Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHealth BenefitsPossible Side EffectsSelection, Preparation, and Storage
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Health Benefits
Possible Side Effects
Selection, Preparation, and Storage
Turmeric (Curcuma longa), a perennial plant related to the ginger family, can come in root, powder, or supplement form. Emerging research supports the topical use of turmeric to the skin via a cream or gel that contains extract from the turmeric root for improving symptoms ofeczema.
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Turmeric is a spice often used for medicinal purposes because of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the polyphenol curcumin. However, curcumin has poor bioavailability when taken orally, meaning that the body cannot absorb it adequately because it’s rapidly metabolized and eliminated from the body.Supplementing turmeric with piperine, the compound found in black pepper, can help improve its absorption when taken orally.
Physical Benefits
Preliminary clinical research suggests that turmeric can be beneficial for:
Can turmeric help with eczema?While research is still emerging and ongoing, a 2019 systematic review of available evidence suggests that turmeric can be beneficial for decreasing symptoms of inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis.
Can turmeric help with eczema?
While research is still emerging and ongoing, a 2019 systematic review of available evidence suggests that turmeric can be beneficial for decreasing symptoms of inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis.
While these benefits were observed through studies involving people who took turmeric orally, it can be extrapolated that topical turmeric can have similar benefits due to its improved bioavailability when absorbed through the skin. However, further research is needed.
According to a 2019 systematic review, topical use of turmeric may help suppress excess production and block activation of the tumor necrosis factor and inflammatorycytokines. Both tumor necrosis factor and other cytokines are inflammatory proteins that become elevated from widespread inflammation throughout the body involved in eczema and other conditions like psoriasis. When these inflammatory proteins are reduced, conditions like eczema have the potential to get better.
What are cytokines?Cytokines are small proteins that are crucial in controlling the growth and activity of other immune system cells and blood cells.When released, they signal the immune system to do its job. Cytokines affect the growth of all blood cells and other cells that help the body’s immune and inflammation responses.
What are cytokines?
Cytokines are small proteins that are crucial in controlling the growth and activity of other immune system cells and blood cells.When released, they signal the immune system to do its job. Cytokines affect the growth of all blood cells and other cells that help the body’s immune and inflammation responses.
What Is Ayurveda?
While traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine utilize different treatment options for targeting specific health problems,Ayurvedautilizes alternative techniques like massage, oils, herbs, enemas, laxatives, and blood purification to maintain optimal health without a focus on specific diseases or conditions.
While curcumin is generally considered safe to use, somenegative side effects, including headache,nausea, diarrhea, rash, and yellow stool, have been reported. These side effects were noted with the oral use of turmeric but may result from topical use as well.
Curcumin may also have potential interactions with certain medications such asblood thinners(anticoagulants), antibiotics, antidepressants, cardiovascular medications, and cancer drugs. Always talk to your doctor before starting to take an herb or supplement either in oral or topical form to make sure that it will not negatively interact with the medications you are already taking.
When you’re using a topical form of turmeric, you can choose either a micro-emulsion, gel, or ointment to apply to your skin. While all formulations have the potential to improve the symptoms of eczema, each formulation may be more beneficial for different symptoms.
A 2015 clinical trial revealed that after daily application for four weeks, micro-emulsion formulations may be more effective in reducing redness or discoloration and swelling, gels may be more effective for itching, and ointments may be more effective for scaling and skin patches.Each formulation contained 5% of turmeric extract.
How do you apply turmeric for eczema?
