Living with pain, inflammation and chronic systemic conditions can have a significant impact on daily life, your mental health and your general wellbeing. 

Natural therapies delivered intravenously can help you get the best out of life via a more effective method than traditional oral supplements. 

One of these treatments is curcumin, a compound with numerous benefits for the whole body. 

What is curcumin?

Curcumin is found in the curcuma longa plant, whose roots are used to create the ground yellow spice turmeric, often used in curries and South Asian cuisines. It is one of the curcuminoids, the active plant compounds, that make up approximately three per cent of the plant’s root. 

The wellness industry has promoted turmeric as a shortcut to better health, through pills, in drinks such as shakes and lattes, and in supplements. However, it is actually the curcumin found in turmeric that is the effective part. 

Clinical research has shown that an effective dose of curcumin is 1,000mg per day. Given the percentage of active curcumin compound in ground turmeric, it would take a very large amount of the spice to have any significant benefit. 

What are the benefits of curcumin?

Clinical trials have shown that curcumin could be useful in treating inflammatory conditions and in sports recovery. 

Antioxidant properties

The phytonutrients found in turmeric are known to reduce the effects of free radicals and therefore protect the body from pollutants and damage, and they can reduce the markers of oxidative stress. 

Anti-inflammatory properties

The effects of curcumin on chronic conditions that have symptoms of inflammation of joints, muscles and systemic inflammation have been studied. Results of the research show a reduction in pain and an improvement in physical functioning for the patients. 

Reducing metabolic syndrome symptoms

Using curcumin can help reduce some of the symptoms, including inflammation, of metabolic syndrome according to a systematic review published in Frontiers in Endocrinology. 

Blood sugar management

Curcumin supplements were also found to reduce fasting blood glucose and have an effect on insulin resistance, making it useful for blood sugar management for pre-diabetic patients as part of a diabetes prevention programme. 

Anxiety and mood disorders

Research into the efficacy of curcumin treatments for mental health has been limited and further clinical research is needed to provide substantial evidence of benefits. 

Pain relief

Curcumin can be used to manage muscle soreness, swelling and inflammation in athletes. It can aid with recovery from activity and improve performance. It has also been trialled with osteoarthritis patients. 

These are only a few of the benefits shown in clinical trials; however, there are many applications for curcumin for chronic and acute conditions that have yet to be explored fully.  

Why is it delivered in an IV treatment?

Although the health benefits of curcumin have been well documented, one of the issues with treatment is bioavailability. 

Bioavailability is the rate and percentage amount of the substance that ends up in your bloodstream and has an effect. It is the level of absorption in the body and how much is used. 

Curcumin has a low bioavailability when ingested in food and through oral supplements. However, to increase the effectiveness of the nutrient, it can be administered through an intravenous (IV) drip. 

IV treatment has been shown to achieve complete bioavailability for drugs and nutrients administered. That means 100 per cent of the substance enters the bloodstream and increases its effectiveness for treatments. 

To discuss your curcumin IV treatment with London Natural Therapies, get in touch today.