Excessive inflammation in the nervous system may trigger anxiety and depression. Knowing the anti-inflammatory capacity of curcumin, turmeric’s active ingredient, turmeric may be beneficial in reducing the symptoms.
Moreover, according to a study from 2017, curcumin was able to lower subjective depression symptoms by amazing 35 percent when compared to the placebo group. From a physiological point of view, curcumin appears to increase the level of serotonin and dopamine and this was concluded in a study done in 2018.
The researchers explain that there was a major increase in alpha, and beta-1 and -2, as well as in the theta brain waves in a period of seven days. Alpha waves usually mean a more aware and relaxed mindset, beta indicates an awake and active mindset, whereas theta is a brain wave pattern seen during sleep and meditation.
Clinical depression is known to decrease the frequency at which the brain experiences these brain wave patterns.
