Curcumin in TURMERIC Found More Effective Than Phenylbutazone


haberlin's HerbalsCurcumin reduces acute pain and inflammation better than NSAID phenylbutazone (5)
The anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin was evaluated in a group of patients who underwent surgery or suffered from trauma. A double-blind controlled-trial in which three groups received curcumin (400 mg/day), a placebo, or phenylbutazone (100 mg/day) for five consecutive days after surgery. Treatment with curcumin resulted in reduced inflammation more effectively than phenylbutazone. (5)
Phenylbutazone is a powerful analgesic (painkiller) and an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Unlike NSAIDS, which have dangerous side-effects and black-box warnings, curcumin is safe and has no side-effects, even at doses up to 8,000 mg per day. (10, 11)
References:
5. Satoskar R.R., et al. “Evaluation of anti-inflammatory property of curcumin in patients with post-operative inflammation,” Int. J. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. Toxicol.: 24(12), 651-4, 1986.

10. Sarker, S.D., et al. “Bioactivity of Turmeric,” Turmeric: The genus Curcuma; Medicinal and aromatic plants–industrial profiles, edited by Ravindran, P.N., et al. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2007.
11. Cheng, A.L., et al. “Phase I clinical trial of curcumin, a chemoprotective agent, in patients with high-risk or pre-malignant lesions. Anti-cancer Res. 2001; July-Aug 21:2895-2900: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11712783?dopt=Abstract.
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A preliminary trial in people with rheumatoid arthritis found curcumin to be somewhat useful for reducing inflammation and symptoms such as pain and stiffness.8 A separate double-blind trial found that curcumin was superior to placebo or phenylbutazone (an NSAID) for alleviating post-surgical inflammation.9References:

8.  Deodhar SD, Sethi R, Srimal RC. Preliminary studies on antirheumatic activity of curcumin (diferuloyl methane). Ind J Med Res 1980;71:632-4.
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Numerous experimental studies have demonstrated
that curcumin produces exceptional anti-inflammatory
effects (5,6). Curcumin is as effective as cortisone or the
potent anti-inflammatory drug phenylbutazone in models
of acute inflammation (7). However, while phenylbutazone
and cortisone are associated with significant
toxicity, curcumin is without side effects. Animals fed
very high levels of curcumin (3 g/kg body weight) did not
exhibit any significant adverse effects (8).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1476322/pdf/canvetj00015-0073.pdf/?tool=pmcentrez