Curcumin "KUR-kyoo-min"
What are other names for this remedy?
Type of medicine: natural remedy
Scientific and common names: Amomoum curcuma, Curcuma
aromatica, Curcuma aromatica salisbury, Curcuma domestica, Curcuma
domestica valet, Curcuma longa, curcumin, diferuloylmethane, E zhu, Indian saffron, Indian
yellow root, Jiang huang, turmeric root, tumeric, kunyit, yellowroot, Zedoary,
zingiberene
What is curcumin?
Curcumin is made from the dried roots of the turmeric plant. The
roots are ground into a deep yellow powder. The powder has a bitter, peppery
taste and is used as a spice in foods. It is also used to add color to foods
such as margarine, cheese, and mustard. Turmeric is also used in some
cosmetics.
What is it used for?
Curcumin has been used to treat:
- heartburn and indigestion
- high cholesterol and hardening
of the arteries
- arthritis
- Alzheimer's disease
- cystic fibrosis
- cancer
It may also be used to help prevent gallstones.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve uses
for natural remedies. The FDA does not inspect or regulate natural remedies the
way they do prescription medicines.
How is it taken?
Curcumin can be taken as a capsule or as tea. Swallow curcumin
capsules with a large drink of water. Check the label on the package for the specific
dose.
What if I overdose?
Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.
What should I watch out for?
Talk with your healthcare provider before taking curcumin if you
have:
- a bleeding disorder
- diabetes
- gallbladder disease
- heart disease
- high or low blood pressure
- ulcers
Talk with your provider before taking this remedy if you are
receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer.
Females of childbearing age: If you are pregnant or
breast-feeding, do not take this remedy without your health care provider's
approval. You may use the spice in normal amounts.
Diabetics: This remedy may affect your blood sugar level and
change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to
your healthcare provider about this.
Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any natural
remedy that you are using or thinking of using. If your provider does not tell
you how to take it, follow the directions that come with the package. Do not
take more or take it longer than recommended. Ask about anything you do not
understand. Remember:
- Natural remedies are not always
safe.
- You should not take them if you
are pregnant or breast-feeding without your healthcare provider's
approval. They should not be taken by infants, children, or older adults
without your provider's approval.
- They affect your body and may
interact with prescription medicines that you take.
- Natural remedies are not
standardized. They may have different strengths and effects. They may also
be contaminated.
What are the possible side effects?
Along with its desirable effects, this remedy may cause some
unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects
may go away as your body adjusts to the remedy. Tell your healthcare provider
if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Serious: Unusual bruising or bleeding.
Other: Heartburn, nausea, diarrhea.
What products might interact with this remedy?
When you take this remedy with other medicines, it can change
the way the remedy or the medicines work. Vitamins and certain foods may also
interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects.
Before taking this remedy, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
- blood-thinning medicines such
as aspirin, heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), enoxaparin (Lovenox),
dalteparin (Fragmin), clopidogrel (Plavix), and warfarin (Coumadin)
- cholesterol-lowering medicines
(statins) such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor),
rosuvastatin (Crestor), and simvastatin (Zocor)
- diabetes medicines such as
insulin, acarbose (Prandase, Precose), acetohexamide (Dymelor),
chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol,
Glucotrol XL), glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase), metformin (Glucophage),
miglitol (Glyset), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia),
repaglinide (Prandin), tolazamide (Tolinase), and tolbutamide (Orinase)
- herbs such as angelica, anise,
arnica, asafoetida, capsicum, celery, chamomile, devil's claw, ephedra,
fenugreek, garlic, ginkgo, Panax ginseng, gotu kola, horse chestnut,
horseradish, licorice, papain, psyllium, red clover, and willow
- medicines to treat cancer such
as cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and
mechlorethamine (Mustargen)
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil, Nuprin),
naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), ketoprofen, nabumetone
(Relafen), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), sulindac
(Clinoril), piroxicam (Feldene), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), and
oxaprozin (Daypro)
