- Good for osteoarthritis
- Reduces chronic pain and inflammation
- Reduces hay fever symptoms
- Helps reduce depression symptoms
- Lowers levels of blood fat and cholesterol
- Helps prevent sores inside the mouth (oral mucositis)
- Possibly reduces the risk of cancer
- Helps with digestion
Turmeric contains a chemical called curcumin. Curcumin and other chemicals in turmeric help to reduce swelling. It is often used to treat conditions that involve pain and inflammation, hence its use for osteoarthritis. It is also used for hay fever, depression, high cholesterol, itching, skin diseases, wounds, digestive ailments and liver conditions.
It seems to reduce hay fever symptoms such as sneezing, itching, runny nose and congestion. It also reduces depression symptoms. Turmeric seems to lower levels of blood fats called triglycerides. It also helps to prevent the buildup of fat in the liver. The antioxidant effect of turmeric appears to be so powerful that it may stop your liver from being damaged by toxins. It seems to prevent swelling (inflammation) and sores in the mouth (oral mucositis) during radiation treatment for cancer. It might also reduce itching that is caused by various conditions.
Curcumin shows promise as a cancer treatment. Studies suggest that it has protective effects against pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer and multiple myeloma. Turmeric can also play an important role in digestion as a result of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.