Turmeric for Ulcerative Colitis: Can It Help?
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Can Turmeric Help Ease Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms?

Can Turmeric Help Ease Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms?
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Updated on February 25, 2025
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For millennia, people have used ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to help with inflammation. Some are now turning to the golden spice turmeric to ease symptoms of ulcerative colitis (UC) and other irritable bowel diseases (IBDs).

Its potential healing powers come from the phytochemical curcumin, the active substance in turmeric.

Learn what research says about turmeric’s and curcumin’s possible benefits for ulcerative colitis, the best way to ingest them, and any safety concerns.

Does Turmeric Have Benefits for Ulcerative Colitis?

“More and more doctors are putting turmeric in their repertoire to help treat ulcerative colitis,” says Linda Antinoro, RD, a registered dietitian at Pesto Health who works with people with IBD. Antinoro thinks of turmeric as a tool that can help people with mild to moderate symptoms.

Some studies suggest that turmeric may help treat ulcerative colitis when used alongside medication for UC. But larger trials are needed to better establish the role that curcumin might play.

What the Research Says

Studies suggest that curcumin has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunosuppressive properties. While much of the research conducted to date has been in test tubes or animals, a number of small human trials have found that, when used with medication, curcumin may benefit people with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis.

In a systemic review and meta-analysis of seven studies, researchers investigated data from all the existing human trials on curcumin and ulcerative colitis, covering 380 participants. They found that patients using curcumin along with mesalamine (a medication for UC) were, on average, three times more likely to experience an improvement in symptoms than those who took mesalamine alone.

Another systematic review of six studies (covering 372 total participants) reported that the people with ulcerative colitis experienced fewer relapses and higher rates of remission after taking curcumin daily for 4 weeks to 12 months, depending on the study.

Though these early results hold promise, more research is needed to say for sure whether turmeric can ease UC symptoms. At present, there is still very limited data on curcumin’s anti-inflammatory effect in people with UC.

Which People With Ulcerative Colitis Can Benefit From Turmeric?

“There isn’t enough evidence to show that curcumin can be helpful to every patient with IBD, but if we look at the data thus far and target specific patients, there may be some promise as a complementary therapy,” says Stacy Cavagnaro, RD, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patient-Centered Medical Home.

If you take curcumin with mesalamine for mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, you may get to remission sooner, says Cavagnaro. And while no data shows that curcumin benefits people with severe UC, she wouldn’t dissuade one of her patients from trying it.

“I can’t point to data that it certainly works, but I also can’t point to data that it doesn’t work,” Cavagnaro says. “While there isn’t enough evidence for this type of patient, if they are interested in trying curcumin, we won’t discourage them.”

What’s the Best Way to Take Turmeric for Ulcerative Colitis?

Turmeric contains only a small amount of curcumin. On top of that, our body doesn’t absorb this substance easily.

 You’d have to eat a lot of foods spiced with turmeric to reach curcumin levels that are comparable to those used in studies.

On the other hand, since the optimal dose of curcumin isn’t clear, getting at least some through your diet may still offer some benefit.

How Much Turmeric Should You Take?

Experts don’t yet know exactly how much turmeric works best for ulcerative colitis. Older studies have tested doses as low as 100 milligrams (mg) and as high as 10,000 mg, but most haven’t seen a big difference in outcomes relating to dosage.

Cavagnaro advises not going above 3,000 mg of curcumin per day. “As with any supplement, if you take too much, you may have side effects,” she explains.

It’s always best to consult a healthcare provider about the dosage to make sure the amount is safe for you. They can analyze your current symptoms and other medications to help you decide on an optimal amount.

Turmeric Supplements

Because the curcumin in turmeric is tough to absorb, you may need supplements to get a therapeutic amount into your system. Both turmeric and curcumin come in capsule, fluid extract, gummy, and tincture form, with a range of recommended dosages.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn’t regulate supplements the same way it does medications, so the claims you see on the bottles can’t always be trusted.

 But there’s enough evidence to suggest that the excitement over turmeric isn’t just hype.

