CFS & Fibromyalgia Integrative Therapies Turmeric for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome By Adrienne Dellwo Adrienne Dellwo LinkedIn Adrienne Dellwo is an experienced journalist who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and has written extensively on the topic. Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 18, 2022 Medically reviewed by Anita C. Chandrasekaran, MD, MPH Medically reviewed by Anita C. Chandrasekaran, MD, MPH LinkedIn Anita Chandrasekaran, MD, MPH, is board-certified in internal medicine and rheumatology and currently works as a rheumatologist at Hartford Healthcare Medical Group in Connecticut. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print 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. Michelle Arnold / EyeEm / Getty Images 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: Arthritis Cancer, to prevent the spread of tumors Cognitive dysfunction Eczema Gallbladder function Heartburn High cholesterol Irritable bowel syndrome Kidney stones Pain relief Protecting against Alzheimer's disease, when paired with vitamin D Protecting against liver damage Reducing breast cancer risk in menopausal women using hormone replacement therapy Reducing the risk of type-2 diabetes Dosage According to The Joint United Nations, World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives, and European Food Safety Authority reports, the Allowable Daily Intake (ADI) of curcumin is 0–3 mg per kg of body weight. Optimal doses for specific uses haven't been well-established by research. 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 1-2 grams per day. Side Effects Studies have shown that turmeric/curcumin may cause some side effects, including: Upset stomachHeartburnNauseaDiarrheaIncreased risk of bleedingIncreased 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 not enough studies have been done to determine its safety. Any time you're considering a new supplement, you should discuss it with your healthcare provider and pharmacy to make sure you're not creating any dangerous interactions or other problems. Supplements are not regulated by the FDA, so they may contain other ingredients, and dosing may not always be accurate. 13 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Blaylock R, Maroon J. Natural plant products and extracts that reduce immunoexcitotoxicity-associated neurodegeneration and promote repair within the central nervous system. Surg Neurol Int. 2012;3(1):19-. doi:10.4103/2152-7806.92935 Singh V, Pathak A, Pal M, Sareen S, Goel K. Comparative evaluation of topical application of turmeric gel and 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate gel in prevention of gingivitis. Natl J Maxillofac Surg. 2015;6(1):67-. doi:10.4103/0975-5950.168238 Dulbecco, P. Therapeutic potential of curcumin in digestive diseases. WJG. 2013;19(48):9256-. doi:10.3748/wjg.v19.i48.9256 Gupta SC, Patchva S, Aggarwal BB. Therapeutic roles of curcumin: lessons learned from clinical trials. AAPS J. 2012;15(1):195-218. doi:10.1208/s12248-012-9432-8 Zhu L, Mei X, Zhang Z, Xie Y, Lang F. Curcumin intervention for cognitive function in different types of people: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytotherapy Research. 2019;33(3):524-533. doi:10.1002/ptr.6257 Laura V, Mattia F, Roberta G, et al. Potential of curcumin in skin disorders. Nutrients. 2019;11(9):2169-. doi:10.3390/nu11092169 Thavorn K, Mamdani MM, Straus SE. Efficacy of turmeric in the treatment of digestive disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. Syst Rev. 2014;3(1). doi:10.1186/2046-4053-3-71 Hewlings S, Kalman D. Curcumin: a review of its’ effects on human health. Foods. 2017;6(10):92-. doi:10.3390/foods6100092 Kwon, Y. Estimation of curcumin intake in Korea based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2012). Nutr Res Pract. 2014;8(5):589-. doi:10.4162/nrp.2014.8.5.589 Fadus MC, Lau C, Bikhchandani J, Lynch HT. Curcumin: an age-old anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic agent. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. 2017;7(3):339-346. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.08.002 Kim D, Ku S, Bae J. Anticoagulant activities of curcumin and its derivative. BMB Reports. 2012;45(4):221-226. doi:10.5483/bmbrep.2012.45.4.221 ConsumerLab.com. Kidney stones from turmeric & curcumin Oregon State University. Curcumin. Additional Reading Ferrucci LM, Daniel CR, Kapur K, et al. Measurement of spices and seasonings in India: opportunities for cancer epidemiology and prevention. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention: APJCP; 11(6):1621-9. By Adrienne Dellwo Adrienne Dellwo is an experienced journalist who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and has written extensively on the topic. 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