anti-inflammatory

[Guest guest]

Hi all. I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of anti-inflammatory

cream made with tumeric. I got the idea from reading about the

anti-inflammatory properties of tumeric on the Internet. A while back I

contacted a company about developing a product for cea (my way of

being an advocate, pointing out the inadequacy of current topicals, and

how many sufferers there are = big economic opportunity!) They actually

were developing a cream that had tumeric in it and sent me a sample to

try. It didn't have an ingredient list, but it smelled very " perfumy "

and I couldn't tolerate it (I also wrote how any product for ceans

must be in a very non-irritating, fragrance-free base). I can't even

remember the name of the company now, but the cream was white and didn't

leave a yellow tinge to the skin. (Tumeric can be used as a dye, it

turns everything yellow.)

I was wondering if anyone has any feedback regarding this. Apparently

tumeric was traditionally used in poultices for healing wounds, and if a

wound is on your leg or something, one wouldn't mind if your skin turned

yellow! If it increases blood flow to help heal skin that wouldn't work

for cea, but I keep reading about it's potent anti-inflammatory

properties. (I believe that is the logic behind avoiding menthol,

camphor, eucalyptus, peppermint oil etc...that the cool tingly feeling

has something to do with stimulating facial blood flow..)

I am so desperate for anti-inflammatory for the face skin that won't make

cea worse like cortisones and is more helpful than the mild

anti-inflammatory action of the topical antibiotics....Dr. Nase has a

section called " Overestimating the Success of Standard cea Therapy "

which was very helpful to me in understanding why when you read the

literature you get the impression that the cea treatment we have is

adequate when that is far from the truth. I could go on about this

subject...but buy the book:)...it's really informative and an excellent

resource for people with cea. Topical antibiotics/oral antibiotics

do help some persons, they aren't completely worthless...I don't think

Dr. Nase would mind me quoting his book, because I am also singing its

praises, but he lays out the evidence that topical metronidazole is

" moderately effective at reducing facial papules and pustules, minimally

effective at reducing facial inflammation, chronic redness, and burning

sensations and Not effective at reducing facial flushing, swelling,

telangiectasia or heart of the disorder. " I think my next step for

treatment is laser surgery...but I'm really scared to get that

done....but the effect on my quality of life is getting so I need to take

that step...facial flares are becoming more

frequent...triggers...wind-even light breeze, heat, cool/cold weather,

sun, public speaking, other random miscellaneous...can't figure out why

flares etc..

from the organization H.B.F. Help Burning Faces! (fictional )

Here's a few blurbs from the Internet. I don't believe everything I

read, but I've read about the anti-inflammatory properties so many times

(and many times the sites refer to actual experiments) that I think there

is something to it.

Curcumin, derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa), has potent

anti-inflammatory properties.21 In lab experiments, curcumin proved as

effective as the potent anti-inflammatory agents hydrocortisone and

phenylbutazone in reducing inflammation, but without toxicity.22 Patients

can use it both internally and externally to decrease pain and

inflammation. Topical curcumin, like capsaicin from cayenne, is thought

to ease pain by depleting substance P, the pain neurotransmitter.23

21 Ammon HP, et al. Mechanism of anti-inflammatory actions of curcumine

and boswellic acids. J Ethnopharmacol 1993;38:113­9.

22 Mukhopadhyay A, et al. Anti-inflammatory and irritant activities of

curcumin analogues in rats. Agents Actions 1982;12:508­15.

23 Patacchini R, et al. Capsaicin-like activity of some natural pungent

substances on peripheral ending of visceral primary afferents. Arch

Pharmacol 1990;342:72­7.

http://www.natures-best.biz/Vivo2.html

Turmeric (tumeric) is a powerful anti-inflammatory. It has an even

stronger action than hydrocortisone, according to research studies

conducted between 1971 and 1991. When applied to the skin and exposed to

sunlight, turmeric is strongly antibacterial. Curcumin is the constituent

responsible for this action. Curcumin is also more strongly antioxidant

than vitamin E. Chinese clinical trials in 1987 indicate that turmeric

lowers cholesterol. Turmeric may be a valuable preventative remedy for

those at risk of developing cancer, but more research is needed. Research

has shown that turmeric has anti-coagulant action, keeping the blood

thin. It also increases bile production and flow, and has a protective

action on the stomach and liver. Even though turmeric does not relieve

pain, its anti-inflammatory action makes it useful for arthritis and

other inflammatory conditions such as asthma and eczema. Applied to the

skin, turmeric is also useful in treating a number of conditions

including psoriasis, and fungal infections such as athlete's foot.

Curcuma longa (Tumeric)

Therapeutic Actions:

Analgesic

Anticoagulant

Antifertility action

Anti-inflammatory

Antimicrobial

Antineoplastic

Antioxidant

Antiplatelet-aggregator

Carminative

Cholagogue

Emmenagogue

Hepatoprotective

Hypotensive

Increases glutathione content in liver

Increases rate-limiting step of cholesterol conversion into bile acids

Inhibits platelet aggregation

Inhibits lymphocytic activity

Lowers LDL cholesterol and raises HDL cholesterol

Stabilizes lysosomal membranes

Stimulates digestive enzymes

Topical antibacterial and antifungal

Tumor-preventing activity

http://www.findhealer.com/glossary/T.php3

Turmeric has strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and

antimicrobial activity. Further it is beneficial for the cardiovascular

system as it lowers cholesterol and inhibits platelet aggregation. It has

protective effects for the liver and the gastrointestinal system.

Curcumin, an extract of Turmeric, is the substance held responsible for

its anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. In tests Curcumin's

antiinflammatory effects were found to be comparable to those of

cortisone and phenylbutazone. Turmeric's Curcumin may inhibit

angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels).