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Turmeric For Your Thyroid and Hashimoto
Turmeric For Your Thyroid and Hashimoto
Turmeric can be helpful in reducing whole body inflammation, healing the gut, as well as
detoxifying from heavy metals in those with autoimmunity and Hashimoto’s.
I love the concept of healing with food, food as medicine, or as I like to call it, food
pharmacology.
I became a pharmacist because I was interested in the effect different substances have on
human physiology. Medications are an obvious example of how tiny substances can produce
a tremendous change in the human body, but what’s even more intriguing to me is the
profound effect that foods and natural substances can have on the body. I am always
fascinated by how we can incorporate the healing properties of food in our everyday lives.
Pharmacology is the term we use for the study of medicines derived from natural sources, and
the spice turmeric has received a lot of attention as a potential source of medicines due to its
healing properties.
History of Turmeric
Turmeric, whose botanical name is Curcuma longa, is a plant of the ginger family that was
first cultivated in India and Indonesia. Going back millennia, turmeric has been an important
part of Indian cooking, medicine, and religious practice. To this day, it is commonly used in
Indian and Pakistani cuisine, and curries around the globe.
Though we often think of turmeric as the spice that gives curry its characteristic golden color,
this plant has an equally long history of medicinal use. Historically, turmeric has been used to
treat pain, as well as stomach and liver ailments. Topically, turmeric was used to help with
treating many skin conditions, including healing sores, eczema and skin rashes.
To this day, turmeric is viewed as a sacred substance in much of Indian culture and is an
important part of Ayurvedic medicine – an ancient Indian system of natural healing that is
still practiced today.
Curcumin, the most studied active ingredient in turmeric, has been shown to have anti-
inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral activity, all of which can provide
benefits to those suffering from Hashimoto’s-related symptoms.
Studies on the Effects of Curcumin
Multiple studies that have examined the effect of curcumin on on the thyroid gland and
autoimmunity have shown encouraging results. Results of some of these studies include:
Curcumin can help to protect the intestinal barrier from invasion by bacterial infection
and can help heal a leaky gut.
According to a 2014 study in the journal Food Chemistry and Toxicology; “Curcumin
reduces the hepatotoxicity induced by arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and
mercury, prevents histological injury, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione (GSH)
depletion, maintains the liver antioxidant enzyme status and protects against
mitochondrial dysfunction.”
Curcumin showed tumor inhibiting activity in thyroid cancer.
Curcumin was protective against the genetic damage and side effects induced by
radioactive iodine that is sometimes used to treat Graves’ disease.
Curcumin has anti-inflammatory benefits that can be helpful in down-regulating
autoimmune conditions. Specifically, curcumin produces an anti-inflammatory effect
by down-regulating Th-1 cytokines (TNF-A, IL-1, 2, 6, 8, 12), which may be
overactive in Hashimoto’s. Curcumin has been found to reduce joint inflammation in
the Th-1 autoimmune condition rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, it seems to have
therapeutic anti-inflammatory effects in a variety of gastrointestinal conditions,
showing improvement in Crohn’s disease (Th-1), Ulcerative colitis (Th-2) and irritable
bowel syndrome.
Survey Results
In my survey of 2232 people with Hashimoto’s, 680 people reported that they had tried
curcumin. Fifty six percent reported that it was helpful, 40 percent did not see a change in
how they felt, while 3 percent said it made them feel worse.
When asked about the specific benefits seen from the use of turmeric, 64 percent of people
reported that it helped them with reducing pain symptoms. Other positive benefits were an
increase in energy (seen in 35 percent), improvement in mood (seen in 34 percent), and an
improvement in thyroid antibodies (12.5 percent).
Pain is the most obvious manifestation of inflammation in the body, so I’m not surprised that
those that had pain saw an improvement with curcumin use. While most people with
Hashimoto’s do have inflammation, only some will present with pain symptoms. Poor
energy, mood changes, and thyroid antibodies are also indicative of inflammation, and it was
encouraging that curcumin also impacted those parameters, but it should be noted that
improvements in those symptoms may be less obvious to notice, and may also take a bit
longer to manifest.
While curcumin can also boost glutathione (an antioxidant that’s often depleted in
Hashimoto’s), reduce inflammation, help with healing the gut, and detoxifying from heavy
metals, it’s difficult to assess these improvements symptomatically.
Although most people with Hashimoto’s will benefit from the addition of turmeric, if you are
currently experiencing pain, you will most likely see the most benefit.
How to Use Turmeric/Curcumin
Some researchers have suggested that the daily intake of curcumin in a typical Indian diet
may be anti-inflammatory. However, curcumin is cleared from the body within about an hour
and may not remain present in the body long enough to produce those anti-inflammatory
effects. Fortunately, there’s a hack for that! Combining curcumin with piperine, an alkaloid
found in pepper, extends the life of curcumin in the body, helping it to stick around longer.
