Does Taking Turmeric for Arthritis Really Work (2024)

FAQs

Does Taking Turmeric for Arthritis Really Work? ›

“While turmeric extracts and curcumin supplements might help some patients, there's still no conclusive evidence that they are helpful or even safe for all arthritis patients,” says Dr.

Experts say to stick with curcumin supplements, preferably the high-quality extracts used in clinical trials, which contain up to 95% curcumin. Look for brands using black pepper (piperine), phospholipids (Meriva, BCM-95) antioxidants (CurcuWIN) or nanoparticles (Theracurmin) for better bioavailability.

There are various studies looking at the benefits of turmeric, including several that showed turmeric to be just as effective as ibuprofen for reducing inflammation, swelling and pain.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) has been used for 4,000 years to treat a variety of conditions. Studies show that turmeric may help fight infections and some cancers, reduce inflammation, and treat digestive problems. Many studies have taken place in test tubes and animals.

The anti-inflammatory property of turmeric comes from the compound curcumin. However, the turmeric in your spice rack only has around 5% curcumin. So while cooking with that at every meal may make your food taste great, it's unlikely to provide additional health benefits or help improve your arthritis on its own.

The authors concluded that there is some evidence to suggest that taking curcumin each day for 8-12 weeks can help reduce joint pain and inflammation due to arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis. The results also indicated that curcumin extracts might be as effective as taking NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and diclofenac.

Don't take turmeric supplements if:

You're taking aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil , Motrin ), or Acetaminophen (Tylenol ). Turmeric may lessen the effects of these medications.

For osteoarthritis: 500–1,500 mg of turmeric daily for 3 months. For itchy skin: 500 mg of turmeric three times daily for 2 months. For ulcerative colitis: 100–10,000 mg of turmeric extract daily.

Turmeric contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components. These characteristics may provide glow and luster to the skin. Turmeric may also revive your skin by bringing out its natural glow. You may want to try a turmeric face mask at home to see if the spice has any positive effects on your skin.

Does turmeric help with belly fat? ›

According to a study conducted at the Tufts University, curcumin can actually suppress fat tissue growth. Another way in which turmeric helps in losing weight by regulating sugar levels and further preventing insulin resistance. This results in excess fat that is not retained in the body.

Liver disease: There is some concern that turmeric can damage the liver, especially in people who have swelling (inflammation) of the liver (hepatitis) or reduced or blocked flow of bile from the liver (cholestasis).

People who should not take turmeric include those with gallbladder problems, bleeding disorders, diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), infertility, iron deficiency, liver disease, hormone-sensitive conditions, and arrhythmia. Pregnant women and those who are going to undergo surgery should not use turmeric.

A substance in black pepper called piperine, when combined with curcumin, has been shown to increase bioavailability by 2000%. “It's better to get curcumin and most other nutrients in whole food form rather than to take turmeric pills, tinctures, capsules or gummies,” she says.

How much turmeric should you consume to retain the health benefits? Here are a few helpful tips to get you started. Sayer uses 1/2 - 1.5 teaspoons per day of the dried root powder, certified organic. A typical dose of supplemental curcumin is about 250mg per day, and often increased when dealing with a condition.

For osteoarthritis: 500–1,500 mg of turmeric daily for 3 months. For itchy skin: 500 mg of turmeric three times daily for 2 months. For ulcerative colitis: 100–10,000 mg of turmeric extract daily.

We recommend Gaia Herbs Turmeric supplements, as they contain 495 milligrams of turmeric per three gummy serving, with 95 milligrams of curcuminoids. Another plus for these gummies is that they contain pectin rather than gelatin. This makes them suitable if you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet.

There is no official consensus on whether it's best to take curcumin or turmeric supplements. Most studies use extracted turmeric with a high concentration of curcumin or curcumin alone. Both turmeric and curcumin can reduce joint inflammation, cholesterol, blood sugar, as well as tumor, fungal and bacterial growth.

Relieve pain

Both ginger and turmeric have been studied for their ability to provide relief from chronic pain. Studies show that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, is especially effective at decreasing pain caused by arthritis ( 12 , 13 ).