Is Turmeric Safe During Pregnancy? Safety Across Trimesters
Turmeric is an incredible medicinal spice that many women are interested in using during pregnancy. Is turmeric safe during pregnancy? This post breaks down its safety across the trimesters, drawing from traditional medicine data and scientific studies.
For a more detailed perspective, read the full free herbal monograph about Turmeric and Curcumin During Pregnancy & Breastfeeding.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only. None of the information here should be taken as medical advice. Even if a remedy is classified as safe in Herbal Doula blog posts based on the existing evidence, that doesn’t mean it’s safe for you. The classifications in the database are just a general reference point. Follow your body, keep track of your response, and consult an herbalist, holistic practitioner, traditional midwife, or anyone else you feel may help you if you need expert advice.
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Turmeric During Pregnancy Safety Overview
Based on a long history of traditional culinary use as a spice and limited human safety data, turmeric is considered to be safe in food amounts during pregnancy. Stick to the lower recommended dosage of up to ¼ teaspoon in food or tea.
Most professional and herbal associations agree that turmeric is relatively safe to use in pregnancy.
Turmeric is traditionally used in some countries during pregnancy. For example, in India, turmeric is used for vomiting in pregnancy. Some texts on traditional Chinese medicine, however, contraindicate the use of turmeric rhizome in pregnancy (AHPA Handbook).
In a multinational study of the safety classification of herbal medicines published in BMC Complement Altern Med, turmeric is listed as a safe herbal that participants used during pregnancy (Kennedy et al., 2016).
In another observational study, Bengali mothers used turmeric both during pregnancy and breastfeeding without any reported risks (Chaudhuri et al., 1989).
In the professional database NatMed Pro, turmeric is classified as likely safe in pregnancy when used in food amounts and unsafe during pregnancy in medicinal amounts.
Another authoritative textbook (Mills et al., 2006) describes turmeric as a potential abortifacient, uterine stimulant, and emmenagogue (herb used to “bring on menstruation”). This is based on a 1975 review article about plants that may have anti-fertility effects (Farnsworth et al., 1975). However, there is no evidence of turmeric directly causing uterine contractions.
The AHPA Botanical Safety Handbook (2013) classifies turmeric as Safety Class 1: safe with appropriate use (with no contraindications in pregnancy).
In Bone & Mills’ authoritative herbal textbook, turmeric is a Class A herb – “no proven increase in the frequency of malformation or other harmful effects on the fetus despite consumption by a large number of women as an item of diet.” (A Romm, 2017; Mills & Bones, 2012).
In Edward Mills’ textbook (Mills et al., 2006), turmeric is said to be nonteratogenic, nonmutagenic (doesn’t cause damage to DNA), and nontoxic in high doses. However, it’s described as a blocker of uterine stretching in pregnancy based on animal studies (evidence level 3).
Based on an explorative study of non-Bengali Muslim mothers who use turmeric as part of their diet, the textbook classifies turmeric as posing minimal risk during pregnancy and breastfeeding (evidence level 4) (Chaudhuri et al., 1989).
Aside from one study about the use of curcumin during a C-section, no clinical studies of either turmeric or curcumin in pregnant women have been conducted (Fadinie et al., 2019). Therefore, their safety and side effects profile during pregnancy are still largely unknown.
Many animal and cellular studies have explored the effects of curcumin and turmeric extracts on fertility, early pregnancy, and mid- to late-pregnancy complications. However, it’s not possible to know if curcumin and turmeric will have comparable effects in pregnant women (Tossetta et al., 2021).
Curcumin supplements and concentrated turmeric extracts should be avoided in pregnancy due to their high levels of active compounds that have not been traditionally used nor tested on pregnant women. These formulations have shown anti-fertility effects in early pregnancy in animals. Their use may be considered on an individual basis in consultation with a knowledgeable provider in later pregnancy in women at risk of certain pregnancy complications, but caution is warranted.
Now let’s look at special turmeric considerations in each pregnancy trimester.
Turmeric During Pregnancy: the First Trimester
Caution is warranted with turmeric in the first trimester since animal studies suggest turmeric and curcumin may reduce fertility, implantation, and early pregnancy viability. One case series also suggests that turmeric may reduce IVF pregnancy success by thinning the uterine lining (O’Connell et al., 2021).
In several animal studies, turmeric or curcumin appeared to be safe and protective in early pregnancy—even at very high doses (Ghaneifar et al., 2020; Ganiger et al., 2007; Hsuuw et al., 2005; Vijayalaxmi, 1980; Soleimani et al., 2018; Kumar et al., 2015).
In other animal studies, curcumin from turmeric has some anti-fertility and anti-implantation effects (Saifi et al., 2022; Chen et al., 2012; Huang et al., 2013).
Therefore, the data from animal studies are mixed and we’re unsure how they apply to women in early pregnancy.
