Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The spice that is a viable alternative to NSAIDs

Sufferers of inflammatory disorders such arthritis and asthma will be delighted to hear that there is a safer alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - turmeric. This common Indian spice not only adds colour and flavour to curries, it can also bring relief from chronic pain and inflammation - symptoms that have previously only been controlled by NSAID painkillers, with all their incumbent side effects.
This is particularly encouraging since a recent meta-analysis of 23 trials involving over ten thousand people on NSAID pain killers, published in the British Medical Journal, states that ' the current analysis does not support long term use of NSAIDs. As serious adverse effects are associated with oral NSAIDs, only limited use can be recommended.' (You can see this report on line at http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/329/7478/1317/DC1.)
The serious adverse effects relates to the damage caused to the small intestine in more than seventy per cent of patients who take such painkillers for more than three months. Chronic arthritis sufferers for example can stay on painkillers for years, risking huge damage to the gut. In fact NSAIDs are the most commonly used class of drug, yet are responsible for an estimated 2,500 deaths a year. To make matters worse a recent US report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) finds that the increased risk of heart disease linked to the now withdrawn painkiller Vioxx, which has been estimated to kill or maim 140,000 people in America, applies to almost all NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitor drugs. These, the report says, can cause or worsen hypertension, congestive heart failure, swelling and impaired kidney function and can pose similar increased risks of heart attack.
Turmeric's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powers suggest that it will prove useful for a range of conditions marked by oxidation and inflammation - everything from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, asthma and eczema.
Why take it?
Indians, for whom turmeric is a dietary staple, have very low rates for colorectal, prostate and lung cancers as well as coronary heart disease and Alzheimer's, suggesting that something in the traditional Indian diet or lifestyle has a protective effect.
These findings have sparked interest from Western researchers. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric that gives it its brilliant yellow-ochre colour, has been demonstrated in animals to protect the liver, inhibit tumours, reduce inflammation and fight some infections. This pigment may even be able to break up the amyloid 'plaques' that form in the brain of Alzheimer's sufferers. These new findings, published online in December 2004 by the Journal of Biological Chemistry, are of huge potential significance for both the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's and add to the body of research pointing to curcumin's medicinal value. Turmeric is hot news in research circles with close to a thousand research articles in print. At least a dozen clinical trials are currently underway worldwide to test the therapeutic levels of its main ingredient, curcumin.
Centuries old remedy
Turmeric has a long, distinguished history as a medicinal spice used in traditional Indian medicine. Sometimes called 'Indian saffron', it is made from the stems of the Curcuma longa, or turmeric plant, which are boiled, dried and crushed to a powder that has been used in folk medicines to cure skin and stomach problems for centuries. As far back as the 13th century Marco Polo reported its use during his trip to India. Indians sprinkle the powder on wounds to help them heal, and put the spice on their sticking plasters as a disinfectant. Johnson & Johnson even makes turmeric plasters for the Indian market. It is gargled with to treat laryngitis, rubbed on skin to heal psoriasis and swallowed to treat bronchitis, arthritis and diabetes. It is even used as a beauty tonic, with Indian brides and grooms rubbing a mixture of turmeric and milk onto their skin before marriage.
Curry or capsule?
While I recommend using turmeric liberally in food it can be hard to get a large enough intake to gain therapeutic effects. While I do recommend you include turmeric in your diet (via curries and mustard) in order to gain general antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection, a high dose supplement has added advantages if you already suffer from an inflammatory condition. This view is supported by researchers into this 'super nutrient', including a study by the University of Washington Medical Center which is giving patients up to three grams daily - more than fifty times the amount of curcumin in a portion of curry.
Furthermore, unlike conventional pharmaceutical drugs, there is less concern about the safety of curcumin supplementation as it has been used as a foodstuff and traditional Indian medicine for hundreds of years without any safety concerns. However, it can cause nausea in some people if taken in large amounts on an empty stomach so, like most supplements, it should be taken with food. It can also help the gall bladder to contract so it should not be taken by people who have had their gall bladder removed. Large amounts may also thin the blood so use with caution if you are already taking blood-thinning medication such as Warfarin or Heparin.
Recommended dosage
If you do suffer from an inflammatory disease such as arthritis, asthma, eczema, heart disease or cancer I recommend you take a capsule of 400-600mg of standardised powder (curcumin), taken three times per day. Good results have been reported in people taking anything up to eight capsules per day however. For a child divide the amount taken by their body weight in comparison to an adult.
( written by Dr. Patrick Holford, a British nutritionist )