Turmeric (Curcumin) And Its Benefits For Neuropathy

Today's post from cidpneuropathysupport.com (see link below) returns to the subject of turmeric (curcumin) and its health benefits for neuropathy. Now turmeric is one of those 'hip' supplements that periodically hits the neuropathy notice boards and then disappears again. However, there are substantiated claims that suggest that turmeric really can help with neuropathy symptoms and for that reason we need as much information about it as possible, in order to make an informed decision. One of the most important points mentioned in this article however, is that turmeric is difficult for the body to absorb. For that reason, many people are wasting their money if they just buy turmeric on its own. They need an accompanying agent such as black pepper to enable absorption in sufficient quantities to be effective. You can buy the two things separately and mix them together but then it's difficult to estimate the amounts needed. In that case, there are many turmeric (curcumin)/pepper mix supplements available reasonably cheaply on the market. This is a useful article if you want to learn more about turmeric benefits but there are others here on the blog too. Just use the Search button to the right of the blog to find them.

Turmeric Health Benefits for GBS (and CIDP)
Author: Shiraz Abbas  February 1, 2019 Neuropathy Diet


Turmeric may be a powerful agent against chronic autoimmune related inflammatory diseases like GBS (and CIDP) and it is very cheap to buy.

Turmeric is the hot new spice of the modern era. It is considered one of the most powerful spices in the market. Known by its flashy yellow or orange color and strong taste, turmeric is especially popular for regulating inflammation in the body.

Chronic inflammation is often one of those intractable problems and even the heaviest medications can only go so far in helping. Unfortunately, the types of diets we follow are not helping either. Most the processed foods that we eat today are highly inflammatory.

Turmeric is not just good for regular inflammation, but it is a powerful agent against chronic inflammation, a problem which underlies CIDP type neuropathy and GBS.

Turmeric contains a component known as curcumin which in studies has been found to sooth chronic inflammation. Turmeric seems to be especially good for helping with autoimmune disease related chronic inflammation which CIDP is a part of.

How does this work?

A 2007 study summarizes it as follows:


Curcumin inhibits these autoimmune diseases by regulating inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma and associated JAK-STAT, AP-1, and NF-kappaB signaling pathways in immune cells. Although the beneficial effects of nutraceuticals are traditionally achieved through dietary consumption at low levels for long periods of time, the use of purified active compounds such as curcumin at higher doses for therapeutic purposes needs extreme caution. A precise understanding of effective dose, safe regiment, and mechanism of action is required for the use of curcumin in the treatment of human autoimmune diseases.

In other words, turmeric is helpful for chronic autoimmune related inflammation but caution must be made so as not to consume too much of it or else it may cause problems.

With that said, turmeric also acts as an anti-bacterial agent which helps cleanse the colon of toxic bacteria which is thought to play a role in inducing autoimmune inflammatory diseases. In a previous article, we saw how bad gut bacteria could be linked to CIDP and GBS.

A number of people who are affected by GBS and CIDP also seem to suffer from depression. The good news with turmeric is that it seems to be an antidepressant as well. 

 Check out what Radiant Life has to say:


Turmeric has so many benefits to the body, above and beyond just combating inflammation. Other benefits include anticoagulant/anti-platelet, antidepressant, and even skin health. One research study on patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder concluded that supplementing patients with curcumin was just as effective as prescribing them Prozac.

That’s pretty nuts, turmeric being just as effective as Prozac?

Now, remember that turmeric has a low absorption rate meaning that a lot of it is not being absorbed by your body. This is why turmeric is often mixed with black pepper in Persian and South Asian cuisines. Pepper (bioperine) acts as an absorption agent which makes turmeric a lot more effective. There are plenty of turmeric-pepper mixes in the market at relatively cheap prices.

Before incorporating turmeric supplements in your diet, make sure to speak to your doctor first.

Shiraz Abbas is the founder and manager of the CIDP Neuropathy Support Group. He is also one of the main community educators of IVIG therapy. He resides in Fresno, California. Shiraz can be contacted through our free CIDP advice service at 1-855-782-0574.

http://cidpneuropathysupport.com/turmeric-health-benefits-gbs-and-cidp/