Summary
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jäger R, Lowery RP, Calvanese AV, Joy JM, Purpura M, Wilson JM.Comparative absorption of curcumin formulations.Nutr J. 2014 Jan 24;13:11. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-13-11Yuan F, Dong H, Gong J, et al.A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the effects of turmeric and curcuminoids on blood lipids in adults with metabolic diseases.Adv Nutr. 2019;10(5):791-802. doi:10.1093/advances/nmz021Hewlings SJ, Kalman DS.Curcumin: a review of its effects on human health.Foods. 2017;6(10):92. doi:10.3390/foods6100092Vollono L, Falconi M, Gaziano R, et al.Potential of curcumin in skin disorders.Nutrients.2019;11(9):2169. doi:10.3390/nu11092169American Cancer Society.Cytokines and their side effects.Pivari F, Mingione A, Brasacchio C, Soldati L.Curcumin and type 2 diabetes mellitus: prevention and treatment.Nutrients.2019;11(8):1837. doi:10.3390/nu11081837Khiljee S, Rehman N, Khiljee T, Loebenberg R, Ahmad RS.Formulation and clinical evaluation of topical dosage forms of Indian penny wort, walnut and turmeric in eczema.Pak J Pharm Sci.2015;28(6):2001-2007.National Eczema Association.Get the Facts: Tumeric.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jäger R, Lowery RP, Calvanese AV, Joy JM, Purpura M, Wilson JM.Comparative absorption of curcumin formulations.Nutr J. 2014 Jan 24;13:11. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-13-11Yuan F, Dong H, Gong J, et al.A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the effects of turmeric and curcuminoids on blood lipids in adults with metabolic diseases.Adv Nutr. 2019;10(5):791-802. doi:10.1093/advances/nmz021Hewlings SJ, Kalman DS.Curcumin: a review of its effects on human health.Foods. 2017;6(10):92. doi:10.3390/foods6100092Vollono L, Falconi M, Gaziano R, et al.Potential of curcumin in skin disorders.Nutrients.2019;11(9):2169. doi:10.3390/nu11092169American Cancer Society.Cytokines and their side effects.Pivari F, Mingione A, Brasacchio C, Soldati L.Curcumin and type 2 diabetes mellitus: prevention and treatment.Nutrients.2019;11(8):1837. doi:10.3390/nu11081837Khiljee S, Rehman N, Khiljee T, Loebenberg R, Ahmad RS.Formulation and clinical evaluation of topical dosage forms of Indian penny wort, walnut and turmeric in eczema.Pak J Pharm Sci.2015;28(6):2001-2007.National Eczema Association.Get the Facts: Tumeric.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Jäger R, Lowery RP, Calvanese AV, Joy JM, Purpura M, Wilson JM.Comparative absorption of curcumin formulations.Nutr J. 2014 Jan 24;13:11. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-13-11Yuan F, Dong H, Gong J, et al.A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the effects of turmeric and curcuminoids on blood lipids in adults with metabolic diseases.Adv Nutr. 2019;10(5):791-802. doi:10.1093/advances/nmz021Hewlings SJ, Kalman DS.Curcumin: a review of its effects on human health.Foods. 2017;6(10):92. doi:10.3390/foods6100092Vollono L, Falconi M, Gaziano R, et al.Potential of curcumin in skin disorders.Nutrients.2019;11(9):2169. doi:10.3390/nu11092169American Cancer Society.Cytokines and their side effects.Pivari F, Mingione A, Brasacchio C, Soldati L.Curcumin and type 2 diabetes mellitus: prevention and treatment.Nutrients.2019;11(8):1837. doi:10.3390/nu11081837Khiljee S, Rehman N, Khiljee T, Loebenberg R, Ahmad RS.Formulation and clinical evaluation of topical dosage forms of Indian penny wort, walnut and turmeric in eczema.Pak J Pharm Sci.2015;28(6):2001-2007.National Eczema Association.Get the Facts: Tumeric.
Jäger R, Lowery RP, Calvanese AV, Joy JM, Purpura M, Wilson JM.Comparative absorption of curcumin formulations.Nutr J. 2014 Jan 24;13:11. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-13-11
Yuan F, Dong H, Gong J, et al.A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the effects of turmeric and curcuminoids on blood lipids in adults with metabolic diseases.Adv Nutr. 2019;10(5):791-802. doi:10.1093/advances/nmz021
Hewlings SJ, Kalman DS.Curcumin: a review of its effects on human health.Foods. 2017;6(10):92. doi:10.3390/foods6100092
Vollono L, Falconi M, Gaziano R, et al.Potential of curcumin in skin disorders.Nutrients.2019;11(9):2169. doi:10.3390/nu11092169
American Cancer Society.Cytokines and their side effects.
Pivari F, Mingione A, Brasacchio C, Soldati L.Curcumin and type 2 diabetes mellitus: prevention and treatment.Nutrients.2019;11(8):1837. doi:10.3390/nu11081837
Khiljee S, Rehman N, Khiljee T, Loebenberg R, Ahmad RS.Formulation and clinical evaluation of topical dosage forms of Indian penny wort, walnut and turmeric in eczema.Pak J Pharm Sci.2015;28(6):2001-2007.
National Eczema Association.Get the Facts: Tumeric.
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