For thousands of years, turmeric [tərmərik] has been prized for its food and medicinal uses. Most recently, it has found a home on store shelves as a natural reliever of inflammation and joint pain.
Now, add another use to the list: gastrointestinal distress. A recent study by researchers in Thailand showed the supplement can help with functional dyspepsia [dis-ˈpep-shə]. That’s the formal name for the nausea, stomach pain and bloating that comes after meals.
Often sold as curcumin [kər-kyə-mən] — which is the chemical compound in dried turmeric — or turmeric curcumin, the supplement has been widely studied for a host of ailments.
In Thailand, the researchers separated about 200 people into three groups. For eight weeks, one group was given omeprazole [oh-mep-ruh-zohl], an over-the-counter, daily medicine that reduces stomach acid. Another group got two curcumin capsules four times a day. The third group was given both omeprazole and curcumin each day.
Later, the participants in all three groups reported similar reductions in heartburn, pain, bloating and other gastrointestinal symptoms. That, the researchers said, suggests that curcumin is just as effective as its medicinal counterpart at reducing the symptoms of functional dyspepsia.
The researchers say more study is needed to fully establish curcumin’s effectiveness against functional dyspepsia. Still, it represents a potential breakthrough: There are no medications approved solely for dyspepsia. Ask your doctor about interactions with medications before starting a curcumin regimen.
And know this: Curcumin may be able to do more than just spice up your evening meals.