ncbill
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Are you sure it’s not the Vodka that gives your relief? J/k
Don't forget the perennially popular "gin-soaked raisins" cure for joint pain.
Though I don't think it was the raisins...
Are you sure it’s not the Vodka that gives your relief? J/k
No science. No numbers.
The study sample size was 38 people and the study lasted for four weeks. That is not science; it is probably someone writing a master's thesis or an undergraduate paper on a shoestring budget. Statistically, it's little better than the anecdotes we have in this thread.... Here is one Journal article that reviews the benefits of turmeric'' ...
The study sample size was 38 people and the study lasted for four weeks. That is not science; it is probably someone writing a master's thesis or an undergraduate paper on a shoestring budget. Statistically, it's little better than the anecdotes we have in this thread.
It certainly does not refute the OP's quotation from NIH: "Claims that curcuminoids found in turmeric help to reduce inflammation aren’t supported by strong studies."
To be clear, I really don't have a dog in this fight. I'm not even sure why I clicked on the thread in the beginning, but having been trained as a scientist and engineer I am always amazed at the various anecdote-based enthusiasms that come and go. IIRC even lead, at some point in history, had its proponents as a medicine.I went back to the link by OP, in the process of copying and paste, he dropped a few bullets that might made reading better. The first bullet says inflammation aren’t supported. The second says it may for something.
To be clear, I really don't have a dog in this fight. I'm not even sure why I clicked on the thread in the beginning, but having been trained as a scientist and engineer I am always amazed at the various anecdote-based enthusiasms that come and go. IIRC even lead, at some point in history, had it proponents as a medicine.
Dropping off the thread now ...
Fedup,
This sounds interesting. We'll go and get fresh turmeric and do the blending thing with honey. How does it taste? And how much do you consume in a day?
DH has psoriatic arthritis with significant knee pain and swelling. His rheumatologist suggested turmeric. DH has been taking turmeric for several years and for him it has really helped with the knee pain, swelling and inflammation. Occasionally he gets off turmeric to see what happens and within a few weeks his knees are much worse so he immediately gets back on turmeric and the knees calm down.
Thank you for the information, Fedup. We'll buy a small amount of fresh turmeric and see then. If we cannot stomach the taste, we'll probably try the capsule version. How much do they take in a day?It tastes awful according to my husband and daughter. But one mixes it with milk to help her swallow easier. I put mine in a freezer, only use occasionally when my husband doesn’t feel well. Otherwise it would get moldy too quickly.
I used to take Glucosamine from Costco, it did help a little with my hip arthritis, but I like turmeric because it’s a root and has no bad side effects. The only thing is when my husband had an outpatient surgery, he stopped two weeks before the surgery, he wanted his blood to gel faster. He didn’t have any problem with the surgery. But don’t forget, turmeric hads slow effect, that’s with most alternative medicine. I swear by acupuncture but my brother said it didn’t do anything to him because he only went a few times.
What form does he take? The pills sold in stores? Ground up and mixed with honey? I can't help thinking that the form may also make a difference. For example, resveratrol taken in real wine is supposedly superior to that found in pills. OK, OK, bring on the wise cracks.
Never underestimate the 'Placebo Effect'. Including for items like Turmeric or any other drug. Most drugs I've been prescribed, when I read the fine print, are barely more effective than the placebo effect. But the still are prescribed and still work on people.
Speaking of the placebo effect here's an interesting book on how our mental situation affects our body. It is mainly about back pain, but the points the doctor makes are good ones nonetheless.
Book – Back in Control
The thing that stood out in my mind was his comparison of pain for which we often find no physical problem with amputees 'feeling' a phantom limb. The brain remembers past experiences and resurrects feelings that don't exist. One can see how the placebo effect can be very real if the brain can make us 'feel' a limb we no longer have. Add in some stress and anxiety as triggers and one has a very nice setup for pain.
I might acknowledge the placebo effect, if it was not for the $20,000 and 400 other supplements that i tried that did not do anything....Been at this a long time.Oh no, it’s placebo effect.
Or it could be working for real!
So maybe the positive effect that turmeric has on my husband's psoriatic arthritis knees is a placebo effect BUT if it helps his knee pain, swelling etc does it really matter whether it is placebo or not? When he takes turmeric his knees don't swell and hurt as much. Doesn't matter to my husband whether it is a placebo or not, it helps.