Turmeric may be as good for treating indigestion as medicine, a study suggests.

A natural compound found in the culinary spice may be as effective as omeprazole, a drug used to reduce excess stomach acid and treat indigestion, according to the first study of its kind. The findings were published in the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.

Turmeric contains a naturally active compound called curcumin, thought to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It has long been used as a medicinal remedy, including for the treatment of indigestion, in south-east Asia.