Curcumin

[Sharon]

Anybody have a recommendation for a good brand of Curcumin or Tumeric?
I've been taking Life Extentions Curcumin for awhile now and feel I need a change.
Thanks! 

[Jasper]

RevGenetics is a good brand. Their Curcumin has a very high absorption rate, something which is extremely important in a brand because Curcumin is very difficult to absorb. Tumeric is even harder to absorb. I have been using Rev Genetics Curcumin for a few months and I like it very much.

[jazzlover]

I've taken NOW brand for years. It's not "top of the line" but has worked well for me.

[Sharon]

Thanks, I'll attempt to give them a try!

[Maria3667]

Tumeric is indeed effective against some Sjogren's symptoms for me, but it also causes anxiety in me... But then again many effective supplements do, for some undisclosed reason or other...

[jazzlover]

Turmeric is high in salicylates .. sals definitely cause anxiety and many other terrible symptoms for me.

That is why I use curcumin. It has far fewer sals and still works for pain.

[Maria3667]

Hi Jazz,

Wow, that's interesting to learn! Never knew that! It could explain why I also react strangely to other supplements like Nigella Sativa? Are salicylates abundant in many natural products? I'll certainly look into this.

Thanks for your tip 

[Wal]

 Interested in this supplement. Any of you have experienced side effects from it? What dosage do you take? 😊

[cccourt1942]

Curcumin is a component in turmeric.  I am saying this off the top of my head...but can be easily searched.  I began from the outset (w' SjS dx) taking turmeric itself.  I was familiar with it as a spice (and in making curry powder---I lived in SE Asia for five years).  I am not sure..but don't think I ever took curcumin as I knew it was mixed with Tumeric.  I am replying as I wonder if I stopped taking it as I had so many pills/supplements or if it is one I began to eliminate to determine which one was making me sick.  It ended up to be a drug I take for something else, not SjS.  As I added stuff back, I think I just left this on the shelf.  I may have stopped taking it after I realized the Plaquenil was working. 

Anyway..it is an old East Indian and Asian supplement which can make you sick.  It decreases inflammation.  When I began taking it the health food store suggested (for SjS) I do my own mixture (in my kitchen) and fill empty gelatin capsules myself.  I didn't do this needless to say.  The reason though was for an additive (I forget) which wouldn't upset my stomach. At the time I was taking Nexium Rx strength for yet another non Sjogren's related condition.  Any health food store can help you re: side effects , etc.

While we are discussing side effects (if you watch SNL, you will recall numerous skits over the decades where the punch line is
the hundreds of possible side effects of various meds)....so this is going to sound like an SNL skit:
I take a med for Osteoporosis--> can lead to BLOOD CLOTS --> stroke (etc)
I take a med for SjS pain --> ocular side effects --> retinal toxicity
I take a med for SjS pain (low dose prednisone) --> can result in bone loss --> more osteoporosis -->lack of strength/falls, etc
Advised to take NSAIDS for discomfort --> have had NSAID ulcer --> high chance of another --> stomach bleeds

Bottom line:  If I lived in Flint MI, I couldn't even drink the water----there seems to be a negative effect from almost anything one consumes.  Most of us have lived healthy (normal healthy) lives and the prescription medicine intake is relatively new for us after SjS dx. At least, it was for me.  My late husband had a significant health history and I knew meds had these problems.  I guess I 'm relieved I am old and the length of time I have to take them isn't the same as for many of you in your 30s and 40s. 

Be aware...and read side effects before you begin a new med.  Many side effects fade after a week or two.  If side effects aren't blinding you are eating your stomach lining, go ahead and give it a go.  I've been able to get through a couple of great meds that way...and as I said--took a couple of weeks before side effects waned.

Good luck...w' SjS and so many other AI there are so many questions: for us AND for doctors. 
Sjoldier c3

[Jasper]

I was taking 100 mg of Life Extensions brand of Curcumin twice a day. I recently switched to RevGenetics brand because it has a higher absorption rates. I take 1 gel cap a day of RevGenetics brand. It contains 88 mg but is very highly absorbed, so I get at least as much as I was getting with the Life Extensions capsules.

I originally started taking Curcumin for joint aches and pain. It did help the joint aches, pains, stiffness. It also helped the edema in my lower extremities. In fact, the edema disappeared after about a month of taking Curcumin. It also helped with the suprapubic pain that I had when my bladder started to fill and it decreased the frequency of urination.

Curcumin can cause loose stools. I have not had any problems from taking Curcumin and I feel it definitely helps with the inflammation.

The following site gives you tons of information about Curcumin, what it is used for, how effective it is, side effects, dosages, everything. It also gives links to the studies and citations. In addition, there is a search box at the top so you can look up other supplements.

examine.com/supplements/Curcumin/

[jazzlover]

Hi Jazz,

Wow, that's interesting to learn! Never knew that! It could explain why I also react strangely to other supplements like Nigella Sativa? Are salicylates abundant in many natural products? I'll certainly look into this.

Thanks for your tip 

YES!! I have to be extremely careful about skin care products I use. It's actually a nightmare. Right now I'm hunting for a safe shampoo as I am going nuts with the fragrance. Many fragrance free products still contain salicylates. Sigh.

fedup.com.au/factsheets/additive-and-natural-chemical-factsheets/salicylates

By the way, someone on the salicylate board claims that SJS is caused by salicylates. I wonder?

[ohiolady]

I take Life Extension and am happy.  I switched for awhile to Dr. Amen's formula and have come back to Life Extension.

Anna

[bluegardenia]

for me its more complicated because the translation in italian of curcumin and turmeric is exactly the same....

[Lotus1]

I'm using Herbs of Gold - Bio Curcumin 4800+ twice a day.

I tried organic tumeric powder (loved it spread over meat/vegies/gravy), but I got mouth ulcers which went away when I quit using the tumeric powder.
Thought using both curcumin & tumeric may have boosted my immune system causing the ulcers.
Having read this thread it may be the salicylates which I'll look out for.
Thanks for the info Jazz.
The things you learn.
It's all trial & error isn't it.

Lotus1