By Karen Kier, Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan released his 1966 hit titled Mellow Yellow. The song hit number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States but only reached number 8 in the United Kingdom. 

Donovan was born Donovan Phillips Leitch and he was known for his eclectic style, which combined various different types of music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. 

Donovan had some interesting connections to the Beatles. On the Mellow Yellow soundtrack, you can hear Paul McCartney as a background reveler. It was rumored that Paul McCartney was the one who whispered “quite rightly” on the track, but this was false since it was actually Donovan’s voice. McCartney played bass guitar on the recording, but was not credited on the album. However, Donovan and Paul McCartney were friends and collaborators. Donovan was credited with helping with some of the lyrics on the Yellow Submarine. 

Donovan was credited in teaching John Lennon with a guitar technique called finger-picking. Lennon used this technique on several of his recordings. 

In Mellow Yellow, Donovan’s lyrics state, “I’m just mad about saffron.” Saffron is a yellow colored spice which is often confused with turmeric. Turmeric is a spice that comes from a rhizome or root. Saffron is produced from a flower from a different plant than turmeric. 

Turmeric is known by the Latin name Curcuma longa. The plant is a perennial shrub native to southern Asia. Turmeric has been used for years as part of traditional medicine in countries such as India, China, Indonesia, Iran and Japan. The Chinese refer to it as jianghuang meaning yellow ginger. 

Turmeric’s bioactive compound is known as curcumin. Curcumin is a polyphenol compound with potent anti-inflammatory properties. This component contributes to turmeric’s antioxidant properties. 

Turmeric has been used for the treatment of digestive disorders including gas, bloating and loss of appetite. A study in the early 1970s in Thailand investigated its use in dyspepsia (heartburn or excess stomach acid). Each participant received either turmeric capsules or placebo. The dose was 2 capsules four times daily. The study reported 87% responded to turmeric while 53% responded to the placebo. 

Since the early studies on digestive health, turmeric has been investigated for other health benefits. Studies have evaluated its medicinal effects in diabetes, obesity, dementia, muscle and joint pain. A review of the literature in 2022 found 66 studies conducted in Iran alone. These studies included cancer, liver disease, knee osteoarthritis, obesity, diabetes, and chronic obstructive lung disease. The studies focused on the anti-inflammatory effects and the antioxidant properties. The evidence shows turmeric has significant properties to reduce inflammation. Not all of these studies evaluated clinical improvement in the patients. 

A different literature search in 2022 evaluated the clinical studies investigating turmeric for weight loss. Similar to the previous literature search, the studies mostly evaluated biomarkers in the body, which regulate weight and not actual weight loss. The biomarkers did show a positive response to improving the regulation of lipids and fat cells in the body. Further studies need to be completed to determine if turmeric can be used for weight loss. 

A 2021 review of the literature evaluated studies investigating the use of curcumin supplementation on delayed-onset muscle soreness, inflammation, muscle strength, and joint flexibility with exercise. The review found 10 studies involving 316 people. The average dose of curcumin was 3,000 mg per day. Most of the studies compared curcumin to a placebo for up to 56 days. The studies were evaluated for high-intensity exercise and not routine daily exercise. 

High-intensity exercise is known to trigger inflammation within the body. Different inflammatory markers can be measured to determine the extent of the damage. Muscle proteins can be released into the blood and measured as part of the inflammation process. The studies confirmed even with smaller doses of curcumin (300mg) supplementation the inflammation process can be halted. The conclusion of the authors was that curcumin can reduce inflammation, but more studies need to be done to determine if curcumin can help with recovery of muscles and joints. 

Turmeric has some important antioxidant properties and has been shown to reduce inflammation markers in the body. Most of the studies in the literature rely on blood biomarkers and are not long-term studies evaluating health outcomes. 

If you are interested in the yellow spices and the health benefits, contact your healthcare provider or a pharmacist at ONU HealthWise. 

ONU HealthWise is offering bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m- 5:00 p.m. Please call the pharmacy for more information. 

ONU HealthWise Pharmacy
419-772-3784