I’ve Been Taking Turmeric for a Year But Still Haven’t Found My Soulmate!

Over the past few decades we’ve seen a number of trends in popular supplements and so-called “superfoods.” First there was ginseng and echinacea, then ginkgo and St. John’s wort, then green tea, glucosamine, kombucha, fish oil, chia, maca, bone broth, magnesium l-threonate, vitamin D, and so on. Often, there’s a widespread hope that this substance is going to give us vibrant health, make us happy, perhaps even solve all our problems.

Turmeric has been on the charts for some years now, so I wanted to write about its uses and limitations – and why we need to take a broader view on health and supplements. First, it’s important to state that there’s some value to nearly all of these substances. Sometimes it’s a rather modest value for a fairly small subset of the population (like kombucha, most of which is essentially an overpriced mildly-caffeinated acidic soda with a little probiotic activity), other times it’s a significant value for a larger portion of the population (like vitamin D and magnesium). A food or supplement doesn’t need to be life-changing for everyone in order to be important; the key is that we’re realistic about what it can do and knowledgeable about who stands to benefit from it.

For several years, turmeric has been hot stuff in the West, though it has been used for at least 4000 years in Asia. Native to India, it’s a prominent herb in Ayurvedic medicine, though it’s even better known for its place in Indian cuisine and its use as a dye. Its particular yellowish-orange color is almost synonymous with Indian culture. It probably appeared in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) about 1500 years ago, but has always been a relatively minor herb in that system.

In both Ayurveda and TCM, turmeric is almost never taken as a single herb. Rather, it’s utilized in a formula of multiple herbs that’s prescribed by a trained practitioner, based on the specific constitution and presentation of the person who will be consuming it. However, as with many adopted herbs, Americans generally take it on its own, without any understanding of its traditional application or the diagnostic framework of the systems that have utilized it for so long. Consequently, many probably conclude that herbs aren’t very effective medicines. 

This is really the crux of what limits Westerners in their use of herbs – lack of context. The systems through which herbs have been historically defined and applied include methods for determining when and how and with whom to use them. One of the things that makes Ayurveda and TCM so special is that their diagnoses and their interventions utilize the same philosophical framework and terminology. That is, there’s a seamlessness between diagnosis and treatment. For example, for a TCM diagnosis of liver Qi stagnation, the treatment is clear because there are herbs and acupuncture points that specifically unblock stagnant liver Qi.

In contrast, knowing the Ayurvedic properties of turmeric – a pungent vipaka, a heating virya, a light, dry guna, which enters the digestive, circulatory, respiratory, and female reproductive srotas – is meaningless if we’re working from a Western biomedical diagnosis such as lung cancer, because the languages and philosophies don’t match. We can only guess at equivalencies.  

For any given symptom presentation, there might be half a dozen or more possible diagnoses of the actual cause. When we take an herb without a diagnosis, it has a limited chance of working as we hope, because we may or may not have the underlying disease pattern that this herb addresses. It might even make things worse.

When we take an herb based on properties revealed by modern research – such as antibiotic, diuretic, or anti-inflammatory – it might work if we’ve correctly identified that we have the biomedical diagnosis corresponding to this biomedical terminology. But we miss out on accessing the body of wisdom developed by the traditions that have utilized the herb for centuries. It’s more like taking a brand new, poorly-understood drug, usually with very little human research behind it.

Years of discussion and trial-and-error in traditional plant-medicine systems reveals important nuances, and synergies with other herbs. Without that context, however, scientists were able to discover that turmeric possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Hooray! People started taking turmeric by the handful. But it didn’t work as well as predicted. Later research revealed that unless the inflammation was in the digestive tract itself, the herb (specifically a compound called curcumin) wasn’t likely to reach its target. Absorption into the bloodstream, it turned out, was very poor. 

