I Found It!

[juliegee]

Hi All,

I should have written about this earlier. It is life changing- no kidding! I have recently been taking a new supplement that has given me an incredible amount of energy. I learned about it via my MCAD listserv. Bonecrushing fatigue is a common symptom with MCAD, as well as with autonomic dysfunctions. Several of the women on that listserv are medical researchers and have recently conducted separate studies (with mice/rats) that show that turmeric has incredible properties, the most important of which, is the ability to better handle stress (i.e. including that caused by chronic health conditions.) Almost everyone on that site is taking turmeric with amazing results. I am slow to get on the bandwagon and have just recently started. The results are incredible.

I bought mine at GNC. The capsules are 500 mg. They are big gelatin capsules- yucky to swallow, but do-able. I started with 500mg, felt good. I went up to 1,000mg, felt great for a week or so. Then, I had an MCAD flare. Fatigue caught up with me again. I upped my dose to 1,500mg. I feel fab. I have so much energy ALL DAY LONG. Many on that other listserv are taking incredible dosages, ranging from 3grams-10grams. My dose is tiny in comparision, but it works!!

I have recently heard snippets about turmeric on the news, etc. Dr. Mehmet Oz says turmeric is the ONLY supplement that will actually KILL cancer cells- a potent antioxidant. Turmeric is also being touted as an important heart disease preventative. Not bad side effects!

The energy is sustainable, day after day. Many memebrs have taken it for years. I am happy to re-print studies if anyone wants them. Give it a try!

Julie

[EarthMother]

I use to drink Tumeric tea years ago (that's right poured a heaping spoonful of the stuff into my hot water) it tasted awful but I did feel better doing it. Can't remember why I stopped. Dr. Weil has been touting Tumeric for years as an anti-inflamitory.

[juliegee]

Yeah, lots of members, including one of the original researchers, pour it directly into water (let it sit for a while- forgot why) and add lemon to kill the taste and to help with absorption. Maybe try it again, EM. Let me know if it gives you better energy.

[all4family]

Are we talking tumeric like the spice in your spice cupboard? I love to add that to my food. If it's the spice I am thinking of. I imagine you would have to add a lot to your food though. That is very exciting. I am always looking for something natural. I would be interested in the studies. Thank you for posting this.

Suzy

[MightyMouse]

Yes, it's the same tumeric you use as a spice. In fact, you can get it relatively inexpensively in large quantities at pretty much any Indian or Pakastani grocery if you're lucky enough to live within an easy distance of one; if you buy it a the regular grocery store, you'll get a small spice container that's very expensive per gram weight. At my local Indian grocer, i can get a HUGE bag of tumeric for about 3 or 4$. I also buy cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in huge bags--all under 5$, mostly to use as a way to make the house smell great by simmering the stuff on the stove top. We use it for cooking too--it's simple to make homemade applesauce and add cinnamon and nutmeg on the cheap.

If you're industrious, you can make your own capsules--you buy the empty gelatin caps, and a container that holds them in place while you fill them with whatever you want, and then you cap them to seal. My friend used to do this with stuff she'd grown organically and then dried for her own use, like ginger root, etc.

BTW, the Indian grocer is a great place to get gluten free stuff, for those on a gf diet like me. I get lentil wafers (papadum) which I heat up for 10 to 20 seconds in the microwave to make a crisp cracker. I get brown basmati rice in a big, big bag. We have 6 to 8 Indian grocers within 10 miles, as well as 5 or so Mexican grocers where I get good hot sauces, tortillas, etc. Nice for me is that we have a great Korean market too (H mart), and I can get all sorts of great fresh produce there that would be extremely expensive at my regular grocery, like my rice cracker, rice noodles, lychees when in season (yum!), teas, fruits and veggies. I often come out of there with bags and bags and spend under 50$. Sorry, I'm off topic, but thought I'd share since it's about where I get all my spices and foods including tumeric.

Haven't tried it yet myself. Thanks for the input, as I'm one of the massive allergic reaction folks here too.

Nina

[iheartcats]

As many of you know. I'm paranoid about taking new medicines/supplements.

Is Turmeric pretty benign with other medications? Obviously it must me with allergy meds (Mack's Mom!)...I also take BCP and Midodrine and am starting Mestinon.

Thanks!

[all4family]

Thank you Nina,

I wish we had indian grocery like that here. I will look at costco though. They have big things of spices, but I don't know about turmeric. Gosh you made me hungry for something fruity and spicey. Thanks for the information, it helps me.

Suzy

[yogini]

That is really cool, Julie! Thanks for sharing. And I'd love to see the studies if you have them How long until you started feeling the effects? And, also, does it upset your stomach any? I have a sensitive tummy and tend to get reflux pretty easily.

