How To Use Turmeric To Treat Ulcerative Colitis

ulcerative colitis

Recently, there has been increasing interest in turmeric’s possible benefits for treating irritable bowel diseases, i.e., ulcerative colitis. Turmeric’s probable therapeutic powers come from curcumin, a phytochemical that is the functional essence of turmeric. Curcumin has been authenticated to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunosuppressive effects. Although much of the research executed till now in test tubes or animals, many undersized human tests have discovered that, when used with prescription, curcumin may satisfy people with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis often emerges in the rectum and the large intestine. Inflammation is usually only present in the innermost layer of the colon lining. Damaged areas are ongoing, not patchy, starting at the rectum and extending further into the colon.

turmeric for ulcerative colitis

Another important note to consider: IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) is not the same as IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). However, symptoms may co-occur between the two; you should not complicate these two.

Remember that these are two different issues requiring different treatments.

Turmeric for Ulcerative Colitis

Growing evidence suggests that turmeric may be a helpful treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC). In a study published in the journal Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, researchers found that a topical gel having turmeric was more convincing than a placebo in treating UC-associated pain and inflammation. Turmeric is a spice derived from the rhizome of the turmeric plant. It is used in many civilizations worldwide to add flavor and color to food. Research implies that turmeric has anti-inflammatory effects. It has been led to relieve inflammatory cell activity and deter inflammatory compounds’ production. If you consider using turmeric to treat your UC symptoms, speak with your doctor first.

Among the multiple potential benefits of using turmeric for UC, some of the most noteworthy have:

1) Comfort from pain and inflammation.

2) Improved bowel role.

3) Less chance of replication.

How to Use Turmeric for Ulcerative Colitis

When treating gut and intestinal inflammation, you’ll get enough curcumin in your diet. Adding more turmeric powder to your meals is not ideal for treating UC. Since its curcuminoid content is only 3.14 percent on average. An encapsulated turmeric dietary supplement is the most promising treatment so far. It likely will only be effective if it contains piperine in the form of BioPerine. Best-rated turmeric brands also include AstraGin, a component that increases the absorption of turmeric by 90 percent. As a bonus, AstraGin has proven supporters of gut health, especially for those with IBD.

Hence, turmeric capsules are the future of health & well-being.

Bottom Line

Lately, there has been growing curiosity about turmeric’s possible benefits for treating irritable bowel diseases, i.e., ulcerative colitis.

There is opinionated information on using turmeric for UC. Nevertheless, individuals should consume it orally in capsule form or add it to their daily food. It is also feasible to make a tea or infusion with it. It is important to note that individual reactions to turmeric may differ, so it is essential to talk with a healthcare provider if you consider using it for UC.

References

  1. Duvoix, A., Blasius, R., Delhalle, S., Schnekenburger, M., Morceau, F., Henry, E., … & Diederich, M. (2005). Chemopreventive and therapeutic effects of curcumin. Cancer Lett223(2):181-190. doi: 1016/j.canlet.2004.09.041
  2. Hanai, H., Iida, T., Takeuchi, K., Watanabe, F., Maruyama, Y., Andoh, A., . . .& Koide, Y. (2006). Curcumin Maintenance Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis: Randomized, Multicenter, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 4(12), 1502-1506. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2006.08.008
  3. Holt PR, Katz S, Kirshoff R. Curcumin therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: a pilot study. Dig Dis Sci. 2005;50(11):2191-2193.
  4. Jobin C., Bradham C.A., Russo MP., Juma, B., Narula, A.S., Brenner. D.A., … & Sartor, R. B. (1999). Curcumin blocks cytokine-mediated NF-kappa B activation and proinflammatory gene expression by inhibiting inhibitory factor I-kappa B kinase activity. J Immunol163(6):3474-3483.
  5. Lang, A., Salomon, N., Wu, J. C., Kopylov, U., Lahat, A., Har-Noy, O., . . . & Ben-Horin, S. (2015). Curcumin in Combination With Mesalamine Induces Remission in Patients With Mild-to-Moderate Ulcerative Colitis in a Randomized Controlled Trial. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 13(8). doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2015.02.019
  6. Lao, C. D., Ruffin, M. T., Normolle, D., Heath, D. D., Murray, S. I., Bailey, J. M., . . . & Brenner, D. E. (2006). Dose escalation of a curcuminoid formulation. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 6(1). doi:10.1186/1472-6882-6-10
  7. Perkins S., Verschoyle R.D., Hill K., Parveen, l., Threadgill, M.D., Sharma, R.A., … & Gescher, A.J. (2002). Chemopreventive efficacy and pharmacokinetics of curcumin in the min/+ mouse, a model of familial adenomatous polyposis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 11(6):535-540
  8. Singla, V., Mouli, V. P., Garg, S. K., Rai, T., Choudhury, B. N., Verma, P., . . . Ahuja, V. (2014). Induction with NCB-02 (curcumin) enema for mild-to-moderate distal ulcerative colitis — A randomized, placebo-controlled, pilot study. Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis, 8(3), 208-214. doi:10.1016/j.crohns.2013.08.006
  9. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/complementary-medicine/supplements
  10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6928475/
  11. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jafc.2c04509
  12. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874122000757

Taiba Tariq

Taiba Tariq is a healthcare nutrition hobbyist, enthusiastic about researching healthcare & skincare news while analyzing the latest and science-backed evidence about nutrition, skin care, and supplements. She wants to help people regain their beauty, health, and well-being through natural means.

all author posts