Turmeric May Help with Major Depressive Disorder
Researchers are beginning to find more evidence that curcumin may be able to help in the fight against depression. Turmeric, a common kitchen spice has been used in India for hundreds of years not only for cooking but as natural medicine for its curcumin.
Though it is too soon to make a definitive statement, the last few years have brought a few studies worth noting. Researchers have been looking into using curcumin to help treat mood disorders.
In a systematic review in 2019, researchers screen several studies to determine curcumin’s effectiveness with depression. After reviewing the evidence, scientists discovered that curcumin might help alleviate anxiety and depression when taken with standard treatment methods.
UCLA’s study on seniors who did not have dementia found that taking a curcumin supplement improved their cognitive function. Alzheimer’s disease may be caused by inflammation, which has also been linked to depression. One of turmeric’s popular properties is that it helps reduce inflammation.
One clinical trial took 60 patients that had a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Participants received either 20mg of fluoxetine, 1000mg of curcumin, or a combination of both. Participants were rated before the trial and after six weeks using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HAM-D17). Results were close within each group; however, the group that took the combination of medication in addition to curcumin had the most improvement.
In a 2014 study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, took 56 patients diagnosed with MDD. Participants received either 500mg of curcumin twice a day or a placebo. The trial lasted eight weeks. Participants took an evaluation before the study, four weeks after and again at eight weeks after so researchers could make a comparison.
After four weeks, both groups showed an improvement. After eight weeks, however, the researchers noticed that the curcumin group had significant improvements over the placebo group regarding their mood.
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Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31423805/