Natural compound found in spice may reduce excess stomach acid as effectively as omeprazole, first study of its kind finds

Turmeric may be as good for treating indigestion as medicine, a study suggests.

A natural compound found in the culinary spice may be as effective as omeprazole, a drug used to reduce excess stomach acid and treat indigestion, according to the first study of its kind. The findings were published in the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.

Turmeric contains a naturally active compound called curcumin, thought to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It has long been used as a medicinal remedy, including for the treatment of indigestion, in south-east Asia.

  • iZomEnglish
    191·
    1 year ago

    “Could be”, “suggests”, “first study”, “thought to have” … looks like there is some more science to be done here.

      • dublet@lemmy.worldEnglish
        6·
        1 year ago

        The biggest struggle with any medicine is whether it is working any better than the placebo effect.

      • RaincoatsGeorge@lemmy.zipEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        Well… we’ve got tons of data that shows that it does. Infact omeprazole is one of the most effective meds on the market.

        There’s lots of weird things like this in medicine. Tylenol is shown to be as effective at treating certain types of pain as narcotics, even serious pain sources like recent surgery. Smelling alcohol swabs is as effective as nausea medicine in some cases, even with chemo associated nausea.

        If it works then great, if not what’s the harm? You ate some turmeric? No loss.