Tumeric - (Pain Relief)

[Lucinda]

Allo!

I have a question for those of you who have added tumeric to your diet for the health benefits. How are you using it?
Cooking? Capsules?
I've seen the recipe for Golden Milk, and I'm looking for other ways to add it into my diet.

Thankie.

[Melissa G]

1. When I use turmeric for pain relief.

I usually use it in capsules.
For flexibility, the traditional thing is golden milk. I think the health benefits had a link to absorption needing oil, but that would be good to double check.
Look at Indian food recipes for additions of turmeric; it's pretty ubiquitous there. Seasoning dried kale and adding to scrambled tofu are common uses.
I think I have also added it to deviled eggs upon occasion.

If I think of more stuff, I'll post more later.

[Lucinda]

22. Thankie again for responding!

I like the kale idea a lot. I have been adding it to my diet lately and I think the flavors would work well. I chucked some tumeric into a rice and bean dish today and it was a wonderful "earthy" addition. Just need to experiment more I think!

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. I use capsules - one each morning - as well as boswellia - one pill each morning

and a glucosamine sulfate capsule - heard about it on the People's Pharmacy show on NPR at least 10 years ago. As one with awful knees (two torn ACLs, bone on bone), the relief I've had with it is amazing (and I am a cynical/skeptical PhD chemist!). Turmeric and Bowellia are both long used Ayurvedic analgesic treatments. Even if it is a placebo effect (which I doubt, since when my orthopod looks at my Xrays, he wonders how I can even walk, let alone garden, pain free), it works for me.

We get them all at Vitacost.

[Lucinda]

21. Thankie for mentioning Boswellia! I've heard of it

but have never researched it. Will check it out!

[Lucinda]

23. BTW Those tomatoes are making me crazy jealous.

We never planted our heirlooms this year.

[siligut]

3. I notice a difference if I skip curcumin

Inflammation is the root of so many illnesses, curcumin makes a difference.

[Lucinda]

20. Thanks for responding!

Knowing it helps others is very encouraging!

[The empressof all]

4. I use it quite a bit and take the capsules as well

The effects are enhanced with the use of black pepper and oil. When using any of the spices typically used for curry or other Indian dishes it's important to bloom the spices in a little oil first.

Turmeric and cauliflower are delish. I frequently just cook the spices, add onions, add some ginger and garlic, then the cauliflower and stir fry together until cauli is done to my liking. Sometimes I mix it with chick peas or lentils..... Easy to do. I've even done it in the crock pot but it's easy to overcook that way.

I take an herbal blend called Zyflamend which has decreased some of my discomfort from arthritis. It's pricey but it helps me enough that I budget it in.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

13. that sounds yummy

Tumeric, onions, garlic, ginger.. that's all?

[Lucinda]

19. Thanks for the suggestions!

I love cauliflower and I can see how they would work well together. Will also look at the Zyflamend!

[Melissa G]

5. A friend of mine swears by

New Zealand Green lipped mussels. There are also capsules in case you can't get them fresh.

PM me about your pain stuff if you want. I have a fair bunch of experience for taking natural stuff and food.

[Lucinda]

17. I can't do anything shellfish - but I am glad to hear that it works for your friend!

Thanks for the offer! I'm having some luck with raw honey and cinnamon and I also seem to be seeing a little improvement already with the tumeric.

[northoftheborder]

6. Thanks for the good arthritis remedy suggestions, might try some, especially the turmeric in recipes

[Lucinda]

18. I am finding that it works well in a lot of dishes.

I have been throwing it into egg dishes, and I made a big post of beans and rice today, and added a bit of tumeric to that too. Was yummy!

[Lucinda]

7. Thanks everyone. Am reading over these posts now.

Have spent the past couple of days in bed with a bad tooth. Appreciate the responses! ?

[ballardgirl]

8. Never thought of it for tooth pain

but apparently it is one of the top natural remedies. I have been taking 2-4 a day for years and can feel the difference in my overall inflammation when I go without.

Edited: in capsule form

[Lucinda]

16. Thanks for the info! I had unexpected tooth pain, but was really researching

the tumeric for some crazy bad joint pain. Glad to see it works for you!

[eridani]

9. Just went out to one of my local natural food shops and bought bulk turmeric

Also gel capsules. I noted that they had pills of turmeric, black pepper and ginger extracts selling for $29/60 pills. At that price, I figured I'd make my own, though it is labor intensive as hell. The clerk suggested not taking the capsules on an empty stomach. I mixed 1/2 cup or turmeric with 1 tablespoon of ground black pepper and one tablespoon of ground ginger. Total price was $19, including several other spices that I bought.

