Pain Free Naturally With Curcumin
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Pain Free — Naturally!
• How can you have pain relief without side effects?
• Why is life extended when inflammation is managed?
• What can “Indian Solid Gold” deliver to your health?
Look inside and live pain free now….
Naural Pain Relief
“From all these studies, it is clear that curcumin exhibits activities against
cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, the major ailments in the U.S.
This [substance] has also shown therapeutic effects against Alzheimer’s disease,
multiple sclerosis, cataract formation, HIV, and drug-induced nonspecific
toxicity in the heart, lung, and kidney.” — Bharat B. Aggarwal, et al.
Pain Free Naturally With Curcumin
Ouch! We have all experienced pain. In fact,
more than 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain.
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, pain is the primary reason why people seek the advice of health professionals, and it is also the number one reason people use alternative medicine.
Pain occurs when nerve endings become irritated. It can be exacerbated by nutritional imbalances, lack of sleep, hormonal factors, and other stresses.
In general terms, pain is symptomatic of some type of dysfunction and inflammation in the body. It can be acute or chronic.
Basically, there are two problems with pain control drugs:
1) They interfere artificially with the body’s usual inflammation responses;
2) They have detrimental side effects. Remember the FDA withdrawal of VIOXX?
Lauded as a superdrug, during an important study, it was found to cause increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Meanwhile, even the most commonly used pain-relievers – nons-teroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen – can cause intestinal
tract ulcers and other problems.
These dangers have stimulated a growing interest in natural pain remedies. Freedom from pain is the single desire of those suffering from pain. The question is: Can relief be achieved without side effects?
In this issue of Nutrition News, we introduce a promising proprietary formula that is currently being introduced in natural products stores.
Although this complex may be helpful in treating a wide variety of disorders, we focus on its pain relief and anti inflammatory actions.
Relief Is on the Way
It is. I promise. I am giving this amazing formula my personal endorsement. (Longtime readers of Nutrition
News will know how rare this is.)
Personally, I have been overjoyed with the results I have had using it. I began
taking the formula while recovering from a broken ankle.
My pain disappeared completely within one hour of my initial use of the product.
Since my recovery, I have continued to use it successfully to subdue a chronic inflammatory condition. The formula has allowed me – and all the people with whom I have shared it – to be completely pain free.
The propriety blend contains curcumin and curcuminoids, boswellia, DLPA (dl-phenylalanine), and nattokinase.
“A Good Time for Turmeric”
The foundation of the pain relief formula is the spice turmeric. For over 2500 years, turmeric has been used in cooking and healing.
It comes from the root of Curcuma longa, a leafy plant in the ginger family. In India,
turmeric is called “Indian Solid Gold”
because of its deep yellow-gold color and its healing capacity.
Its active component is curcumin. Curcumin has been shown to have six fundamental healing properties:
1) anti-inflammatory,
2) antioxidant,
3) antiviral,
4) antibacterial,
5) antifungal, and
6) anti-cancer.
In The Molecular Targets and Therapeutic Uses of Curcumin in Health and Disease (Springer 2007), Aggarwal and his co editors include over 1,000 citations of
published studies.
Emphasizing the biological safety and effectiveness of curcumin, they state, “We are currently living in an era when 80 percent of the world’s population
cannot afford modern medicine.
Even for those 20 percent who can, much of modern medicine is ineffective and has numerous side effects. It is a good time to revive the medicinal use of the ancient medicine curcumin.”
Because of curcumin’s broad healing potential, research on its use is progressing rapidly. This means more studies are underway. There are at least seven recent or current clinical trials being conducted in the US alone.
To the point, several double-blind studies have shown that curcumin is as effective as the drug phenylbutazone in reducing arthritic pain, swelling, and inflammation.1
Curcumin has also been effective in treating post-surgical inflammation. Many ailments involve some type of inflammation and pain, thus, the list of disorders where curcumin could be helpful is very long.
Although our interest here concerns
the pain of aching joints, backaches, and migraines, we note its successful use in reducing dyspepsia symptomsand in the remission of ulcerative colitis.
