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You’ve probably seen the headlines. Turmeric is being touted as the answer to all your ills. From the sound of it, if you eat just a couple of curries a week, your whole life could turn around.
As usual, though, the media haven’t given you all the details. The competition for your attention is fierce, and they tend to play up the “good” parts of a story… and maybe gloss over some of the details.
Truth be told, turmeric is a remarkable spice. Most of what you’ve heard is true. Studies show it’s a potent antioxidant… it helps calm systemic irritation… and it blocks the activity of certain pain-promoting enzymes.
But not all turmeric is equally effective. Here’s why… and why we chose Curcumin C3 Complex® for our Desinol joint health supplement.
First, just how effective can turmeric be?
India’s herbalists have used turmeric for centuries. Now Western science is finally catching up. In recent years, studies have shown turmeric compounds provide powerful defenses against pain.
In 2013, doctors at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research reported a turmeric compound was effective against burn pain.1
In an animal study, scientists found a turmeric extract was effective against a type of nerve pain common in people with blood sugar problems.2
A 2016 human study looked at the levels of certain immune molecules in people with high blood sugar. Called “cytokines,” these molecules are linked to systemic irritation and pain.
Levels of these molecules dropped in people with high blood sugar who took a turmeric extract for 8 weeks. A matched group who took a placebo didn’t see a benefit.3
The journal Surgical Endoscopy published a study on turmeric extract and post-surgical pain. Doctors took 2 matched groups and gave one a turmeric compound after surgery. The 2nd group took a placebo.
Within a few days, the turmeric group felt less pain than the placebo group. Both groups were pain-free within 3 weeks. But the spice group had a much easier time of it.4
A 2016 review in Pain Medicine looked at 8 clinical trials. The researchers felt the trials showed compounds from turmeric were effective against pain. Even better, they said the spice extracts were “safe and well tolerated.”5
By now, you’ve probably noticed I say “extracts” instead of talking about turmeric itself. Here’s why…
Turmeric’s power comes from compounds called curcuminoids. There are several of these compounds, but the most abundant is curcumin. And that’s the extract that was used in these studies.
You see, turmeric root doesn’t contain an awful lot of these active compounds. It can have a positive effect on your health… but not the dramatic results of these studies.
For that type of results, you need more than a plate or two of curry. Or a capsule of ground turmeric root.
For real results, you need a turmeric extract. When you go that route, you can see real pain-fighting power.
According to a 2013 report in the journal BioFactors, curcumin blocks at least 5 causes of systemic irritation.6
These irritating molecules, enzymes, etc. often trigger a body-wide immune reaction at a fairly low level. They can also trigger stronger reactions in areas where there’s damage… such as overworked joints.
In 2009, Thai doctors tested a turmeric extract using an active control. Most studies compare an active ingredient to a placebo – an inactive look-alike. But some replace the placebo with a substance known to have the effect they’re testing.
In this case, the doctors compared the extract to a compound already proven to ease knee pain and irritation.
Half their volunteers took the turmeric extract for 6 weeks. The others took the active control. The doctors measured progress at 2, 4, and 6 weeks.
As far as pain, stiffness, and joint function went, both groups improved similarly. Though the active control group showed a little more improvement in ease of climbing stairs. But they also were about one-third more likely to suffer side effects.7
A 2014 study reported in Phytotherapy Research compared a turmeric extract to a placebo. Scientists used – not 1 – but 3 different scales to measure improvement over 6 weeks.
Using volunteers with long-term knee pain, the doctors gave half turmeric extract. The other took an inactive look-alike.
On all 3 scales, the turmeric compound won out easily. Gains were especially notable for pain and joint function.8
In 2016, an international team scoured a dozen medical databases for articles and studies on turmeric and its extracts for joint pain. They found 8 published trials with enough data to measure.
After reviewing all the results, they determined there is strong evidence turmeric extracts are effective against joint pain. They also found the studies showed turmeric extracts can be just as effective as some already proven joint pain fighters.9
Natural, effective, fewer side effects… No wonder so many folks are singing turmeric’s praises. But there’s a proven way to make turmeric extracts even more effective. And it, too, is 100% natural.
Most Americans aren’t familiar with Boswellia. (Though, as a Journal for Healthy Living reader, you may be.) It’s best known in the West as an incense.
In fact, it’s often called “Indian frankincense.”
In ancient days, frankincense was worth more than its weight in gold. Today, if you want serious pain relief, it still is.
Boswellia has a reputation for being fast and effective. A team at India’s Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences tested Boswellia and found its reputation is well deserved.
Volunteers showed a jump in their pain threshold within an hour of taking Boswellia. And their tolerance for pain was significantly up within just 3 hours. Volunteers taking a placebo didn’t show these changes.10
In 2003, doctors tested Boswellia on volunteers with long-term knee pain. But this study used an interesting twist.
It’s called a “crossover” study, and here’s how that works…
In a crossover study, half the group takes the study compound while the other half gets the placebo. Then there’s a “washout” period to clear any leftover study compound from everyone’s system.
After the washout, the two groups switch. So the old placebo group now gets the study compound… and the old active group now gets the placebo.
This eliminates any concerns that there may have been differences between the groups. Because the doctors can see everyone’s response to both the active compound and the placebo.
