Over-the-counter medications don’t always offer the pain relief they promise. But there are some near-guarantees: if you take them too often to help cope with pain, you’re likely to experience stomach aches and have a higher risk for heart disease and kidney damage.
They also don’t taste good.
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Turmeric, on the other hand, tastes excellent and has the potential to be a big-time pain reliever. If you’ve never eaten turmeric before, it’s an essential ingredient in curries. It’s got a mildly earthy and bitter flavor with notes of orange or ginger.
For those of you worried about hot spice, don’t worry about turmeric.
A recent study found that it worked better than a placebo at relieving knee discomfort, building on older research that found it can outperform traditional remedies. It’s also much better for you.
Participants in the study reported modest relief when using turmeric to reduce discomfort for 12 weeks. The work was conducted by researchers from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research/University.
The research, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, used turmeric extract.
But you may get benefits from including the spice in your diet. Although safe in moderate doses, very high doses could lead to digestive issues. As mentioned, turmeric is essential in curries, but it can also be added to rice, chicken, beef, or several other dishes for color and flavor.
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It’s also a popular ingredient in smoothies and a key ingredient in Golden milk, a turmeric-based drink named for the color of the spice.
Aside from its potential pain-relieving qualities, turmeric is also noted for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
If you struggle with pain relief and are looking for an alternative, adding some turmeric to your day may help lessen your struggle. It’s cheap, safe, and may have multiple health benefits.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
