Spice Up Your Arthritis Relief

Over and over again, modern science proves natural, alternative health approaches to be effective and safe for their traditional uses. And unlike most pharmaceutical drugs, these alternative, traditional health approaches are almost always effective for more than one thing. Curcumin is a perfect example.

Let’s get curried away…

Curcumin is the yellow pigment associated with the curry spice, turmeric. Its potent anti-inflammatory effects are well-documented and it has been shown to be as effective as some prescription drugs, like Prozac, aspirin and even statin drugs.

Now, recent research has confirmed the long tradition of using this spice for arthritis.

The study, published in the journal Phytotherapy Research, evaluated the safety and effectiveness of curcumin alone, and in combination with a potent anti-inflammatory drug called diclofenac sodium, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

For the study, patients were divided into three groups. One group received 500mg of curcumin on its own, the second group received 50mg of diclofenac sodium, and the third group received a combination of curcumin and diclofenac sodium.

The results showed that all three groups had statistically significant changes in the reduction of pain, tenderness and swelling. However, the curcumin group showed the highest percentage of improvement compared to the other two groups.

The researchers concluded: “Our study provides the first evidence for the safety and superiority of curcumin treatment in patients with active RA, and highlights the need for future large-scale trials to validate these findings in patients with RA and other arthritic conditions.”

Curcumin supplements are widely available in natural health food stores and online. A good general dose is 200mg per day.

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Disclaimer: Bear in mind the material contained in this article is provided for information purposes only. We are not addressing anyone’s personal situation. Please consult with your own physician before acting on any recommendations contained herein.

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Sources:

“A Randomized, Pilot Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Curcumin in Patients with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis,” Phytother Res 2012; 26(11): 1719-25

“Therapeutic potential of curcumin in digestive diseases,” World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol 2013 Dec 28; 19(48): 9256–9270