Turmeric Essential Oil in Truth: A Journey Through Conflict, Chemistry, and Care

Welcome back to Harvesters’ Corner! I must confess that I was rather surprised to see how much conflicting information there is online concerning Turmeric. I usually find myself having to carefully navigate the various sources to ensure I am able to present accurate information here in my posts. As I started researching Turmeric, however, I felt almost as if I were in a minefield. One source gave me some ideas to contemplate, while another source would then cast doubt on the line of presentation forming in my head. Turmeric, based on my research, is a very divisive plant. People either praise or despise it. Despite these challenges, I feel confident with the material we are about to discuss. Come join us as we sort through the conflicting information to reach a better understanding of this ancient spice.

Turmeric, Curcuma longa, is a close relative of Ginger, and like its cousin, the rhizome is ground into a powder for use. This herbaceous plant is native to India and Southeast Asia and finds extensive use in culinary applications throughout the many cultures located in the region. The spice has a golden-orange hue, which adds a vibrant color to stews, soups, and other dishes. Its uses also include acting as a natural colorant for some varieties of mustard, as well as curry powder. We have seen repeatedly throughout our posts how spices have been adapted for use in traditional medicines, and we see this pattern continue with Turmeric. The root has been used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine in India, and well as traditional medicine in China and the countries of Southeast Asia. (1)

Why Turmeric is Important

As I was researching this post, I saw a broad spectrum of ways in which Turmeric can benefit an individual. One term—bioavailability—kept popping up in several sources. As indicated before, I then read many articles deriding the poor bioavailability of Turmeric. Then an article on Yahoo caught my attention. It spoke of dietary supplements and concerns that some supplements could result in liver damage, with Turmeric being specifically mentioned. As I read deeper in the article, I began to understand the cause for concern. There is an old adage which states that too much of anything can be harmful. Turmeric can be difficult for the body to absorb in the intestines, the process known as bioavailability. Over the generations, people noticed that the effects of Turmeric were increased when they added Black Pepper with the spice in their cooking. Researchers later discovered that a molecule in Pepper, called piperine, interacted with a component in Turmeric called curcumin, and greatly augmented the body’s ability to absorb Turmeric (as in a 2,000 per-cent boost!), thus increasing the bioavailability. (2) This is fantastic, especially when you are using Turmeric in a soup, stew, or curry. But what happens when an individual starts taking supplements containing close to 2,000mg of curcumin, along with piperine?

Conflicting Theories and Issues

Therein lies the crux for much of the divisiveness surrounding Turmeric. As one source pointed out, many supplements vary as to how much curcumin they actually contain. (3) Not all oral supplements contain piperine, either. The matter is further complicated as some supplements refer to “curcuminoids,” with little mention of curcumin. And that brings us back to the article on Yahoo which I mentioned earlier. As it pointed out, millions of Americans try to balance their health through the use of herbal and dietary supplements, yet more people are experiencing liver toxicity. The products these people are using are classified as supplements. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) has a different set of regulatory rules for supplements as compared to the regulations in place for medications, and the companies producing the supplements are often the only entity evaluating the content and labeling of their products. Dr. Robert Fontana, a University of Michigan hepatologist, a liver specialist, stated, “We performed analytical chemistry and found about a fifty percent mismatch between stated ingredients on the label and what [the products] actually contained, which was quite alarming.” He added, “If you buy a supplement and it says it has a certain ingredient, it’s basically a coin flip if that’s true or not.” (4)

In an earlier post concerning the chemistry of the essential oil products we have assessed, we discussed the concept of efficacy. [Understanding the Science Behind Essential Oils] This was defined as a substance producing a desired effect, or as was written, “Do the results in the real world…match what is seen in controlled tests like pre-clinical and clinical studies?” Because of the variation allowed in the supplement market, many products appear to have a lack of efficacy, which is supported by Dr. Fontana’s assessment above. When I discussed this with a friend, she stated that she was glad for dōTERRA’s Certified Pure Tested Grade (C.P.T.G.) standard.

So where does that leave us? We know that Turmeric can be beneficial to the body, and we know that curcumin is a component which can be helpful but has a poor bioavailability. We also know that there is something else called curcuminoids which we haven’t really addressed yet, so let’s rectify that deficiency.

Introducing The All-Stars: The Curcuminoids

Surprise! You have already met a curcuminoid. Curcumin is the best known curcuminoid in Turmeric. It is important, however, to realize that curcumin is just part of the curcuminoids. In a manner of speaking, we could look at the relation between curcumin and the remaining curcuminoids as being very similar to a sports team and the star player on that team. The other curcuminoids are Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) and Demethoxycurcumin (DMC), two names that just roll off your tongue. (5) While curcumin is the star, little gets done without BDMC and DMC. While the curcuminoids work well together, they get even better with a little help from their friend, a molecule known as tumerone.

Why is this Important?

