Turmeric and Medication Interaction
Turmeric interacts with drugs
Turmeric has been used for medicinal purposes for a long time, but its interaction with various drugs cannot be ignored.
Turmeric contains many active ingredients, such as curcumin. These ingredients interact with human metabolic pathways or with drugs.
First, it is related to liver metabolism. Turmeric may affect the activity of drug metabolizing enzymes in the liver. Enzymes in the liver are responsible for the decomposition and transformation of drugs, making them easy to excrete from the body. If turmeric causes enzyme activity to change, the rate of drug metabolism varies. If a certain type of drug is metabolized by a specific enzyme, turmeric increases the enzyme activity, the drug metabolism speed, the concentration in the body decreases, and the curative effect may not meet expectations; conversely, the enzyme activity decreases, the drug accumulates, or causes adverse reactions.
Second, in the blood system, turmeric has a certain anticoagulant effect. When taken with anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin, the anticoagulant effect is superimposed, and the risk of bleeding increases sharply. In small cases, skin ecchymosis, bleeding gums, and in large cases, bleeding from internal organs, endangering life.
Furthermore, in the digestive system, turmeric has an impact on gastrointestinal peristalsis and digestive secretion. If used in combination with gastrointestinal drugs, or interfere with drug absorption. Such as acid-suppressing drugs, turmeric affects the gastrointestinal environment, the absorption of drugs is hindered, and the efficacy of drugs is discounted.
In addition, the effect of turmeric on the cardiovascular system should not be underestimated. When combined with some antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs, or synergistically cause excessive reduction of blood pressure and blood lipids, causing dizziness, fatigue and other discomfort.
Therefore, anyone who wants to add turmeric must consult a doctor or pharmacist. Doctors weigh the advantages and disadvantages according to the characteristics of the drug and individual constitution, and determine whether they can be used together and appropriate doses to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the drug.
