My mother has sent me over 50 posts on WhatsApp detailing the proposed advantages of doing gargles with haldi (turmeric) water in preventing COVID-19. I scoured the internet looking for a scientific basis for that claim. Here’s what I found.
Turmeric has a component, curcumin that lends it the bright yellow color. Curcumin is responsible for many of the beneficial properties turmeric. A study published in Frontiers explores the inhibitory effect of curcumin on cytokine storm, the main cause of death in COVID-19 patients. Cytokine storm is characterized by the amplification of immune cells that results in acute lung injury and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Currently no drugs are available to suppress this cytokine storm.
Numerous studies have shown curcumin’s benefits in treating metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases and viral infections due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-diabetic activity. It has been observed that curcumin has positive effects by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enhancing the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines through multiple mechanisms. Curcumin also acts as an antioxidant, scavenging reactive oxygen species that are known to worsen the cytokine storm and cause significant DNA damage.
The antiviral activity of curcumin stems from the fact that it disrupts the viral infection process by various mechanisms. It can directly target viral proteins, block virus entry, replication and inhibit viral gene expression. Furthermore, curcumin can also attenuate the lung injury caused by the cytokine storm. It does so by reducing airway inflammation and prevents remodeling of the airway. It also suppresses pulmonary fibrosis.
Various investigations suggest that curcumin could improve inflammation and potentially even treat viral infections. Further clinical investigation of curcumin as a potential treatment for cytokine storm is needed.
By: Sanya Bansal