Turmeric & Curcumin Guide 2026: Benefits, Dosage & Safety

Turmeric Side Effects

Posted by Trish (Pa) on 03/01/2018
0 out of 5 stars

I wish I could say I have a positive outcome from taking turmeric. I take 3 capsules a day and don't notice a difference in my chronic pain. I also was getting extreme episodes where I would just break out sweating. I finally found out that turmeric can cause this. Unfortunately I'm going to have to stop taking it. I will try to cut it back to 2 capsules to see if that might stop the misery. Also I read that some people were saying it made them moody or angry, not sure if it's from that, but I do seem moodier since I''ve been taking the turmeric.

How to Take Turmeric

Posted by Amanda (Bath, Uk) on 07/18/2015

I take turmeric in the form of a cooked paste made with organic cold pressed coconut oil and freshly ground organic black pepper. My understanding is that the oil helps with the bioavailability of the turmeric and the black pepper helps to keep in in the system for longer. Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory as well as analgesic, antiseptic etc., and with that in mind I personally would avoid taking it with honey as honey is an inflammatory.

I take my turmeric paste for aches and pains and eye problems all associated with Graves Disease. If I miss my Tumeric dose I find that my eyes become extremely uncomfortable and I get increase joint pain.

How to Take Turmeric

Posted by Diane (Fresno, Ca Usa) on 03/10/2012

I have been trying various ways of taking turmeric but have not liked the taste. I have now concocted a turmeric smoothie. I don't measure but it's about 3/4 cup coconut milk, 1 banana, 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 TBS honey and a dash of black pepper. I use a Vitamix, which can handle a lot more than a regular blender. I think a regular blender would work for the above. It makes a pretty thick drink.

With a Vitamix, you can also make an even more substantial drink by adding a cut-up fuji apple. A regular blender can't really pulverize the apple (I have friends who have tried it and it never worked.)

How to Take Turmeric

Posted by Kay (Destin, Fl) on 02/21/2012
★★★★★

Another handy way to ingest Turmeric is to put the powder in your mustard or honey-mustard bottle; great on sandwiches and chicken-wings maranade. You can put a huge amount in your mustard without noticing much of a change in the taste. Add black pepper to enhance the healing benefits of Tumeric!

How to Take Turmeric

Posted by Michele (London, Uk) on 10/02/2010

I just want to pass on something about turmeric that I read in David Servan-Schreiber's book _Anti-Cancer_ (pages 134-137). According to Dr Servan-Schreiber the research on turmeric suggests that is far more readily absorbed if it is dissolved in oil, and further if it is mixed with black pepper (! ).

How to Take Turmeric

Posted by Sally Lewis (Arkansas) on 11/14/2018

chobani yogurt the flip loco cocoa kind. Put the blackstrap molasses in it and stir. It blends with the dark chocolate flavor. I know it has sugar in it, but to get it down, it works well. I have also mixed the blackstrap molasses with a little hot coffee first to dilute it, then added coconut oil and cocoa, and it is pretty good. My go to comfort drink.

Sore Throat

Posted by Grayson (Orlando, Fl) on 07/26/2009
★★★★★

SORE THROAT RELIEF: Having recently stopped a respiratory infection in it's tracks by spraying a solution of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide directly into the throat using a saline nasal spray bottle that I emptied of nasal spray and filled with H202, I found that the virus has left my throat raw, sore and irritated and I was coughing up copious amounts of greenish phlegm. To alleviate the soreness, I put approximately 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric in my mouth and held it there until it was thoroughly mixed with saliva then slowly swallowed the mixture aided with a little liquid of choice such as water or coffee,etc..A very similar technique to oil pulling except there was only turmeric and saliva-no oil was used.WHAT A RELIEF!!!The turmeric will slightly numb the tongue but this passes quickly. I do not spray the H202 into the nose as it tends to decrease my sense of taste.

Melanoma

Posted by Daniel (California) on 12/30/2024

Ivermectin can indeed rid the body of cancer. Also can be used together with Fenbendazole. There are protocols people have used with success. And since we are on the Turmeric page, turmeric has been shown to slow the blood supply to certain cancers, thus starving them. Google is your friend.

Fatigue

Posted by Lisa (Coto de Caza, CA, USA) on 02/26/2009
★★★★★

Turmeric for Fatigue: I have Chronic Fatigue along with Mercury toxicity and started taking Turmeric for a tooth infection/ sensitive tooth. A GREAT side effect was energy! It only took a few days to get started. I take about 4 capsule in morning and 4 at lunch (homemade caps with turmeric from spice aisle). WARNING: Don't take before bed. I couldn't sleep for a few nights until I figured out it was giving me energy.

