Turmeric (Curcuma longa), a yellow food color and an ingredient in curry powder, has long been used in Asian traditional medicine as a stomach tonic and blood purifier, and for the treatment of skin diseases and wound healing. Today, it is considered potentially beneficial in treating or reducing symptoms associated with a wide range of health conditions, due to its antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects.

Grown in the tropical regions of southern Asia, turmeric is an erect, perennial (returns each year) plant with trumpet-shaped dull yellow flowers. Turmeric is fragrant and has a bitter, somewhat sharp taste similar to ginger.

The dried aboveground and underground stems are used in medicinal and food preparations.

Turmeric is used to treat the following conditions and symptoms:

• Digestive disorders. Curcumin, one of the active ingredients in turmeric, induces the flow of bile, which breaks down fats. Extracts of turmeric root inhibited gastric secretion and protected against injuries caused by medications such as indomethacin and reserpine in an animal study. Further studies are needed to confirm these effects in humans. 
• Arthritis. Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory agent that relieves the aches and pains associated with arthritis.
• Cardiovascular conditions. 
• Cancer. Turmeric decreased symptoms of skin cancers and reduced the incidence of chemically caused breast cancer in lab animals.
• Bacterial infection. The herb's volatile oil functions as an external antibiotic, preventing bacterial infection in wounds. Similarly, this herb can help insect bites and stings heal more quickly.

An animal study also suggests that ethanol extracts of turmeric may protect the gastric lining against injury caused by drugs such as indomethacin and reserpine.

Turmeric is commercially available in the following forms:

• Fluid extracts
• Tinctures
• Encapsulated powders

Pediatric

While turmeric may be helpful for the treatment of allergies and inflammatory conditions in children, appropriate doses have not yet been established. Until more information is available, consider adjusting the recommended adult dose to account for the child's weight. Most herbal dosages for adults are calculated on the basis of a 150 lb (70 kg) adult. Therefore, if the child weighs 50 lb (20 to 25 kg), the appropriate dose of turmeric for this child would be 1/3 of the adult dosage.

Adult

The following are recommended adult doses:

• Standardized powder (curcumin): 400 to 600 mg three times daily
• Tincture (1:2): 3 to 5 mL three times per day

Turmeric and curcumin are considered safe when taken in recommended doses. However, extended or excessive use of curcumin may produce gastrointestinal upset and, in extreme cases, ulcers. If you have been diagnosed with gallstones or obstruction of the bile passages, consult with your health care provider before using turmeric products.

No noteworthy interactions (positive or negative) between turmeric and conventional medications are known to have been reported in the literature to date.

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