Recommended Dosages for Turmeric

A glass jar and spoonful of turmeric powder. Photo Credit Olha_Afanasieva/iStock/Getty Images

Overview

Turmeric, a fragrant yellow-rooted plant related to ginger, is a core component of South Asian cuisine and Ayurvedic medicine. Recently, modern science has confirmed many health benefits traditionally associated with this pungent, spicy-sweet herb. According to the Maryland University Medical Center, turmeric shows promise as a complementary treatment for pain, inflammation, infection and gastrointestinal problems. The 2013 issue of "Current Pharmaceutical Design" reports that turmeric is effective in preventing and treating some forms of cancer, including breast cancer. A health care provider may recommend a specific dose of turmeric depending on the person's age, weight and medical condition.

Dried Root Dose

Turmeric is commonly sold in the form of a dry, powdered root. This form of turmeric may be used as a seasoning, mixed with juice or consumed in a capsule. The U.S. National Institutes of Health note that an average adult in India consumes roughly 2 to 2.5 grams of dried turmeric root each day -- roughly three-quarters of an ounce. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that any dose between 1.5 and 3 grams is appropriate for an average-sized adult.

Standardized Powder

Some supplement manufacturers offer turmeric products that contain a guaranteed concentration of curcumin, the principle medicinal component of the herb. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends 1,200 to 1,800 milligrams of standardized powder daily.

Turmeric Tea

The National Institutes of Health recommend steeping half an ounce of turmeric root in 4 1/2 ounces of boiling-hot water. This preparation may be taken twice daily.

Water-Based Extract

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, 30 to 90 drops of aqueous turmeric extract may provide medicinal benefits similar to dry powder or tea.

Tincture -- Ethanol Extract

Alcohol may be used to create concentrated liquid turmeric supplements. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends 15 to 30 drops four times daily for an adult. Because tinctures contain large amounts of concentrated alcohol, children and people with liver disease should avoid them.

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