I almost get the feeeling I have written about nothing else BUT curry flavoring/turmeric/ curcumin this year - what amazing stuff it is.  I have recently made friends with a student from India who has helped me a bit with my computer - and he says repeatedly:  Indians are LUCKY!

Quite apart from its anti-inflammatory properties, the studies being done in connection with cancer, the connection to mental health - now it seems that Cyrcumin also prevents arthritic damage to the joints.

Read the report here.

Order The Vitamin Lady's Curcumin/Turmeric extract here.

The wondrous effect broccoli can have on cancer cells has been in the news frequently these past years;  now scientists have determined that, in vitro at least, a substance in the vegetable called sulforophane has anti-inflammatory activity, controllling the cox-2 enzyme .

Read a report here

Remember though, as is often the case, excessive heat destroys the compound.  Crushing the broccoli seems to have the most effect, so juicing it is good.

Consider also the Sulforophane supplement called BROCCOMAX:  one of those a day contains 30 mg of SGS (sulforophane glucosinolate)

Well, that isn't quite accurate, of course.

There are other ways to control pain that do not involve popping a pill, but they require more personal commitment and discipline, and our culture has led us to believe that we are not to blame for our ills, that we cannot control them, but that there is a prescription pill available which can immediately put things right. Not!

"While Bextra has been shown to put some patients at greater risk of cardiovascular reactions, the tipping point for Health Canada was the prevalence of severe skin reactions in users of the drug, some of them causing death."  (Montreal Gazette, April 8th) One news source said that it can cause skin to come off quote "in sheets".

Read my newsletter this week-end (April 9th ) to learn how to control inflammation in a positive way.

Read the latest on the possible consequences of the Pill Mentality.

Read my comprehensive article on Joint Health here.

Originally published Feb 21st 2005

So tell me - which would you rather be?  In pain, or dead?  Because thanks to the FDA's latest amazing decision, you will have your choice.

So far, no-one has looked into the affiliations of the panel members who made this decision, but I have to say, in this cynical age, that was my first thought.  Money talks.

Addendum, Feb 28th: Connections between panelists and the manufacturers of the Cox 2 inhibitors

Nor has there been much discussion about natural alternatives, or life-style changes, which can have significant positive effects with nothing but beneficial side effects!

Here is reaction to the decision by the FDA

Here is a list of alternative anti-inflammatories.

Here is my comprehensive article about Joint Pain

It's enough to make anyone wonder what is going on behind the scenes at the drug companies:  I suspect that the huge profits to be made from any drug that can control pain in these inflammatory diseases is affecting their judgment.

First,  we have the really horrendous figures from the Vioxx scandal - 27,000 THOUSAND heart attacks being the figure mentioned, and thousands of deaths - and now, a cancer risk in connection with the Rheumatoid arthritis drug Remicade .

If you are using drugs for arthritis pain, please familiarize yourself with the alternatives: yes, it is more work to take charge of your own health.  But at least no-one can argue it's not safer!

My article on natural help for arthritis is here.