Why this study matters
When most of us think of turmeric and ginger, we picture spices, not research-grade capsules. This study asked a focused question: in adults recovering from mild, at-home COVID-19, do either of these herbs move common inflammation blood tests over a short window?
Who was studied & how the trial worked
Researchers in Iran enrolled 144 adults with mild COVID-19 (outpatients). People were randomly assigned—so neither they, their clinicians, nor the study team knew who got what (triple-blind)—to turmeric (500 mg TID for 5 days), ginger (500 mg TID for 5 days), or placebo. Blood tests were taken at the start and on day 6, including CRP and ESR, two routine markers of inflammation.
What the researchers found
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CRP and ESR fell more with turmeric and with ginger than with placebo over the 5-day period.
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No meaningful change in WBC or LDH across groups.
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No clear winner between turmeric and ginger; they performed similarly.
How to interpret it (and where it doesn’t apply yet)
This is a well-run human trial (randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled), so the lab-marker signal is trustworthy. But it focused on blood tests, not on symptom days, complications, or hospitalizations, and it ran only 5 days. It also didn’t use “enhanced-absorption” turmeric formulas. So: modest, short-term anti-inflammatory effect, best viewed as complementary to standard care, not a replacement.
Safety notes
A few participants stopped due to stomach upset or hot flashes; otherwise adverse effects were limited and consistent with concentrated doses of culinary herbs. If you’re pregnant, on blood thinners, or have bleeding risks, talk with a clinician before using concentrated tablets.
Practical takeaway
For a short, mild illness, either turmeric or ginger (500 mg, three times daily for 5 days) was linked to improved inflammation markers by week’s end. Since the study found no difference between the two, choose based on cost, access, and personal tolerance.
Study citation
Zahra Saleh, Raheb Ghorbani, Hassan Babamohamadi, Mohammad Reza Asgari. A triple-blind randomized controlled trial on the effects of turmeric versus ginger on inflammatory biomarkers in patients with COVID-19. Scientific Reports. 2025;15:30793. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-16092-4. PMID: 40841392. PMCID: PMC12371096. Trial Registration: IRCT20120109008665N14. License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
FAQ (quick)
Does this prove turmeric or ginger shortens COVID-19?
No. It shows short-term drops in CRP/ESR, not clinical outcomes.
Which is better—turmeric or ginger?
In this study, neither outperformed the other.
What dose did the study use?
500 mg tablets, three times daily for 5 days (15 tablets total).
Publisher box
Educational content for Press On Herbals. Not medical advice.
For a more comprehensive overview please read Tumeric and Ginger Cut Inflammation