My recommendation is to add more turmeric to your cooking (remember to add some pepper
to the mix), as well as a high-quality curcumin supplement. Be sure that the supplement
you’re taking either combines the curcumin with piperine or uses a suspended release
technology to help the curcumin stick around in the body. Curcumin appears to be extremely
safe, even at doses of up to 8 grams/day.
Curcumin Supplements
While piperine does increase the absorbance of curcumin, some people who are sensitive to
pepper may react to it. While pepper is technically considered Autoimmune Paleo, it’s also
considered a “suspect” spice, due to potential reactions.
Fortunately, I’ve been able to develop a new supplement that could be an ideal alternative for
those who don’t tolerate piperine but still want to incorporate curcumin into their routine.
My personal experience has shown the benefits it can have for detoxifying the body, and I
often recommend it for clients with Hashimoto’s to support the gut, liver, and inflammatory
pathways, especially if they are experiencing pain!
P.S. Be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get a free book chapter, recipes, Thyroid
Diet Starter Guide and notifications about upcoming events and my latest research.
References
1. Cho JA, Park E. Curcumin utilizes the anti-inflammatory response pathway to protect
the intestine against bacterial invasion. Nutrition Research and Practice. 2015;9(2):117-
122.
2. García-Niño WR1, Pedraza-Chaverrí J2. Protective effect of curcumin against heavy
metals-induced liver damage. Food Chem Toxicol. 2014 Jul;69:182-201
3. Tan C1, Zhang L1, Cheng X1, Lin XF1, Lu RR2, Bao JD1, Yu HX3. Curcumin
inhibits hypoxia-induced migration in K1 papillary thyroid cancer cells. Exp Biol Med
(Maywood). 2014 Oct 27.
4. Xu X1, Qin J1, Liu W2. Curcumin inhibits the invasion of thyroid cancer cells via
down-regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Gene. 2014 Aug 10;546(2):226-32.
5. Shafaghati N, Hedayati M, Hosseinimehr SJ. Protective effects of curcumin against
genotoxicity induced by 131-iodine in human cultured lymphocyte cells. Pharmacogn
Mag. 2014 Apr;10(38):106-10
6. Bright JJ. Curcumin and autoimmune disease. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2007;595:425-51.
7. Paul C. Curcum-EvailTM. Designs for Health. http://biorna-quantics.com/wp-
content/uploads/2016/01/Curcum-Evail_TechSheet.pdf. November 2015. Updated
January 2016. Accessed January 31, 2018.
Note: Originally published in July 2015, this article has been revised and updated for
accuracy and thoroughness.
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Comments
1. Lynn says
July 6, 2015 at 3:16 AM
Yes, I agree that curcumin helps. I been using it daily with almost each meal! I’ve heard too
that cayenne pepper mixed with freshly squeezed lemon juice mixed with water is also good.
Great way to give the metabolism a jump start!
Reply
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• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• Pinch of pepper
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Sweetener to taste (stevia and maple syrup are my top recommendations)
• 1 cup hot filtered water
Put all the spices and lemon juice in the mug of your choice, top off with
boiling water, mix and enjoy!
Reply
Nitzia says
July 24, 2018 at 7:05 AM
How many times day should I drink the tea
Dr. Izabella says
July 26, 2018 at 3:53 PM
Nitzia – thank you for reaching out. I wish I could give you more
direct advice but, each person will react differently. I would advise
you to ask your trusted clinician who’s care you are under.
Kelly says
March 13, 2018 at 5:15 AM
Dr. Wentz, Is it safe to take curcumin during pregnancy? After a few failed IVFs
(and a heartbreaking journey) I am getting ready for the embryo transfer this
week. I take curcumin regularly but read that it might not be safe for pregnant
women as it stimulates the system. I am quite dependent on turmeric so going off
it will be tough. I was wondering if you had any advice. Thank you so much!
Your book was a life-changing read for me!
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2. Fran Dengler says
July 6, 2015 at 12:23 PM
I have hypothyroid and scalp psoriasis. Curcumin helps reduce the itching of the scalp so it is
manageable.
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Depending on the source, estimates are that between 90-95% of those with
hypothyroidism have Hashimoto’s.
But most doctors will never tell people that they have Hashimoto’s, or that their own
immune system is attacking their thyroid. People are told that their “thyroid is
sluggish”, and that these things happen with age and “Just take this pill, you’ll be fine.”
I hope you check out these articles that I wrote.
ARE YOU DOING EVERYTHING FOR YOUR THYROID BUT NOT YET WELL?
https://thyroidphramacist.com/blog/are-you-doing-everything-for-your-thyroid-but-not-
yet-well
DO YOU HAVE HYPOTHYROIDISM OR HASHIMOTO’S OR BOTH?
https://thyroidphramacist.com/blog/do-you-have-hypothyroidism-or-hashimotos-or-
both
Here are the tests you need for diagnosis. Most endocrinologists don’t run them all so
you will have to request them. Make sure to request a copy of your labs as well.
