Shivalingu et al (1) studied how to stop bleeding naturally by examining the coagulant properties of different turmeric plant strains. The authors were able to show how to stop bleeding naturally by placing turmeric on a wound. Turmeric applied to a wound was found to reduce blood clotting time by 30-82%. Another study reported curcumin to be a beneficial topical treatment for burns. When curcumin was applied to a burn, this resulted in faster healing of the wound compared to the non-curcumin treatment group (2).
Mahmudi G. et al (3) followed Cesarean incisions after applying cream containing a concentrated turmeric extract ointment or sterile ointment placebo. The placebo contained a very low concentration of turmeric. The creams were spread over the incision every 12 hours for 14 days by the subject after washing their hands. The incisions were assessed on day 1, day 7 and day 14 by the researchers. The concentrated turmeric extract cream incisions were found to have less redness, edema, ecchymosis, drainage, and improved approximation over placebo. The study would have been better designed if curcumin was tested against triple antibiotic ointment.
Sidhu GS et al (4) noted that wound healing was enhanced by turmeric taken orally. A study found that curcumin-treated animals taking 40 mg per kg dissolved in their drinking water had faster wound healing compared to their untreated counterparts. This would amount to about 2800 mg of curcumin for a 70 kg person. The researchers found improved blood vessel formation, increased cell migration to the wound site, and higher levels of collagen, a fibrous protein found in connective tissue, bone and cartilage.
