Over the past year, The Child Development Center has been successfully utilizing a natural supplement (Enhansa®) that appears to be improving the health of our patients’ gastrointestinal system, body and mind. The turmeric plant and its product, curcumin, have been the subject of a number of media reports, lately. How can the preparation help patients with ADHD and ASD?
Turmeric subsoil stems>powder>curcumin molecule
What it is
Turmeric is part of the ginger family, mostly known for its role as the main spice in curry. Curcuminoid compounds are utilized to treat a variety of medical conditions; including auto-immunity in the blood, rashes in the skin, problems with the gut, parasites within the body, and disorders of the liver, kidney, and brain.
Why it works
Many doctors ask, “How can one chemical help so many diverse conditions?”
An emerging theme in the practice of modern medicine is the ability of an affected body part to heal itself. Such a belief has been central to other therapeutic sciences for a long time. In that paradigm, natural substances that promote repair are at least as important as medicines that attack a presumed cause.Turmeric contains curcumin, which possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Given that the compound successfully accomplishes those tasks, improvements in the efficiency and function of any organ throughout the body should be understandable.
How it is administered
Various preparations have been marketed as the ‘best’ formulation; including pills, crushed, with/without taste, and offerings from numerous manufacturers. Powder with black pepper is popular.
Similar to most medications, it is best to go ‘low and slow’. As the patient displays individual tolerance to a given pattern, the dose and/or frequency can be adjusted.
Effects
We have received lots of emails describing a variety of results – mostly positive, some negative, all instructive:
–I have noticed great improvements in cognition and language with your suggested supplement. She seems a little more irritable, but the the gains are so good.
-The curcumin has been amazing. Improved language and cognition. Significant improvements.
-He felt warm for two days, but never registered a fever. He is doing amazing in school! He is now sitting with the other kids and doing his seat work. According to the school staff, they have witnessed attempts to talk and word approximations. The ABA therapist visited him at school yesterday, and reported the same. She is extremely pleased with his progress, and we are as well. I’m going to send you a picture.
-Our child reacted well to the turmeric and LDN compound. At first we thought he had a reaction to it, but he was getting sick. We have continued on the path and he seems to be reacting nicely. He is babbling much more and mood has improved…
-This supplement has been amazing so far at 75 mg bid. Her focus and sustained attention and receptive language are much improved and all her therapists across the board have noticed!
-It has been amazing. Improved language and cognition. Significant improvements.
Side Effects
I also wanted to ask, his poop has turned yellowish, it used to be dark brown. Is this normal with the supplements?
Changes in the color of urine and stool are due to the intense yellow color.
Our child was on the product for two days and an intense rash developed around his eyes! I stopped giving it, and it is slowly getting better.
Rashes are the most common side effect, so far. Reducing the dose often improves the problem, but close medical supervision is paramount.
Conclusion
As with all medical interventions, your child should be under the care of an experienced practitioner who can make specific recommendations. It is impossible to test all brands. Patients and problems are so diverse that, generally, doctors stick with the supplements with which we become most familiar.
When given to the appropriate population, with close followup of the clinical course, adding curcumin to the treatment protocol appears safe, and can provide significant improvement for patients with ASD.
Cumin plant, powder, seeds
By the way
Curcumin is not cumin, which is a different spice that is derived from seeds. Both products are used in curry. They share many similar flavoring and medicinal properties.
Thanks for the article doctor. It was very instructive and it gives an idea as to what to expect while running this protocol.
Hello, one of the emails from parents says that their child responded well to the “turmeric and LDN compound”, is this just one product containing both the turmeric and the LDN? and where can I find it? thank you very much.
It was the two products separately, not a single supplement.
Where can I purchase these vitamins in Illinois? Is it Curcumin & Turmeric?
The web is full of ideas!
Any doctors recommended in Chapel Hill NC that will help with this treatment?
The Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs… Medmaps.org… search North Carolina and you should see someone close.
Great article! I shared this with family who had questions. Thanks for the information and also sharing patient feedback.
