Sunday, August 7, 2011

Curcumin and Ginger as a Treament for Pancreatitis


In 2005 the mainstream medical community finally found out something I had previously known for 10 years which is ...

Curcumin treats acute and chronic pancreatitis.

When this article was published I had already been using curcumin (a component factor of turmeric) for over 10 years as an all natural remedy for pancreatitis symptoms and prevention with very good results. I already knew that curcumin and ginger both were proven pancreatitis remedies. At least they were proven in my case and quite frankly that was good enough for me.

Why does curcumin work?

Curcumin is a natural highly ANTI-inflammatory and the principal curcuminoid found in the spice called turmeric which is a member of the ginger family.

Since pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas it is only common sense that a powerful, natural, anti-inflammatory such as curcumin would be and turned out to be beneficial. But, eventhough my major concern is stopping an attack dead in it's tracks BEFORE irreparable damage can occur, curcumin has another potential benefit for you and me.

It has also been shown to a possible angiogenesis inhibitor. To learn more about what an angiogenesis inhibitor is and why it may be an important factor for those who suffer from chronic pancreatitis follow this link.

For a list of angiogenesis inhibitors and how to avoid death by Pancreatic Cancer visit: Pancreattits - Living with Pancreatitis

Since turmeric is a member of the ginger family common sense should tell you what?

That ginger also helps pancreatitis.

Ginger is also a powerful anti-inflammatory and it has been a home remedy for nausea for years.

I use both tumeric and ginger in cooking.

A lot of both.

I also take curcumin extract (capsules) daily.

You should as well.

I would highly suggest that you begin using turmeric and ginger in cooking and take curcumin extract daily as a natural treatment for pancreatitis - if you want to prevent, control and stop attacks of pancreatitis and the potential resulting damage.

The exact curcumin extract product I use can be found here: Curcumin

Curcumin is one of the products you should be consuming daily to stop the inflammation in your pancreas and adding ginger to your food will be of benefit as well.

Leave a comment and let me know you're alive!

14 comments:

  1. You may laugh, but I do not know what curcumin or tumeric is is, living in Ghana, West Africa. But I have plenty of ginger. What do you advise?

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    1. turmeric also belongs to the ginger family but it is yellow. You get ground turmeric (yellow powder) in Indian and chinese stores. But fresh is best, a grape size peice in daily smoothie will work wonders.

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  2. Hi Ofeibadu ... Here's some info on turmeric: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turmeric

    Ginger is in the same family so eat a lot of it if you have pancreatitis. It is a natural remedy for nausea and should also help with pain.

    Make sure you read my blog - all of it so you find out what I do and suggest others do if they want to be somewhat well, even heal.

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  3. How do you cook without oil..I mean just boil the veggies, add some salt, turmeric, ginger...dats it?

    Any recipes?

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    1. Yup that's it or you can steam them or microwave them. You can use a good non-stick pan and fry them up using some worchester sauce (adds a little bite) and seasonings (salt, pepper, ginger, turmeric, garlic, cayenne, chili powder) depending on the veggies or whatever. Add some beans (kidney and garbonzo) for protein, vitamins, minerals and more fiber.

      No, I really have never written out recipes. I just dump and hope it is eatable. If it smells good it is usually ok lol

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  4. Hi Health Guy,

    Just wanted to let you know that the information you have compiled for this site is wonderful!

    Also, could I confirm the following vitamins to take to hopefully heal my pancreas (I take multi vitamins already):

    1. Curcumin
    2. Grape Seed Extract
    3. Digestive Enzymes (have there been any studies with these?)

    My attacks started approximately 3 years ago, and I initially thought they were related to "fructose intolerance" and reduced my intake of fruit, garlic and onions. Have any of these (in addition to say fats) been a trigger for you?

    Furthermore, I just wanted to let you know that following a recent "attack" and hence finding your site, I also found some information on adding lemon juice to water, which I am doing as well as eating brazil nuts (not too many) because of their high selenium content. I must add that after reading your recommendation for ginger, I am adding that to my water, smoothies etc.

    Finally, I was very interested in your blog on perhaps reversing pancreatitis (I can't recall the correct title of the page, however, I remembered that you emphasised the "IF").

