Degenerative arthritis is a condition in which the cartilage between the joins wears down, and osteoarthritis is a typical example of degenerative arthritis. Symptoms of degenerative arthritis include pain and limited mobility in the affected joints, morning stiffness, bone spurs and sometimes deformity of the joints. Herbs such as Boswellia, Curcuma longa and ginger may help individuals suffering from degenerative arthritis.
Boswellia
The bark of the Indian Frankincense, also known as Boswellia Serrata, is a common supplement prescribed by ayurvedic physicians as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever herb. The active ingredients in the Indian Frankincense are the Boswellic acids.
In the February 2004 issue of "Phytomedicine," S. Sharma and colleagues found that Boswellia extract improved symptoms of degenerative arthritis in individuals who took 333 mg Boswellia extract daily, compared with the placebo group. Researchers also found that the Indian Franlincense is safe and well tolerated in oral form. According to the Arthritis Foundation, more research is needed to prove the efficacy of Boswellia in arthritic patients.
Curcuma Longa
The roots of the Curcuma longa plant are used to produce turmeric, another herbal extract used by Ayurvedic and alternative health care practitioners. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, an ingredient that also gives the typical yellow color of this extract.
Dr. G. Belcaro and colleauges conducted a study involving 50 participants with osteoartritis of the knee to assess the possible benefits of a curcumin extract. The study was published in the June 2010 issue of "Panminerva Medica." Compared to the control group, the subjects who followed the treatment with curcumin extract had 58 percent reduced symptoms, such as pain, stiffness and joint functionality, low levels of markers of inflammation, improvement in social and emotional index, and reduced the need for non-steroidal painkillers.
Another finding of this study was that curcumin extract did not cause any significant side effects, thus is considered very safe by the authors of the study.
Ginger
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted by RD Altman and KC Marcussen, published in the November 2001 issue of "Arthritis and Rheumatology" evaluated the effectiveness of a standardized extract derived from this herb. The study involved 261 individuals suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee over a six-week period. The researchers concluded that extract of ginger utilized in the study had a moderate effect on decreasing symptoms associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. Considering that only mild digestive symptoms have been reported as side effects from taking ginger, the authors also concluded that this herb is considered safe.
Considerations
Herbal supplements do not replace conventional treatment of degenerative arthritis, but may provide additional benefit for this condition. Consult an alternative health care practitioner to find out the optimal dosage, possible side effects and drug interactions before taking herbal supplements for degenerative arthritis.
References
- Pubmed: Pharmacokinetic study of 11-Keto beta-Boswellic acid
- PubMed: Product-evaluation registry of Meriva®, a curcumin-phosphatidylcholine complex, for the complementary management of osteoarthritis
- PubMed: Effects of a ginger extract on knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis
- Arhritis Foundation: Supplement Guide: Indian Frankincense
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