A recent study published in Phytotherapy Research says that turmeric is not only effective in treating depression, it may even be more effective than some of the most common anti-depressant drugs currently on the market.
While previous studies have indicated the effectiveness of turmeric (curcumin) in treating serious depression, this study was the first randomized controlled clinical trial of its kind.
Curcumin, the bright yellow root commonly used in Indian cooking known as turmeric, has been found to have numerous health benefitssuch as treating inflammatory conditions, diabetes, and even cancer. Turmeric is also effective in aiding in weight loss and cutting heart disease risk.
Researchers with the Department of Pharmacology of Government Medical College in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India compared the effects of turmeric and Prozac (fluoxetine), both used together and individually, in 60 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD).
The researchers used the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale to measure their results which yields as follows:
“We observed that curcumin was well tolerated by all the patients. The proportion of responders as measured by the HAM-D17 scale was higher in the combination group (77.8%) than in the fluoxetine [Prozac] (64.7%) and the curcumin (62.5%) groups; however, these data were not statistically significant (P = 0.58). Interestingly, the mean change in HAM-D17 score at the end of six weeks was comparable in all three groups (P = 0.77). This study provides first clinical evidence that curcumin may be used as an effective and safe modality for treatment in patients with MDD without concurrent suicidal ideation or other psychotic disorders.”
Thus being said, Turmeric is an ideal treatment for patients with Depression rather that Prozac because Turmeric poses no danger for patients being treated with major depressive disorder compared with Prozac which has an alarming side effect of suicidal ideation or other psychotic disorders.
