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Turmeric is a spice grown in India and other tropical regions of Asia. It is the main spice in curry. It has a warm, bitter taste and is frequently used to flavor or color curry powders, mustards, butters and cheeses.  It has a long history of use in herbal remedies, especially in China, India and Indonesia. The root and rootstock, or rhizome of the plant contain curcumin, which is considered to be the active ingredient. Curcumin is not related to cumin which is a spice made from the seeds of a different plant. Turmeric has been used for headaches, migraine and joint pain, as well as for other conditions.

Turmeric is LIKELY SAFE when used appropriately by adults.

SIDE EFFECTS to turmeric may include:

*Stomach upset, nausea, dizziness or diarrhea. Stop turmeric if you have any of these side effects.

*Taking turmeric by mouth in medicinal amounts is LIKELY UNSAFE during pregnancy and breast-feeding. DON’T take turmeric if you are pregnant.

*Turmeric can make gallbladder problems worse. DON’T use turmeric if you have gallstones or a bile duct obstruction.

*Some people get stomach upset with turmeric. It may make stomach problems such as GERD worse. Don’t take turmeric if it worsens symptoms of GERD.

*Turmeric may slow blood clotting. It may also cause extra bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using turmeric at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

INTERACTIONS;

*Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet drugs) interact with turmeric.

DOSAGE:

*For headache: 500mg every 3 hours as needed. Take 4 in a day at most and may be used with most other headache medicines. May be combined with ginger or triptans. Limit to 5 days a week at most.

*For arthritis or joint pain: 500mg 2 to 4 times a day.

Turmeric capsules can be found at Walgreens, CVS, Walmart and Vitamin Shoppe.

Some turmeric capsule brands include:

*Botanic Choice Turmeric Herbal Supplement Capsules – 500mg, 180 capsules $5.40

*Spring Valley Turmeric- 500mg, 90 capsules, $6.00

*Nature’s Bounty Turmeric/Curcumin Capsules – 450mg, $9.99, 60 capsules

*Radiance Turmeric – 400mg, $7.49, 100 capsules

 

 

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