In this case, Boswellia’s superiority was clear. When volunteers were taking Boswellia, they had less pain and greater joint mobility than when they took the placebo. They were also able to walk further while taking Boswellia.11
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Because some scientists have tried combining turmeric extracts with Boswellia. And… guess what?
In 2013, scientists looked at a combination of turmeric extract and Boswellia. But they didn’t compare it to a placebo. This was another active control study. And the results were eye opening, to say the least.
The researchers tested this natural combination against a proven pain-fighting agent… and the turmeric extract with Boswellia came out on top.
Volunteers reported less pain when taking the natural combination. And there were no side effects.12
Then, in 2018, Armenian scientists took on an ambitious challenge. They tested curcumin (turmeric extract) vs. curcumin + Boswellia vs. placebo. All the volunteers had long-standing joint pain.
They followed 201 volunteers over 12 weeks, each taking one of the 3 formulations. The curcumin group beat out the placebo group in physical performance. But the curcumin + Boswellia group beat both other groups in physical performance and pain.12
In every study we’ve seen, both turmeric extracts and Boswellia are well tolerated. And the researchers deemed them safe… and – more importantly – effective.
Based on what we’ve seen, turmeric extracts and Boswellia should beat almost any single joint pain formula. But we were looking for maximum relief.
Which is why we included no less than 10 key joint health nutrients in Desinol. Nutrients like…
Desinol delivers proven, potent pain relievers… plus the raw materials your joints need to rebuild and repair. Which makes Desinol a powerful one-two punch in your fight against joint pain.
Plus, Desinol doesn’t just contain turmeric. Or turmeric extract. We’ve taken the power of turmeric to a whole new level.
Turmeric root alone is simply too weak to provide the relief you need. Unless you eat gobs of it. Are you prepared to eat bowls of curry three times a day?
Even turmeric extracts have limitations. For instance, most turmeric extracts are almost exclusively made up of curcumin… even though that’s not the natural makeup of the spice.
You see, there are 3 major active curcuminoids. And only Curcumin C3 Complex® delivers all 3 in the same balance found naturally in turmeric.
Which means only Curcumin C3 Complex® offers the true pain-busting power of turmeric in its natural balance.
That’s why Curcumin C3 Complex® is the only turmeric extract we use in Desinol. And that’s no marketing trick. Curcumin C3 Complex® has been issued a U.S. patent.
There are plenty of turmeric products out there. But they’re not all created equal. And no other comes in the unique formulation of Desinol. Or with our industry best full-year satisfaction guarantee.
Discover the joint formula by which all others are measured. The formula that combines turmeric extract with Boswellia – and 8 other potent joint-support supplements.
It’s time to stop suffering and start living. Risk-free. With Desinol.
Yours in continued good health,
The Best Life Herbals Wellness Team
The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration. They are not intended to treat, cure, prevent or diagnose any disease.
1 Cheppudira, B., et al, “Curcumin: a novel therapeutic for burn pain and wound healing,” Expert Opin Investig Drugs. Oct 2013; 22(10): 1295-1303.
2 Banafshe, H.R., et al, “Effect of curcumin on diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain: Possible involvement of opioid system,” European Journal of Pharmacology. Jan 15, 2014; 723: 202-206.
3 Panahi, Y., et al, “Effects of curcumin on serum cytokine concentrations in subjects with metabolic syndrome: A post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial,” Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. Aug 2016; 82, August 2016: 578-582.
4 Agarwal, K.A., et al, “Efficacy of turmeric (curcumin) in pain and postoperative fatigue after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a double-blind, randomized placebo- controlled study,” Surgical Endoscopy. December 2011, Volume 25, Issue 12, pp 3805–3810.
5 Sahebkar, A. and Henrotin, Y., “Analgesic Efficacy and Safety of Curcuminoids in Clinical Practice: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials,” Pain Medicine. Jun 1, 2016; 17(6): 1192–1202.
6 Shehzad, A., et al, “Curcumin in inflammatory diseases,” BioFactors. Jan/Feb 2013; 39(1): 69-77.
7 Kuptniratsaikul, V., et al, “Efficacy and Safety of Curcuma domestica Extracts in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis,” The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Aug 2009; 15(8): 891-897.
8 Panahi, Y., et al, “Curcuminoid Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial,” Phytotherapy Research. Nov 2014; 28(11).
9 Daily, J.W., et al, “Efficacy of Turmeric Extracts and Curcumin for Alleviating the Symptoms of Joint Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials,” Journal of Medicinal Food. August 2016, 19(8): 717-729.
10 Prabhavathi, K., et al, “A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, cross over study to evaluate the analgesic activity of Boswellia serrata in healthy volunteers using mechanical pain model,” Indian J Pharmacol. Sep-Oct 2014; 46(5): 475–479.
11 Kimmatkar, N., et al, “Efficacy and tolerability of Boswellia serrata extract in treatment of osteoarthritis of knee – A randomized double blind placebo controlled trial,” Phytomedicine. 2003; 10(1): 3-7.
12 Kizhakkedath, R., “Clinical evaluation of a formulation containing Curcuma longa and Boswellia serrata extracts in the management of knee osteoarthritis,” Mol Med Rep. Nov 2013; 8(5): 1542-1548.
13 Haroyan, A., et al, “Efficacy and safety of curcumin and its combination with boswellic acid in osteoarthritis: a comparative, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study,” BMC Complement Altern Med. Jan 9, 2018; 18(1): 7.
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