Nina says
March 6, 2018 at 8:35 AM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/pain-hashimotos-and-
fibromyalgia%E2%80%A6 For some reason this link isn’t working. Can you fix
please?
Reply
Dr. Izabella says
March 6, 2018 at 4:23 PM
Nina – I am so sorry that link did not work. Here is a link that should work
for you. <3
4. Amy says
July 8, 2015 at 10:12 AM
Where is this doctor? I have fibro & hashi’s too. I take armour, a Fibro multi-vitamin,
tumeric (curcumin) and malic acid. Where do you get the IV’s. I am in GA.
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6. ruthc says
July 6, 2015 at 2:21 PM
Dr, Izabella, I have one more question. I’ve enhoyed your book and your articles
tremendously, but wondered if your book is also available in GERMAN. As you know
Hashi’s and fibro and all those naughtly immune dis-eases run in families and I have two
sisters in Germany who could tremendously be helped with your book. Thank you.
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7. Karen says
July 6, 2015 at 5:53 PM
First, I want to say thank you. On my last leg, giving up on body, I went to a naturopath.
After speaking with her I came home and did a lot of online research and your book was the
first one and the last one I purchased on the subject of hashi’s. Thank you for sharing your
story and your struggles. Secondly, I have a question about #4…”genetic damage and side
effects induced by radioactive iodine that is sometimes used to treat Graves’ disease.” Do you
have a link or information on what types of side affects that occur due to the radioactive
iodine treatment and all the steps you can take to help heal from that treatment?
Reply
8. Sandy says
July 7, 2015 at 3:51 AM
Hi Dr. Wentz. Thank you for this information. My integrative physician recently suggested I
take curcumin which I promptly purchased from his pharmacy. I recently had 2 kidney stones
two months apart which I have discussed with this doctor. (I was under the care of a urologist
though). When I was reading about curcumin on line I came across some info that it should
not be used by those with kidney stone issues. I was surprised to read this since my dr. had
just recommended it. I was disappointed since I have some thyroid issues and wanted to try
this. Do you know this to be true, not to use if you have kidney stones? Thank you so much, I
find all your writing extremely helpful!
Reply
I do have a full supplements chapter in my book. Have you checked it out? Not
everyone should be taking every supplement and the book will help uncover your root
cause. This will help you figure out your supplementation.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASI
N=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
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The same antibodies may be present in a smaller percentage of people who have
Graves, but the main antibody is to the TSH Receptor (TSHR-Ab). Usually people with
Graves have hyperthyroidism and they are treated conventionally with thyroid
suppressing drugs (methimazole) or radioactive iodine to destroy the thyroid. At that
point, the thyroid will no longer produce hormones on its own and these people end up
on Synthroid as well.
Most thyroid conditions result from the immune system attacking the thyroid because
the immune system is out of balance. Even when the thyroid is taken out surgically or
treated with radioactive iodine the autoimmunity still persists in most cases. Many
people will have their thyroids removed, and will develop new autoimmune disorders
such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The immune system just finds a different
target. We need to rebalance the immune system to prevent this (sometimes the
autoimmunity can be reversed as well! The gut determines your immune system. With
the exception of discussing proper thyroid medication dosing, the majority of my
website and my book focuses on balancing the immune system. The info I present is
based on my own research in journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid
condition.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASI
N=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
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I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole
medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of
serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
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Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms, skin
breakouts and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also see a
significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of people, will actually
be able to get their Hashimoto’s into complete remission just by getting off the foods
they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing their
thyroid function! Here are a couple of articles you may find helpful.
Reply
Hashimoto’s Protocol
thyroidpharmacist.com/protocol
Hashimoto’s Root Cause
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASI
N=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
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Thanks!
Karolina
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I do have a full supplements chapter in my book. Have you checked it out? Not
everyone should be taking every supplement and the book will help uncover your root
cause. This will help you figure out your supplementation.
Reply
Shannon says
October 30, 2017 at 7:14 AM
Dr. Izabella,
Thank you for your prompt response! While I appreciate your legal and ethical
limitations on offering advice/tx recommendations in this forum, I was simply
wanting to know if (1) there is any *known* interaction between curcumin
w/piperine and thyroid medications (dessicated “natural” varieties in particular),
and (2) whether you had found in your research/experience any benefit to taking
a curcumin or turmeric supplement on an empty stomach vs. not. I apologize if
this seems redundant; I was thinking those questions were of a general-enough
nature to be answered by any pharmacist and therefore relevant here (given your
expertise related to the thyroid in particular, I figured you would know better
than any other pharmacist I could contact!?). However, as you can see, I do tend
to be too long-winded, so I just wanted to clarify my questions thinking that
perhaps they got “lost” in my original message…. ?.
I just found your site yesterday and subscribed to the newsletter so I am looking
forward to checking out the other resources you’ve mentioned, including the
book! Thank you again!
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