    Cheers,
    Aussie Mum

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    Replies
    1. Hi Aussie Mom,

      Supplement confirmation:

      1) Grape Seed Extract (with vit C is good)
      2) Curcumin (by itself and 95% curcuminoids)
      3) Digestive Enzymes (with pancreatin 4X)
      4) Vitamin C (alone or with bioflavonoids)

      Make sure that none of them contain a combination of other ingredients such as vitamins and minerals or some other weird ingredient that may be toxic in large doses.

      I haven't looked for any studies on pancreatic enzymes. Doctors prescribe enzymes in strong doses (creon for example). That doesn't mean they are safe. To much enzymes can be as bad as not enough so go slow and increase amounts until you feel they are effective. I use Now Foods Super Enzymes and usually 1 or two per meal is sufficient. However other folks seem to need more.

      Fruit, garlic and onions are excellent foods for chronic pancreatitis. They have never bothered me. Fruit exceptions (avaocado, coconut) have way to much fat/oil. It may be good fat and oil but it does work well with a damaged pancreas.

      Lemon juice (fresh squeezed) is excellent. Brazil nuts are extremely high in fat.

      I'm not sure what you mean by reversing pancreatitis. This blog is about that, I just call it overcoming pancreatitis. I do have a couple other places with info. A couple Squidoo lenses and another blog I start a couple months ago.

      Squidoo lens: http://squidoo.com/pancreatitis-pancreatits

      From the above lens you'll be able to find the others. The squidoo lenses have research sections with links to research.

      My other blog is located at:
      http://beatingpancreatitis.com

      Good luck Aussie Mom I hope you feel better soon and be sure to follow my diet. The proper diet is EXTREMELY important. Diet and supplements.

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    2. Aussie Mom ...

      I should proof read before I publish a reply - sorry - in the paragraph about fruit:

      Fruit exceptions (avaocado, coconut) have way to much fat/oil. It may be good fat and oil but it does NOT work well with a damaged pancreas.

      The NOT was missing.


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  5. Hi THE HEALTH GUY,
    just call me 40 Sumtin,,I like your blog because its so very informative and is of great help for people like us who are suffering from pancreatitis. my gallbladder was already removed because of gallstones and I also have acute pancreatitis during that time as a complication because the doctor said that the stone may somehow cause an obstruction to the duct... Its been a year now since I have my gallbladder removed and I eat without restrictions, but just lately I started to feel slight pain in the right upper quadrant everytime I eat fatty foods and beef in which I suspect I'm having pancreatitis...So I found this blog and read about curcumin and started taking it just recently...it somehow help alleviate the pain but I'm worried because of my history of having a gallstone.My question is....is it safe for me to take curcumin because I don't have a gallbladder anymore. Sorry if I'm taking it literally about my understanding that if you don't have a gallbladder anymore definitely you will not develop gallstones...So is it safe for me to take curcumin?

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    Replies
    1. I am first going to apologize for taking so long to reply. I have no excuse. I simply didn't check on this site for awhile.

      Second thank you for the kind words. I am glad you like this pancreatitis blog.

      Thirdly I can't tell you whether anything is safe. I don't know what is "safe" for anyone. I know what I do. That's it. So in answer to your question is it safe for YOU to take curcumin since you have had your gallbladder removed - I would guess taking curcumin would be fine as long as you don't also have SOD (Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction) BUT I don't know. You mentioned you have already taken curcumin and it has helped. It may continue to to help. One can only test and see what happens. You may want to consult with your doctor. He or she may or may not know or even have an opinion.

      Anything you do, as I have stated before in this blog, you do at your own risk.

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  6. Hi Health Guy.
    Are you familiar with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency?
    Creon (2X) at each meal is helping, but I would like to know if curcumin (safran) would also be good for that.
    Many thanks.

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    1. Yes I am. Curcumin will help with the inflammation and pain. Creon or some other pancreatic enzyme formula is needed for enzyme replacement for those with pancreatic insufficiency. Good luck, get well.

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  7. Hello health guy,


    I am 23 years old and I am recently diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis and inflammation on both stomach and my esophagus. I am disappointed to get this at an early age. I seriously want a natural remedy. I want to know how helpful is turmeric and ginger in my case.

    Please help me in this regard. I genuinely appreciate this blog.

    Thank you

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    Replies
    1. Hello bhargav kopparathi - I can understand your disappointment regarding your recent diagnosis. I can't guarantee anything but all you have to do is research turmeric (curcumin) and ginger to determine the probability of either helping you. From what I know, I would expect you'd see some great results and improvement. Both, especially curcumin, fight inflammation.

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