Turmeric could help people suffering from indigestion and other digestive disorders. According to a Thai study, this herbaceous plant from Asia is as effective as omeprazole, a drug that treats indigestion.
Turmeric is known to be a spice with a thousand virtues. Perfect for seasoning your dishes, it is also a formidable ally against acne. But also know that this herbaceous plant is effective in treating indigestion. According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, turmeric, and more particularly curcumin, reduces gastrointestinal symptoms as much as omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), known to reduce the secretion of acids. gastric.
Effectiveness comparable to omeprazole
To arrive at this conclusion, a study was carried out on 151 people suffering from functional dyspepsia (digestive disorder which causes pain or discomfort in the upper part of the abdomen) were divided into three groups. For 28 days, the groups received treatment with either curcumin (two 250-milligram capsules four times a day) or omeprazole (20 milligrams once a day), or a combination of the two. After 28 days of treatment, the researchers noted a similar reduction in dyspepsia symptoms (pain, bloating, heartburn, etc.) in the three groups. Symptoms were further alleviated after re-evaluation 56 days after treatment initiation.
“In addition to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, curcumin and turmeric could be an option to treat dyspepsia with effectiveness comparable to that of omeprazole“, the study’s lead author, Dr. Krit Pongpirul, associate professor at the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, told CNN.
What about long-term use?
Turmeric is often the subject of scientific studies to show its effectiveness on health. Currently, the use of the plant is recognized as “clinically justified” by the World Health Organization in the case of “difficult digestions with hyperacidity and flatulence.” The WHO also recognizes as “traditional” its use in the treatment of “gastric ulcers, arthritis, painful or irregular periods, diarrhea and skin problems”, according to the VIDAL website.
For now, the study researchers hope to conduct more research on a larger scale to evaluate the longer-term risks and benefits of turmeric and curcumin.