While research on particular supplements is optimistic, it’s still too early to declare if they benefit. For centuries, turmeric herb has been used in Ayurveda, traditional Chinese, and Unani medicine to alleviate arthritis pain and other ailments. Modern-day science indicates that its active compound, curcumin, may help resist inflammation. Even though there’s little research on turmeric for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, it may be worth trying since curcumin works like a pain-killing agent in your body. To keep things relatively simple, I’ll stick to research while telling you the ‘Truth about Turmeric for treating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Turmeric for Fibromyalgia & CFS

If you’ve got pain, fatigue, and sleep disorder with fibromyalgia, you may wonder if nature-based dietary supplements can provide you some substitute to relieve yourself. Medical professionals are grappling with the exact question. Think how long a supplement has been used for fibromyalgia symptoms. Newer supplements that have become prevalent in the past 3 or 4 years don’t maintain a long track history or record, so the long-term effects aren’t known still. However, you may say short-term effects are ascertained. Fibromyalgia is a long-lasting illness that yields pain and tiredness throughout the body, fatigue, and trouble sleeping. Scientists do not entirely understand what pushes it, but people with the disease have an amplified pain sensitivity.

Curcumin in turmeric may offer a host of health benefits that could help ease fibromyalgia symptoms and CFS. As I mentioned earlier, studies have yet to inspect it, especially for these ailments. Besides a bit of research on turmeric/curcumin, additional analyses need to be done to nail down what it can do for us. The spice is accepted to be an:

• Antioxidant agent
• Anti-inflammatory approver
• Anti-viral reliever
• Digestive aid
• Topical antiseptic as a wound healer

It’s been used as a cure for many conditions, including:

• Arthritis, Pain, and Inflammation
• Anti-cancer therapy
• Cognitive dysfunction
• Remedy against Skin diseases
• Gallbladder function
• Hypertension
• Urinary tract infections
• Protecting against Dementia, Alzheimer & Parkinson’s disease when paired with vitamin D
• Protect liver damage
• Downsizing breast cancer risk in menopausal women 
• Declining the risk of Diabetes (type II)

How can turmeric be beneficial for people with chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia?

Because curcumin in turmeric fights inflammation, making it possible to treat or manage fibromyalgia pain by reducing oxidative stress caused by free radicle damage. Since inflammation is a common symptom for people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, it can damage nerve endings in the brain and spinal cord.

A 2016 study found that curcumin was safe and effective for treating anxiety and depression symptoms and antidepressant medications.

Curcumin, an active substance in turmeric, helps create new brain cells. This can positively impact cognitive symptoms like memory problems, focus, and concentration. Further, it may help improve memory problems, stress, and attention span in people with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). So curcumin is famous among science academia due to its ability to create new brain cells (neurogenesis).

How much and how to use turmeric for Fibromyalgia and CFS:

The Joint United Nations, World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives, and European Food Safety Authority reported that the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of curcumin is 0–3 mg per kg of body weight. In India and other Asia regions, where fresh turmeric is used in many traditional foods, the average dietary intake is often estimated to be between 1-2 grams per day. A 2016 study found that curcumin was safe and effective for treating depression symptoms and antidepressant medications. The study used a high dose of curcumin (1,500 mg), so you should get your doctor’s recommendation before starting any supplement regimen.

In order to reduce pain frequency experienced by patients living with fibromyalgia and CFS, you can take turmeric as:

• Turmeric curcumin supplements 
• Golden Turmeric Milk 
• Turmeric tea 
• Turmeric Rice
• Add it to soup
• Enjoy it in a curry 

There’s not enough evidence to say whether or not turmeric will help with fibromyalgia symptoms, but some people have reported that it helps them manage their condition by reducing inflammation and relieving joint pain. You can also use turmeric on your skin if you don’t want to ingest it—for example, adding some turmeric powder to your bathwater could help soothe sore muscles, or you can use turmeric essential oil on the affected area. If you’re thinking about trying turmeric for your fibromyalgia symptoms, don’t expect immediate relief—it may take several weeks before you notice any improvement in your condition.

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

Turmeric should not be used by pregnant women or those who are breastfeeding. In addition, talk with your doctor before taking turmeric if you’re considering adding this supplement to your diet because it could interact with other medications (such as blood thinners).

THE CONCLUSION

Turmeric is a spice that owns many health benefits. It has been used to treat pain, depression, and cognitive symptoms like forgetfulness and poor concentration.  Although turmeric is not a cure for fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, it can relieve some symptoms. It can also improve your quality of life by improving your sleep, mood, and pain levels.

REFERENCES

Fernández-Araque A, Verde Z, Torres-Ortega C, Sainz-Gil M, Velasco-Gonzalez V, González-Bernal JJ, Mielgo-Ayuso J. Effects of Antioxidants on Pain Perception in Patients with Fibromyalgia-A Systematic Review. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35566585/ J Clin Med. 2022 Apr 27;11(9):2462. doi: 10.3390/jcm11092462. PMID: 35566585; PMCID: PMC9099826.

Shen CL, Schuck A, Tompkins C, Dunn DM, Neugebauer V. Bioactive Compounds for Fibromyalgia-like Symptoms: A Narrative Review and Future Perspectives. Int J Environ Res Public Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8998198/ 2022 Mar 31;19(7):4148. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19074148. PMID: 35409832; PMCID: PMC8998198.

Paultre K, Cade W, Hernandez D, Reynolds J, Greif D, Best TM. Therapeutic effects of turmeric or curcumin extract on pain and function for individuals with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7812094/ BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2021 Jan 13;7(1):e000935. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000935. PMID: 33500785; PMCID: PMC7812094.

Jurenka JS. Anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, a major constituent of Curcuma longa: a review of preclinical and clinical research. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19594223/ Altern Med Rev. 2009 Jun;14(2):141-53. Erratum in: Altern Med Rev. 2009 Sep;14(3):277. PMID: 19594223.

Gupta A, Vij G, Sharma S, Tirkey N, Rishi P, Chopra K. Curcumin, a polyphenolic antioxidant, attenuates chronic fatigue syndrome in murine water immersion stress model. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19159825/ Immunobiology. 2009;214(1):33-9. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2008.04.003. Epub 2008 Jun 17. PMID: 19159825.

Hewlings SJ, Kalman DS. Curcumin: A Review of Its Effects on Human Health. Foods. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5664031/ 2017 Oct 22;6(10):92. doi: 10.3390/foods6100092. PMID: 29065496; PMCID: PMC5664031.

Xu Y, Ku B, Tie L, Yao H, Jiang W, Ma X, Li X. Curcumin reverses the effects of chronic stress on behavior, the HPA axis, BDNF expression and phosphorylation of CREB. Brain Res. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17022948/ 2006 Nov 29;1122(1):56-64. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2006.09.009. Epub 2006 Oct 3. PMID: 17022948.

van Campen, C. , Riepma, K. and Visser, F. (2018) The Effect of Curcumin on Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: An Open Label Study. International Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9, 356-366. doi: 10.4236/ijcm.2018.95031.