The spice Turmeric is commonly used to flavor curry and to color mustard. There is accumulating anecdotal evidence that Curcumin, a component of Turmeric, may alleviate some of the symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis, and several laboratory studies support potentiation of CFTR function by this compound1,2,3
More research is needed to determine if natural compounds safely consumed for centuries in foods may be effective treatments for CF.
The link below reports promising results in a CF child with home use of natural therapies:
http://dutchmagicfactory.blogspot.com/
1. Curcumin and genistein additively potentiate G551D-CFTR. Yu YC, Miki H, Nakamura Y, Hanyuda A, Matsuzaki Y, Abe Y, Yasui M, Tanaka K, Hwang TC, Bompadre SG, Sohma Y. J Cyst Fibros. 2011 Jul;10(4):243-52.
2. Curcumin cross-links cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) polypeptides and potentiates CFTR channel activity by distinct mechanisms. Bernard K, Wang W, Narlawar R, Schmidt B, Kirk KL.J Biol Chem. 2009 Nov 6;284(45):30754-65.
3. Curcumin opens cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator channels by a novel mechanism that requires neither ATP binding nor dimerization of the nucleotide-binding domains. Wang W, Bernard K, Li G, Kirk KL.J Biol Chem. 2007 Feb 16;282(7):4533-44.