• Our Mission

    Our Mission

    Our mission at PCD Smiles is to bring smiles to hospitalized primary ciliary dyskinesia, no mater their age; through the gift of a cheer package. Currently serving only The United States and Canada.
  • Request Cheer Package

    Request Cheer Package

    Know of a hospitalized primary ciliary dyskinesia patient? Please visit our “Request a Cheer Package” link and fill out our secured form to submit them for a cheer package today!
  • Donations

    Donations

    Our cheer package program runs on donations. To see how you can help PCD Smiles, visit our donations section today!
  • The PCD Artist Project is a collaborative effort by artist to raise awareness for PCD & support the PCD Smiles cheer package program. Visit our exhibits today!
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  • Nasal Washes, Yay or Nay?

    Nasal Washes, Yay or Nay?

    Are you Team Yay or Team Nay when it comes to nasal washes for you or your loved one with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD)? Nasal washes are an integral component to PCD care, or rather they could...
  • Disordered Sleeping and Sleep Disturbances in PCD

    Disordered Sleeping and Sleep Disturbances in PCD

    Disordered sleeping and sleep disturbances are more common in PCD than once thought. It’s not surprising given that you need to be able to breathe properly in order to sleep properly. Sleep related...
  • Can I live a Holistic Lifestyle with PCD?

    Can I live a Holistic Lifestyle with PCD?

    There are no studies into holistic lifestyle alongside a primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) diagnosis. There are however a few antidotal reports from the PCD patient population where patients have...
  • PCD Awareness Month a Necessary Evil?

    PCD Awareness Month a Necessary Evil?

    We are a little less than two weeks away from another PCD Awareness Month. I’m just not feeling it this year. It seems to get a little more difficult each year, and I am not sure why it gets more...

Dear Smile E.

My mother in law is huge into holistic medicine and she wants me to start turmeric. Is there any research into turmeric and primary ciliary dyskinesia? Is it safe? Will taking turmeric actually help my respiratory inflammation?

Signed,

Holistic In-Laws

 

Dear Holistic In-Laws,

The curcumin in turmeric has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects which can be beneficial for supporting lung function. A 2020 study involving mice showed scientists that turmeric reduced the inflammation in the lungs of mice giving them better lung function. Turmeric also decreased tumors elsewhere in the bodies of mice. However there are no human studies that have reproduced this result. Mice studies are a good starting point for research, however a good number of times the results see in mice studies as well as other animal studies frequently fail to translate to humans due to various factors. To date there are few pulmonary studies involving curcumin. And the majority of claims that turmeric is great for lungs comes from people’s extrapolation of mice studies that show turmeric’s anti-inflammatory effects.

If you’re interested in alternative medicine and or combining alternative medicine with your current treatment plan I highly recommended that you speak with your medical team before taking on this task on your own, you will be surprised how many doctors are open to the idea of combining alternative medicine into their patient’s treatment plans.my current team is great about this, and are very supportive of my desire to combine alternative medicine into my current overall treatment plan. It doesn’t hurt to ask. And it could actually harm you not to ask your team. Stay safe, be smart, and Turtle On my friend!

Yours Truly,

Smile E. Turtle

 

Do you have a question for Smile E.? 

Please EMAIL your questions to; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

And tune in next Sunday to read the latest Ask Smile E.

Join our Facebook group Turtle Talk Café today, click here.

We have several ways that you can donate to PCD Smiles;

- Visit Smile E. Turtle's Amazon Wishlist

- For more information on how you can donate, please visit our "Donation" page to check out our "Do & Don't policies.

- Or sponsor a PCD Smiles cheer package today!

- To shop for your “Official” turtle care ribbon gear today, visit PCD Style or Smile E. Cove

Thank you for your consideration!

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