Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease caused by inflammation of the intestines that results in swelling of the intestinal lining. The problem usually develops in patches along the length of the intestines and can be intermittent, with periods of normalcy followed by flare-ups of the disorder. Curcumin is a biologically active compound in the spice turmeric that may be taken daily and may help relieve symptoms of Crohn's disease. Talk to your doctor about curcumin to decide if it might be helpful for you.
Symptoms and Risk Factors
Most often, Crohn's disease causes abdominal pain and diarrhea. In severe episodes, you may also experience rectal bleeding, weight loss or fever. Occasionally, thickening of the intestinal lining will cause a blockage of the digestive tract, a serious complication that sometimes requires surgery. Although the precise cause of Crohn's disease is still unknown, it may involve an autoimmune problem in which your body mistakes food for foreign microorganisms, causing your immune system to attack your intestinal tissues and initiate inflammation. Curcumin is an herbal remedy that may help suppress this inflammatory reaction.
Curcumin
Curcumin is a biologically active component of the spice, turmeric. Turmeric, from the plant Curcuma longa, has been part of traditional Indian medicine for thousands of years. Practitioners commonly recommend turmeric for digestive disorders, liver or skin problems and wounds. Curcumin is a compound called a flavonoid and a potent antioxidant with properties that may help lessen the symptoms of Crohn's disease and reduce the likelihood of serious complications.
Properties
Because it is an antioxidant, curcumin removes free radicals from your body. These byproducts of metabolism are damaging to cellular DNA and other cell components. Curcumin also inhibits a number of natural chemicals made by your immune cells when they initiate inflammation. One of these, called tumor necrosis factor alpha or TNF-alpha, has been identified as central to the pathology of Crohn's disease. In an extensive review of research on dietary substances and various diseases published in 2004 in "Bioinformatics," a strong positive link between use of curcumin and improvement in Crohn's disease was identified, leading the authors to conclude that the supplement is beneficial for patients suffering from the disorder.
Daily Dosage
Turmeric or curcumin extracted from turmeric is available as a supplement from many health food stores. Choose a preparation standardized for its content of curcumin. The recommended dose of curcumin is 400 to 600 mg, three times daily. Curcumin is generally a safe supplement, although it may produce mild stomach upset in some people. It also may interact with some medications, including blood thinners, drugs that reduce stomach acid or diabetes drugs. Discuss with your doctor whether taking curcumin is a good strategy for your situation.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Clearinghouse: Crohn's Disease
- Crohns.net: Botanicals in the Treatment of Crohn's Disease
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Turmeric
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Turmeric
- "Bioinformatics"; Mining MEDLINE for Implicit Links Between Dietary Substances and Diseases; P. Srinivasan and B. Libbus; August 2004
