Turmeric is meant for curries, not capsules
The little amount that the human body can absorb has an insignificant biological effect. But when taken in inordinate amounts as a health supplement, it can do more harm than good.
Why read this story?
Editor's note: Late last year, a regular patient with stable liver cirrhosis and uncontrolled diabetes was admitted to the intensive care unit with unexpected extensive skin bleeds. After a long-drawn battle which included a transfusion of multiple blood products and vitamin K injections, the bleeding was controlled and he was sent home. The reason for his ordeal: the ingestion of turmeric supplements to control his diabetes. In a similar case, a young woman with severe hepatitis and jaundice without any identifiable cause for her acute liver disease was ultimately diagnosed with herb-induced liver injury secondary to turmeric supplements that she was taking for weight loss and skin health. When I post such patient stories on social media, the first response inevitably is, “Turmeric? What nonsense! It is an essential part of our daily diet! We should all have been dead by now!” It would seem logical. Turmeric, or Curcuma longa, the golden spice, is a flowering plant belonging to the ginger family. Its root stalks are used fresh, or boiled, dried and then ground into a yellow-orange powder for flavouring or colouring …
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