Important: This is not medical advice
This page is for general information only. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat or cure anything. Herbs are complementary support, not replacements for prescribed medicine.
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using any herb, tea or supplement, especially if you take medicine, are pregnant or nursing, have a health condition, or are planning surgery.
- Do not stop or change any prescribed medicine on your own.
- Get emergency care right away (call 911) for serious symptoms such as chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, severe allergic reaction, heavy bleeding, confusion, or thoughts of harming yourself.
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Turmeric
Curcuma longa
- Traditional use
- A golden-yellow root used in cooking and in traditional Indian and other Asian medicine, often for joint comfort and digestion.
- How people take it
- Ground spice in food, golden-milk style drinks, or capsules of turmeric or its main compound, curcumin.
- What the evidence shows
- NIH NCCIH says there is not enough high-quality evidence that turmeric or curcumin treats any health condition. Studies have looked at joint pain, digestion and other topics, and results so far are mixed or preliminary.
- Cautions and interactions
- Spice amounts in food are generally considered fine. High-dose supplements have been linked to rare cases of liver injury, and may cause stomach upset. Turmeric may increase bleeding risk with blood thinners such as warfarin, may affect diabetes medicines, and can be a concern with gallbladder problems. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist first.
More herbs
Where to read more
The information here was written for this site as a plain-language overview. For current, detailed and regularly reviewed information, check the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Mayo Clinic, which both have herb and supplement fact sheets. Your pharmacist can also check your medicines for interactions. Research changes over time, so these sources are always the better place to confirm the latest guidance.
Important: This is not medical advice
This page is for general information only. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat or cure anything. Herbs are complementary support, not replacements for prescribed medicine.
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using any herb, tea or supplement, especially if you take medicine, are pregnant or nursing, have a health condition, or are planning surgery.
- Do not stop or change any prescribed medicine on your own.
- Get emergency care right away (call 911) for serious symptoms such as chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, severe allergic reaction, heavy bleeding, confusion, or thoughts of harming yourself.
