More and more people with MS are using complementary and alternative approaches like herbs and supplements to augment prescription medication treatments for symptoms like pain, spasticity, memory loss, and fatigue — even though scientific evidence supporting their use is limited. One of the most popular herbal remedies is turmeric, a spice that is used commonly in cooking, particularly in Asian cuisines. Turmeric has properties similar to ginger, another popular flavoring ingredient. Although turmeric has been used to treat the symptoms of a variety of health conditions — including everything from Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and prostate and colon cancer to heart disease and type 2 diabetes — its use in MS hasn’t been well studied, at least to date. Still, what’s known about its possible benefits is promising. “I’m from India originally, and we’ve used turmeric for centuries, both for cooking as well as for medicinal uses,” says Vijayshree Yadav, MD, a neurologist and Tykeson Family Term Professor in wellness research, as well as MS Center director at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. “It’s an antioxidant with multiple chemical ingredients, including curcumin, that may have beneficial effects for people with a number of conditions, but there’s still a lot we don’t know,” Dr. Yadav says. So can turmeric help manage your MS symptoms? RELATED: 12 Scientific Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin
What Is Turmeric?
The spice known as turmeric comes from the rhizomes (underground stems) of a plant in the ginger family that’s found throughout India and other parts of Asia, as well as in Central America. In some areas, it may be referred to as turmeric root or Indian saffron. It’s a common spice and a key ingredient in curry powder, known for its yellow or orange color. The unique color actually comes from curcuminoids, active compounds found in turmeric. Turmeric rhizomes may be ground and used fresh in cooking or dried to make a powder. For dietary supplements, the dried powder is made into capsules, tablets, or extracts. It’s also used as an ingredient in herbal teas. Historically, turmeric has been used medicinally, primarily in South Asia, to treat breathing problems, arthritis, and fatigue. More recently, dietary supplements containing turmeric have been used to help manage inflammation, arthritis, skin problems, digestive problems, and even cancer, although the scientific evidence supporting these applications varies. In addition, preliminary studies have found that curcuminoids may reduce the number of heart attacks in people who have had coronary bypass surgery, control knee pain from osteoarthritis, and manage skin irritation following radiation therapy for cancer. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) has also studied curcumin as a potential treatment Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and prostate and colon cancer. None of these potential uses have been confirmed in large studies with human participants, however. RELATED: 8 Anti-Inflammatory Foods for Multiple Sclerosis
Turmeric and MS: Rat Studies Show Promise
Some of the conditions mentioned above are relevant to people with MS in that they share similar symptoms and root causes. It’s generally believed, for example, that MS is an autoimmune disorder, and that inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS) — the brain and spinal cord — plays a role in its progression. This inflammation damages or destroys the myelin sheath that protects the cells in the CNS. Might turmeric reduce this inflammation? According to a study published in the May 2018 issue of the journal Neuroscience Letters, curcumin has been introduced as effective anti-inflammatory agent in a variety of conditions. The authors of the study injected nanoparticles of curcumin, at a dose of 12.5 milligrams per kilogram, into rats with “demyelination” (or myelin sheath damage) for 10 days. They found the treatment offered myelin protective effects and reduced inflammation within the rats’ CNS. To date, these findings haven’t been confirmed in people with MS. This study followed up on an earlier report, published in December 2015 in the journal Neuropharmacology, in which rats with an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS were treated with polymerized nano-curcumin (PNC). The rats treated with the compound were found to have reduced inflammation and slowed progression of MS symptoms. RELATED: Natural Remedy Dos and Don’ts for Multiple Sclerosis
What’s Known About Turmeric in People With MS
In general, though, says Yadav, the true impact of turmeric on MS symptoms, as well as its proper dosage, must be studied further before it can be widely recommended as an alternative treatment for the condition. And, according to the NCCIH, although turmeric (when used in amounts tested for health purposes) is generally considered safe when taken by mouth or applied to the skin, high doses or long-term use of the spice may cause gastrointestinal problems, including nausea and diarrhea. Yadav also cautions that some herbs and supplements can cause drug interactions and medical complications when used incorrectly. Before using any herbs and supplements to treat MS, she says, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits associated with them to be sure they’re right for you. To date, the only supplement that has shown some benefit in people with MS, when taken properly, is vitamin D, which may help reduce frequency and severity of symptoms, Yadav notes. “But vitamin D supplementation may only be necessary when people aren’t exposed to adequate natural sunlight or are eating diets deficient in [the nutrient],” she says. “In addition, not all supplements are safe, and some of them can be expensive. The supplement industry has done an incredible job of marketing to consumers without scientific evidence, but your doctor should be able to be honest and open with you about what is known about these products and whether or not you can use them safely.”
