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TNFs are major mediators of inflammation and inflammation‐related diseases, hence, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of blockers of the cytokine, TNF‐α, for the treatment of osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis and ankylosis. These drugs include the chimeric TNF antibody (infliximab), humanized TNF‐α antibody (Humira) and soluble TNF receptor‐II (Enbrel) and are associated with a total cumulative market value of more than $20 billion a year. As well as being expensive ($15 000–20 000 per person per year), these drugs have to be injected and have enough adverse effects to be given a black label warning by the FDA. In the current report, we describe an alternative, curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a component of turmeric (Curcuma longa) that is very inexpensive, orally bioavailable and highly safe in humans, yet can block TNF‐α action and …