Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disease that affects the cartilage in joints. It's the most common form of arthritis and may be caused by aging, heredity, joint stress or obesity, according to the Mayo Clinic. Conventional treatment for osteoarthritis attempts to relieve the pain and inflammation, but because this is a chronic disease, these medications must be taken over a long period and may cause unpleasant side effects. Herbal therapy is an alternative that may be safer and have fewer negative effects. Anyone considering herbal therapy should first consult a professional.
Chinese Clematis
Chinese clematis, or Clematis chinensis, is a flowering woody vine native to China. Known as wei ling xian in traditional Chinese medicine, its therapeutic function is to eliminate wind dampness and unblock the channels to allow qi to circulate and relieve pain. Medicinally, Chinese clematis root is used as a diuretic and to treat arthritis, gout, low back pain and headaches. The plant contains the anti-inflammatory saponins hederagenin and prosapogenine. In a study published in the April 2010 issue of Phytotherapy Research, researchers tested a saponin extract made from the powdered root of Chinese clematis against diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. They found that the saponins in Chinese clematis were more effective than diclofenac in reducing cartilage injury and joint destruction in test animals.
Dog Rose
Dog rose, or Rosa canina, is a rambling bush with pink or white flowers native to Europe and parts of Africa and Asia. The bright red-orange fruit, called a hip, has been used in traditional herbal treatments as an astringent, diuretic and to relieve kidney problems. Besides its high vitamin C content, rose hips contain a galactolipid, a fatty acid, that inhibits the release of enzymes involved in the body's inflammatory response. This has been the active ingredient for treating osteoarthritis. A study published in the July 2004 issue of Phytomedicine tested a standardized powder extract made from the fruit and husks of a subtype of dog rose against a placebo. Researchers found that the herbal remedy reduced pain and inflammation and improved the sleep quality and mood of the arthritic test patients better than the placebo, and had no observed side effects.
Avocado-Soybean Oil
Soy, or Glycine max, and avocado, or Persea americana, are food sources for people throughout the world. These plants also have significant medicinal properties due to their high flavonoid, plant sterol and essential oil content. A study published in the April 2008 issue of Osteoarthritis and Cartilage compared the results of four clinical trials in which an avocado and soybean oil extract was tested against a placebo. The researchers found that the extract was more effective than placebos in all four trials, and it was more effective on knee osteoarthritis than on hip osteoarthritis. They recommended that patients try this remedy for a minimum of three months.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Osteoarthritis
- Phytotherapy Research; Therapeutic effect of the saponin fraction from Clematis chinensis Osbeck roots on osteoarthritis induced by monosodium iodoacetate through protecting articular cartilage; Wu W, Xu X, Dai Y, Xia L; April 2010
- Phytomedicine; A herbal remedy, Hyben Vital (stand. powder of a subspecies of Rosa canina fruits), reduces pain and improves general wellbeing in patients with osteoarthritis--a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial; Rein E, Kharazmi A, Winther K; July 2004
- Osteoarthritis and Cartilage; Symptomatic efficacy of avocado-soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) in osteoarthritis (OA) patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials; Christensen R, Bartels EM, Astrup A, Bliddal H; April 2008
