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Turmeric Supreme for pain and chronic inflammation

We love turmeric for its myriad health benefits, which is why we carry the very finest turmeric supplements in our clinic shop.

Here we detail (and trumpet) the benefits of Gaia brand’s Turmeric Supreme formula for Pain, which, along with Gaia’s Turmeric Joint and Turmeric Cardio, is available at our Washington DC acupuncture clinic in capsule form. Each capsule delivers nature’s best arsenal against occasional pain and for healthy inflammatory function. Read more about Gaia’s perfected Turmeric Pain formulation below.

Turmeric—the star of the show

Turmeric Supreme supplement for pain and chronic inflammation
Turmeric Supreme for pain and chronic inflammation

Western herbalism, Ayurveda and Chinese medicine has long touted turmeric as a potent:

  • anti-inflammatory,
  • antioxidant,
  • digestive tonic and
  • circulation enhancer.

The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which has many beneficial actions on the body. In this formula, it works to promote healthy inflammatory response and pain relief in a number of ways, including acting as COX-2 inhibitor (you’ve probably heard of another famous COX inhibitor, which goes by the name of aspirin). COX-2, or cyclooxygenase-2, is a pro-inflammatory enzyme that oxidizes (burns) a certain Omega-6 fatty acid that occurs naturally in our cell walls.

This burning is part of the inflammatory response—and it works to kill harmful bacteria or marshall the body’s immune response when trauma or injury occurs. The health problems occur when inflammation becomes chronic. Chronic inflammation has been linked to

  • chronic pain,
  • arthritis,
  • fibromyalgia,
  • autoimmune disorders,
  • cancer
  • Alzheimer’s.

By inhibiting COX-2, curcumin helps quell and keep chronic inflammation (and related pain) at bay.

Curcumin also helps regulate a protein complex called NF-kB (Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells). The proper regulation of this protein complex is a key to a healthy inflammatory response. NF-kB specifically controls the expression of genes active in immune response and inflammation – it has been called the “master inflammatory regulatory complex”.

Turmeric has a synergistic action with the other herbs in this formula to promote a healthy inflammatory response in the body. Let’s take a look at them below.

Black pepper extract—a 2000% boost

This is a usual suspect in turmeric formulas– it significantly boosts absorption and bioavailability of curcumins (the active ingredient in turmeric). By how much does it increase absorption, you ask? By up to 2000%. Yep. That’s two thousand.

Ginger—fighting fire with fire

Ginger is one of the most well known herbs used today, and is excellent at warming the body and promoting circulation. Like turmeric/curcumin, ginger shares pharmacological properties with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by inhibiting pro-inflammatory enzymes such as COX-1, COX-2 and 5-lipoxygenase. Because it is well known as a digestive tonic, ginger also works well in many herbal formulas to treat and prevent nausea as well as increase the proper absorption of the other herbs and compounds in formulas.

Jamaican Dogwood Bark—the bark that soothes

This works as an antispasmodic for cramps, an analgesic for pain and even has some sedative properties to relax the nervous system. It contains some isoflavonoid compounds (jamaicine, ichtynone, milletone) that have sedative properties.

Wild Lettuce—not your grocery store iceberg

Wild lettuce also kills pain and soothes the nervous system. It works on muscle and joint pain, muscle spasms as well as pain centers of the brain to relieve pain and support agitated nerves. It is also a great remedy for anxiety and insomnia.

Feverfew—pain banisher

Feverfew medicinal herb - active ingredient in our best Turmeric supplement

This is a great herb for pain relief; it works particularly well for headaches, migraines and menstrual cramps. Feverfew regulates serotonin and prostaglandins, which make it an important herb in not just treating the pain of headaches and menstrual cramps, but preventing them as well. Like turmeric it also inhibits NF-kB to support a healthy inflammatory response. It combines well with rosemary to work on headaches, and Jamaican dogwood bark for menstrual cramps.

Rosemary Leaf—beyond the kitchen

Promotes circulation and is anti-inflammatory. It works together with feverfew (see above) to treat headaches. It also stimulates the immune system and improves digestion.

Devil’s claw root—sounds bad but it’s good

Contains a group of compounds called the iridoid glucosides, which include harpagoside, and are anti-inflammatory. Other agents in devil’s claw root, including flavonoids and phytosterols, are

  • antioxidant,
  • choleretic (stimulate bile production)
  • antispasmodic.
Devils claw root is an ingredient in our top selling turmeric supplement for inflammation
Devil’s Claw is a great herb for pain relief

Devil’s claw is a great herb for pain relief because it has a broad mechanism of action by interacting with various pain relief mechanisms in the body. Devil’s claw works on pro-inflammatory enzymes (cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase) as well as cytokines (proteins secreted by cells as part of the immune response, which are involved in the initiation and persistence of pathologic pain).

The combination of

  • anti-inflammatory,
  • antispasmodic and
  • digestion-enhancing agents

… make Devil’s claw a great herb to pair with turmeric.

For healthy inflammatory function and pain relief, Gaia’s Turmeric Supreme for Pain is now available at our clinic in Dupont Circle (in capsule form).

Visit us in Dupont Circle, at 1645 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 20009.

Learn more

Natural, effective pain relief using acupuncture.

Find out how we use pulse diagnosis to see what’s going on with you.

Turmeric also helps alleviate depression—and so can acupuncture.

About the Author

Nadia was the previous co-owner and operations manager of Transformational Acupuncture.

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