Common spice 'as effective as omeprazole' for treatment, professor says

Common spice 'as effective as omeprazole' for treatment, professor saysThe team behind the study said the ingredient 'could be used in clinical practice'CommentsNewsNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)14:51, 18 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesThere is a reason some curries are yellowA spice that gives curry its yellow colour is as good for treating indigestion as conventional drugs, according to a study. The findings may justify considering turmeric being used in clinical practice, say scientists.‌The study, published online by BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, showed that a natural compound found in the culinary spice may be as effective as omeprazole - a drug used to curb excess stomach acid - for treating indigestion symptoms. Study author Professor Krit Pongpirul, of Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Medicine in Thailand, said: "Turmeric is derived from the root of the Curcuma longa plant.‌"It contains a naturally active compound called curcumin thought to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, and has long been used as a medicinal remedy, including for the treatment of indigestion, in South East Asia. But it’s not clear how well it compares with conventional drugs for this indication, largely because there have been no head to head studies."‌View 3 ImagesTurmeric is a natural ingredientThe research team randomly assigned 206 patients, aged 18 to 70, who suffered with a recurrent upset stomach - known as functional dyspepsia - recruited from hospitals in Thailand to one of three treatment groups for a period of 28 days.The treatments were: turmeric - two large 250mg capsules of curcumin four times a day - and one small dummy capsule; omeprazole - one small 20mg capsule daily and two large dummy capsules four times a day;); and turmeric plus omeprazole. Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) which are used to treat functional dyspepsia, the symptoms of which include feeling excessively full after eating, feeling...