Eventually, researchers discovered that with absorption-enhancers, they could get more curcumin into the bloodstream. They came up with two main devices. The first is to combine it with a compound called piperine that helps it pass through the lining of the digestive tract. The second is to attach it to a form of fat known as a phospholipid, that’s what our cell membranes are made of. This helps it move into cells more readily. Interestingly, equivalents of both strategies were utilized for centuries (if not millennia) in India. Piperine is a constituent of black pepper and a similar herb called pippali (long pepper), with which turmeric has been traditionally combined. And turmeric is also routinely taken with ghee (clarified butter) which happens to be rich in phospholipids!

In TCM, turmeric is called jiang huang, which means “yellow ginger.” Based on its primary function, it’s categorized as an herb that promotes blood circulation. Therefore (through that handy-dandy seamlessness of diagnostic and therapeutic terminology), it is used to treat conditions of stagnant blood. When we have a condition of blood stagnation, often the tongue takes on a slightly purple color and the veins on the underside of the tongue become more prominent and blue or purple. The pulse at the wrist feels “choppy” or “wiry.” The complexion often becomes dark. In women, the menstrual blood might be clotty and dark. And most obvious, there is usually pain – often sharp, stabbing pain in a fixed location.

Also, low grade blood stagnation – essentially impaired circulation – is thought in TCM geriatrics to be an almost inevitable part of the aging process. Whenever we see an older person with cold and/or purplish feet, hardened skin of the lower legs and feet, prominent purple and blue veins, and perhaps a history of cardiovascular disease and/or diabetes, it’s likely that a TCM practitioner would make a diagnosis of blood stagnation. Biomedically speaking, it’s probable that such an individual has chronic inflammation, and we could therefore think of the herbs that address stagnant blood as likely possessing anti-inflammatory properties, like those ascribed to turmeric.

In such cases, an herb like turmeric might be utilized, but if we look at the actual practice of TCM, we find it’s not especially popular among the herbs in its category. That’s probably because there are about thirty other herbs in this category, and thousands of years of tradition have shown that other herbs do just as good of a job – if not better than turmeric.

In addition, with a palette of thirty herbs to choose from, we have a great deal of specificity available to us. There are blood movers with an affinity for the head, or the abdomen, or the shoulder (one of turmeric’s affinities), or the legs, or the arms, or the back. There are mild blood movers and strong blood movers. There are blood movers with an ability to break up masses or to heal broken bones. There are blood movers that soften tight muscles and tendons and promote healing of unhealing wounds. And there are ways to combine them in order to make them exponentially more effective; to direct them to certain parts of the body; to prevent side effects, and so on.

Since I’m lucky enough to have all these herbs at my disposal (and the training to know how to use them), turmeric isn’t exceptional to me. It’s just an herb that got noticed by Westerners. There are thousands of others that are equally impressive. But don’t get me wrong – I love it, as I love all herbs, and I do occasionally recommend it.

If you don’t have training in traditional herbal medicine and you don’t have access to a practitioner who can help determine if it’s good for you, at least it’s a very safe herb. You can try it, and if it doesn’t work, you’re unlikely to do yourself any harm (though I still recommend checking with your doctor).

If you’re going to take turmeric, be sure to take it in a form that’s going to be well absorbed (unless you’re meaning to target your digestive tract). That means combining it with black pepper, long pepper, or piperine (and a little ghee may help, too); or using a brand that binds curcumin with acetylcholine (such as Meriva); or a brand that utilizes very small particles (such as Theracurmin).

Because I don’t have the ability to teach you traditional diagnosis through this format, we’re actually best off banking on what the research shows. And while there’s a lot of hope that it does many things, the only thing that it’s been really clearly proven to do (on its own) is alleviate inflammation and some of its expressions. Pain, swelling, arthritis, and even hidden inflammatory processes will usually improve with ongoing consumption of turmeric/curcumin (assuming you’re using an absorption-enhancer). The degree of improvement varies. Sometimes it’s dramatic, other times subtle. Just remember that because you may or may not have the underlying diagnostic pattern that makes you a good candidate for turmeric/curcumin, it might not work. 

