Turmeric is a spice that comes from the turmeric plant. It is commonly used in Asian food. ... It contains a yellow-colored chemical called curcumin, which is often used to color foods and cosmetics. Turmeric is commonly used for conditions involving pain and inflammation, such as osteoarthritis. Turmeric is the spice that gives curry its yellow color.It has been used in India for thousands of years as a spice and medicinal herb.Recently, science has started to back up what Indians have known for a long time — it really does contain compounds with medicinal properties (1Trusted Source).Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.However, the curcumin content of turmeric is not that high. It’s around 3%, by weight (2Trusted Source).Most of the studies on this herb are using turmeric extracts that contain mostly curcumin itself, with dosages usually exceeding 1 gram per day.It would be very difficult to reach these levels just using the turmeric spice in your foods.Therefore, if you want to experience the full effects, you need to take a supplement that contains significant amounts of curcumin.