Can Turmeric Reverse Arthritis? The Truth You Need to Hear

Why People Keep Asking About Turmeric and Arthritis

Honestly, I get it. Arthritis sucks. The stiffness, the pain, the way your joints just decide not to cooperate some days... it's brutal. A couple of months ago, over coffee, my friend Leah (she's been dealing with osteoarthritis for years) looked me dead in the eyes and asked, “Do you think turmeric can actually reverse this crap?”

And I hesitated.

Because I wanted to say yes. I mean, turmeric is everywhere, right? In capsules, smoothies, golden milk lattes… it’s basically the Beyoncé of anti-inflammatory spices. But the truth? Well, it’s more complicated than just “yes” or “no.”

Let’s unpack it.

What Exactly Is Turmeric Supposed to Do?

Curcumin: The active magic (or not?)

So, turmeric contains curcumin, which is supposed to be the star anti-inflammatory compound. Scientists have been digging into it for years, and yeah — curcumin has shown promise in reducing inflammation, especially in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

One study in 2016 showed that curcumin performed almost as well as diclofenac (a common NSAID) for knee arthritis — but without the nasty side effects like gut issues. Sounds great, right?

But here’s the kicker: your body doesn’t absorb curcumin all that well. You’d have to take it with black pepper (specifically piperine) or in a special formulation to really get the benefits.

Trust me, I learned that the hard way. I was popping generic turmeric pills for weeks with zero effect — until a pharmacist friend, Marco, pointed out that I was basically just coloring my insides yellow.

Can It Actually Reverse Arthritis?

Let’s talk definitions

Okay, quick reality check. What do we even mean by “reverse” arthritis? Like, making the joint damage disappear? Cartilage grow back magically?

Yeah... that’s not really how it works.

Arthritis is degenerative, especially in the case of osteoarthritis. Once that cartilage is gone, there’s no spice on earth (sadly) that can bring it back. Even with rheumatoid arthritis, which is autoimmune, the goal is more about managing the immune response — not reversing joint damage that’s already done.

So if by reverse you mean “completely cure”? Then no. Turmeric won’t do that.

But (and this is important) — it can help reduce inflammation, stiffness, and pain, which might feel like a reversal in your day-to-day life.

What I Noticed When I Tried It (The Good, The Meh, The Unexpected)

I started taking a high-absorption curcumin supplement (with piperine) for about 8 weeks. I was having these annoying flare-ups in my wrists from years of typing (yay coding life), and figured I’d run my own mini-experiment.

• Week 2: Honestly, nothing. I was about to give up.

• Week 4: Less stiffness in the morning. Could open jars a bit easier.

• Week 6: That dull ache that used to live in my knuckles? Way quieter.

• Week 8: Flare-ups still happened, but they were... softer, somehow.

I wasn’t cured. But I was functioning better. That, for me, was a win.

The side note? I tried mixing turmeric in everything at one point — soups, rice, even oatmeal (don't ask). It started tasting like regret. Capsules were way easier.

Things You Should Seriously Keep in Mind

Don’t ditch your meds just yet

This stuff is complementary, not a replacement. Talk to your doctor before you throw your prescriptions in the bin. I know someone (naming no names, but let’s say his name rhymes with Ben) who stopped his NSAIDs cold turkey to “go natural.” Two weeks later, he was basically immobile.

Turmeric can support your treatment — but it’s not some miracle golden bullet.

Dosage actually matters (like, a lot)

Most clinical studies use 500–2,000 mg of curcumin per day — way more than what you'd get sprinkling turmeric on your eggs. So yeah, if you’re gonna try it, go for standardized supplements with verified bioavailability.

So… Should You Try It?

Well, maybe.

If you're dealing with joint pain and you're looking for something gentle, natural-ish, and with a pretty decent safety profile — turmeric might help you. Especially if you give it a few weeks and get the good stuff (not the dollar-store powder).

But if you're hoping it’ll reverse arthritis completely? I hate to say it, but... no. It won’t do that.

Still, if it gets you moving easier in the morning, or helps you take fewer painkillers, or lets you enjoy your walks without wincing — that’s worth something, isn’t it?

Actually, scratch that — it’s worth a lot.

Just don’t expect turmeric to be magic. Expect it to be part of a toolkit. Pair it with smart movement, rest, maybe some physical therapy, and yeah... maybe even golden milk that doesn’t taste like hot mustard.

You're not alone in this. And you're definitely not powerless.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.