Turmeric for joints,pains, inflammations,RA,Fibromyalgia ??? Anyone?

[trejonina]

Hi everyone. I took two 500mg capsules yesterday for aches and pains and it helped. Today one 500 capsule. I will go on taking it.There are claims it works for RA,and is an ingredient in a Fibromyalgia supplement.Has helped a friend with severe Fibrom. that takes Fibrolief.

[Joe S.]

I take a few supplements as you can see by my signature. Tart Cherry extract helps to reduce uric acid in your system and has been used for that since the 1500's. Curcumin and Bosweillia help reduce arthritis pain. We lack the ability to convert sun light to vitamin D so I supplement with D3. I take Inositol to help remove the weather cycles from affecting my pain cycles.

Good luck in your searching of supplements to help you. Before you take them check for drug interactions, counter indications, and side effects. I will typically try something for a month, then quit for a week, if I feel the difference, I will continue with the supplement.

[Linda196]

Probably out of desperation, I started adding curcumin to my diet about a year ago, allowing a 6 month trial before my next blood tests. I compared the CRP values in the two tests, 6 months apart, and it dropped from 31 to 7, first normal value in over 20 years!

I do find a difference in those things I attribute to inflammation: tendonitis, skin rashes, muscle pain, intermittent fevers, and random swelling. Unfortunately, a lot of my pain is structural or mechanical, from spinal stenosis,  Luschka joint disease, degenerative disc disease and damage from a spinal dislocation and a leg fracture, so much of that remains.

I don't use capsules, instead I make a mix of curcumin, cinnamon and nutmeg to taste, and use about 6-7 ml in my morning oatmeal (Irish cut slow cooking oats). Given my personal ratios, that allows me between 4 and 5 ml of curcumin daily. I also add about 10 ml of coconut oil, ghee or butter, and a small handful of raisins and serve it with Maple syrup and milk. That's my daily dose, but I also throw some of the spice blend into baked goods, applesauce or the occasional smoothy.

Bonus points: since I've started using this several days a week, I've lost 10 Kg (over the first 6 months), not an easy trick when you take Prednisone daily and aren't very active.

[irish]

LInda, I am wondering what you mix the 3 spices with to equal about 6-7 ml.  Also, the weight loss sounds like it would be good for me. I have crept up the past few months. I am wondering if the cinnamon helps the weight loss as it is also taken to stabilize blood sugars.

I have been researching breakfast smoothies, etc to get my diabetic diet more in sync. My AIc is 5.9 for some reason even though my diet is not presently healthy. However, regarding smoothies, I can't face using kale, spinach, etc in liquid form. I like them in salads but drinking green veggies doesn't appeal to me. Any more healthful suggestions appreciated.

Take care. Irish

[Linda196]

I am using 5-7 ml as a dry measurement, roughly equivalent to a heaping teaspoon, 4 ml being a teaspoon. We pesky Canadians with the foolish metric system LOL

I attribute the weight loss to the cinnamon and it's glucose regulating abilities, as well as the oatmeal: high fiber, low glycemic index and all around good for you LOL

I've never ventured into the green drinks either, I make fruit smoothies with frozen berries, frozen banana and some kind of juice (sometimes even carrot to sneak some veggies in). I have added some cooked beet sometimes, because I like the flavour and it's such a pretty colour, not that green isn't a pretty colour, just not in my drink! With enough fruit for flavour, you can sneak in some cooked squash or pumpkin, too. The spice blend is really good with pumpkin. I always sweeten my smoothies with maple syrup...yes, it's still sugar, but it also contains calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus sodium, potassium, zinc, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and B6 an it suits my "eat local" mentality.

[SunshineDaydream]

I use Life Extension brand Super Bio Curcumin - 400 mg capsule in the morning and another in the evening. I think it helps alleviate or eliminate my joint pain.

I love making smoothies, usually with fruit not veggies. Base of ice, plain Greek yogurt and milk and usually a bit of honey.  Then add fresh banana and frozen strawberries, sometimes with cocoa or fresh blueberries or cherries added. Sometimes I'll slip in an avocado for smoothness and nutrition but not much flavor. Or banana and mango or banana and pineapple with coconut flakes for something tropical. Peeled and cored apples are also a good addition. I tried using melons but it makes the smoothies too thin for my preference.

Cooked beets sound like a great addition, Linda!

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

I was reading something the other day and it said not to take turmeric if one was taking omeprazole or any other PPI. There was some contraindication - which I can't remember right now - but just thought I'd throw it in there.

Take care - Scottie 

[jazzlover]

Scottie .. What about curcumin and omep??

I've been taking both for about 15 years. I use the NOW brand from Swanson's Vitamins. Turmeric makes my stomach burn and it's high in salicylates.

I'm able to get away with the curcumin as it is lower in sals.

[rudytudy]

Any time I've tried the supplement or mixing it into something it caused pains in my intestines...but I'm sensitive to herbs.

[susanep]

I was going to try it, but I take omeprazole. Things easily bother my intestines. I can take  some pain in the stomach, but I have literally with some meds etc. hurt really bad in my intestines. It's different.

What are the 3 b's or something that is good for us for inflammation. Is it b6 niacin, but what is the 3rd? My dad took it all the time, and it helped him go on with his heart much past what his cardiologist thought. He told him to keep taking it.

susanep

[Scottietottie]

Hi - I don't know about circumin. I just took note of the turmeric - because I was going to try it,

Take care - Scottie 

[Linda196]

The interaction between turmeric and omeparazole (and any PPI) is a possible decrease in effectiveness in the PPI. I discussed this with my pharmacist, since I had been taking pantoprolol for upper GI/pharynx issues a few years and was already noticing a decrease in it's effectiveness before I started the turmeric. I had just asked my GP to switch me to Omeparazole and was on it for about a month, with very good effect, when I wanted to start the turmeric. The pharmacist suggested trying it, since if it did decrease the effectiveness, I could simply stop, no harm done, and if I didn't have the interaction (and it is only a possibility) there wasn't an issue.

I was lucky enough to have no interaction, and continue to take both.

Of more concern would be people taking any form of blood thinner, since turmeric also has blood thinning properties, and regardless of the action of the blood thinner ( anticoagulant or antiplatelet) there could be a significant decrease in the blood's ability to clot, beyond the therapeutic range.

[trejonina]

Hello, I take Lanzoprazole in the morning and turmeric at night, no problem. Turmeric is an anti inflammatory, and it helps. Google :  Turmeric,Curcumin, uses,safety, doses+Dr Weil. He says in India there is almost no Alzheimer. Helps prevent certain cancers,helps depression etc.

[SunshineDaydream]

I switched to Naturewise Curcumin a few weeks ago and it is working noticeably better for me than the Life Extension Super Bio Curcumin I was previously using. Less expensive, too. Yay!

[Carolina]

I did take Curcumin for pain for a while.  It is as effective as Tylenol according to research, NIH.

Now I just take Tylenol, at the safe level.

Regards, Elaine