The magical properties of turmeric can ease countless inflammatory diseases

After knee surgery at the age of 16, Hal Robson-Kanu, the West Bromwich Albion winger, was told his dreams of becoming a pro-footballer were over, but then he discovered turmeric, writes Christine Manby

Illustration by Tom Ford

According to Public Health England, more than 30 million working days are lost in the UK each year due to pain caused by musculoskeletal conditions. Earlier this year, two members of my own family were put out of action by joint pain. In both instances, the GP’s response was to prescribe heavy-duty painkillers and Nsaids (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). In both instances, my loved ones decided not to take them. The side effects of the prescribed medicines – namely constipation and nausea – were deemed even worse than the back and hip pain they’d been prescribed to fix.

Hal Robson-Kanu, the West Bromwich Albion winger, believes there’s an alternative to prescription medication for joint pain. At just 16, Robson-Kanu was told by a surgeon that his dream of becoming a professional footballer was over. Robson-Kanu had just had the second of two knee surgeries and the surgeon predicted that he would never be able to play without pain again. It was time to consider a different career. Robson-Kanu knew what lay ahead of him. After the first surgery, it had taken him a whole year to get back into training. But he was determined not to give up on his ambitions.