Derived from the underground tuber of the Curcuma longa plant, turmeric has been used as a spice, food and medicinal remedy for thousands of years. Turmeric is consumed in the form of powdered root, but medicinally it's taken in many different forms including as a tincture, capsule, tablet, fluid extract and even made into a tea. Turmeric has a wide variety of health benefits, but you should talk with your doctor about the potential dangers before using the herb for medicinal purposes.
Function
The major constituent in turmeric is a substance called curcumin, which appears in preliminary research to offer anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and blood-thinning effects in the body. Curcumin also seems to stimulate your gallbladder to produce bile and may offer antibacterial and antiviral effects. In Ayurvedic medicine in India and traditional Chinese medicine, turmeric was used to improve digestion and liver function, normalize menstruation, and ease arthritis pain and inflammation. Turmeric was even applied to the skin to treat inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and wounds.
Benefits
Turmeric's purported effects on bile production could potentially help in treating indigestion. These effects may help to relieve heartburn, treat gallstones and heal stomach ulcers. More conclusive research in humans is needed to confirm these potential health benefits, however. Talk with your doctor before taking turmeric for any of these purposes.
Potential
Turmeric's anti-inflammatory effects in the body could potentially help in treating rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory conditions, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Turmeric could possibly also provide health benefits for people with Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, high cholesterol, chronic anterior uveitis and lichen planus. The herb's strong antioxidant properties may lend it some potential in helping to prevent cancer and cataracts. Because turmeric appears to lower LDL or "bad cholesterol" levels and prevents excessive clotting of your blood, the herb may help in reducing your risks for atherosclerosis. Additionally, turmeric may help to treat diabetes, as well as bacterial and viral infections. However, no widely-accepted, conclusive medical research supports the use of turmeric tea or any other form of the herb for treating or preventing any health condition.
Warnings
Few clinical trials on turmeric in humans have been conducted, so there's little solid evidence supporting turmeric's purported health benefits. Turmeric tea and other forms of turmeric supplements could pose certain health risks for some people as well. Taking large amounts of turmeric for long periods of time could cause liver damage, especially in people who have liver disease. Turmeric might also pose risks for people with gallbladder disease. Additionally, turmeric might interact negatively with certain medications, such as blood-thinners like Coumadin and Plavix, stomach acid-reducers like Prevacid and Zantac, and blood sugar-lowering drugs for treating diabetes, cautions the University of Maryland Medical Center. Turmeric may increase the effects of blood-thinners and diabetes medications but inhibit the effects of stomach acid-reducers.
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