Turmeric for Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Relief

A new study published in the November 2006 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, examined the effect and mechanism of turmeric, a botanical supplement long thought to have anti-inflammatory properties on rheumatoid arthritis.

Turmeric is the spice that gives curry it’s distinctive flavor and color and is also used in making mustard and pickles. Turmeric comes from the root of the curcuma longa plant and is related to ginger.

This study suggests that turmeric may be useful in fighting inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis as well as other diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and asthma.

This finding has been backed up in double blind trials which found turmeric to be an effective anti-inflammatory agent in rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.

While it has many medicinal uses, perhaps its greatest potential lies in its ability to reduce inflammation due to osteoarthritis – those everyday aches and pains in the joints that affect more than 12.1% of the American population.

Turmeric contains an active constituent called curcumin. Curcumin has strong anti-inflammatory properties which are great for rheumatoid arthritis.

Some researchers believe that turmeric has the potential to be more effective than cortisone or other steroids.

Turmeric contains substances called cyclooxygenase inhibitors. These substances help stop inflammation and stiffness in your joints from rheumatoid arthritis.

In fact, recent studies have shown turmeric works almost as well as ibuprofen for pain and stiffness relief…with none of the side effects.

Clinical studies have substantiated curcumin anti-inflammatory effects, including a significant beneficial effect in Rheumatoid Arthritis. In one study, curcumin was compared to phenylbutazone, a very potent NSAID that has fallen out of favor because of frequent side effects. The improvements in the duration of morning stiffness, walking time, and joint swelling were comparable in both groups.

Initial results showed that a version of turmeric extract that was free of essential oils had a significant impact on rheumatoid arthritis and most closely matched the composition of commercially available supplements. This version was used in subsequent experiments and was shown to prevent acute and chronic rheumatoid arthritis, even when it was administered after arthritis had been induced. In addition, turmeric significantly inhibited joint destruction due to rheumatoid arthritis, and inhibited NF-?B, a protein that controls the gene expression of substances that produce an inflammatory response. Turmeric also altered the expression of hundreds of genes involved in joint swelling and destruction and prevented an increase in osteoclasts (cells that break down bone) in joints.

Turmeric is available in capsule or spice forms. If you opt to take the capsules, each capsule contains between 400 to 600 mg of turmeric and you’ll likely take 3 capsules per day. If you prefer to add turmeric spice to your food, expect to add 0.5g to 1g of the powdered spice to your plate up to 3 times per day.

Issues of Turmeric bio-availability and absorption

Even though studies on turmeric and arthritis have shown that the herb is effective on the disease there is the problem of bio-availability of curcumin. Curcumin is not easily absorbed into the blood stream because it is mostly destroyed by the stomach acid before it gets to the small intestines.

That is why it is better to take the herb in a supplement form. However, the supplement should have enteric coating to ensure that curcumin is protected from the stomach acid and thus remains intact till it gets to the small intestines and absorbed into the bloodstream.

It has also been proven that combining the herb with piperine – a substance derived from black pepper increases the absorption rate of curcumin by up to 2000%. The best part of the story is that piperine is also a natural anti-inflammatory agent.

A highly recommended curcumin extract that contains Piperine is Super Curcumin with Bioperine by  Life Extension.

The turmeric extract in Super Curcumin with Bioperine has been standardized to 95% curcuminoids and enhanced with the thermo-nutrient Bioperine in order to ensure optimal quality, potency, and bioavailability. This supreme product is available at Amazon.com.

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