I’d like to finish by discussing some broader measures for reducing the “stagnant blood” (and accompanying inflammation) that we’re prone to in our elder years. First, there’s exercise. Ideally, this isn’t the exercise of going to a gym and using weight machines (though if that’s what you like, keep doing it) – it’s the exercise of walking to the store, riding a bike to work, digging in the garden, shoveling snow, and above all, playing.

Second, reduce your sugar intake. If there’s one part of our diet that provokes inflammation and thickening of the blood more than any other, it’s sugar. By sugar, I mean caloric sweeteners of all kinds (and also white flour). If you’re up for improving your diet, you’d also do well to reduce or eliminate processed meats, deep fried foods, and margarine. Meanwhile, increase your consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts (dry roasted or raw), and oily fish. Third, if you smoke, quit. Smoking is terrible for circulation.

Finally, the best way to keep blood (and energy, and life itself) flowing is to be light-hearted. The circulatory system is an extension of the heart, and a light, open, joyful heart is best able to pump blood to all parts of us (much in the way it’s open to people and experiences of all kinds). Meditate (metta or lovingkindness meditation is especially good for this purpose). Laugh. Find ways to de-stress. Breathe deeply. Engage with community. Accept. Forgive. And love. Love yourself, love your family, love your environment, just love as much as you can. Even if you were to drop dead tomorrow, this is the stuff your soul wants you to prioritize.

Be well,

Dr. Peter Borten

29 thoughts on “I’ve Been Taking Turmeric for a Year But Still Haven’t Found My Soulmate!

  1. Anothe great article!

    1. thanks, Barb

  2. This was such a good read . Especially in the end . I love it be kind , thoughtful, loving, playful . The soul needs this most of all . Thank you be well ❤️🙌🏻

  3. Such a great article – I learned so much! Thank you.

    1. you’re welcome! glad it was informative!

  4. Great insights and agreed –
    Play Walk Breathe!

    1. Thanks, Kellie

  5. This was a wonderful write up. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and I am always looking for information on inflammation reduction. I definitely am always looking for ways to express happiness and love for our environment and the people in it!

    1. Hi Mitzi,
      I’m glad the article was helpful. If you try turmeric/curcumin for your RA, I’d love to hear how it goes.

  6. Thank you! This hit on a number of things I had been wondering about such as TCM diagnosis and herbs versus local herbal home remedies. I am a 46-year old female smoker and you really addressed my questions and physical issues so right on. Thanks for the thoughtful, well-presented info!

    1. You’re welcome, Erin!

  7. I really enjoyed reading this article and gaining some understanding of using Turmeric (I currently do use this herb). Thank you for presenting the information thoughtful and well stated for those of us who are not practitioners.

    1. You’re welcome, Vickie. Be well.

  8. I developed an allergic reaction to turmeric. Have you had any reports of this?

    1. hi Nina. I haven’t heard of turmeric allergy specifically, but sensitivity to virtually anything is possible. It’s so uncommon with turmeric, though, I wonder if it was contaminated with something.

  9. Great information! Thanks for this article – much food for thought!

  10. Listen to SOUL PRIORITIES…and play…always play. Dr. Borten would I make you laugh if I said…oh my shoulder…glad I’m taking Tumeric with pepper from Oregon (with purple lid). After all you just taught to “self-diagnose” is laughable to me. Even with learning about the shoulder. I want you back in Oregon to be my acupuncturist and health advisor. Love, love, love that I can read your teachings (and for The Well Life Coaching lessons). YOU and Briana make a huge difference in lives of the community…worldwide. Bless, bless, bless you both in all your endeavors!

    1. Hi Susan. Well, I’d say if your shoulder feels better when you take it, keep taking it! Thanks for the kind words. I’m happy to be of service.

