Circumin, extract of tumeric is a very strong anti-inflammatory, but has to be mixed with a pepper extract ( piperine ) for maximum bio availability.
It is over the counter and seems to have no known risks, but works better than any other anti-inflammatory I have tried, including prescription ones, and I know many people who agree from experience.
I raised this on HN once before and had know it alls quoting assorted studies as it being marginally effective and placebo effect etc etc (despite them never having tried it), but is very effective and relatively fast acting.
The impact is so noticeable no tests were required. Who cares about the numbers when it is the effect that is desired? How do we know those tests are conclusive on their own? I am big on science, but bigger on results.
If you need an anti-immflammatory then try it, if it doesn't work then don't use it. There seems to be almost zero possible downside, so why not.
It seems really only effective for soft tissue swelling and inflammation.
I had an American guy in Bali who owned the chalets in Ulawatu where we stayed who had an ongoing back injury and was needing sometimes to be on some strong medication that put him out of it. I gave him our stash of circumin to try and it was so effective that when we left his Balinese wife was in tears thanking us for introducing him to it because it was more effective and no cognitive impacts.
Guy at work was on twice daily voltaren for his shoulder and hadn't played golf for three years. Started the circumin and three days later played a round.
Not conclusive, but just two of about twenty stories I could tell you after I found out about it from my sister in law and told others.
Or maybe just people that can't even run a basic personal risk analysis and simple experiment.
To trial it personally has potentially many orders of magnitude greater upside than downside, so endless pondering and postulating is totally pointless vs just trying it out and see if it works for you.
Tests and studies are not the most reliable way of indicating personal benefits or side effects, in numerous cases have been contrary, incomplete, poorly applied or calculated and represent a population (which may or may not be representative of your individual case).
Regardless, NIH seems to be on board, but feel free not to take it, or take it with a negative opinion and stimulate the nocebo effect - to a certain extent you get what you wish for and that works both ways.
You might find this video interesting, highlights studies showing the difference in effectiveness for turmeric vs curcumin in combatting inflammation, turns out turmeric does a better job:
It's definitely helping my arthritic knee. When I forget to take it, I notice. Costco's house brand is a good deal, and it does go on sale from time to time.
>know it alls quoting assorted studies as it being marginally effective and placebo effect etc etc (despite them never having tried it)
This is a terrible attitude
Personal experience is no substitute for controlled studies. It's irresponsible to say that something is medically effective just because you tried it and it "works for you." You don't know that. You can't know that.
Homeopathy- selling biochemically inert placebos as medicine- is an $18 billion dollar industry. This is completely driven by word-of-mouth anecdotal experiences and personal claims. You can sell people tap water and sugar pills to cure depression and insomnia, and they will swear it's a miracle cure and tell everyone they know. Don't be that guy.
It is over the counter and seems to have no known risks, but works better than any other anti-inflammatory I have tried, including prescription ones, and I know many people who agree from experience.
I raised this on HN once before and had know it alls quoting assorted studies as it being marginally effective and placebo effect etc etc (despite them never having tried it), but is very effective and relatively fast acting.