My family is from India - I know my mom often uses turmeric. I think it's yellow in color and spicy, unless I'm getting it mixed up with one of the other spices. I asked about the stomach b/c of the spiciness.

[EarthMother]

A quick search at pubmed shows the following abstracts from research in this area:

Curcumin and autoimmune disease

Potential therapeutic effects of curcumin, the anti-inflammatory agent, against neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases.

Curcumin: the Indian solid gold.

I don't remember having any ill (i.e. allergic) effects from the turmeric I use to use years ago. I think I'll have a cup of "tea" in the morning and give it a go again!

Thanks for the reminder!

~EM

[Guest brianala]

Thanks for posting this, sounds like it might be worth giving it a shot. I added some tumeric to my (decaf) coffee this morning and I'll see how I feel throughout the day.

[juliegee]

Here is a copy of the abstract that my friend, Marti Wolfe participated in. She is a toxicologist at California State University. Turmeric helps ALL FATIGUING DISEASES, that includes MCAD, autonomic dysfunctions, and CFS. The effects for me have been profound. My 71y/o mother tried it and was flabbergasted. She had to cut back to 500mg because she didn't know what to do with all of the extra energy. I can do twice as much as I was doing before. Cognitively, I am so much clearer. it is like a fog has lifted:

Curcumin, a polyphenolic antioxidant, attenuates chronic fatigue syndrome in murine water immersion stress model.

Journal: Immunobiology. 2009;214(1):33-9. Epub 2008 Jun 17.

Authors: Gupta A, Vij G, Sharma S, Tirkey N, Rishi P, Chopra K.

Affiliation: Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India.

NLM Citation: PMID: 19159825

Chronic fatigue syndrome, infection and oxidative stress are interrelated in epidemiological case studies. However, data demonstrating scientific validation of epidemiological claims regarding effectiveness of nutritional supplements for chronic fatigue syndrome are lacking. This study is designed to evaluate the effect of natural polyphenol, curcumin, in a mouse model of immunologically induced fatigue, where purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Brucella abortus (BA) antigens were used as immunogens.

The assessment of chronic fatigue syndrome was based on chronic water-immersion stress test for 10min daily for 19 days and the immobility time was taken as the marker of fatigue.

Mice challenged with LPS or BA for 19 days showed significant increase in the immobility time and hyperalgesia on day 19, as well as marked increase in serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels. Concurrent treatment with curcumin resulted in significantly decreased immobility time as well as hyperalgesia. There was significant attenuation of oxidative stress as well as TNF-alpha levels.

These findings strongly suggest that during immunological activation, there is significant increase in oxidative stress and curcumin can be a valuable option in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Try it. Tell me what you think. It is VERY effective for me.

Julie

[Lenna]

Hi Julie,

Your news is exciting! Does the tumeric interfere with your ability to fall asleep at all? Have you given it to your son for relief of his POTS symptoms? If so, is he seeing any benefit from it? Danny's biggest POTS complaint is fatigue. And the brain fog makes schoolwork very difficult. I'm wondering if he should give the tumeric a try?

Thanks for letting us know.

Lenna

[cma]

That's awesome. Turmeric is one of the supplements used by one lady who also has POTS.

Here is more information about turmeric, interactions with drugs and side effects:

http://www.drugdigest.org/wps/portal/!...lect_category=3

EM how much of it are you using when making tea?

cma

[Kathy_Ireland]

Hi Everyone and Macks Mom,

Thats brilliant news that you are feeling better. I'll definitely give this a try. Would you mind sharing what brand of supplement you are using Macks Mom?

I've been looking online for it but I don't recognise any brand names.Is any paricular brand of supplement that is recommended?

[MomtoGiuliana]

Thanks for sharing. I know I have read that tumeric has anti-inflammatory and also anti-mutagen properties. Many Indians eat heaps of it daily. Do they have more energy as a group?? Just a thought. Anyway, sounds interesting!

[yogini]

Although turmeric is common in a lot of indian food, the amount is probably not enough to provide the theraputic benefits of taking by capsule - it would be a lot less than the amount of salt in food, for example. I'm going to start trying it this weekend. I am normally hesitant about supplements, but since it's a commonly used spice and has been researched, I feel a bit more comfortable. And I'm going to start with a low dose. I'm worried about it keeping me up and also about it upsetting my stomach.

