Turmeric has been used for its health purposes for centuries in Asia. Western countries have discovered its medicinal benefits now, especially in terms of inflammation and pain relief.
Curcuminoids are compounds present in turmeric. Of them, curcumin is the active compound in turmeric that is responsible for the herb's medicinal effects.
Benefits of Turmeric Against
People with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can benefit from turmeric to some extent. It has many benefits, such as inflammation relief and cancer prevention.
Anti-Inflammatory
The most important role of turmeric in PsA is inflammation relief. Inflammation is important, since it alerts the immune system, but if the body is inflamed excessively, the immune system starts attacking the body's own cells.
Studies have shown that curcumin, a compound in turmeric, helps fight inflammation. However, you need to take high doses to see an effect.
Antioxidant
Another benefit of turmeric is its antioxidant property. A study has shown that curcumin can lower the oxidative stress that is often seen in psoriatic lesions .
An animal study also showed that curcumin might block free radicals and promote the function of other antioxidants in the body. More human research is needed in this field.
Heart Health
A 2106 study showed that people with PsA have a 43% higher risk of heart disease. This trend was found in data from 32,973 patients.
Curcumin is also thought to be beneficial in people who have or are at risk of developing heart disease. Some studies show that it might reverse the progression of heart disease. It also improves the endothelium (inner blood vessel lining) in heart disease. A defect in the endothelium is associated with heart disease. When the endothelium can regulate blood clotting and blood pressure correctly, the risk of heart disease is lowered.
Another study has also shown that curcumin might improve heart health. It may do so by lowering oxidation and inflammation in the body.
If you plan to use turmeric for PsA, speak to your doctor beforehand.