My arthritis pain is starting to get really annoying--I'll let you know how this works out. If it doesn't, DH is going to have a lot more curried dishes than he would prefer in the future.

[The empressof all]

10. Let us know how that works for you

I think you will need to give it at least three months as a fair test to see if it brings any relief.

How many capsules are you thinking about taking a day? I would also suggest you take them with flax or fish oil as the oil enhances the tumeric...but I'm no expert...Just repeating what I've read about it on the internet.

[eridani]

25. I was planning on once a day with fish oil and vitamin D n/t

[Lucinda]

15. I've read that the black pepper and ginger work well in a blend.

Tart cherry juice helps some with arthritis too.

Hope you see some relief with your caps!

[The empressof all]

27. Yes the cherries....

I know this time of year I eat any kind of cherry I can find...and the prices have been coming down here in the PNW ...So it's time for a big bowl.

[Lucinda]

28. I'm jealous. Not seeing any around here lately!

[eridani]

35. Three week report

Slight reduction in swelling, some pain decrease. However, there are still noticable twinges whenever I pick up a heavy book or try to move a tough jar lid. It's really necessary to take these with meals, otherwise is runs straight through you. Will be doubling my dose to see if there is further improvement.

[Lucinda]

36. I have had a ton of improvement with raw honey and cinnamon

on my joint pain. It takes the burning aspect of the pain I used to have away..I still have the deep aches, but the burn is gone now.

[eridani]

37. I don't have that kind of pain--more stabbing twinges

Honey is out due to Type II diabetes, but I might try cinammon.

[Lucinda]

38. It should help!

Hope you get some relief soon!
Editing to say to watch your daily amount of cinnamon. I've read too much seems to be hard on the liver.

[eridani]

39. Reporting back after four months

This remedy really works for me. The double dose with glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin (plus exercising fingers with a squeeze ball) has pretty much eliminated all but an occasional twinge.

[Lucinda]

40. That is awesome news! I wish I could try the chondroiton (shellfish allergy)

and glocosamine sulfate too. The quartet helps with my sisters MD.

I was doing really well with my own combo of turmeric and papper/cinnamon and honey until early this month when my sleep apnea doctor had me try adderall for my fatigue. A dye reaction caused a major increase to my pain levels for a while. I've upped my turmeric and black pepper as well as honey and cinnamon and it's finally simmering back down.

I'm so glad you found a combo that works well for you. And thanks for posting the update! Hopefully other who haven't seen this thread before will also see some pain relief.

?

[mike_c]

11. sitting here suffering from my fifth gout flare up since mid-February...

...I'm ready to chew on the raw root. Uric acid sensitivity is apparently genetic for me-- I take allopurinol and my uric acid lab came back between 4 and 5 last week and I STILL get attacks. Unfortunately, I'm also on coumadin for anticoagulation pending a cardiac procedure, so I can't take NSAIDs. Any info about turmeric in that regard? Does it increase bleeding?

[Lucinda]

14. Topically, it will help a cut stop bleeding but it can thin the blood.

It's supposed to be a great treatment for gout otherwise.

I've read that alkaline foods can really help with gout. I know tart cherries do too, but it has the same blood thinning aspect as tumeric.

Have you looked at apple cider vinegar?

[prairierose]

24. mike_c...my dad had a terrible time with gout...

he was on several medicines that did not help that much. Then in a natural healing book. my mom read about cherries. He started eating 10-12 cherries every night before he went to bed. After some months he was off the medicine and after several years,he didn't eat the cherries every night. He hasn't had any trouble for more than 20 years. He liked the dark sweet cherries but he would also eat fresh cherries in season. When my uncle came down with gout several years after dad started eating cherries, dad got him to try it and it worked for him too. Good luck with your gout. I know it can be really bad.

[MADem]

12. We love the stuff--toss it in rice all the time!

Also, it makes a great "tofu egg salad" addition (makes the soy yellow so it looks more egg-y).

[Lucinda]

29. I loved what it did for the flavor of my rice and beans.

Best batch i've ever made. And I do like the color it adds too!

[MADem]

31. We had some last night--it is tasty and it has a reputation as having health benefits too...

so it's a total winner!

[onestepforward]

26. My husband takes 2 tumeric capsules a day,

along with fish oil. He has rheumatoid arthritis. He has done very well for over 2 years now

[Lucinda]

30. I'm glad it works for him!

Thanks for mentioning the fish oil too!

[onestepforward]

33. Fish oil is a great anti-inflammatory

[AuroraB]

32. Seems to work; maybe it's in my mind.

[Lucinda]

34. Welcome to C&B! (and DU)

I think it does really help!

[Blue_In_AK]

41. I put it in my green smoothies, with some ginger.