Meanwhile researchers at UCLA are investigating the potential use of
curcumin for Alzheimer’s disease. Preliminary results are encouraging. (Clinical trials started after curcumin was shown to break up beta amyloid plaques in mouse brains.)
Also, curcumin has been shown to inhibit proliferation of tumor cells in vitro and in some animal studies.
Recently, this and other evidence resulted in the NCI describing a clinical development plan for using curcumin to treat cancer.2
How does curcumin work? At this time, the bio-chemical bases of curcumin’s therapeutic effects are not fully understood. We do know that it seems to be tissue specific. In some cases, curcumin exhibits actions similar to tumor necrosis factor blockers and growth factor blockers.
With autoimmune diseases, curcumin regulates pro-inflammatory signaling. Turmeric contains three analogues
of curcumin called curcuminoids.
It is not clear how these might act separately. Some researchers suggest that the mixture of all three has greater potency than any single one. For this reason, the pain relief formula contains both curcumin and curcuminoids.
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“A Good Time for Turmeric”
Footnote
1 An extremely powerful anti-inflammatory trade named Butazolidin, phenylbutazone has been used in several human studies comparing it to curcumin.
The fact that is commonly used to treat inflammation in dogs and large animals demonstrates the desperation of pain sufferers and those who wish to help them
2 The NCI is the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.
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Boswellia Benefits
Boswellia serrata, or Indian frankincense, is the second anti-inflammatory herb in the formula. The important active components are boswellic acids from the plant’s
resins.Traditional uses for Boswellia include various inflammatory disorders, pain, and skin diseases.
Boswellia is similar to curcumin in its effects and the two compounds work well together.
In a three month double-blind study, the combination appeared to be an effective treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee. After one month, those who took the supplement showed a significant decrease in pain while walking. The inflammation-lowering benefits of the Boswellia/
curcumin preparation continued throughout.
Patients receiving the placebo showed no improvement. (Incidentally, natural plant supplements, including Boswellia and curcumin, have repeatedly been shown to
reduce intestinal inflammation.)
In general, standardized Boswellia has significantly reduced swelling and pain, and usually reduced morning stiffness for people with rheumatoid arthritis. In a
study involving 260 arthritis patients, boswellia reduced symptoms in nearly 60 percent of the patients, without significant side effects.
As with curcumin, all the mechanisms of action for Boswellia are not completely understood. Recent research indicates that the anti-inflammatory herbs may modulate the expression of the genes involved in the inflammatory responses. It is also thought that the mechanisms of action may differ, depending on the disorder.
For example, in patients with chronic colitis, boswellic acids appear to work by inhibiting the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase.
This is not the case with other disorders. As research progresses, it will be interesting to learn more about exactly how these
herbs deliver their benefits.
No adverse side effects have been reported for Boswellia. There are no known negative interactions with other drugs, nutrients, or herbs. The absorption of Boswellia may be better when taken with high-fat meals.
As an interesting aside for pet lovers, Swiss veterinarians have recommended Boswellia as a dietary supplement for dogs with osteoarthritic disease. (When lameness occurs with my dogs, I give them each a capsule of the pain relief formula with a bite of food. This has been very successful.)t
DLPA Combats Chronic Pain
The third component of the pain relief complex is dl-phenylalanine or DLPA (a mixture of the D and L forms of phenylalanine).
The potential pain relief action
of DLPA has long been recognized. (In
fact, we wrote about this use over 20
years ago.) Some individuals have experienced very good results with DLPA.
Phenylalanine is one of the eight
essential amino acids. (They are called
“essential” because we must have them to form proteins in our bodies.)
There is no scarcity of L- phenylalanine,
which is found naturally in all high-protein foods. D-phenylalanine is its mirror image or isomer. It is D-pheny-lalanine that brings pain relief while the L- form works
as the delivery system.
Preliminary evidence suggests that d-phenylalanine may reduce chronic pain by affecting the neural pain pathways in the brain.
Because all the proteins we eat contain phenylalanine, our metabolic systems are set up to utilize it and its by-products without difficulty.