  11. Thank you for the informative article. I currently use turmeric as a supplement and an herb and I plan to revisit how I am taking it. I plan to add the delivery enhancer. I look forward to more great articles like this!

    1. thanks, Janet

  12. Peter,

    Amazingly well-written and informative. You answered many of my questions about turmeric and the other herb “fads”. As they say, a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.

    Thanks for all you do.

    1. Thanks, Stuart! I hope you’ve been well.
      Peter

  13. Thank you for this fascinating article! As someone just dipping my toe into herbalism, it was great timing to find this in my inbox. I’ve been looking into herbal education programs and symposiums to gain more knowledge. I do need to pace myself though…the Well Life Coaching Program has priority right now 🙂

    1. You’re welcome Emily. I have yet to learn self-pacing. 😉

  14. I really enjoyed your article and am just so impressed with how you can break it all down and understand both Ayurveda and TCM. If I may be so bold as to ask your opinion of my use of tumeric…..I have recently been making my own elixir that is kinda like throwing all the ingredients I know into something I can take a drink of a couple times a day to feel I’m doing something good for my insides. I start by boiling ginger and tumeric in water then letting it steep for almost an hour. Then I have a cinnamon stick at the bottom of a jar and add the following: aloe juice, apple cider vinegar, a few teaspoons of Himalayan crystal Sol water, lemons juice, chia seeds, honey and then fill it with the ginger/tumeric water. Of what I just said is there anything right about what I’m attempting? I had a physical last week and told my doctor and she said it was worth a shot is all. I have eczema on my hands and lipomas on my arms and legs so I figured anti inflammatory is something my body needs. I am also trying to help prevent arthritis in my future as that seems to really cause problems with aging. I know that you probably have so much to say about it but if you take a moment to let me know a brief synopsis of your thoughts and anything you think is harmful or just dumb I’d appreciate it!

    1. Hi Tambra,
      There’s nothing that sounds objectionable about your drink. Sounds tasty and I’m guessing that the doses of all the ingredients are modest. And because your ingredients are all either foods, mild herbs, or low dosed stronger herbs, there is low potential for causing imbalance. (We often dose turmeric at about 9 grams per day of the dried herb in TCM – about 1/3rd of an ounce – which is unpleasantly strong for most people.)
      If I’m honoring the traditions I mentioned in this article, though, I’d have to say, “I have no idea.” That is, these ingredients all sound like fine things for a person to take, as long as they’re appropriate for the person who’s taking them. Your sign/symptom presentation – eczema and lipomas – isn’t enough to tell us what the underlying patterns of imbalance are, so I can’t know whether these are appropriate or not for you. At least, I’m fairly confident this drink won’t hurt you. The best way to get an informed answer to be to see someone who specializes in natural medicine and traditional diagnosis, who can discern what’s going on with you and advise on what kind of interventions are best. Short of that, I’d ask, how do you feel when you drink it? Can you try sipping it in a state of mental quiet, where you really tune in to your body and ask if it likes this? One confounding factor may be the fact that there are so many different ingredients that your body may like some of them but not others. So if you really wanted to be “scientific” (though in a totally intuitive way), you could try taking each ingredient separately and checking in with your body’s response. That might be more effective at leading you to a concoction that’s wholly harmonious with your system. However, even then, if it’s effective at shifting you toward balance, there may come a time when continuing to take this formula as it is will begin to push you OUT of balance in a different direction. Therefore, it’s important to never stop checking in. Sorry I couldn’t offer a simpler response!

      1. Peter thank you for taking the time to answer. I understand what you are saying and will try to tune in and break it up a bit to see any differences in the way I feel. I am looking at it as a balancer but can’t say I feel I have found it to be. I sure do like the taste of it though:). I appreciate your expertise and wish you a wonderful day!

  15. I need to know more. It’s kind of scary to see how easily we can get going on a path that sounds good but turns out to be not quite right!
    I am grateful for your understanding and help.

    1. You’re welcome, Peggy

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