Arthritis is a disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the joints. Using natural herbal remedies may help to manage mild symptoms, particularly if you use them alongside standard treatment options.
This article summarizes some of the most significant scientific research behind the best herbs for arthritis and its symptoms.
Table of Contents
Overview:
Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is characterized by joint pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Arthritis can be divided into three categories: rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), and gout. In all cases, there is significant inflammation of joints, however, the cause and severity vary.
The root cause of arthritis is inflammation. Using natural anti-inflammatory herbs can help to reduce inflammation, and thus may help to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis.
Best Herbs for Arthritis:
Below are the best research-backed herbs for arthritis.
1. Turmeric
Turmeric is known to be one of the best anti-inflammatory herbs and thus is helpful for arthritis. Specifically, it’s thought that turmeric is one of the best herbs for osteoarthritis.
Curcumin, the active constituent in turmeric, is accredited with turmeric’s anti-inflammatory effect.
A comparison study involving patients with knee osteoarthritis found that turmeric extract was helpful for reducing pain during a variety of activities, including walking and moving up and down stairs. In this study, the turmeric extract was just as effective for reducing pain as ibuprofen.
In another trial observing participants with knee osteoarthritis, curcumin was shown to significantly reduce pain and improve physical function. Researchers found that 84% of subjects receiving curcuminoids were able to stop the use of additional anti-inflammatory medication by the end of the study.
An 8-week trial administering water-soluble curcumin to subjects with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis discovered that the curcumin alleviated pain significantly compared to placebo. The curcumin group was asked to perform tasks after receiving 180mg of turmeric so the researchers could evaluate joint swelling, pain levels during walking, the ability to climb stairs, and range of motion.
Researchers observed that a twice-a-day administration of 500mg of turmeric was able to reduce pain and increase mobility in subjects with knee osteoarthritis. Participants who took the extract were less likely to use “rescue medication” than those in the placebo group.
Turmeric appears to also be an effective natural remedy for rheumatoid arthritis.
In a comparison study, participants with rheumatoid arthritis found improvement in inflammation, tenderness, and swelling of joints after taking 500mg of curcumin daily. Curcumin was more effective in comparison to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) usage.
Summary:
Research shows that turmeric may improve symptoms of arthritis due to it’s anti-inflammatory properties.
2. Boswellia
Indian Frankincense, or boswellia, is considered one of the best natural herbs for arthritis.
The terpenes and triterpenic acids in boswellia have shown to be the active constituents responsible for its anti-inflammatory effect.
A recent study demonstrated that Boswellia serrata extract (containing 30% boswellic acids) reduces arthritic symptoms such as joint pain and decreased mobility in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Researchers noted that they believed these improvements were due to boswellia’s anti-inflammatory properties.
In another osteoarthritis study, a combination of turmeric and boswellia was able to reduce painful symptoms in the study participants. Symptoms included morning stiffness, mobility limitations, and joint pain. The trial was a comparison trial where some subjects took only turmeric, some took turmeric and boswellia, and some took a placebo. The combination of turmeric and boswellia was the most effective.
Another osteoarthritis clinical