[juliegee]

Hi Julie,

Your news is exciting! Does the tumeric interfere with your ability to fall asleep at all? Have you given it to your son for relief of his POTS symptoms? If so, is he seeing any benefit from it? Danny's biggest POTS complaint is fatigue. And the brain fog makes schoolwork very difficult. I'm wondering if he should give the tumeric a try?

Thanks for letting us know.

Lenna

Hi Lenna-

So far, I'm sleeping well. I take my whole dose (3 capsules) very early in the AM with food. My stomach is quite sensitive- no problems so far. Mack has started taking it, just 500mg. He thinks it's helping. I plan to up his dose next week (I change his meds very slowly.) Mack is already showing much improvement with fatigue/schoolwork because he's just added a stimulant drug, Concerta, 27mg. He also drinks coffee from a thermos while he's at school. Earlier this year, he made the connection that coffee was helping with schoolwork. So, with some trial and error, we have added the Concerta with great results. If this turmeric offers additional help, we will be thrilled!

Definately have your son give the turmeric a try. Start with a low dose, 500mg for a week. If he tolerates it and feels better, he can go up. I have my fingers and toes crossed that it will help.

Julie

[juliegee]

Hi Everyone and Macks Mom,

Thats brilliant news that you are feeling better. I'll definitely give this a try. Would you mind sharing what brand of supplement you are using Macks Mom?

I've been looking online for it but I don't recognise any brand names.Is any paricular brand of supplement that is recommended?

Hey Kathy,

I bought mine at GNC. The capsules are 500 mg. They are big gelatin capsules- yucky to swallow, but do-able. I started with 500mg, felt good. I went up to 1,000mg, felt great for a week or so. Then, I had an MCAD flare. Fatigue caught up with me again. I upped my dose to 1,500mg. I feel fab. I have so much energy ALL DAY LONG. Many on that other listserv are taking incredible dosages, ranging from 3grams-10grams. My dose is tiny in comparision, but it works!!

Hope it works for you.

Julie

[turtlefairy5]

I'm sorry - is it turmeric or curcumin? Are they the same thing? I'm confused.

Thanks,

Amber

[juliegee]

Same thing

[turtlefairy5]

Thanks!

[EarthMother]

EM how much of it are you using when making tea?

With best intentions ... I did a heaping teaspoon. But confess that I only ended up drinking half of the cup. I think I use to add honey to it in the old days (but since I don't do "sugar"any more, I may try a few spashes of whole milk to the brew.)

I would have to suspect that the variety and concentration in these spices has to vary greatly. I think Dr. Weil sells a special turmeric tea. I may look into that since I know he's done his homework on turmeric. Though my inclination is to stay cheap for the time being and use the bulk turmeric I have on hand.

We shall see!

[Guest tearose]

Goodness, you can see how desperately we all are to get better! Count me on trying turmeric too. I purchased a bottle of 450 mg tablets. This is day two on one tablet per day. I will report back after a change or at least weekly.

I recall after being on an antibiotic and feeling so much better (of POTS symptoms), my ENT said antibiotics act as anti inflamatory and that was why my POTS was less symptomatic. I am hopeful and optimistic about turmeric. We will see...

tearose

[Kathy_Ireland]

Goodness, you can see how desperately we all are to get better! Count me on trying turmeric too. I purchased a bottle of 450 mg tablets. This is day two on one tablet per day. I will report back after a change or at least weekly.

I recall after being on an antibiotic and feeling so much better (of POTS symptoms), my ENT said antibiotics act as anti inflamatory and that was why my POTS was less symptomatic. I am hopeful and optimistic about turmeric. We will see...

tearose

On a Tumeric unrelated note TeaRose that's quite interesting.

I was talking to someone recently who also had POTS and other dysautonomic issues and was diagnosed with CFS. She had taken 2weeks intravenous antibiotics once for an unrelated complaint and felt much better after.She slipped back to full illness again shortly though.On the basis of her reaction she saw a Lyme specialist and started on a two year antibiotic treatment and all her CFS, POTS and dysautonomia symptoms have completely resolved themselves. Her specialist told her that patients who responded to any antibiotics course should definitely investigate possible infections as a source of their illness. You might already looked into all that. Just thought I'd mention it as the coincidence in having recently spoke to her and you mentioning that was surprising .

I've just bought my Tumeric online too. Can't wait for it to arrive now. I was just wondering if it might have a stimulant effect though? Does anyone know? I find stimulants very hard to tollerate.

[EarthMother]

I've just bought my Tumeric online too. Can't wait for it to arrive now. I was just wondering if it might have a stimulant effect though? Does anyone know? I find stimulants very hard to tollerate.

I also can not tolerate any stimulants but have not found the "tea" I am making using the turmeric as spice to cause any jitters.

~EM