Pain is a sensation of physical discomfort that humans and animals both experience. It is a warning signal from the nervous system that something may be wrong with the body. Pain can vary in degree, intensity, and duration, and it can be both the cause and the outcome of other physiological reactions.
While acute pain is a sensation that is triggered in the nervous system to alert you to a probable injury, whereas chronic pain lasts longer. Pain that lasts for several months or longer than what would be considered a typical healing time frame, and pain that has become independent of the underlying injury or disease that caused it is what it is commonly characterized as. Chronic pain is quite prevalent and may be devastating, impacting every area of one’s life. It can also cause other symptoms such as a loss of appetite and fatigue.
Inflammation is a localized physical condition characterized by redness, swelling, a warm or hot sensation, and typically different levels of discomfort in a specific region of the body. Inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection or damage, but it can also be linked to chronic conditions including fatigue, immune system suppression, osteoarthritis, and diabetic neuropathy.
Chronic inflammatory pain affects millions of Americans in a variety of ways. Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, which together afflict nearly 30 million individuals in the United States, can affect practically any joint in the body. Back pain, the most common cause of job-related disability falls into the category of chronic inflammatory pain as well, with 80 percent of adults afflicted by it. Back pain, the most frequent cause of work-related disability, is also classified as chronic inflammatory pain, affecting 80 percent of adults.
There are several ways to relieve acute pain as well as resolving and preventing chronic inflammatory pain. More individuals, including healthcare practitioners, are starting to recognize the ability of natural supplements to promote general health. Turmeric is a well-known spice that can be found on nearly every spice rack. It can be found in a variety of Asian and Middle Eastern recipes. However, outside of culinary use, the spice contains an ingredient called curcumin, which has a wide range of therapeutic benefits. The chemical is known to help people with chronic inflammatory diseases feel better.
Historically, Turmeric is recognized for its healing properties. It is a staple in traditional Chinese medicine. Among many people who cherish the spice for historical medical use, the spice is still considered today a superfood. When researchers noticed a reduction in inflammatory diseases and cancers in regions that heavily use this spice, Turmeric became the focal point of natural medicine. Today, supplement manufacturers use Turmeric in many of their products for the list of health benefits it provides and its anti-inflammatory properties.
Science has long supported this proud tradition, with Turmeric and particularly the important active, curcumin, being extensively studied. Curcumin is the active component of the rhizome of Turmeric and is often used as shorthand for the total curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin. It is also known to down-regulate numerous inflammatory mediators and exhibits antioxidant activity as well.
Turmeric’s bioavailable curcumin makes it considerably easier for your body to absorb. The extent of a compound that is absorbed into your body is called bioavailability. This is present in varying levels in all compounds. Traditional curcumin is known to have low bioavailability. Low bioavailability is partly due to poor absorption, rapid metabolism and rapid clearance from the body. This means when non-bioavailable curcumin is swallowed, either as Turmeric rhizome or unformulated curcumin, a lot of it is not used by the body However, the combination of Turmeric rhizome with Fenugreek seed extract, produces a “free curcumin.” Curcumin is more easily absorbed into your body as a result, and therefore more effective in providing therapeutic benefits. Several clinical trials have shown that “free curcumin” has a higher bioavailability. Bioavailability was found to have risen by up to 24 times in some cases.
What does this mean? This means that by taking curcuminoids in the form where it is combined with the Fenugreek fiber, more curcuminoids make it into the blood. Often, this allows for a reduced amount of curcuminoids to be taken.
With its long history of therapeutic benefits backed up by clinical tests and results, turmeric has proven to be a solution to address chronic and inflammatory pain. No wonder it is considered by many as a superfood.
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