I love this stuff.

Boils

Posted by Cindy (Astoria, Oregon) on 01/24/2009
★★★★★

In desperation I tried turmeric for a very large and painful abcess I had on my inner thigh. I've had problems with a boil there before and took 1 teaspoon of turmeric in water or milk 3 times a day. Day one the pain started to subside greatly... By day two it was shrinking and by day three it was about 75% smaller!! I'm amazed and relived BUT what I found to be extraordinary is that I noticed I have used my rescue inhaler for asthma only once in the time I started taking the turmeric. I am on an oral medication for asthma but still must use my rescue inhaler several times a day. The relief in my asthma is truly a mircle treatment for me. I plan to use turmeric daily for asthma and will play around with the dosage to see what will keep it at bay for me. thank you Earth Clinic!!

Canker Sores

Posted by Debbie (East Moriches, NY) on 10/21/2008
★★★★★

Turmeric for Canker Sores/Cold Sores

Recently read in Rebecca Wood's "The New Whole Food Encyclopedia" about using turmeric for canker sores. I have low iron which occassionally gives me canker sores so I was searching for a home remedy. Take an 1/8 tsp. of turmeric and just enough drops of water to make a thick paste. Put directly on canker sore before bed and it will be gone by morning. Works well on cold sores too. Beware that turmeric will stain the skin a little (no big deal). I've been referring to this website for years and am glad that I have something to offer back.

Diarrhea

Posted by James (Summit, NJ) on 09/23/2008
★★★★★

Recently I went to India. When I returned I started to have diarrhea. I thought it would go away in a day or two but it did not. After five days of misery I went to the CVS and bought keopectate. Didn't work. I tried a vegetable diet, sea salt, apple cider vinegar, nothing worked. Now it's ten days and I'm fifteen pounds lighter, weak, and finding it hard to keep hydrated not to mention that going to the bathroom was now agony. I was ready to go to my doctor/hospital.

My wife who was still in India told me to take Tumeric. There was a big container of it so I mixed a heaping teaspoon in a glass of water and drank it down. Slightly bitter but I liked the taste. The next morning I took another dose and that was it. My stomach settled right down and a day later it was gone. Really amazing.

Menstrual Cramps

Posted by Liana (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) on 07/10/2008
★★★★★

Turmeric reduced my PMS symptoms substantially. I was born and raised in Central Java, Indonesia. In addition to the fact that turmeric has been used in cooking for many centuries, it is one of the common home-made herbal remedies for menstrual cramps.

This is the version that I used effectively on myself while living in Western countries where fresh turmeric root was not available:

1.Boil 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in 1 to 2 cups of water.
2.Add lemon/lime juice.
3.Add honey (or sugar) to taste.
4. Drink this once a day.

Whenever I remembered to take this about 5 days before my menses, I had absolutely no discomfort whatsoever. And ... as a bonus, my complexion that turned itchy, bumpy and/or pimply before and during menstruation usually stayed smooth.

Now come to think of it, even though I am now post-menopausal, I probably will still benefit from this concoction. Thank you to all of those who write how turmeric root/powder cures other ailments such as colds.

Diarrhea

Posted by Carol (Phoenix, AZ) on 05/24/2008
★★★★★

It really works! After trying everything I could get my hands on, and six days of constant diarrhea, I tried the turmeric - and within hours I am back on track. Thanks for saving me the Doctor bills. I used one teaspoon in an 8 oz glass of warm water. Had to hold my nose to get it down but it was worth it.

Diarrhea

Posted by John (Colton, CA) on 02/12/2008
★★★★★

I should've written this earlier, but just been busy... which is a testament to its success.

The only thing I can think of is that I ate some bad (very bad soup) for dinner on January 31st (2008). Later that evening I started having bad diarrhea. Liquid coming out of me from the wrong place. I've had diarrhea before, but this stuff was different. I nearly drank a whole bottle of Pepto (large) and NOTHING changed. I went to the bathroom a lot! I was getting raw... I had completely forgotten about this website.

Last year I came here to cure myself from a kidney stone (lemon - olive oil) and it worked. But re-finding this place was such a pain. I had a bookmark crash in mid January (long story).

