Can Turmeric help with neuropathy problems?

You may have occasionally come across Turmeric as being an alternative treatment for helping with neuropathy pain. It seems to be another one of those slightly vague, good for everything anti-oxidants, so in response to a mention on another forum, I decided to look it up and see if there's anything to it - after all, most people know it only as a well-known Indian spice. I can't say I'm 100% convinced by what I found (the research seems a little patchy) but I certainly wouldn't rule it out either. What do you think?

Turmeric

A member of the ginger family, turmeric works well as a seasoning for many recipes, but turmeric may have a number of health benefits as well. Turmeric contains curcumin, an antioxidant compound that may help reduce inflammation and aid in the treatment of digestion conditions. Turmeric may help reduce blood sugar levels. In a 2002 study, researchers at Annamalai University in India evaluated the effects of turmeric and the component curcumin on diabetic rats. They found that curcumin reduced blood sugar levels. Turmeric supplements, though they contain curcumin, did not have as significant effect as doses of curcumin alone.

Neuropathy Relevance

The study at Annamalai University used rats to evaluate the effects of turmeric and curcumin on blood sugar control. As of 2011, no study has evaluated the role of turmeric on human blood sugar levels. However, the rat-based information does show some promise in the possible help turmeric could provide diabetic patients. In controlling blood sugar levels, a diabetic has a decreased likelihood of having diabetes-related neuropathy.

In 2009, researchers in the Department of Neurobiology at the University of California-Davis Medical Center evaluated the role of curcumin, such as that found in turmeric, in relieving pain from diabetic neuropathy. The study used mice for test subjects and found the curcumin use resulted in a higher pain tolerance in the mice. At the conclusion of the study, researchers determined that curcumin may have some benefit in aiding neuropathy sufferers.

Considerations

Human studies have not concluded that turmeric will help neuropathy patients. However, these initial discoveries show promise, and you may want to talk with your doctor about whether turmeric supplements could offer some benefits to your condition. You should not begin using these supplements without first consulting your doctor, since turmeric use could interfere with medications or health conditions.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/490154-neuropathy-turmeric/#ixzz1TKkWlJ7C

And now some personal experiences of using Turmeric

Q. I've been clipping articles from your column for years. I checked them recently to find how to relieve severe lower back and hip pain. I used some turmeric on food, and thirty minutes later I noted an internal warming sensation in the affected back area and a reduction in pain. I later took turmeric capsules and completely cured all of the pain.

About a month later my wife suffered from severe pain and loss of the use of her left arm and hand. Just lightly touching certain areas caused her to cry out in pain. Years ago she suffered from shingles in that same arm. We therefore suspected that she had postherpetic neuralgia. Since this is an inflammation of the nerves, we decided to try turmeric.

A couple of hours later, on our way to our family doctor, my wife said that her arm felt hot, and the pain was not as severe. Our doctor wanted to schedule an MRI, but it was unnecessary after continued turmeric use. She was completely free of pain after about two weeks.

A. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties (Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, Feb. 2009). Readers have found that this yellow spice has helped with nerve pain, osteoarthritis and psoriasis.

http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2010/06/24/turmeric-eased-nerve-pain/

Q. I read that turmeric could help relieve muscle pain, so I began taking three capsules each day for my fibromyalgia. The pain has eased somewhat, but the greatest benefit was that the neuropathy in my feet has almost entirely disappeared.

After two weeks I urged my sister, ten years younger than me and with a much more severe neuropathy problem, to try it. She began taking turmeric and is now almost completely pain free.

A. Neuropathy can manifest as numbness, tingling or pain in hands or feet. This kind of nerve disorder is notoriously hard to treat.

Turmeric has long been used in the traditional medical systems of Asia. Malaysian scientists confirmed last year that an extract of this bright yellow spice could quell nerve-related pain in rodents (Molecules, April 22, 2010). The anti-inflammatory activity of turmeric may also provide benefit.

http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2011/03/13/turmeric-relieved-nerve-pain/

It may well be worth checking Turmeric (or curcumin) against your HIV meds - you never know if there is a counter indication. http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php

And finally, this short segment gives advice about dosage and a warning about allergic reactions. This may well be worth following up. If anybody has personal experience of Turmeric, positive or negative, let us know.

Turmeric for neuropathy
- Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and anticancer spice which can be added to food or smoothies or taken in capsule form. Be sure to look for organic turmeric if taking in supplement form. A common recommendation for turmeric is 400mg, three times daily.

Some people may be allergic to turmeric so if you develop a rash, discontinue. Also, if you take the drug Warfarin, don't take turmeric.
http://www.path2healthyliving.com/NeuropathyTreatments.html