Turmeric in pregnancy and breastfeeding

What NCCIH says about safety

Conventionally formulated oral turmeric or curcumin (not modified to enhance bioavailability) is likely safe in the recommended amounts for up to 2 or 3 months. Oral turmeric can cause adverse effects such as nausea and vomiting, acid reflux, stomach upset, diarrhea, or constipation. Topical curcumin can cause hives or itching. Many curcumin products with increased bioavailability are on the market, and liver damage has been reported in some people who have consumed these bioavailable formulations. If you notice any liver damage symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, poor appetite, dark urine, or jaundice, stop consuming turmeric or curcumin products immediately and talk with your health care provider. The use of turmeric supplements during pregnancy may be unsafe. Little is known about whether it’s safe to use turmeric in amounts greater than those commonly found in food while breastfeeding.

Quoted in full from NCCIH so nothing is lost in summarising. Where they say “little is known”, that means the studies do not exist — not that the herb is known to be safe, and not that it is known to be harmful.

How much is actually known

Many studies have been conducted on the safety and usefulness of turmeric or curcumin for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), osteoarthritis, and high cholesterol or other lipid disorders. We don’t know enough to definitively conclude if turmeric or curcumin is beneficial for any health purposes. Highly bioavailable formulations of curcumin, which enhance the body’s ability to absorb the curcumin, may harm your liver.

What the research has found

It’s challenging to compare the available evidence on turmeric. Oral curcumin products vary in how much curcumin they actually contain, and they often contain substances from other plants, such as piperine from black pepper. Combining curcumin with piperine is one way to improve the bioavailability of curcumin. Several meta-analyses have evaluated oral turmeric or curcumin for osteoarthritis measures related to relieving knee pain and stiffness, increasing the strength of the joints, improving joint mobility, and other functions. The initial evidence is positive; higher-quality evidence is needed to reach definitive conclusions, and more research is needed to understand the impact of bioavailability on curcumin’s effects. It’s unclear whether topical curcumin ointment has an effect on pain related to knee osteoarthritis. Initial research suggests that oral turmeric or curcumin might improve some NAFLD measures, but it’s unclear which specific measures are consistently improved. Initial research suggests that turmeric or curcumin in an oral or mouthwash formulation might improve symptoms of oral mucositis (tissue swelling and irritation in the mouth) related to cancer treatment. There isn’t enough evidence to definitively conclude whether oral turmeric or curcumin has beneficial effects on other health conditions.

Before you take this

Dose and form change the answer completely. A culinary amount of a spice, a cup of tea, and a concentrated supplement extract are three different things, and most research is done on the last of them.

Supplements are also not regulated like medicines, so strength and purity vary between products. Bring the actual bottle to your midwife, doctor or pharmacist — that conversation is worth more than any page, including this one.