I read the testimonies for both the Apple Cider Vinegar and Turmeric. I went with the latter. To be honest I don't like the smell of vinegar. I wouldn't be able to keep that down. I bought my Turmeric from Stater Bros.; McCormic brand for about five bucks.

Okay. I know I messed up here, but be warned. This cocktail is bitter as hell. I actually spit out part of it, which looked like I had vomited on my shirt. Which I suppose isn't too far off. I'm so gald I only had to take this once. I don't want to do this again anytime soon. This happened on February 3rd.

As I wrote, I had been looking at the Apple Cider Vinegar cure too. I ended up messing the measurements. I was suppose to take one teaspool NOT one tablespoon with a warm glass of water. That got me real paranoid.

I felt the results within four hours. I went less and more... firm. By that evening I was back to normal. Let me clear that; I was releasing something that was far solid that didn't require me to to visit the bowel every thirty - forty minutes.

I'm back to my old self now. This stuff works! I'm so glad I re-bookmarked this wonderous place. Dudes you saved my rear, quite literally, especially since that afternoon (Jan 31st) I had a root canal. Believe me, I didn't need that grief. Thanks!

EC: Recipe: 1 tsp of turmeric in a glass of warm water cures loose stools. Take this only once a day.

Cysts/MRSA

Posted by Steve (Pretoria, South Africa) on 02/02/2008
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I have been fighting a battle with boils/cysts since February 2007. From Feb to Apr 2007 I have been lanced in the operating theater 3 times, and 5 times in the surgeons consultation rooms.

The cysts would appear on the right loin, lanced, then another would appear on the left loin.

I have seen an urologist, internist, ear, nose and throat specialist, and surgeon whose answer to everything was lance it.

It was a battle which started to effect my work, personal life. Within 48 hours the boil will start, and then grow till ready to burst. I couldn't plan any holidays, trips.

Then after May 2007 it went away, and I was ecstatic about this "remission" as it turned out. Lo and behold October 2007 it can back with a vengeance. Which I had once again lanced. This seems to correspond with Earth Clinic's theory on rain and MRSA because no boil appeared during these winter months.

Then I decided to take my health into my own hands and made an appointment with a natural health practitioner. He did help a lot in reversing free radical damage, etc but he said to cut caffeine and aspartame. Which I did, but the boils re-appeared. My GP said that the medical profession can't help my further.

I then went Cyberhunting and came upon earthclinic.com. I have read the testimonies of almost everybody and decided to give turmeric a run for its money. I also decided not to report back within a couple of days to ensure tried results before any feedback.

2 Boils started to appear on my left loin. In less than a day the boils were red and inflamed. I immediately went to the nearest supermarket to purchase turmeric. Within a couple of hours the pain seemed less. The next morning the pain was CONSIDERABLY less and the boils shrunk to 1/3 of its original size. And on day 3 zip, gone, nothing, nada.

I have been using Turmeric for 1.5 months and it is still gone.

I want to thank earthclinic and Ted for their efforts and I would like to state today that you guys have saved my life, literally. I was on my way to fournier's gangrene and I do not think I would've survived that.

Some comments on the Turmeric journey:

It does give you constipation and dehydrate you. Drink plenty water and buy some extra electrolytes.

For the padded problem try Milk of Magnesium, 2 teaspoons should turn on Niagara falls.

I am currently experiencing with dosage, and I am currently running on 1 half teaspoon morning and night. Remember we are all different so test what works best for you.

I wish you well.

Boils

Posted by Shery (Paris, France) on 01/23/2008
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I always believed in magic and you proved it today. I have had a big ugly and terribly painful boil on my stomach for a few days. I know this must be because of hair follicle infection as well as fat (yeah yeah, stomach with loads of fat, and hair on it too. hmmm not nice but real). It has been very painful and I am on mission in Nepal of all places. So I googled "boils" this morning to make sure they were not cancerous, and I fall on your website and the turmeric suggestion. Since I do happen to be in Nepal where everyone believes in ayurvedic medicine, I went to the hotel kitchen and asked for turmeric, and drank a full glass of water with a tablespoon of it. Yuck but the waiters were telling me that they drink this with milk to cure their sore throats. I went back to my room and forgot it although I smelled quite bad. 4 hours later, padam, the front of my pants got totally wet with blood and pus. The boil burst open and I burst out laughing. Your remedy WORKS; I thank you so much and will keep this website bookmarked for life.

EC: Read hundreds more testimonials like this one on our boil remedies page!