In our science blog referred to earlier, we also discussed the concept of adulteration, wherein a substance either removed or added to the native plant degraded the final product. Tumerone is found in Turmeric essential oil. We’ve discussed before how plants go through a steam distillation process to obtain the oil. The distillation process captures many of the volatile molecules found in the plant. Heavier material, however, gets left behind. This becomes evident with Turmeric. The oil itself is good for supporting a healthy inflammatory response and boosting the immune system and supporting a healthy circulatory system. Yet heavier particles, like the curcuminoids, get left behind during the distillation process. While curcumin and the curcuminoids are available through supplements, the research revealed from studies done by Dr. Fontana at the University of Michigan suggests that that is a rather risky option at best.

Thankfully, there is a way to reunite tumerone and the curcuminoids to enhance the bioavailability of the curcuminoids, especially curcumin, in the body. DōTERRA released a dual-chamber capsule combining Turmeric essential oil with a smaller chamber containing a high concentration of curcuminoids. (6) Why does this matter, you ask? Why are people taking these supplements in the first place? They want to support a healthy metabolism, of which the liver is a key component. The synergy of tumerone and the curcuminoids (all of them, not just curcumin) combined promotes a healthy inflammatory response in the body. Using the Turmeric Dual Chamber Capsules along with a good diet can help improve metabolic function within the liver.

Sourcing, Our Favorite Impact

Another concern with Turmeric is where and how it is grown. One source I read indicates that Turmeric supplements have been identified as a source of lead exposure in the U.S. (7) This isn’t that surprising if the farmer is using toxic water to grow their crops. Thanks to Co-Impact Sourcing, we know where the Turmeric dōTERRA uses is grown. The foothills of the Himalaya mountains in both India and Nepal, home to some of the poorest farmers in the region, is the source. Turmeric is sometimes grown alongside sugarcane, corn, and other crops. Some farmers have started rotating crops, planting Turmeric after raising sugarcane for several years, to give the soil an opportunity to recover. Farmers in India say growing Turmeric is beneficial as it is a natural pesticide and fungicide for the soil, and that they often see increased sugarcane harvests after growing Turmeric. (8)

Co-Impact Sourcing has done much to help educate the farmers and harvesters to enable them to boost their productivity. The people have also received assistance from the Healing Hands Foundation. In 2023 the Healing Hands Foundation helped raise funds to improve the Swami Shree Nirdoshanandii Manavseva Hospital in India. These improvements included the installation of solar panels to provide energy to the hospital, modernizing bathrooms and upgrading several of the departments in the hospital. Nearly 300,000 people have been affected by these upgrades in medical care. (9)

Having a company sourcing products ethically and sustainably is becoming even more critical as many companies cut corners to improve their bottom line. Having a company which you can trust becomes even more critical when looking at supplements that are designed to improve one’s health. The Turmeric Dual-Chamber Capsules are an example of how dōTERRA is working to make the world a healthier place, just as Co-Impact Sourcing and the Healing Hands Foundation stand as examples of how a company and people associated with that company can help improve the lives of those on the other side of the bottle. I marvel at how something as simple as the Dual Chamber capsule can have such a powerful impact on so many people.

I hope you have been able to gain some knowledge concerning the curcuminoids and how important the combining of proper molecules can have in improving a person’s life. Turmeric truly is an amazing plant. Hopefully we can gain insight on how best to use it, and with proper education concerning its use, be able to decrease much of the negativity surrounding this plant. Join us next time, here at Harvesters’ Corner, when we take a look at a delectable oil: Madagascar Vanilla.

Sources

1.    Brown, Mary Eve. “Turmeric Benefits.” Johns Hopkins Hospital, Online. <https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/turmeric-benefits>. Accessed 26 May 2025.

2.    Ibid.

3.    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Turmeric.” Online. <https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/turmeric>. Accessed 26 May 2025.

4.    Musto, Julia. “Common Herbal Supplements Taken by Millions of Americans Could be Linked to Deadly Liver Damage.” 29 May 2025. Yahoo Lifestyle. Online. <www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/common-herbal-supplements-taken=million=214847610/html>. Accessed 30 May 2025.

5.    Basha, K. Kaur, P. Kaur, Rehal. “Curcuminoids: Composition, Extraction, Health Benefits, Delivery Systems, and Relation to Covid-19 Treatment.” Food Safety and Health. 1 January 2024. Online. <https://doi.org/10.1002/fhs3.12028>. Accessed 3 June 2025.

6.    Rodriguez, Damian DHSc. “Turmeric Dual Chamber Capsule.”  dōTERRA, The Blog. Online. <https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/science-research-news-doterra-turmeric-dual-chamber-capsule> Accessed 26 May 2025.

7.    Restivo, Jenette. “Turmeric Benefits: A Look at the Evidence.” 22 March 2024. Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School. Online. <https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/turmeric-benefits-a-look-at-the-evidence>. Accessed 26 May 2025.

8.    dōTERRA. “Source to You: Turmeric.” Online. <https://www.sourcetoyou.com/en/stories/story/turmeric>. Accessed 26 May 2025.

9.    Ibid.

Disclaimer

All views on Harvesters’ Corner are those of the author. I am a Wellness Advocate with dōTERRA, and I use the essential oils daily. Any purchases made through my affiliate link may earn me a commission. The oils are not intended to treat or cure any illness.