Turmeric, a staple of Indian cuisine, also has medicinal properties. This spice is derived from the Curcuma longa plant. Turmeric is created by drying the underground stems, or rhizomes, of the plant and grinding them into a fine powder. It has been used in the treatment of a number of disorders that may involve stomach pain, but in high dosages can cause gastric upset, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Turmeric and Digestion
Traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicinal practices sometimes involve the use of turmeric as a digestive aid. The active ingredient in turmeric, called curcumin, stimulates your gall bladder to produce bile, which may aid in digestion. This effect has prompted Germany to approve the use of turmeric as a prescription for various digestive disorders, such as indigestion. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a double-blind placebo-controlled study confirmed the effectiveness of turmeric in reducing bloating and gas in patients with indigestion.
Turmeric and Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disorder that can cause stomach pain and blood in your feces. It is incurable, but people with this disorder go through periods of remission when symptoms lessen or disappear. Turmeric may help ulcerative colitis patients by keeping their symptoms in remission. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that patients who took curcumin for six months along with their medical treatment had much lower rates of relapse than those who took a placebo.
Turmeric and Ulcers
One cause of stomach pain that does not appear to respond to turmeric is ulcers. Although the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine lists stomach ulcers as one of the conditions for which turmeric is often used as a treatment, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes that it may actually increase your level of stomach acid, exacerbating ulcers and their symptoms.
Turmeric Supplementation
There are a number of ways to take turmeric. It is sold in capsule form, as well as in a fluid extract and tincture. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends taking between 400 mg and 600 mg of standardized curcumin powder three times daily. For fluid extracts, the dosage is 30 to 90 drops per day. For tinctures, the dosages is 15 to 30 drops, four times daily. Consult your doctor before taking turmeric supplements.
