Elaine's Corner

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The video for this week focuses on turmeric, a spice widely used in Middle Eastern cuisines. This spice has been praised by many alternative medicine practitioners for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, at our core, we prioritize patient education and aim to examine the actual studies to ensure that turmeric is truly worth your time and money without causing harm. Here is the information you might find useful regarding turmeric and its potential benefits for chronic illness. 

Turmeric alone is not very well absorbed into your system. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, can be purchased separately, and uncontrolled studies suggest it may help reduce inflammation associated with bowel diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis. You might have heard that turmeric is effective for scleroderma, but unfortunately, no human studies have confirmed its efficacy in treating this chronic illness. However, in test tubes and animal studies, curcumin does appear to impact inflammation related to scleroderma. Sadly, there is no proof of its effectiveness in human cases. There are specialized formulations of curcumin that are better absorbed, so it’s worth asking your pharmacist about them. 

Are there side effects, you may ask? After all, you never get something for nothing. While side effects are rare, they can include nausea, diarrhea, liver injury, yellow stools, gastrointestinal bleeding, headaches, and rashes. 

If you decide to take curcumin, remember that it is poorly absorbed. Combining it with black pepper, fatty foods, coconut oil, or specialized formulations like nano-particles can enhance absorption. Your pharmacist might be able to provide these options. 

I have included two reasonably good articles about the subject for your reference. Please consult your rheumatologist if you have any questions. 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2637808/

Have a great day. You deserve it! 💐🌼🫶🏼🧚🏽‍♂️🪷🍄🍀

A new study highlights the brain’s role in immune health, underscoring the importance of patient education in managing chronic illness. It truly is a question of mind over matter. Read more in The Economist: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__apple.news_AagUthistQu6K-5FxX99zrMYQ&d=DwIFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=3A6AULDhR87WKmOjV4wkHEkOzXw-rAoleZfwJ4xn83E&m=-CILOZ-9q-y0bV96wp4ECVw_XrEEIgLxFWtLCbxAvpi4DpJ3jX5LtpxFwBAkJdPH&s=UB2dsxYlNrUPhOPw7cNsBBd4i4esgqtCyA2jLvFvxbQ&e= Happy end of January! Let’s all be grateful that we live in a state that keeps its snow in the mountains where it belongs. Meanwhile, remember the concept of placebo? Here is even more evidence that the mind is powerful and affects so many physical functions, especially for those dealing with chronic illnesses like scleroderma. Enjoy. Warm hugs, Elaine Furst

Did you know that scleroderma patients, who often face the challenges of chronic illness, may be taking up to 40 or more medications per day, sometimes twice a day? Add supplements to that amount and you are swallowing a lot of chemicals and other substances! This informative article from the NY Times discusses supplements and what doctors think of them. It is not argumentative but provides valuable patient education so you can understand the logic behind most physicians’ opinions. It contains a wealth of information that you can trust. One very important caveat: all supplements, herbs, tinctures, oils, etc., have side effects ranging from mild or non-existent to dangerous, especially when combined with your regular medications. Even pure grapefruit juice can affect the strength of all the medications you’re taking!

Enjoy the article. There will be no exam this time : - )

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/well/doctors-supplements.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Of course, you can also look up the supplements you’re taking on the USP (the US Pharmacopeia) website: https://qualitymatters.usp.org/categories/dietary-supplements. It has lots of information that you can trust. Remember the important caveat: all supplements, herbs, tinctures, oils, etc., have side effects ranging from mild or non-existent to dangerous, often when combined with your regular medications. Even pure grapefruit juice can affect the strength of all the medications you’re taking!

Enjoy the article. There will be no exam this time : - )

Warm hugs,

Elaine Furst

Editor

efurst@prodigy.net

PS: If you have any suggestions for this educational Nook, let me know via email. Thank you.

This is an upbeat story that highlights how unintended consequences can occur in happy circumstances, not just negative ones. It's important to recognize that your experience with a chronic illness, such as scleroderma, can lead to positive outcomes that benefit others. Through patient education, we can better understand how our challenges can foster innovations and conveniences in everyday life. 

Have a great day. You deserve it! 💐🌼🫶🏼🧚🏽‍♂️🪷🍄🍀