{"id":634129,"date":"2025-11-11T09:30:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T14:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=634129"},"modified":"2025-11-04T10:47:38","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T15:47:38","slug":"what-medications-should-not-be-taken-with-turmeric","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/what-medications-should-not-be-taken-with-turmeric\/","title":{"rendered":"Which medications should not be taken with turmeric?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Herbs and spices aren\u2019t just for enhancing the flavor of your food. Many also have beneficial properties. <\/span>Turmeric<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>Curcuma longa<\/span><\/i>), for example, is a plant that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With its warm, peppery taste, turmeric is a key ingredient in curry powders and Indian dishes. However, it\u2019s also coveted for its potential <\/span>health benefits<\/span><\/a>, such as its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. <\/span>Curcumin<\/span><\/a>, the active ingredient that gives turmeric its vibrant yellow color, may be responsible for supporting digestion, <\/span>blood sugar<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>heart health<\/span><\/a>, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, even though it\u2019s a common seasoning, turmeric supplements are not risk-free. Mainly, they may interact with some medications. Here\u2019s what research and experts say.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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What to consider when taking turmeric<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cTurmeric supplements can affect how your body absorbs or processes certain medications,\u201d explains <\/span>Supriya Rao, MD<\/span><\/a>, a quadruple board-certified healthcare provider based in the Boston area. This is known as an herb-drug interaction, when one increases or decreases the effects of the other, and it can have serious consequences. Because of this, the <\/span>National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health<\/span><\/a> recommends talking with a healthcare provider before using any herbal supplements, including turmeric and curcumin, if you take any type of medicine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though turmeric is a common seasoning, the risks aren\u2019t the same as food sources because supplements are more concentrated, Dr. Rao says. Not only are supplements more potent, they\u2019re also sometimes formulated with black pepper or piperine for <\/span>increased bioavailability<\/span><\/a>. This makes their effects\u2014both positive and negative\u2014heightened compared to consuming the herb in your favorite curry. Curcumin <\/span>does <\/span><\/i>have benefits, particularly its anti-inflammatory properties, but too much of anything can become a bad thing. Curcumin is no exception.<\/span><\/p>\n

This serves as a good reminder that \u201cnatural\u201d doesn\u2019t always equate to \u201csafe.\u201d Turmeric is a natural herb, and though it\u2019s associated with many health benefits, there are times when it can have adverse effects, especially when herb-drug interactions are ignored.<\/span><\/p>\n

8 turmeric interactions<\/span><\/h2>\n

Turmeric is <\/span>likely safe<\/span><\/a> when used in the recommended amounts for up to two to three months. However, it may be risky in combination with certain medicines, such as the following.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Blood thinners<\/span><\/h3>\n

Research<\/span><\/a> has shown that curcumin may block platelets (cells involved in blood clotting and wound healing) from grouping together, which could disrupt blood clotting. For this reason, it\u2019s known to possess anticoagulant (aka blood-thinning) properties.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because of this, turmeric supplements could interact with some blood thinners, says <\/span>Inna Melamed, Pharm.D.<\/span><\/a>, a pharmacist in Manalapan, New Jersey. \u201cTurmeric could add to the effects of these medications, potentially increasing the risk of bleeding,\u201d Dr. Melamed explains.<\/span><\/p>\n

This makes it risky to <\/span>mix turmeric<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>blood thinners<\/span><\/a> like:<\/span><\/p>\n