This brightly coloured spice is rich in curcumin, a compound believed to reduce gastrointestinal symptoms.
Turmeric is the subject of many scientific studies that look into its effectiveness on health.
To reach this conclusion, a sample of 151 people suffering from functional dyspepsia – a digestive disorder that causes pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen – was divided into three groups. For 28 days, the groups received treatment with either curcumin or omeprazole , or a combination of the two.
“In addition to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant purposes, curcumin/turmeric could be an option for treating dyspepsia with comparable efficacy to omeprazole,” said lead study author Dr Krit Pongpirul from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. Certain cultures have used it in traditional medicine for various issues but, at this time, the US food and drug authority has not approved it for treatment of any medical condition.