turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Reported Doses

Safety/efficacy may not be established; reported doses may be derived from limited or potentially inadequate studies with variable regimens, multi-ingredient products, or where concentration of active ingredients may vary widely

Special Note

[formulation clarification]

Info: extracts generally standardized to contain 75-100% curcuminoid content

Effectiveness Ratings

[see Herb & Supplement Effectiveness Rating Definitions table]

acral erythema, chemo-induced

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 4 g PO qd; Alt: apply 0.5% curcumin extract ointment topically bid starting day 1 of chemo

allergic rhinitis

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 500 mg PO qd

anxiety

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500-1000 mg PO qd

aphthous ulcer (canker sores)

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 2% gel topically qd; Alt: apply 1% nanomicelle gel topically tid

asthma, peds patients

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 20 mg/kg/day PO divided bid in patients 7-10 yo; 30 mg/kg/day PO divided bid in patients 11-14 yo; 40 mg/kg/day PO divided bid in patients 15-18 yo; Info: used with standard tx

back pain

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 133 mg PO qd; Alt: 300 mg PO qd (extract ratio 1:3 turmeric:boswellia)

bacterial vaginosis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 40 mg PO q12h

beta-thalassemia

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500 mg PO bid-tid

BPH

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 2250 mg PO qd; Info: used with tamsulosin and finasteride

CABG

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 1 g PO qid; Start: 3 days before surgery

carpal tunnel syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 1% curcuminoid gel topically bid

cognitive decline, age-related

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 90 mg PO bid

colorectal CA prevention

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 4 g PO qd

COVID-19

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 525 mg PO bid; Alt: 80 mg PO bid; 240 mg/day PO divided qid; 1000 mg PO qd

Crohn disease

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 1.08-1.44 g PO qd

denture stomatitis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply gel topically tid

depression

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 500-750 mg PO qd-bid; Info: used with or without standard tx

diabetes mellitus

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 46-1670 mg PO qd

diabetic nephropathy

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 66.3-1670 mg PO qd

dry eye disease

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 200 mg PO qam

dysmenorrhea

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 266 mg PO x1; Start: on day of menstruation; Info: used with boswellia

dyspepsia

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 500 mg PO qd-qid; Alt: 250-500 mg PO tid given after meals

endometriosis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 80 mg PO qd; Info: used with dienogest tx

exercise-induced muscle damage

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 150-500 mg PO x1 before or after exercise; Alt: 180-5000 mg PO qd

exercise-induced muscle soreness

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 150-500 mg PO x1 before or after exercise; Alt: 180-5000 mg PO qd

gingivitis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 20 mL (0.05-20% mouthwash) swish/spit bid; Alt: 80 mg PO qd

Gulf war syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500 mg PO bid

hearing loss

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500 mg PO qd

hyperlipidemia

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 80-4000 mg PO qd

IBS

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 72-144 mg PO qd; Alt: 42 mg PO bid; Info: used with or without conventional tx

impaired glucose tolerance

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500 mg PO qd; Alt: 750 mg PO bid; 500 mg PO bid (extract ratio 1:2 turmeric:Indian gooseberry)

joint pain

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 50 mg/day PO divided tid

knee pain

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 250 mg PO qd

lichen planus

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 2 g PO tid; Alt: 80 mg PO qd; apply 1-5% curcumin topically 2-6x/day

metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 70 mg curcumin PO qd; Alt: 250-500 mg phytosomal curcumin PO qd-bid; 1 g turmeric rhizome powder PO tid; 500 mg curcumin PO qd-tid

metabolic syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 50-2400 mg/day PO divided qd-tid

migraine prophylaxis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500 mg PO bid

nausea/vomiting, chemo-induced

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500 mg PO bid

neuropathy, vincristine-induced, peds patients

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 3 mg/kg/dose PO bid; Info: for patients 5-15 yo

oral mucositis, chemo- or XRT-related

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 500 mg PO bid-tid; Alt: 80 mg PO bid; 40 mg PO qd; 10 mL (0.5% solution) swish/spit 6x/day; 10 mL (0.1% mouthwash) swish/spit tid

oral submucous fibrosis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 300 mg PO tid plus 0.1% w/v mouthwash swish/spit bid; Alt: 300-400 mg PO qd; apply 5 mg gel topically in divided doses 3-4x/day; apply 10 g paste in 10 mL honey topically qid

osteoarthritis

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 40-100 mg PO bid; Alt: 500 mg PO bid-qid; 1500 mg PO qd; apply 5% ointment topically bid; apply 1.5 g nano-emulsion gel topically bid

pain, acute

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 266 mg PO qd; Info: used with boswellia

periodontitis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 2% curcumin gel topically qd; Alt: 2 mg curcumin gel applied to mouth; 80 mg PO qd

peripheral neuropathy, chemo-induced

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500 mg PO bid

polycystic ovary syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500 mg PO qd-tid; Alt: 80 mg PO qd-tid

postmenopausal conditions

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 80-1000 mg PO qd; Alt: 500 mg PO bid

postop pain

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 1.2-2 g/day PO divided tid-qid; Alt: 200 mg PO x1

postpartum depression

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500 mg PO qd; Start: 1wk after delivery

premenstrual syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 100 mg PO bid; Info: start 7 days before menstruation, continue 3 days after menstruation

prostate CA

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 1.8 g PO tid

pruritus

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 1-1.5 g/day PO divided qd-tid

psoriasis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: turmeric tonic applied to scalp 2x/day

quality of life

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500-2250 mg PO qd; Alt: 42 mg PO bid; turmeric tonic applied to scalp 2x/day

radiation dermatitis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500-2000 mg PO tid; Alt: 80 mg PO bid; apply 500 mg curcumin gel topically tid; apply turmeric cream topically 5x/day during radiation tx; apply 2% curcumin gel topically bid during radiation tx

rheumatoid arthritis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500-1200 mg/day PO divided bid-tid

sarcopenia

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500 mg PO qd; Info: slow-release product

SLE

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500 mg PO tid

smoking cessation

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 50 mg PO qd; Alt: 100 mg PO bid

stress

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500 mg PO bid

stroke

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500 mg PO qd

tuberculosis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 500 mg PO bid

ulcerative colitis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 0.5-3 g PO qd; Alt: 140 mg/20 mL enema PR qd

uveitis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 60 mg PO bid x12mo; Info: used with standard corticosteroid tx in first 6mo of tx