“This is the only supplement thus far that has good randomized control trial data to show some benefit to patients with UC,” Cavagnaro says. “While we study things like probiotics, fish oil, aloe vera juice, and antioxidants, curcumin remains at this time the only supplement with actual data on efficacy and implications for clinical practice.”

Some supplements can worsen gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and diarrhea. Avoid supplements with added colors, sugar alcohols, or preservatives. And always consult a healthcare provider before you start taking any new supplement.

Using Turmeric in Your Cooking

To get more turmeric in your diet, you can generously sprinkle the spice on a variety of foods:

  • Scrambled eggs and frittatas
  • Roasted vegetables
  • Rice
  • Curries
  • Soups
  • Oatmeal or cream of wheat
  • Smoothies
  • Tomato sauce
  • Coffee
Combining turmeric with black pepper seems to enhance absorption significantly. Piperine, black pepper’s signature compound, can boost absorption of turmeric by 2,000 percent.

 So be sure to sprinkle some pepper on these foods, too.

People with ulcerative colitis can also add the spice to hot water to make turmeric tea or to hot milk for golden milk (also called a golden latte).

Safety Considerations

Turmeric has a good safety record, but it does come with some risk. For example, high doses or long-term use of turmeric may cause gastrointestinal upset for some people.

Large doses of curcumin act as a blood thinner, amplifying the effects of blood-thinning medications like warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), and aspirin. It can also interact with other medications, like stomach antacids and diabetes drugs.

 Highly bioavailable forms of curcumin (the kind more easily absorbed) can cause liver damage and lower blood sugar.

In pregnancy, higher doses of turmeric may have some benefits, especially with complications like gestational diabetes, but it may slow fetal growth in early pregnancy.

 Overall, experts don’t have enough information to confirm a safe dose for pregnant people.

The Takeaway

  • A growing body of research suggests that turmeric and its leading active substance, curcumin, may ease some symptoms of ulcerative colitis when used alongside medication.
  • The body doesn’t easily absorb curcumin from turmeric in food so your healthcare provider may recommend supplements.
  • Always ask your provider before starting a new supplement, especially when you have UC.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Sharifi-Rad J et al. Turmeric and Its Major Compound Curcumin on Health: Bioactive Effects and Safety Profiles for Food, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnological and Medicinal Applications. Frontiers in Pharmacology. September 15, 2020.
  2. Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements. Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.
  3. Chandan S et al. Curcumin Use in Ulcerative Colitis: Is It Ready for Prime Time? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials. Annals of Gastroenterology. November 2020.
  4. Coelho MR et al. The Use of Curcumin as a Complementary Therapy in Ulcerative Colitis: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials. Nutrients. July 2020.
  5. Pituch-Zdanowska A et al. Old but Fancy: Curcumin in Ulcerative Colitis—Current Overview. Nutrients. December 2022.
  6. Turmeric Benefits. Johns Hopkins University.
  7. Dietary Supplements. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. October 1, 2024.
  8. Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation. Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.
  9. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Turmeric for Healthier Diet, Pain Relief. Mayo Clinic. January 31, 2023.
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  11. Turmeric. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. June 1, 2024.
  12. Tossetta G et al. The Multifaced Actions of Curcumin in Pregnancy Outcome. Antioxidants. January 2021.
  13. Turmeric. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. May 2020.
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Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES

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Lynn Grieger is a registered dietitian-nutritionist, certified diabetes care and education specialist, certified personal trainer, and certified health and wellness coach. She completed requirements to become a registered dietitian at Valparaiso University in 1987 and completed a dietetic internship at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Illinois, in 1988. 

Lynn brings her expertise in nutrition, exercise, and behavior change to her work in helping people reach their individual health and fitness goals. In addition to writing for Everyday Health, she has also written for websites and publications like Food and Health Communications, Today's Dietitian, iVillage.com, and Rodale Press. She has a passion for healthy, nutrient-dense, great-tasting food and for being outdoors as much as possible — she can often be found running or hiking, and has completed a marathon in every state.

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