September 12, 2023 – Turmeric, a yellowish spice that some people use to alleviate the inflammation of osteoarthritis, could have one other use: treating digestive disorders.
In a study published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine150 individuals with dyspepsia, also referred to as indigestion, took the drug omeprazole, curcumin or a mix of each.
After 28 and 56 days, study participants answered questionnaires concerning the severity of their digestive problems. There were no significant differences in symptoms between the groups taking omeprazole, curcumin or a mix of the 2, in accordance with the study.
Turmeric incorporates the biologically energetic ingredient curcumin. Omeprazole is used to treat stomach and esophageal problems comparable to acid reflux disease and ulcers.
“In addition to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, curcumin/turmeric may be an option for treating dyspepsia with comparable efficacy to omeprazole,” said lead study writer Krit Pongpirul, MD, associate professor within the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, in accordance with CNN.
In Southeast Asia, turmeric has been used for hundreds of years to treat digestive problems. In addition to treating inflammation, turmeric can be sometimes utilized in the United States to treat depression, type 2 diabetes, viral infections, premenstrual syndrome, high cholesterol, Alzheimer's disease, and other conditions. However, for many of those uses, there isn't a good scientific evidence supporting turmeric's effectiveness.
People considering taking turmeric should seek the advice of their doctor to be sure that there are not any interactions with some other medications chances are you'll be taking.
“Consumers should be aware of the side effects of curcumin extracts such as allergies and risk of bleeding, especially if they are taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications,” Pongpirul told CNN.