Turmeric - A Spicy Stomach Pain Treatment

| Modified on Jul 17, 2024
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Turmeric is an excellent anti-inflammatory and one of Earth Clinic readers' favorite natural remedies for a variety of ailments, including stomach pain. If you are only familiar with turmeric as a cooking or pickling spice, especially in curries, you'll be surprised to learn that throughout the world turmeric is considered an indispensable natural treatment. In India, turmeric has been considered a valuable and reliable medicinal herb for thousands of years. For a stomach ache, it works better than most traditional options.

How Earth Clinic Readers Use Turmeric for Stomach Aches

Lina told us how her mother cured her son's chronic stomach pain with turmeric and honey.

[YEA] When my son was 2 years old, he had a severe stomach pain. He was crying constantly for 2 hours at that night. Ever since, i took him to different doctors in 3 different countries, went through blood test, x-ray and usg. Finally the doctor said that it was normal for a child to have stomach pain at least twice a week!!! I couldn't believe what he said. My mum visited us 2 years ago, and started to give him tumeric and honey. You wouldn't believe it. It WORKS!!! Never again he has stomach pain.

Brenda mixed turmeric, cinnamon and baking soda to cure her stomach pain.

[YEA] I was having abdominal pain about 3 hours after meal for 2 weeks. The pain radiated to upper right abdomen and I felt like bending over when the pain started. My GP sent me for blood test and scan with negative results. After desperately looking for an alternative therapy, i found your web-site & figured out it could be a bug. That evening, I had a teaspoon of turmeric powder, some cinnamon and half teaspoon of baking soda with warm water. The taste was actually quite nice with the cinnamon powder. I thought it was such coincidence that I did not feel any pain for the 1st time in 2 weeks the next day. And I continued with the concoction every evening for 5 days. Amazingly, the pain did not come back at all. To me, this is a miracle. Thank you for this site and to everyone for sharing.

Why Don't Many of the Traditional Treatments Work?

There are many traditional treatments for stomach issues, ranging from store-bought antacids to baking soda or even milk. However, the problem with these options is that they reduce acid in the stomach, which actually isn't the cause of stomach pain at all. The stomach is in a naturally acidic state, so it requires a specific level of acid to function effectively. When the stomach is lacking acid, this imbalance actually causes pain and cramping in the stomach, which can lead to inflammation and other intestinal issues.

Why Should I Use Turmeric Instead?

One of the warm spices, turmeric stimulates acid production in the stomach. As the pH of the stomach is regulated to a more optimal level, stomach pain ceases. Also, turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent. Because of these properties, the spice is able to reduce inflammation in the stomach that may be contributing to pain. Turmeric also eliminates any intestinal bugs or viruses that may be causing the pain. Curcumin is a natural compound in turmeric which helps to stimulate the production of the bile in the gallbladder to best facilitate digestion.

How Do I Take Turmeric?

Turmeric and its active ingredient curcumin are generally considered a safe dietary additive when taken in food or as a supplement. You can take a dosage of 400 to 600 milligrams of turmeric or curcumin powder up to three times a day or with each meal.

Turmeric and Black Pepper are the Winning Combination

Most turmeric extracts contain mostly curcumin, the primary active ingredient and a powerful antioxidant. Raw turmeric is only 3% curcumin. By itself, curcumin is poorly absorbed. The solution is to add piperine to the curcumin, which is a component in black pepper. Adding piperine to curcumin increases its effectiveness by 2,000%.

So one can take:

  • raw turmeric;
  • raw turmeric with black pepper or peppercorns;
  • a turmeric capsule with black pepper or peppercorns;
  • or a turmeric (curcumin) capsule containing piperine.

Note: While turmeric is considered a safe supplement, it is not recommended for use in conjunction with certain health conditions. Those with diabetes or gallstones or those who are pregnant or lactating should not use turmeric. Of course, as is always true, one should get a diagnosis if the stomach ache continues or returns frequently.

Other Pages of Interest

To learn more about treating stomach pain, read Ted from Bangkok's comments on stomach pain, the dangers of antiacids and treatments that he recommends to his own clients. You will find additional information in the Q & A on abdominal pain.

Give turmeric a try and let us know how it works for you. Scroll down to read about the experiences of other Earth Clinic readers who treated their stomach pains with turmeric.

