Turmeric and Joint Health
Turmeric and joint health: what it can and can't do
One of the questions we're asked most often is whether turmeric can help with arthritis, in people, dogs and horses. Here's an honest answer.
Turmeric does not cure arthritis, and it isn't a replacement for diagnosis and treatment from your doctor or vet. What it can be is part of a healthy, joint-friendly lifestyle, alongside the things that matter most.
Understanding arthritis
The most common type is osteoarthritis, where the cartilage cushioning a joint gradually wears away. Cartilage has no nerve endings, so the damage often goes unnoticed until there's stiffness, swelling or pain. In dogs, conditions like hip dysplasia (an abnormally formed hip joint, partly inherited) commonly lead to it.
Rheumatoid arthritis is different: an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the joints, and inflammation affects the whole body. It needs medical management.
What helps joints
- Staying active. Regular, gentle, weight-bearing exercise strengthens the muscles around a joint and takes stress off it. This is one of the most effective things you can do.
- A healthy weight. Every extra kilo is load on sore joints, for people and pets alike.
- A good diet. A wholefood diet low in processed foods and added sugars supports overall health.
- Working with your doctor or vet. Pain relief, physiotherapy and other treatments make a real difference to comfort and mobility.
Where turmeric fits in
Curcumin, the main active compound in turmeric, is a natural antioxidant, and researchers around the world are studying its role in joint health. Many members of the Original Turmeric User Group make turmeric part of their daily routine, and that of their dogs and horses, as part of a healthy lifestyle.
If you'd like to try it, the best way is cooked, with a healthy oil and black pepper, in small amounts several times a day. Our Golden Paste recipe shows you how. For dogs, see how to feed turmeric to dogs or try Turmeric Dog Bites.
Before you start
Talk to your doctor or vet first if you or your pet take anti-inflammatory medication, blood thinners or other regular medication, or have surgery planned. Read more about drug interactions.
This page is general information and isn't medical or veterinary advice. Turmeric is a food and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Based on an article by Liz Wallis.