Welcome to the
Ruscio Research Report

In each edition, I’ll share the most interesting and actionable findings from the latest health studies so you can stay informed (without sifting through dense medical journals).

Here’s what I found this month:

Curcumin Cut Hot Flashes Nearly in Half

Hot flashes are often treated as something women simply have to endure. But a 2026 double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) followed 40 postmenopausal women for three months and found that 1,000 mg of curcuminoids per day significantly reduced symptoms.

Women taking curcuminoids experienced about seven fewer hot flashes per week than those taking a placebo, without making any other changes to diet or lifestyle.

Dr. Ruscio's take: Hormone therapy certainly has its place, but this study is a good reminder that well-studied natural therapies may also provide meaningful relief. Given curcumin's safety profile, it's a reasonable place to start for many women.

If you're looking for a highly absorbable curcumin supplement, our CurcuSelect is formulated to support a healthy inflammatory response.

A Simple Diet Shift Outperformed Standard Care for Endometriosis

Diet isn't usually the first thing people think of for endometriosis. But a 2025 RCT found that a low FODMAP diet improved symptoms more than standard healthy eating recommendations.

Among 35 women with endometriosis, 60% responded to the low FODMAP diet compared to just 26% following a standard healthy diet. Researchers also found improvements in GI symptoms, pain, bloating, stool form, and overall quality of life.

Dr. Ruscio's take: We often think about low FODMAP for IBS, but this study suggests it may also help women whose endometriosis comes with digestive symptoms. It's another example of how improving gut health may have benefits beyond the gut.

If you'd like to try this approach, our Low FODMAP Diet Guide walks you through exactly how to do it.

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PCOS Has a New Name. Here's What Helps It.

FPCOS was recently renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), reflecting what specialists have long understood, that the condition reaches far beyond the ovaries into hormones, metabolism, and mood.

A 2026 double-blind RCT gave 66 overweight or obese women with PCOS either licorice extract or a placebo, both alongside a low-calorie diet, for eight weeks.

The licorice group saw significantly greater improvements in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone to follicle-stimulating hormone (LH/FSH) ratio, and testosterone levels, along with better sleep quality, lower depression scores, and improved appetite regulation compared to placebo.

Dr. Ruscio's take: What stands out here is the range of outcomes from one intervention: hormones, sleep, and mood all moved together. That tracks with how PMOS often presents, so it makes sense treatment would need to work the same way.

If you're looking for a supplement that contains licorice extract like the one used in this research, our Progest Harmony is formulated to support healthy hormone balance.

In Health,

Dr. Michael Ruscio, DC

Adjunct Professor, University of Bridgeport
Clinical Researcher

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