Turmeric

Turmeric is very similar to ALA in it’s benefit. The active ingredient of this kitchen spice is curcumin. Turmeric appears to be more effective than curcumin, the extract according to studies. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, pro-apoptotic, chemo preventive, chemotherapeutic, anti-proliferative, wound healing, anti-parasitic, anti-malarial and anti-bacterial activity. All of these characteristics are shared by Turmeric.

Turmeric is best made from bulk Organic Turmeric that has 1% black pepper added to it. The black pepper increases it bioactivity. It is also a lot cheaper buying in bulk and making your own (for example: $18 for 2000 gms in bulk, or $25 for 12 gms in capsules produced by some company).

It has been shown to benefits IBS, a condition co-morbid with a lot of CFS patients.

In terms of coagulation

  • Increases fibrinolytic activity
  • Inhibits platelet aggregation, increases coagulation. time
  • Reduces high level of fibrinogen

In terms of inflammation, it reduces IL6, IL8, TNFalpha. It is a known neuroprotective.
It also has some features that ALA does not have:

  • Inhibits EBV, and is an antiviral
  • Inhibits H. pylori
  • Inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)

Like ALA, it also normalizes Choline, an amino acid. Choline is high in occipital cortex areas of the brain and abnormally high in most patients. Choline reduces with viral clearance. This reduction has been documented to produce significant improvements in verbal learning, memory, and visuo-spatial memory.