Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesPossible Side EffectsDosageSelection
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uses
Possible Side Effects
Dosage
Selection
Turmeric, the spice that’s ground from the root of theCurcuma longaplant that gives curry its bright yellow color, may help relieve joint pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis (OA) andrheumatoid arthritis(RA).
Used for centuries inAyurvedic medicineto treat arthritis, modern research has isolated the antioxidant curcumin as the key beneficial component in turmeric. A 2016 meta-analysis of research suggested that curcumin may relieve pain, as well asnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)in people with RA or OA.
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Turmeric and Arthritis
A relative of ginger, turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory that blockscytokinesand enzymes involved in theinflammation process.
Due to the lack of substantial supporting research, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health advises against using turmeric supplements to prevent or treat any health condition, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.And it should not be used as a replacement fordisease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD)therapy, which is the standard of care for these conditions.
The Research
There has been some research examining the effects of turmeric on arthritis.
In laboratory studies, curcumin was shown to inhibit mediators of the inflammatory response.These include pro-inflammatory pathways such as nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), andJanus kinase(JAK)/signal transducer.
In addition, curcumin reduces the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and COX-2-induced prostaglandin G2 (COX-2).
Natural Ways to Fight Inflammation
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory type of arthritis that primarily affects the lining of the joints. An autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis causes the body to mistakenly attack the joints, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. It is commonly treated with DMARDs,corticosteroids, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Curcumin appears to target the immune system using similar pathways as some DMARDs.
These include:
Human studies investigating the effect of curcumin or turmeric in the treatment of RA are limited but show promise.
While these studies are promising, more research and larger studies are needed.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment: A Guide to Symptom Management
Osteoarthritis
The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis is a condition that leads to the breakdown of joint cartilage and bone. Turmeric shows promise in treating the pain associated with OA.
Current research on the effects of curcumin in the treatment of osteoarthritis suggests that the spice offers the following benefits:
How Arthritis Is Treated
In larger, therapeutic doses, turmeric and curcumin may cause side effects, including:
Of note, using turmeric or curcumin supplements can result in temporary body odor and strong-scented urine.
Widely available in the spice aisle of your local grocery store, it may be difficult to get therapeutic amounts of curcumin through cooking. Curcumin makes up only a small part of turmeric and can be difficult to absorb. In addition, turmeric can be high in lead and lead to lead poisoningif taken in large doses.
Contraindications
Taking therapeutic doses of curcumin or turmeric is not recommended for people with certain conditions:
Interactions
Certain drugs can interact negatively with curcumin supplements. Curcumin may thin your blood and should not be used in conjunction with anti-coagulant or anti-platelet medications, including:
Curcumin supplements are often combined with piperine (the active ingredient in black pepper), which may interact negatively with the following:
If you are considering using turmeric supplements, talk to your healthcare provider first to discuss whether it’s appropriate for you. This is especially important if you have a chronic condition or are taking any medications. If you have surgery scheduled, you may need to stop taking curcumin prior to your procedure. Speak to your surgical team for instructions.
In clinical studies, the effective daily dose for the treatment of both OA and RA is about 1,000 mg of curcumin a day, commonly taken as one 500 mg capsule twice a day.
Turmeric Tea: 6 Benefits of This Anti-Inflammatory Wonder
Curcumin is sold in capsule and powder forms at health food stores, drug stores, and online.
A Word From Verywell
Turmeric May Be a Solution For Osteoarthritis Knee Pain, Study Finds
11 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.
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Arthritis Foundation.Supplement and herb guide for arthritis symptoms.
NIH: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine.Turmeric.
Ghosh S, Banerjee S, Sil PC.The beneficial role of curcumin on inflammation, diabetes and neurodegenerative disease: A recent update.Food Chem Toxicol. 2015;83:111-124. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2015.05.022
Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.Curcumin.
Chandran B, Goel A.A randomized, pilot study to assess the efficacy and safety of curcumin in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.Phytother Res.2012;26(11):1719–25. doi:10.1002/ptr.4639
Amalraj A, Varma K, Jacob J, et al.A novel highly bioavailable curcumin formulation improves symptoms and diagnostic indicators in rheumatoid arthritis patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-dose, three-arm, and parallel-group study.J Med Food. 2017;20(10):1022-1030. doi:10.1089/jmf.2017.3930
Chin KY.The spice for joint inflammation: anti-inflammatory role of curcumin in treating osteoarthritis.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2016;10:3029-3042. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S117432
Hewlings SJ, Kalman DS.Curcumin: a review of its' effects on human health.Foods. 2017;6(10):92. doi:10.3390/foods6100092
Cowell W, Ireland T, Vorhees D, Heiger-bernays W.Ground turmeric as a source of lead exposure in the United States.Public Health Rep. 2017;132(3):289-293. doi:10.1177/0033354917700109
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