the skin, turmeric ointment or oil-based lotion may be applied as often as needed. A paste made from powdered turmeric or the juice of fresh turmeric roots may also be applied directly to the skin. Topical application, especially to the same area of skin for prolonged periods of time, may result in a yellow discoloration, which may be hard to remove.

Summary

Turmeric contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant chemicals. Both these properties may make it useful for treating arthritis, other inflammatory conditions, and possibly cancer. It appears to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and it may be anti-infective, as well. However, its former use in treating respiratory conditions has largely been replaced by more effective agents.

Risks

Individuals with stomach or gallbladder conditions should not take supplemental turmeric, because it may alter production of stomach acid and increase production of bile, possibly worsening those conditions. Pregnant women should also avoid taking large amounts of turmeric due to the possibility of a miscarriage. Supplemental use is not recommended while breast-feeding.

Side Effects

Gas, indigestion, nausea, or other stomach upset may be caused by taking turmeric. Either local or widespread allergic reactions can be caused by touching turmeric plants, handling turmeric products, or breathing turmeric pollen.

Interactions

The risk of uncontrolled bleeding may increase if turmeric is taken at the same time as an anticoagulant or antiplatelet drug, aspirin, or an anticoagulant herbal product. Turmeric may also interfere with the effectiveness of antacids and drugs that are taken to lessen the production of stomach acid. Potentially, taking turmeric may reduce blood sugar levels. Therefore, it may increase the effects of drugs or herbals that also lower blood sugar.

Last Revised October 19, 2007