curcumin and Abdominal-Pain

Most women experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) at their reproductive age. PMS is a combination of psychological, physical and behavioral changes that interfere with familial communication and social activities.. Different methods have been suggested for treating PMS and one of them is herbal medicine. This study was done to evaluate the effects of curcumin on severity of PMS symptoms.. This research was a clinical trial, double-blinded study. After having identified persons suffering from PMS, participants were randomly allocated to placebo (n=35) and curcumin (n=35) groups. Then each participant received two capsules daily for seven days before menstruation and for three days after menstruation for three successive cycles and they recorded severity of the symptoms by daily record questionnaire.. The baseline level of PMS symptoms of before intervention did not differ between groups. While after three consecutive cycles treatment with curcumin, total severity of PMS score had reduced from 102.06±39.64 to 42.47±16.37 (mean change: 59.59; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 46.19-72.99) and in Placebo, total severity of PMS score changed from 106.06±44.12 to 91.60±43.56 (mean change: 14.45; 95% CI: 2.69 to 26.22). Furthermore, difference between mean changes was significant (mean difference: 45.14; 95% CI: 6.10-14.98).. Our results for the first time showed a potential advantageous effect of curcumin in attenuating severity of PMS symptoms, which were probably mediated by modulation of neurotransmitters and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin.

Topics: Abdominal Pain; Adolescent; Adult; Curcumin; Double-Blind Method; Female; Headache; Humans; Irritable Mood; Phytotherapy; Premenstrual Syndrome; Young Adult

To assess the effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) extract on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptomology in otherwise healthy adults.. Partially blinded, randomized, two-dose, pilot study.. Five hundred (500) volunteers were screened for IBS using the Rome II criteria. Two hundred and seven (207) suitable volunteers were randomized.. One or two tablets of a standardized turmeric extract taken daily for 8 weeks.. IBS prevalence, symptom-related quality of life (IBSQOL) and self-reported effectiveness.. IBS prevalence decreased significantly in both groups between screening and baseline (41% and 57%), with a further significant drop of 53% and 60% between baseline and after treatment, in the one- and two-tablet groups respectively (p < 0.001). A post-study analysis revealed abdominal pain/discomfort score reduced significantly by 22% and 25% in the one- and two-tablet group respectively, the difference tending toward significance (p = 0.071). There were significant improvements in all bar one of the IBSQOL scales of between 5% and 36% in both groups, approximately two thirds of all subjects reported an improvement in symptoms after treatment, and there was a favorable shift in self-reported bowel pattern. There were no significant differences between groups.. Turmeric may help reduce IBS symptomology. Placebo controlled trials are now warranted to confirm these findings.

Topics: Abdominal Pain; Aged; Curcuma; Diarrhea; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Gastrointestinal Agents; Humans; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Plant Extracts; Severity of Illness Index; Single-Blind Method; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Right upper abdominal pain may often be caused by biliary dyskinesia. Choleretica and cholekinetica are widely used for medical treatment of complaints due to biliary dyskinesia despite of a lack of randomized clinical trials which may prove their efficacy and potency.. The present prospective multicenter pilot study analyzes the effects of Cholagogum F Nattermann (dried extracts from Schöllkraut and Curcuma) in comparison with placebo in patients with dumpy or colicky abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant due to biliary dyskinesia. Cholagogum was given in 39 patients and placebo in 37 patients for 3 weeks, respectively.. The reduction of dumpy and colicky pain was more rapid during the first treatment week in patients who received Cholagogum F when compared to those who received placebo. The reduction of other complaints (feeling of being filled up, food intolerance, nausea, vomiting, meteorism) (secondary variables) was similar in patients who received Cholagogum F versus placebo during the whole treatment period. The were no side-effects in patients who received Cholagogum.. The study presents the first solid indication that extracts from Schöllkraut/Curcuma (Cholagogum F Nattermann) which have widely been used in daily practice for many decades have beneficial effects on pain due to biliary dyskinesia.

Topics: Abdominal Pain; Adult; Cholagogues and Choleretics; Cholestasis; Curcumin; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; Dyspepsia; Female; Humans; Male; Phytotherapy; Pilot Projects; Plant Extracts; Prospective Studies; Statistics, Nonparametric