Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling and bone spurs in your joints. The condition mainly affects the elderly, obese, people with repeated joint injuries, or it could be hereditary. As the cartilage in your joints degrades over time, joint replacement may be necessary. Herbs may help relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis and prevent further cartilage deterioration. Consult your health care professional before starting herbal therapy.
Chinese Clematis
Chinese clematis, or Clematis chinensis, is a woody vine native to China. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), practitioners use the dried root and rhizome, or underground stem, to relieve rheumatic and arthritic pain and inflammation. The plant has anti-tumor, antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and diuretic actions. The main active ingredients are triterpene saponins. A study by W. Wu and colleagues published in the April 2010 issue of "Phytotherapy Research" tested an extract of the saponins on animals with induced osteoarthritis. The study found that clematis extract reduced swelling similar to diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, which reduces arthritic pain and inflammation. The extract also prevented cartilage destruction significantly better than diclofenac. This study supports the TCM use of clematis for arthritic conditions. Do not combine this herb with other anti-arthritic medication before consulting your doctor.
Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle, or Lonicera japonica, is a flowering vine native to China, Japan and Korea. Known as "jin yin" in traditional Chinese medicine, the plant has sweet and cold properties; it affects the lung, stomach and large intestine meridians. The stems stimulate qi circulation and TCM practitioners use them to treat excess heat or inflammatory conditions such as rheumatism and arthritis. A study by M. Kang and colleagues published in the September 2010 issue of the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" tested a TCM formula containing honeysuckle and anemarrhena, or Anemarrhena asphodeloides, on animals with induced osteoarthritis. The study found that the formula reduced pain and inflammation better than the NSAID, celecoxib; it had a protective effect on cartilage. The researchers did not see any adverse gastrointestinal or cardiac effects in the test animals.
Indian Frankincense
Indian frankincense, or Boswellia serrata, is a deciduous tree native to India. Ayurvedic medicine practitioners use the gum resin to treat inflammatory disorders, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Active ingredients in the volatile oil include alpha-thujone, p-cymene, beta-pinene, linalool and terpeneol; it has anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions. A study by N. Kimmatkar and associates published in the January 2003 issue of "Phytomedicine" tested a frankincense extract on patients with clinically-evaluated osteoarthritis. After eight weeks, pain and swelling in the treated group was significantly reduced compared to the placebo group and range-of-movement in the affected knee joints improved. The researchers state that two patients experienced minor gastrointestinal side effects, like diarrhea and nausea, but were treated for these and continued the study. This research supports the traditional use of frankincense for osteoarthritis. Consult your doctor if you have gastrointestinal problems while taking this herb.
References
- PubMed.gov: Therapeutic effect of the saponin fraction from Clematis chinensis Osbeck roots on osteoarthritis induced by monosodium iodoacetate through protecting articular cartilage
- PubMed.gov: The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of WIN-34B, a new herbal formula for osteoarthritis composed of Lonicera japonica Thunb and Anemarrhena asphodeloides BUNGE in vivo
- PubMed.gov: Efficacy and tolerability of Boswellia serrata extract in treatment of osteoarthritis of knee--a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial
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