For this and other reasons, DLPA is an extraordinarily safe material. Only
individuals with the rare metabolic disorder phenylke-tonuria (PKU) need to avoid phenylalanine (both D- and
L- forms).
In addition, DLPA is not recommended to those persons taking anti-depressants, MAO inhibitors, or prescription stimulants.
DLPA Combats Chronic Pain
Footnote
3 Phenylalanine is a major component of the low-calorie sweetener Aspartame (marketed under the trade names Equal, NutraSweet, and others), which is included in many “diet” products
Caveat Emptor
Historically, simply eating curried foods has been shown to have some beneficial effects. For this reason, why not just take spice-grade turmeric?
There are several reasons why a supplement-grade complex
can be expected to bring superior results.
The first is potency. The curcumin and curcuminoid content of turmeric varies widely. This means one turmeric on the spice shelf could have as much as 18
times more active ingredients than another. (A possibility of an 1800% difference.)
However, plant extracts in supplements have a range of difference of only 28 percent.
A second factor is the comparatively limited
absorption of oral curcumin from the digestive tract. (Curcumin is not water soluble.) Supplement formulations are designed with a special delivery system that
results in greater distribution through the bloodstream to other body tissues.
Thirdly, the formulation contains
other beneficial nutrient ingredients, which act in concert with curcumin, delivering a synergistic effect.
As mentioned, I am taking the curcumin formulation for pain resulting from injuries and muscle strain, and can report excellent relief and no adverse effects. If you
are taking prescription medications, ask your physician or health professional if the formula is right for you!
What About Inflammation and Aging?
Research has pointed to inflammation as the foremost cause in the development of all major age-related diseases. As we age, our immune system runs amok, causing chronic inflammation.
Referred to as inflammaging. The beginning is symptomless, low level inflammation. Both overweight and gum disease are clues to the presence of this type of inflammation. If not stopped or curbed, much worse effects
can occur.
Among these are increased risk of
osteoporosis, loss of lean muscle mass after
middle age, anemia in the elderly, and cognitive decline after 70.
Common disorders such as
atherosclerosis, colon cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease are caused in part by a chronic inflammatory syndrome.
Also involved are heart valve dysfunction and congestive heart failure, obesity, diabetes, digestive system disorders, and others.
Inflammation also increases the production of free radicals, indicating the need for effective antioxidant supplementation. The natural substances in our formula for pain relief have both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
The potent antioxidants assist in the body’s defenses. Studies show that relief from chronic inflammation
results in a longer, healthier life.4
What About Inflammation and Aging?
.Footnote
4 An inexpensive blood test for C-reactive protein (CRP) reveals the extent of inflammation. This also shows heightened risk for heart trouble, colon cancer, and a number of other diseases
Natural Nattokinase
The last nutrient component we discuss is nattokinase. Another natural, food-based ingredient, nattokinase is an enzyme which is extracted from a traditional Japanese fermented soy “cheese”, called natto.
Japanese people have been eating natto for more than 1,000 years. The enzyme nattokinase is produced by Bacillus natto, a beneficial bacterium.
The enzyme’s usefulness in the pain relief formula comes through its effect in breaking down blood clots. (Thickened blood can add to pain.)
Natto extract has been observed to reduce blood pressure, and alleviate legswelling on long airline flights. There are also indications that it may be useful in treating the pain and swelling of endometriosis
Recommended Doses
The pain relief formula dosage recommendations appear on the label.
The recommendation is two capsules,
twice daily.
Two capsules contain a total of 1005 mg of active ingredients. The manufacturer cautions not to take more than 8 capsules in 24 hours.
Personally, I began with 4 capsules each morning. Only once, in several months, have I felt a need to take two more
in the afternoon.
Be sure to take the capsules with plenty
of water. Please note: Turmeric is on the FDA’s “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) list. However, as with any supplement, we advise those taking prescription
medications (paticularly blood thinners and blood pressure medications) consult with their physicians before using this product.
Safety levels for children, pregnant
or nursing women, and those with kidney disease have not been established
