It’s a fair guess that you’ve heard a thing or two about the health benefits of turmeric for inflammation. A quick internet search will provide thousands of articles touting its golden goodness. It’s used for health complaints such as missing or painful periods, blood purifier, to reduce swelling, digestive complaints, liver congestion, skin diseases, inflammation, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disorders. The list of benefits is long, but there’s a catch: not all turmeric products are created equal.
Turmeric for Inflammation Basics
To understand this better, let’s start with the basics. The yellow pigment of turmeric comes from a family of compounds known as curcuminoids. Curcumin is the primary curcuminoid and is largely responsible for its impact on the human body. Extensive clinical trials on curcumin reveal that it is full of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer properties however, when taken alone, it has very low bioavailability. Here’s the translation: if you add some turmeric to your smoothie or take just any-old turmeric supplement, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to absorb it.
It’s true that some studies suggest combining turmeric with black pepper can increase absorption. And although it helps, the results are not impressive. But here’s where the turmeric story has an interesting twist. As it turns out, when turmeric is combined with fenugreek seeds (who would have thought…), the curcuminoids are much more likely to be absorbed and can actually reach other parts of the body, including the brain, at much higher levels than if the turmeric was taken alone.
In fact, the increase in bioavailability was almost 50 times higher with the addition of fenugreek seeds! With this impressive combination of two unlikely partners, the list of health benefits increases dramatically.
Appropriate Uses of Turmeric
One of the best-studied uses of turmeric/curcumin is for osteoarthritis, the most common chronic inflammatory joint condition worldwide. Osteoarthritis is characterized by ongoing low-grade inflammation and progressive wear of the cartilage that cushions the joints, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Numerous clinical studies have shown that curcumin may help support a healthy inflammatory response and improve joint comfort and function. Some studies demonstrate benefits comparable to certain over-the-counter pain relievers. While turmeric is not a cure for osteoarthritis, it can be a valuable part of a comprehensive approach that includes exercise, weight management, and other lifestyle strategies to support long-term joint health.
These common conditions are all good, practical uses for Turmeric and Fenugreek…
- Type 2 diabetes
- Muscle pain from intense exercise
- Ulcerative colitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Lupus
- Low vitamin D
- Depression
- Lichen planus
- Reflux PMS
- Allergies
- Pancreatic cancer
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver
- BPH
- Osteopenia
Although this list is not all-inclusive, the benefits of consuming a high-quality turmeric/fenugreek combination are pretty impressive. The turmeric product we recommend – Turmeric Forte – has the optimal inclusion of Fenugreek fiber with the Turmeric. It can be used to maintain general health when taken at a lower dose (2/day) or, it can be taken at a higher dose when certain inflammatory conditions are present.
Contraindications of Turmeric for Inflammation
Note that Turmeric can be contraindicated with certain medications, because it may affect platelet function, drug metabolism through the liver, and blood sugar regulation. Popular medications that would be contraindicated include: Warfarin/Coumadin, Apixaban/Eliquis, Clopidogrel/Plavix, and Xarelto. But many others could be a problem, too!
There are some health conditions for which you might really need to research the effectiveness or contraindication, such as:
- Active bleeding disorders
- Timeframe before surgery (may stop 1–2 weeks beforehand)
- Gallstones or bile duct obstruction (because turmeric stimulates bile flow)
- History of kidney stones (because high-dose turmeric may increase urinary oxalate)
Contact Us with Questions about Turmeric for Inflammation
We always suggest that you contact us to double check your herbs and meds, whenever you’re thinking of combining these in your routine.
Choosing the right turmeric product can make a dramatic difference in the overall health benefits obtained. If you’d like to make turmeric part of your health and longevity protocol, let us know!