Curcumin Side Effects

Curcumin is an important ingredient of turmeric. Basically, it is a polyphenol compound that gives turmeric its bright yellow color. As we all know, turmeric is widely used as a spice and coloring agent in food recipes. The scientific name of turmeric is Curcuma longa and this herb belongs to the ginger family. There are several curcumin benefits. Extracts of curcumin is used for treating various health problems such as arthritis, chest congestion, indigestion, heartburn, stomach ulcer, jaundice and so on. Many of us have a misconception that since curcumin is a naturally occurring substance it cannot have any side effects. Though the fact remains that there are some curcumin side effects and you should be aware of them before taking it as a nutritional supplement.

Side Effects of Curcumin

Curcumin may have an adverse impact on the digestive health, cardiovascular health, blood clotting mechanism, etc. Some of the common curcumin side effects are discussed below.

Gastrointestinal Problems
There are some turmeric side effects that are mild in nature like nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea, etc. These are mild in nature and subside very soon. If high doses of curcumin are taken for a prolonged period, then some serious signs of gastrointestinal distress can be observed. They are excessive diarrhea, vomiting, dark, tarry stools, bloody stools, vomiting blood, etc. High amount of turmeric can increase the production of stomach acids and cause heartburn and stomach ulcer.

Uncontrolled Bleeding
Curcumin tend to slow down the process of clotting of blood. Therefore, those who have bleeding disorders or are under blood thinning medications may experience severe bleeding even from small cuts and bruises. It also increases the chances of heavy bleeding during or after surgery. For this reason, people who are about to undergo surgery are advised to stop taking curcumin supplements at least two weeks before the scheduled surgery.

Liver and Gallbladder Problem
Excess intake of curcumin can be poisonous on two of the most vital organ of the digestive system namely the liver and the gallbladder. Those who have any minor form of liver condition should avoid turmeric as it can lead to major liver problem in the long run. This is because it increases the flow of bile produced by the liver. It often aggravates the gallstone problem by flushing out the gallstone out of the gallbladder and causes blockage in the bile duct. It leads to gallbladder attack and it happens due to rise in the flow of bile from the liver.

Allergies
Some people tend to get allergic reaction when turmeric is used topically on the skin surface. It can be identified with skin inflammation, irritation, burning sensation, hives etc. Usually, it occurs within the first 24-72 hours of exposure to the allergen. Only in some rare cases, serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis is found to occur after consumption of curcumin. Those who are allergic towards plants that belong to the ginger family or yellow food coloring are more susceptible to these kinds of allergies.

Other Side Effects
Some complicated curcumin side effects are observed in patients who are suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure. Turmeric can trigger lowering of blood sugar level and blood pressure in the body. As diabetic patients are already under medication for controlling blood sugar, effect of turmeric can lead to abnormally low blood sugar which is also known as hypoglycemia. Similarly, it can lead to extreme low blood pressure condition in patients of hypertension. High doses of curcumin causes uterine contraction and stimulate menstrual flow. Therefore, pregnant women should avoid this supplement as it increases the chances of miscarriage.

At any point of time, if you suspect that you are having curcumin side effects, inform your doctor and they will take the next course of action to cure the problem. As you can see that most of the turmeric side effects occur mainly because of high dose of the supplement or to those who have pre-existing health conditions. Therefore, side effects of turmeric extracts can be prevented if you talk to your doctor before starting the supplements.