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Managing Arthritis Pain: Herbal Way
Pain is a significant symptom of
arthritis. Along with commonly prescribed painkillers, surgeries and other
medical interventions, there are also a number of complementary approaches
specialists use that can decrease inflammation, reduce pain and promote
overall health.
White Willow Bark:
Willow tree branches have been used for centuries in a wide variety of
tasks, from weaving baskets to disciplining children. Medicinally, willow bark
is widely used to relieve pain and inflammation. Willow bark contains the
chemical salicin, which is the precursor to aspirin (acetyl salicylic acid).
Using the strength-of-evidence rating scale, white willow bark for arthritis
pain gets an "A," with strong evidence based on quality clinical trials. In one
small trial of 78 patients, willow bark in a standardized formulation of 60 mg
salicin or placebo was given twice daily for 14 days. The treatment group
reported significant pain relief, superior to that reported by the placebo
group. (http://www.clinicaladvisor.com/). Further, in a German study, the effectiveness of a willow bark extract
providing 240 mg of salicin a day was compared to placebo in a 2-week randomized
controlled trial in 78 people with osteoarthritis. After two weeks, the willow
bark patients' pain scores were reduced by 14% compared to the placebo group,
which had a 2% increase in pain scores.
 Black
Cohosh: A perennial woodland plant, grown in the eastern United
States and Canada.
Black cohosh grows from 4 to 8 feet tall and has feathery white flowers. The
root is used in herbal remedies. Black cohosh acts as an antispasmodic to
muscles,
nerves, and blood vessels and as a muscle anti-inflammatory. It contains the
anti-inflammatory salicylic acid (the base for the active ingredient in
aspirin), among several other constituents such as triterpene glycosides (for
example, acetin and 27 deoxyactein), isoflavones (for example, formononetin),
aromatic acids, tannins, resins, fatty acids, starches, and sugars, and has been
used for an assortment of muscular, pelvic, and rheumatic pains.
Boswellia:
Osteoarthritis alone accounts for reduced function in up to 20 percent of
individuals over 60 years of age. A number of scientific studies have examined
boswellia's clinical properties. One 2002 review from the Pharmaceutical
Institute of Tübingen University in Germany reported that boswellic acid, a
primary constituent of
Boswellia resin, exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects. According to the
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, boswellic acid's effects are similar to
those of some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, but
boswellic acid appears to have fewer side effects. The herbal formula is as
effective as celecoxib in alleviating crepitus (a crunching sensation in
arthritis-damaged knees), and range of joint movements. Boswellia seems to have
the ability to switch off pro-inflammation cytokines and interrupt leukotriene
synthesis. Leukotrienes are known to cause the initiation and progression of
inflammation symptoms of many diseases
 Curcumin:
In one recent medical study, curcumin was found to be better than conventional
medications at relieving the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Curcumin
is derived from the spice
turmeric. In the medical journal Phytotherapy Research, two researchers, one
from the Nirmala Medical Centre in India and the other from Baylor Research
Institute and the Sammons Cancer Center in Texas, published their work on
curcumin. They showed that curcumin is more effective than the common
anti-inflammatory medication diclofenac for the pain associated with mild,
active RA. In the study, RA patients taking curcumin for eight weeks had a 44
percent reduction in pain symptoms, while those taking diclofenac had a 42
percent reduction. It may not seem like there is a big difference between
curcumin and diclofenac, but the difference was significant.
Ginger: Used as an anti-inflammatory agent for thousands of years.
In a recent study, scientists set out to test this ancient cure against the
modern symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA). 247 patients were enrolled, ages 18 and
older, from 10 clinical centres throughout the US. Each had mild to severe OA of
the knee, as defined by the American College of Rheumatology classification
criteria. Once the study began, the participants began a one-week washout
period, during which they did not take any anti-inflammatory or analgesic
medications. (Up to 4 grams a day of acetaminophen was allowed as a 'rescue
drug,' and up to 325 mg of aspirin was permitted for blood thinning.) After the
washout, the patients were randomly assigned to take either a 255 mg-capsule of
ginger
extract or a placebo each day for six weeks. After six weeks of treatment, both
groups showed improvement. But in every assessment category, the ginger extract
group showed greater results. Sixty-three percent of patients in the ginger
group improved their VAS score by 15 mm or more, while only half of the control
group reported such gains. (http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk/
)
To make a ginger compress at home:
Grate a piece of fresh gingerroot (available at the
grocery store). Place it in a hot cloth, then put the
cloth on the inflamed joint. Place a hot water bottle to
top (wrap a towel around it keep it in place). Check
your
skin often. In rare cases the ginger can burn. If it
does burn, place a light cloth between the wrapped
ginger and the skin.
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Besides, a
diet high in oily
fish
like salmon, halibut, and mackerel may help improve inflammatory conditions such
as arthritis. A key anti-inflammatory fat in humans -- resolvins -- is derived
from a fatty acid found in fish oil.
Dated 09 May 2012
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