Written from the studies on PubMed, searched on 2026. nov. 11.. Every number below comes from a study listed under Sources.
The claim
Posts online say that curcumin (turmeric) helps with bipolar disorder.
Where research stands
We found 7 published papers on curcumin (turmeric) and bipolar disorder. They were published between 2013 and 2026. 2 of them are studies in people. None of them compared people who got it with a group that did not. 2 were studies in animals, and none was only in cells in the lab. 2 papers are reviews that sum up other studies.
- 2In people
- 2In animals
- 0Only in the lab
What the studies found
We have not summed up these studies in words yet. The most important papers are listed under Sources.
Verdict
Curcumin (turmeric) has been studied in people with bipolar disorder, but not in randomised trials.
What this means for you: A study in people is not proof that it helps you. Do not stop or change your medicines because of it. Ask your doctor before you start taking it.
Sources
- Pilot Trial of Adjunctive Curcumin for Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Depression in Youth: Focus on Inflammation and Oxidative Stress.2026 · J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol · Study in people
- The effect of adding curcumin to sodium valproate in treatment of patients with bipolar disorder in the acute phase of mania: A randomized double-blind clinical trial.2023 · Front Psychiatry · Study in people
- Curcumin and nano-curcumin applications in psychiatric disorders.2024 · Phytother Res · Review
- Is there a role for curcumin in the treatment of bipolar disorder?2013 · Med Hypotheses · Review
- Curcumin ZnO and MgO Nanoparticles Confer Protective Effects Against Ketamine-Induced Bipolar Disorder in Mice: Role of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor.2025 · Adv Biomed Res · In animals
- Neuroprotective and antioxidant effects of curcumin in a ketamine-induced model of mania in rats.2014 · Eur J Pharmacol · In animals
- Computational Modeling of PI3K/AKT Pathway in Bipolar Disorder and Type 2 Diabetes: Implications for Lithium Treatment and Curcumin as a Potential Alternative.2025 · Int J Mol Sci · Other paper