I can’t wait to start our son on Enhansa! I also love turmeric as a cooking spice and to take orally. There are so many positive health benefits and I’m thinking it will help!
Hello! I start giveng to my 8 y old autistic girl turmeric powder mixed with black pepper. She sufferd from costipation. It is been 1 week now and she is doing fine. Now her bowel muviment is every day and her tamy is flat now. I give her 250 mg turmeric powder every day. But I dont know if yhe dose it too much or is ok. And l dont know for how long I can continue to give it to her. Can I go for months or for years?
Hello,
Eastern populations ‘take’ turmeric for their whole life, in their diet
Dose is appropriate to continue GI health.
I KNOW TURMERIC IS A WONDER DRUG BUT CAN IT HELP WITH SENSORY ISSUES
Especially when they arise from gastrointestinal issues.
I’ve been having issues with both low selfr-esteem and brain fog, and have read that the anti-imflamatory properties of curcumin can help with this. I have a bottle of turmeric capsules and wondering what do you recomend is an ideal dosage? I’m 29 years at approx 12st if that helps?
Thanks
I’m sorry… adults are a different department (unless they are my aging patents). Plenty of info on the web, though.
Hello dear reader. FYI , yes it has worked for my depression and brain fog the very first day I started taking turmeric. I am taking 500 mg of turmeric in capsule form, make sure it has pepper add it.
I am using a curcumin with 95% curcumin IDs on my 13 yrs old 110lb autistic son. I was giving him a capsule every day for about two months and now started giving him 2 capsules. 2 capsules provide 1650 mg . Is that too little r two much.
Thanks
I’m not sure that there is an ‘effective/safe’ level for the supplement. Bowel tolerance should help with ?too much, while stool pattern, etc. might help with ? enough.
HI, MY DAUGHTER IS ABOUT TO BE 11. THEY NP AT HER DOCTORS OFFICE SAID SHE CAN HAVE 250-500 MG OF TURMERIC.
That’s up to you and the physicians, right?
Can you use as a spice
I’m a Doctor, Jim. Not a chef!
Thanks Dr Udell
My daughter has been taking enhansa for 9 months. She got a minor rash at the beginning and stayed there on and off. Unfortunately, the rash has gone a little crazy and is spreading into her arms and legs.
I still believe it helps her so much with awareness and language that I don’t want to stop it, but I need to do something with that rash. Do you have any suggestion?
First, as always, I suggest that she see a doctor – ?could be something else?
Second, try giving every other day, or less, and see if you get results, and whether the rash abates.
Pls can tumeric cause hyperactivity in ADHD and ASD
Thanks
Yep, sometimes the reaction is not what you would expect. I must be learning something from the 15% of children who cannot tolerate it, but I’m not sure what it is, yet…
Everyone doesn’t react to every product (even a beneficial one) the same. Sometimes a lower dose can help.
I’ve been making my 4yo son who has ASD Tumeric Bliss balls, I also make them for our 1yo and myself. Myself I have noticed an improvement in my mood and energy. My sons I have noticed the same but for my 4yo. He is less irritable, clearly and calmly communicating and is able to make better choices. Kindy teachers have said the same. Turmeric is amazing, I’m glad I got into this while my boys are still little so their brains have the best start to life and learning. I wish more people believed me when I tell them it’s as simple as eating a Bliss Ball.
What is a bliss ball? Please post how you make it, or the link. 🙂
Hi there, I thought the above original article very interesting but I couldn’t see where it said how much turmeric to give your child with autism. Therefore, can I ask how much turmeric do you put in your Bliss Balls? I give my son a 1/8th tsp of turmeric paste daily in his bone broth. Thx Jo
What is the dose for an 8 year boy with autism/ ahdh ?
For any supplement (or medication for that matter), start low (1/2 the dose the bottle recommends) and go slow (increases every 5-7 days). In this case the improvements would be gastrointestinal (better BMs), or even better behavior due to addressing inflammation.