Curcumin as a Pain Killer?
by Warren Matthews of Xtend-Life
Question: from Sabina
Hi Warren: I know I can always get a straight answer from you.
There's a tablet called Curamin that is being sold as a natural remedy painkiller. It contains Circumin (turmeric), Boswellia,DLPA (phenylalanine) and Nattokinase. I'm aware of its anti-inflammatory properties but I don't know much about that COX 2 inhibitor associated with turmeric. Perhaps you could enlighten me.
I'm thinking of it for my 87 year old mom who has arthritis pain and doesn't take/refuses to take any "pills" except for a fish oil capsule because she accepts the fact that that's how an 87 year old is supposed to feel and of course I don't!!! What is your opinion and do you sell anything similar to this combination....I'd much rather purchase it from you!
Comment: from Warren Matthews of Xtend-Life
Thank you for your nice words Sabina. Joanna has prepared a detailed response for you which I hope you will find helpful
Answer: from Joanna (Medical Nutritionist for Xtend-Life)
Turmeric's major active constituents are curcuminoids including curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a yellow pigment. It is this pigment that seems to have anti-inflammatory activity, and potentially inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandins, and leukotrienes.
Cox-2 is short for cyclooxygenase-2, one of the key enzymes that helps the body produce inflammatory hormone-like compounds called prostaglandins and cytokines. Cox-2 is essential. Without it we wouldn't be able to fight infections or heal injuries. But when the body overproduces Cox-2 the result is chronic inflammation and pain.
Too much Cox-2 appears to result from imbalances and deficiencies of certain nutrients. Rather than correct these underlying dietary and nutritional problems, pharmaceutical Cox-2 inhibitors mask the visible symptoms only.
Dietary changes, plus vitamin and herbal supplementation can help to correct the underlying problems for a longer-term solution.
Cell studies at Cornell University, New York, found that curcumin blocked the activity of Cox-2 at doses higher than 2.8 mg.
Now, Curamin uses a small combination of some ingredients that are well known to possess anti-inflammatory properties. It is not a painkiller, only insofar as it aims to reduce inflammation, and therefore reduce pain from the inflammation.
The ingredients are limited to only a proprietary blend of ingredients (meaning there is no actual known mg dosage of each ingredient, and this can differ from batch to batch, so you cannot be sure exactly how much or little of each ingredient you are getting).
To this end, although there may be some benefit from this product, it will likely be of a shorter duration than an advanced formula, and also more limiting in what it can do.
It is a good aid to treatment, but perhaps an unnecessary expense if you go for something advanced that covers not only the shorter-term help but long-term resolution, healing, repair and strength.
Just as a note: Nattokinase isn't actually necessary in this formula, in my opinion, as it has actions for the cardio system, but has no successful studies with arthritis or related joint problems.
For example, our Arthrit-Eze, which is a specific arthritis formula, has not only the essential ingredients of Boswelia and Turmeric (and in specific significant mg doses), but also contains many important and potent ingredients such as antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, co-factors to ensure the main ingredients work optimally, and ingredients to help repair and overall long-term strength as well as shorter-term reduced inflammation. So this may be a better option.
My suggestion initially for you would be to print off the ingredients list of Curamin, and that of Arthrit-Eze and compare the two side by side, to give you an idea of what you are getting and for what value for money.
More specifically for your mother, as she is taking a fish oil capsule anyway, I would perhaps look at our GLM-Omega 3 Plus for her to replace her current fish oil. I suggest this because our GLM-Omega 3 Plus contains a daily dose of omega 3/DHA fish oil, which is important for her, plus the main ingredient Green Lipped Mussel, aims to help with pain and inflammation.
Plus the main Arthrit-Eze formula, which contains ingredients aimed at all the above areas to aid repair, strength and motility as well as essential and potent anti-inflammatory relief.
Also ensure your mother's diet is as good as possible, that she has plenty of pure fluid intake (water, vegetable and fruit juices - not citrus fruits), reduced animal and dairy proteins (as these increase inflammation in sensitive people). Of course moderate general exercise, even just stretching and walking, are good to ensure continued use of all the joints, where possible.
In summary I would recommend Arthrit-Eze at 3-6 per day, depending on severity;
GLM-Omega 3 Plus at 3 per day initially, and increase if required up to a maximum of 6 per day.
If your mother is on any medication please let me know so that I can confirm that there are no interactions with our formulas. As a general note, any medicines should be taken 3+ hours away from supplements, where possible, to help avoid any interference with absorption and assimilation.
If I can help further Sabina please let me know, and please keep me informed on how your mother is doing.
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