The effect of turmeric on healing of peptic
ulcer was studied by endoscopy in 25 patients
(17 men, 8 women). There were 20 cases with
duodenal ulcer and 5 cases with gastric ulcer.
Nineteen of 25 patients (76%) had no more
ulcers after turmeric treatment for 4-12 weeks.
For the detail of healing, in 4 weeks the heal
rate was 48% (12 of 25 patients). After 8
weeks of treatment, the rate of ulcer absence
was increased in 6 of 25 patients (24%). In
12 weeks, the healing rate was 8% (2 from
25 patients). It was apparent that for the patient
# 18, the first ulcer disappeared within 8 weeks,
and the new ulcer which found on the fourth
week of the study also healed in 8 weeks, but
the total time of turmeric treatment course in
this case was 12 weeks. Patient # 4 was a
heavy smoker, so it took longer time for healing
ie, 12 weeks. Turmeric had no effect in patients
# 12, 14, 15, 19 and 20 (20% failure rate).