Is Turmeric Dangerous, Causing Liver Damage? What's the Truth?

When a reader stated in the DRAH comment section that taking turmeric and black pepper was causing widespread liver damage, I decided to research for myself.

Since writing extensively on turmeric through the years, including about how turmeric beats Prozac and Ibuprofen for mood and pain and how to make Golden Paste, the thought that it could do harm was rather disturbing.

Here’s the comment:

“Most people don’t know this and no I don’t have links to provide for proof, but you can easily find them in a search. Mixing Turmeric with Pepper can cause Liver damage and if taken regularly can cause Liver failure requiring a liver transplant. There is actually quite a lot of documented medical evidence of this truth. Most doctors don’t know this either (not surprising🙄) unless they find out because they have a patient that presents with Liver issues. I’ve read of this on MANY occasions, especially when people take Turmeric or Curcumin supplements with Bioperine (aka Pepper) or if it’s just listed as black pepper. Seriously look into this and if you make your Soup DON’T add Pepper regardless of it’s ability to make the body absorb more Curcumin. Therein lies the danger.” ~L.N.

Here is my nuanced reply:

Hi, L, I did some digging into the research, and this is what I found:

A 2023 study showed an increase in turmeric-induced liver injuries in the U.S. The researchers examined 18 YEARS of data from the U.S. Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network (between 2004 and 2022), yet only “10 cases of turmeric-related liver injuries were reported”, with six of these occurring since 2017. That is an infinitesimally low incidence, so let’s keep digging.

The probable reason doctors don’t “know” this is because that occurrence is truly statistically irrelevant. That it was only 10 (suspected) instances in 18 years is statistically far less than being struck by lightening.

Crazy thing is that later, here, “Hoofnagle (one of the study authors) said they “could NOT say with certainty that all of the 10 cases they discovered were due to turmeric, as many of the people they identified with liver injury were taking OTHER drugs at the time.” (source)

Well, of course! Do people know how many pharma drugs – which almost everyone are taking – cause liver damage?

Even WebMD, who I’ve ironically never trusted, gives us this broad list of toxic pharma drugs that cause liver damage and death: (source)

OTC pain relievers:

• Acetaminophen – Tylenol, Panadol

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Advil, aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen

Prescription drugs:

• Statins

• Antibiotics like amoxicillin-clavulanate or erythromycin

• Arthritis drugs like azathioprine or methotrexate

• Antifungal drugs (this PubMed study here lists the offending antifungals).

• Niacin

• Steroids

• Allopurinol for gout

• Antiviral drugs for HIV infection

And many chemotherapies are toxic to the liver. (source)

Neither turmeric, nor black pepper, are listed in the small list of natural supplements considered toxic to the liver in the same WebMd article.

Turmeric (and it’s main polyphenol known as curcumin) actually HEALS the liver!

Despite what they would have us believe, there are 78 studies on turmeric/curcumin’s liver-protective properties: hepatoprotective properties of curcumin. Another 30 studies indicate its profound value in improving liver fibrosis.

SAFETY: When taking and cooking with turmeric, 2 PubMed studies (here and here) show total safety well over 6,ooo mg. per day.

You can search and review over 5,000 study abstracts on turmeric or curcumin from the PubMed database, as well as over 600 potential health benefits of turmeric.

L, I appreciate your concern, but could there be some desire in PharmaWorld to discredit turmeric?

Many of us following this kind of thing believe there are attempts to villainize useful and generally safe natural herbs and supplements. That IS something the FDA has done in the past with NAC. It’s the same with Ivermectin, Fenbendazole, quercetin, DMSO, nicotine, zeolite, and more.

“Former editors of the NEJM, Lancet, and BMJ expose how Big Pharma controls the system, with 50% of studies being fraudulent”, so we know there is corruption in the medical industry. Watch this video for this story: https://old.bitchute.com/video/5eDazbthWWC9/

Interestingly, turmeric is often used in high amounts in complimentary medical circles for breast cancer with excellent outcomes (see this post). Eighteen (18) PubMed studies with substantial doses of turmeric (a couple add black pepper) are outlined. And not a one mentions anything harmful about it at the higher doses given. You can read the studies for yourself.

Btw, blood work, including liver enzymes, are always monitored closely in these kinds of studies, and nothing alarming or abnormal was noted.

If the cancer patients in the PubMed studies ever did have elevated Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Alanine transaminase (ALT), Aspartate transaminase (AST), Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), it would most likely be because these patients are also getting chemo and other harsh drugs that are inherently nephro- and hepatotoxic.

In South Asia (India and the surrounding countries), turmeric is consumed at almost every meal, and we see evidence of far less cancers –as explained in 4 Things We Can Learn from the Lower Cancer Rates in India

After our daughter came back from India and told us about turmeric’s health benefits, my husband and I both have taken ~1500-2,000 mg turmeric with a dash of blk pepper every morning (for over 8 years now). We do test our blood work regularly, and our liver enzymes are normal. You can read about our morning turmeric practice here and here.

Lastly, a PhD in Food Science tells us how to take turmeric the right way. 5 minutes.

Sadly, vaccines and pharma drugs of all kinds sicken and even kill thousands yearly. For proof, read this: Adverse Drug Events Are the 3rd Leading Cause of Death in the USA

L, I feel your concern is largely unwarranted. Greedy corporations and agencies would love to keep us from the far superior, natural cures that can’t be patented and instead point us to corresponding pharma meds that really do harm the liver in many cases.

Of course, people do need to be aware of their bodies, make informed decisions by doing their own research, and talk with their doctors if truly needed.

I hope this helps and thank you for your comment,
Jacqueline

“We awaken by asking the right questions. We awaken when we see knowledge being spread that goes against our own personal experiences. We awaken when we see popular opinion being wrong but accepted as being right, and what is right being pushed as being wrong.” ~Suzy Kassem

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