One US case series suggests that turmeric supplementation during IVF may have negative effects on the endometrial lining, potentially preventing pregnancy (O’Connell et al., 2021).
The report talks about two women undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) for IVF who were supplementing turmeric and experienced a thinning of the uterine lining, which possibly prevented the pregnancy. In IVF, unlike in natural conception and pregnancy, many factors are induced and controlled. Therefore, it’s quite possible that the whole process is more sensitive to outside influences, including herbs and supplements.
Both women were advised to stop taking turmeric and not to ingest any herbs or supplements. One of the women (27, with a previous history of pregnancies as a surrogate) subsequently got pregnant. The other (47, with a history of unsuccessful IVFs) still suffered a pregnancy loss.
All in all, this case report suggests that in some cases turmeric may cause a thinning of the uterine line in pregnancy. But it’s uncertain whether turmeric was the cause and what dosages and types of turmeric were used. This is something to pay attention to if you are struggling to conceive or maintain a pregnancy, though.
Whether or not you decide to use turmeric in the first trimester also comes down to your specific health concerns, lifestyle, culture, and familiarity with turmeric.
If you have experience using turmeric and feel confident in using it during the first trimester, you may continue. Monitor your response and consult a holistic practitioner if you need additional guidance.
I do strongly recommend sticking to the recommended pregnancy dosage and making sure you’re consuming organic turmeric.
Does turmeric cause miscarriage in early pregnancy?
Based on the available human and animal research data, there is no direct evidence that turmeric causes miscarriages in early pregnancy. However, it’s possible that turmeric may increase the risk of miscarriage.
Turmeric supplements have been shown to reduce the success of IVF pregnancies, possibly by thinning the uterine lining and mimicking estrogen. Something similar may possibly happen in natural pregnancies, although no clinical data are available to confirm it.
Animal studies also suggest that high doses of curcumin and turmeric extracts may reduce the viability of early pregnancies.
It’s unlikely that using turmeric in small, food amounts can cause miscarriage.
Still, if you are worried about experiencing a miscarriage or have a history of miscarriages, pregnancy loss, or fertility struggles, it may be best to stay on the safe side and avoid turmeric altogether in early pregnancy.
Turmeric During Pregnancy: Second Trimester
Turmeric in food amounts may offer benefits to pregnant women in the second and third trimesters who may be at risk of pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, preterm birth, and exposure to toxins, drugs, and viruses (Tossetta et al., 2021; Kalantar et al., 2024; Tosseta et al., 2021; Ghaneifar et al., 2020; Filardi et al., 2020).
However, some caution is still recommended since there is no clinical data on how turmeric or curcumin may affect these conditions, and drug interactions are possible.
There are no reports of turmeric causing adverse effects in women in the second trimester.
Overall, turmeric is likely safe to use in the second trimester in food amounts.
Is Turmeric Ok During Pregnancy – Third Trimester?
Some sources mention that, in India, it’s considered that taking turmeric when pregnant will ensure that the child will always have beautiful skin. It’s purported to “expedite a simple birth while increasing the health of the mother and child” when taken in the last two weeks of pregnancy in warm, organic milk. Thanks to its pain-relieving properties, it’s also sometimes used in natural childbirth (Turmeric: The Ayurvedic Spice of Life).
In the traditional medicine of Indonesia and Fiji, turmeric is given at childbirth and postpartum (Mills & Bones, 2012).
There are no reports of turmeric causing adverse effects in women in the third trimester.
Also, turmeric and curcumin are possibly safe during labor, based on one clinical trial in which curcumin was given to women with preeclampsia before a C-section. Caution is still recommended because this is the only study to test curcumin during birth in a setting that does not reflect physiological birth. There is no data on turmeric, but it can be assumed based on pregnancy data that it’s also likely safe in food amounts during labor (Fadinie et al., 2019).
All in all, turmeric is likely safe to use in food amounts in the third trimester.
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What Is the Bottom Line?
- Turmeric is generally safe in pregnancy in food amounts (¼ teaspoon daily)
- Caution is recommended with turmeric in the first trimester since turmeric has some pregnancy-blocking effects in animal studies and possibly increased the chance of pregnancy loss by thinning the uterine lining in one IVF case report
- Turmeric is likely safe in the second and third trimesters and may offer benefits to women by supporting healthy circulation, antioxidant defense, and a normal anti-inflammatory and immune response
The founder of Herbal Doula.
Homebirthing and freebirthing mama to four, independent scientist, natural pharmacist, herbalist, doula, birthkeeper, and holistic health and birthrights advocate. Endlessly passionate about creating and sharing empowering holistic health information and birth support. Ana has written 400+ and edited 800+ articles, some of which reached over 1 million people. She is the author of the first book about homebirth in Serbia. Ana has also authored several ebooks and book chapters.
