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Supplement Triple-Whammy Led to Bleeding Gums

Q. I have been taking curcumin, the active ingredient in the spice turmeric, for back pain over the last several months. It has helped quite a lot, but my gums started to bleed badly.

I realized that I was also taking fish oil and ginger. All three are anticoagulants. Am I right in assuming that the combination contributed to the excessive bleeding?

A. We often warn people taking the anticoagulant warfarin (Coumadin) not to use curcumin as a dietary supplement. It can interact with warfarin to increase the risk of dangerous bleeding. We could find no studies on the interactions of these supplements, but your conclusion seems plausible.

You could learn more about such supplements and their pros and cons from our book, The People’s Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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