CFS & Fibromyalgia Integrative Therapies Print Turmeric for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Grant Hughes, MD on August 05, 2016 Grant Hughes, MD is board-certified in rheumatology and is the head of rheumatology at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Review Board Grant Hughes, MD Written by linkedin Written by Adrienne Dellwo Adrienne Dellwo is an experienced journalist who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and has written extensively on the topic. Learn about our editorial policy Adrienne Dellwo Updated on October 25, 2019 Michelle Arnold / EyeEm / Getty Images More in CFS & Fibromyalgia Integrative Therapies Symptoms Causes & Risk Factors Diagnosis Treatment Living With Support & Coping Understanding Fibromyalgia Understanding CFS Related Conditions View All Turmeric is a bright yellow spice that's frequently found in curry-spice blends. The root, related to ginger, is popular in Indian, Thai and Moroccan cuisines, and it's also long been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Health Benefits Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin, which research suggests may offer several health benefits that could help alleviate symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Up until now, though, no studies have examined it specifically for these conditions. While we do have some research on turmeric/curcumin, more studies need to be done to nail down exactly what it can do for us. The spice is believed to be an: AntioxidantAnti-inflammatoryAnti-viralDigestive aidTopical antiseptic It's been used as a treatment for multiple ailments, including: ArthritisCancer, to prevent the spread of tumorsCognitive dysfunctionEczemaGallbladder functionHeartburnHigh cholesterolIrritable bowel syndromeKidney stonesPain reliefProtecting against Alzheimer's disease, when paired with vitamin DProtecting against liver damageReducing breast cancer risk in menopausal women using hormone replacement therapyReducing the risk of type-2 diabetes Dosage When taken as a supplement, the typical dose of curcumin is between 450 milligrams and 3 grams daily. Optimal doses for specific uses haven't been well-established by research. Turmeric can also be brewed into a tea by steeping 1-1.5 grams of the dried root for 15 minutes, twice a day. Turmeric/Curcumin in Your Diet Adding curcumin to your diet, through turmeric, is fairly simple. However, it may be difficult to get a therapeutic dosage through diet alone. In India, where turmeric is used in a lot of traditional foods, average dietary intake is estimated to be between 60 and 200 milligrams per day. That's far lower than the therapeutic dosage. Side Effects Studies have shown that turmeric/curcumin may cause some side effects, including: Upset stomachHeartburnNauseaDiarrheaIncreased risk of bleedingHair loss (in animal studies)Lowered blood pressure (in animal studies)Increased risk of kidney stones in people prone to them Turmeric's safety hasn't been established for children. Caution is urged when consuming turmeric during pregnancy, because of the possibility that it may stimulate the uterus and lead to menstrual-type bleeding. Any time you're considering a new supplement, you should discuss it with your doctor and pharmacy to make sure you're not creating any dangerous interactions or other problems. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn about treatment and lifestyle changes to cope with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Bhandarkar SS, Arbiser JL. Curcumin as an inhibitor of angiogenesis. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2007;595:185-195. Brouet I, Ohshima H. Curcumin, an anti-tumour promoter and anti-inflammatory agent, inhibits induction of nitric oxide synthase in activated macrophages. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1995;206(2):533-540. Cheng AL, Hsu CH, Lin JK, et al. Phase I clinical trial of curcumin, a chemopreventive agent, in patients with high-risk or pre-malignant lesions. 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