Woman dies after taking turmeric injection

Jade Erik died of a heart attack triggered by a turmeric solution injected into the vein

A turmeric injection led to the death of a woman in San Diego, California, the Independent reported.

According to the medical examiner, Jade Erik died of a heart attack triggered by an adverse reaction to a turmeric solution injected into a vein.

Speaking to a local news channel, the deceased's friend said that Erik was inclined towards natural healing processes and opted for the treatment for her eczema.

However, while speaking to NBC, local naturopathic doctors, who also sell oral turmeric pills, denied treating Erik.



“Turmeric has been used for centuries and it's got many great properties, among them, one of most powerful anti-inflammatories we know of,” Hadas Hilewitz told the broadcaster.

The aromatic South-Asian herb has been used as a medicine and a supplement for conditions like arthritis and stomach ills in the sub-continent for centuries. It is known for its antibiotic properties and is a popular ingredient in natural remedies all over the world.

The yellow spice was listed as one of the super foods of 2016 in a Mintel report. According to Google, searches for turmeric have grown 300% over the last five years.

Another site, called Dr Axe recently published an article titled "10 turmeric benefits: superior to medications?"  highlighting its benefits.

The article claims that "when examining the research, turmeric benefits go beyond that of these 10 drugs: anti-inflammatory drugs; anti-depressants; chemotherapy; anti-coagulants [aspirin]; painkillers; diabetes drugs; arthritis medications; inflammatory bowel disease drugs; cholesterol drugs; steroids”.



According to Independent, while there has been research into the properties of turmeric, the high naturopathic claims are not backed by studies.

In a study, the Cancer Research UK found that curcumin - a chemical found in the turmeric plant - has anti-cancer effects but emphasised that more clinical trials were needed before reaching a definitive conclusion.

“Turmeric used in cooking is very safe. But we don't know how safe curcumin is when used for medical reasons,” .the organisation said in a statement.

“So far, research studies seem to show that it causes few or no side effects. But we don't know much about the side effects of taking it in large amounts to treat or prevent cancer,” it added.