For just over a week now I had a little trouble with the muscle at the top of my right arm. Normally pains like this go away but this one has lingered and was starting to make me feel grouchy.
I tried various things such as massaging the area, yoga, and relaxation. Unusually, none of these methods were working, so I decided that maybe it is a slight inflammation causing a trapped nerve. I couldn't seem to lift my arm when my elbow was bent. It would send a sharp shock down my arm which was becoming rather annoying.
So today I decided to make my go-to paste of turmeric, black pepper, and agave syrup.
Before I was vegan, I used to use honey and this was my first time trying with a vegan substitute. I was a little concerned as the honey would have provided added benefits but that's ok as the main ingredients I need to treat my problem are turmeric and black pepper.
Turmeric is probably one of the best-documented spices that have medicinal qualities that actually work. A number of studies have shown that curcumin is the main compound that alleviates inflammation. This particular study is a good reference to the effectiveness of turmeric. When mixed with black pepper at the correct dosage it can be easily absorbed into the body. Black pepper contains a compound named piperine and it is this active compound that allows our bodies to absorb curcumin effectively.
Back in 2014, during my 4th pregnancy, I developed an inflammation in my inner ear. I went to the doctor for advice and to my surprise, he advised me to make a turmeric and black pepper preparation. Well, I nearly fell off the chair I was sitting on. I wish I was still with that GP as he was always looking for a more holistic approach to treating ailments. Yes, these beautiful angelic doctors do exist! I had previously written articles for my website about the benefits of turmeric and was fully aware of what to do.
Now, the key thing to remember is that this shouldn't be used at the first sign of pain. It is important to mainly use it when the pain or inflammation lasts longer than a few days to a week.
Inflammation is our body's way of naturally responding to potential infections, without it, we are more susceptible to becoming ill from pathogens. Therefore, using it for the first symptoms of inflammation may have a detrimental effect on our health. It is more suited to treating inflammation that has been hanging around for too long.
I used the following recipe:
1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper.
A little squeeze of Agave to form a paste.
If it is too dry add a little more.
Mix it all up and it is ready to be consumed.
I take one teaspoon twice daily. I had my first one this afternoon and I can happily say that within the hour, the pain has subsided significantly and I have gained greater mobility in my arm. I have just taken the second dose and am hoping that when I wake up tomorrow the pain will be completely gone. I have enough paste to last me maybe 3 days. Which is the amount of time I intend to use it for as I don't want my body to build up too much of a tolerance to it.
Do you use turmeric for medicinal reasons? What are your experiences of using turmeric for health benefits? I'd love to know in the comments.
~ONE LOVE~
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