Turmeric, an herb used in ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, may have anti-inflammatory properties. Psoriasis, an autoimmune disease that causes scaly skin lesions and can also cause arthritic symptoms, may respond to curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric. People with psoriasis have a higher incidence of diabetes, according to a Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School study published in the April 2009 issue of "Archives of Dermatology." Turmeric may also affect blood sugar levels; if you have diabetes, talk with your doctor before taking this herb. Patients should always discuss taking a supplement with a medical professional.
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Autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis occur when the immune system goes awry and starts attacking normal cells rather than invaders such as bacteria or viruses. Curcumin improves autoimmune disorders such as psoriasis by regulating proteins that induce inflammatory reactions, called inflammatory cytokines, according to a report published in the 2007 issue of "Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology" by researchers from Methodist Research Institute.
Effects of Diabetes
An Indian study conducted by researchers from Annamalai University studied the effects of turmeric on diabetic rats. Study results, published in the winter 2002 issue of "Plant Foods and Human Nutrition," found that rats given turmeric had a reduction in blood glucose levels along with reduced hemoglobin A1C levels, which tracks blood sugar levels over a several-month period.
Possible Benefits
If you have diabetes, you have higher than normal blood sugar levels. An herb like turmeric that might lower blood sugar could help keep blood sugars in the normal range, which reduces the risk of developing diabetic complications. An herb that lowers blood sugars could also reduce the amount of diabetes medicine you need to take. Since turmeric's benefits have not been conclusively proven in humans, ask your doctor about dosage rather than trying to establish a dose on your own.
Possible Risks
While lowering blood glucose could be an additional benefit if you're taking turmeric to treat psoriasis, the effects of turmeric and doses used have not undergone enough clinical testing to determine how much might be too much. Lowering your blood sugars too much can lead to hypoglycemia, a potentially serious complication that can cause you to pass out or even go into a coma. Taking a blood sugar-lowering herb may also make it difficult to determine what medication dose you need to keep blood sugars under control. Talk with your doctor before taking turmeric to treat psoriasis if you have diabetes.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Turmeric; August 2010
- "Plant Foods for Human Nutrition"; Efficacy of Turmeric on Blood Sugar and Polyol Pathway in Diabetic Albino Rats; N. Arun, et al.; Winter 2002
- "Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology"; Curcumin and Autoimmune Disease; J. Bright; 2007
- "Archives of Dermatology"; Psoriasis and the Risk of Diabetes and Hypertension -- A Prospective Study of US Female Nurses; Abrar Qureshi, M.D., et al.; April 2009