Related Links:

Home Remedies for Stomach Aches & Abdominal Pain
Turmeric Benefits: Health Uses & Anti-Inflammatory Properties


6 User Reviews


Posted by Bb (Austin Tx) on 01/10/2015
★★★★★

Editor's Choice I had stomach problems, not anymore. I bought 1000 empty gel caps on line and started filling them with Turmeric. I took 1 a day for a week. I stopped taking them and my stomach (mostly nausea and gas) were gone. I take one a week now for maintenance. Also Turmeric is a good natural antibiotic!


Turmeric
Posted by Laura (New Plymouth, Idaho) on 11/13/2007
★★★★★

I have good results for my stomach pain with tumeric. But I read on one entry that tumeric would stop bleeding of a wound, quite quickly. So I'm wondering if taking tumeric would be counterproductive for me - not for the stomach - but because I'm on a blood thinner since I have a stent in my heart as of last January. Anyone have information on this?

Replied by Andrea C
(Cardiff, Wales)
06/04/2011

Hi laura x my aunt has a stent in her heart and drinks cranberry juice the hospital dr stopped her blood thinner drug as cranberry juice is a natural blood thinner and it not 2 b taken with blood thinners as it will thin the blood way too much! Shes doing fine with the cranberry juice and drinks the ordinary store cartons. But a better option is pure organic cran juice from a health shop. Just add 2 teaspoons 3 tjmes a day in the cleanest water u can get 6 to 8 fluid ounces of water and drink. Hope thjs helps u love andrea c x x x


Turmeric
Posted by Laura (New Plymouth, Idaho) on 11/13/2007
★★★★★

I have good results for my stomach pain with tumeric.


Turmeric
Posted by Brenda (Klang, Selangor, Malaysia) on 07/24/2007
★★★★★

I was having abdominal pain about 3 hours after meal for 2 weeks. The pain radiated to upper right abdomen and I felt like bending over when the pain started. My GP sent me for blood test and scan with negative results. After desperately looking for an alternative therapy, i found your web-site & figured out it could be a bug. That evening, I had a teaspoon of turmeric powder, some cinnamon and half teaspoon of baking soda with warm water. The taste was actually quite nice with the cinnamon powder. I thought it was such coincidence that I did not feel any pain for the 1st time in 2 weeks the next day. And I continued with the concoction every evening for 5 days. Amazingly, the pain did not come back at all. To me, this is a miracle. Thank you for this site and to everyone for sharing.

Replied by Megan
(Philadelphia, Pa)
09/20/2011

You probably should be careful, it may be your gallbladder, I had the same pains on and off until one day it was unbearable and I had to get my gallbladder removed that night. Just a warning!

Replied by Ellen C.
(Arlington, Tx)
02/03/2013
★★★★★

Yea! My 10 year old had a bad stomach ache yesterday. Fleeting pains in different areas. Some sharp and some dull aching pain. She also has a rash that is associated with a viral illness. The rash started about 5 days before the stomach ache. She is extremely picky about tasting things, but I mixed raw, Manuka honey, raw regular honey, a dash of turmeric, a dash of baking soda, and a lot of cinnamon in a tablespoon together. I mixed it in the spoon, itself. I tasted it and it tasted like cinnamon honey. She slowly ate it bit by bit, off of the spoon. In about 10 minutes, she said the pain was much better. Several hours later it got worse again, and she begged for more of the mixture. I made it again, and it helped the pain go away enough for her to sleep. All of her pain was gone this morning. Thank you so much for posting this remedy. My daughter thanks you too!


Turmeric
Posted by Brenda (Klang, Selangor, Malaysia) on 07/24/2007
★★★★★

I was having abdominal pain about 3 hours after meal for 2 weeks. The pain radiated to upper right abdomen and I felt like bending over when the pain started. My GP sent me for blood test and scan with negative results. After desperately looking for an alternative therapy, i found your web-site & figured out it could be a bug. That evening, I had a teaspoon of turmeric powder, some cinnamon and half teaspoon of baking soda with warm water. The taste was actually quite nice with the cinnamon powder. I thought it was such coincidence that I did not feel any pain for the 1st time in 2 weeks the next day. And I continued with the concoction every evening for 5 days. Amazingly, the pain did not come back at all. To me, this is a miracle. Thank you for this site and to everyone for sharing.