Sjogren's and Charcot-Marie-Tooth at the end of his newsletter. His main topic for this month's newsletter was Curcumin and the great benefits derived from it for cancer and Alzheimer's patients.

SJOGREN'S---when a reader asked why antioxidants make her pain worse, he replied, "Sjogren's is a syndrome linked to an autoimmune mechanism and several vitamins enhance immunity and can make the symptoms worse. This is especially true for the carotenoids (beta-carotene and astaxanthin). Pure curcumin extract from turmeric would be better. Mixing it with extra virgin olive oil greatly enhances absorption."

"Quercetin is another good anti-inflammatory. Other things that reduce inflammation and autoimmune reactions include high-EPA omega-3 oils, magnesium, skull cap extract (Balcalein), jatoba extract, and hawthorn extract."

CHARCOT-MARIE-TOOTH--when reader asked about reducing pain in hands and feet. His answer, "SMT is a hereditary condition that can result in peripheral neuropathy, a form of damage to the sensory and motor nerves of the body's peripheral nervous system. There is recent evidence that glutamate-type receptors play a role. This means that foods containing higher levels of glutamate or aspartate (aspartame), MSG, soy protein, hydrolyzed proteins, and caseinate, would make the condition worse and cause it to progress more quickly.

"We know that in other peripheral neuropathies, magnesium, curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, and white tea extract can help. Also acetyl-L-carnitine, R-lipoic acid, vitamin B12, folate, niacinamide, riboflavin, and vitamin B6 and B1 can improve nerve function.

"One should avoid all known nerve toxins, such as pesticides and herbicides used in and around the home, and limit mercury and aluminum exposure."

I know a lot of these supplements are in our suggested supplements list, but I'd not seen curcumin and quercetin recommended before. I've subscribed to his newsletter for several years and recently he's been answering more and more questions about pn.

Joan