CuraMed Supplement Review, Benefits, Side Effects and Price

CuraMed is a dietary supplement manufactured and marketed by Terry Naturally Vitamins. It contains a patented form of curcumin, which is one of the active constituents found in the turmeric plant (Cucurma longa).

Terry Naturally’s CuraMed supplement is made with BCM-95 Curcumin, which is a form of this herbal extract that is said to be better absorbed by the body. It combines curcumin with turmeric essential oils and delivers up to 10 times more curcumin into the blood than standard supplements.

BCM-95 Curcumin extract has been the subject of 22 published studies and is well-researched for its effects on free radicals, inflammation and immune health.

According to its manufacturer, CuraMed suports a healthy inflammation response, helps protect the brain from oxidative stress, maintains joint comfort, promotes detoxification, enhances mood and contributes to long-term cardiovascular health.

CuraMed is marketed as a more effective form of curcumin, which is the primary active constituent in Turmeric.

Turmeric is a plant that is indigenous to India. More specifically, turmeric is a herbaceous perennial that belongs to the same botanical family as ginger: Zingiberaceae.

Both ginger and turmeric are rhizomatous plants; meaning they produce rhizomes instead of roots. Roots grow vertically; rhizomes grow horizontally beneath soil, and produce root “shoots” that penetrate the surface to produce interlinked above-ground plants.

While ginger contains bioactive phytonutrients (plant chemicals) called ginsenosides, turmeric contains curcuminoids.

According to Integrative Therapeutics, “Curcuminoids are a family of active compounds within turmeric. Curcuminoids are polyphenolic pigments and include curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin.”

Typically, a turmeric plant contains between 2% and 5% curcumin. Also, it has been demonstrated that standard curcumin extracts are not well absorbed into the bloodstream, meaning they have low oral bioavailability.

That means that it would take a very large amount of whole or powdered turmeric rhizome to provide therapeutic doses of curcumin.

For this reason, numerous curcumin extract supplements are available, each claiming to provide enhanced bioavailability and absorption. There are currently more than 1700 dietary supplement products that contain turmeric extract.

In summary, turmeric is a plant that contains natural chemicals called curcuminoids – and curcumin is the curcuminoid that has been most studied clinically. CuraMed is one brand of curcumin supplement that is purported to be more effective than plain curcumin, because of how it is formulated.

According to the product website, CuraMed contains a patented curcuminoid complex called BCM-95. This extract of turemric rhizome contains curcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin and demetoxycurcumin – and is enhanced with essential oils of turmeric.

While some other dietary supplements also use BCM-95 in their unique formulations, CuraMed is purported to offer superior absorption into the bloodstream. According to the manufacturer:

    BCM-95 provides as much as 50 times more curcuminoids than an equal amount of turmeric rhizome.
    CuraMed is made with a patented technology that enhances cellular absorption and sustains retention in the body.
    As a result, CuraMed delivers up to 10 times the amount of BCM-95 to the bloodstream.

According to Terry Naturals, “Therefore, when compared gram per gram, CuraMed delivers up to 10 times more curcumin than plain curcumin 95% and up to 500 times more curcumin than found in an equal amount of turmeric.”

CuraMed Health Benefits

The CuraMed website states that its benefits are based on 30 separate clinical studies involving BCM-95. Following are the health benefits of curcumin in CuraMed as they are listed on the product website:

    Supports bile secretion, bowel motility, gut mucosal lining and fermentation processes;
    Promotes healthy levels of antioxidants like glutathione and superoxide dismutase;
    Supports healthy inflammation response through multiple biological pathways;
    Supports healthy brain chemical levels to enhance mood and well-being;
    Supports vascular integrity, heart function and cholesterol balance;
    Supports cartilage structure and maintains flexibility in joints;
    Protects RNA/DNA and supports multiple cellular processes;
    Relieves occasional muscle pain due to exercise or overuse;
    Helps maintain concentration and focus;

The CuraMed manufacturer also states that curcumin has a very high ORAC value; meaning it is a potent antioxidant which can help to limit damage from radical agents. Some of these agents include food additives, pesticides, smog, smoke and pharmaceutical drugs.

The CuraMed website states that independent analyses have reported curcmin’s ORAC score to be greater than 1,500,000. In comparison, raw blueberries – well-respected for their anti-oxidant effects – have an ORAC value of less than 5000.
CuraMed Dosage

There is no standardized dosage recommendation for turmeric, curcumin or CuraMed. No Daily Value (DV) has been established for these dietary supplements.

CuraMed is available in 200 mg, 375 mg and 750 mg formulations. This product is available as either 30, 60 or 120-count containers of softgel capsules.

The manufacturer states that CuraMed is available in different dosages because it offers customers more choice. 750 mg softgels are for those who desire high doses of curcumin, while the 375 mg option is good for maintenance dosing.

There is also a 200 mg hard capsule available for those who prefer this form – and an effervescent formulation for those who cannot swallow pills.

Always follow manufacturer’s recommendations for dosage on all dietary supplement labels, unless otherwise instructed by your doctor.

According to the product website, 30 CuraMed 750 mg softgels cost $33.95. 60-count containers cost $60.95 and 120-count containers cost $109.95.

Sixty CuraMed 375 mg softgels cost $34.95 and 120 cost $62.95. Sixty 200 mg hard capsules cost $29.95. Thirty 350 mg CuraMed Effervescent Tablets cost $29.95.

Other members of the CuraMed product line include CuraMed + DIM Complex, CuraMed Breast, CuraMed Brain, CuraMed Prostate and CuraMed + OPC.

Terry Naturally also sells a curcumin supplement known as Curamin, which is also made with BCM95 Curcumin as well as Boswellia extract, DLPA and Nattokinase.

CuraMed Side Effects

There are no serious or permanent side effects associated with curcumin. According to Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, curcumin and turmeric are generally well-tolerated in most healthy people.

However, in rare cases, some users might experience diarrhea, heartburn, nausea, vomiting and/or other gastrointestinal side effects.
CuraMed Interactions

CuraMed contains curcumin which can interact with various drugs and supplements. Be careful using CuraMed with anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs, cytochrome P450 substrates, estrogen, talinolol, paclitaxil and/or P-glycoprotein substrates. Other interactions are also possible.

If you have any serious health condition, or use prescription medications of any kind, it is best to discuss using CuraMed, or other dietary supplements, with your doctor before beginning.