Thursday, January 8, 2015

Turmeric and Depression

In the November 2014 issue of the Natural Medicine Journal, author Ajay Goel discusses a study looking at turmeric extract (curcumin) in the treatment of major depressive disorder.  The study involved 56 people treated either with curcumin (500 mg 2 times per day) or placebo for 8 weeks.  During the first 4 weeks, the improvements seen were similar in both groups, but in the last 4 weeks, the people taking the curcumin showed a more significant improvement in their emotional/mental health and wellness.  Previous studies have linked chronic inflammation and depression/mental illness and the authors of this current study suggest curcumin's anti-inflammatory properties may be playing a role in the improvements that were seen.  Turmeric is a safe and gentle herb (although not indicated for people with clotting/bleeding disorders) that offers a wide scope of support including the potential to offer support for overall emotional health.  

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