Achy, painful and swollen joints can sure put a damper on your day. No matter whether it’s cleaning, shopping or going out for dinner with friends arthritis makes everything you do take extra effort.
Before long you may even find yourself turning down invitations and avoiding the things you love to do most.
But if you thought ache-free activities were a thing of the past think again. The latest research has revealed certain supplements can help drive away the pain so you can feel more like your old self again.
Let’s take a closer look at three promising, study-proven herbal supplements that could help you say goodbye to joint pain and hello to the life you want to be living.
Holy basil:
Research has revealed that the ancient Ayurvedic remedy holy basil (O. tenuiflorum) is a winner when it comes to fighting joint pain. According to a study presented at a meeting of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, holy basil can slash joint swelling by an astounding 73 percent within 24 hours.1 In fact, the plant extract performed as well as a widely used arthritis drug, diclofenac, but without the side effects.
Basil’s ability to squash joint pain and inflammation is likely due to two different compounds. The active ingredient in holy basil, eugenol, has been shown in lab and animal studies to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties.2,3,4,5 And basil is also rich in inflammation slashing rosmarinic acid.6,7
Experts typically recommend 300 to 500 mg a day to fight swelling and joint pain.
Devil’s claw:
The African devil’s claw plant (Harpagophytum procumbent) gets its odd name from the little hooks that cover its fruit. The plant has been used for centuries in African communities to tackle pain and indigestion, as well as treat common skin ailments.
Research has shown the anti-inflammatory herb, which is widely used in Germany, may help tackle arthritis, bursitis and lower back pain. A regular dose of between 600 and 1,200 mg of devil’s claw could slash your pain within four weeks, according to a study published in the European Journal of Anaesthesiology.8
And devil’s claw might help you cut back on your pain pills too. When a group of folks with osteoarthritis used a product containing 9.5 mg of devil’s claw they ended up needing far less NSAID pain relievers to control their pain. Researchers say the supplement is as effective as the arthritis drug diacerhein.9
Ginger:
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a natural anti-inflammatory that relieves swelling and pain in much the same way ibuprofen or cox-2 inhibiting drugs do, but without the side effects. The root of the plant has been used in Asian medicine for centuries, and has long been a favorite remedy for slashing inflammation and pain among alternative and traditional healers worldwide.
In one trial a 170 mg ginger extract significantly reduced osteoarthritis pain in a group of volunteers. According to the study, published in the journal Osteoarthritis Cartilage, volunteers taking the extract ended up needing less pain killers.10
When a group of folks suffering from osteoarthritis took a 250 mg ginger supplement for three months their knee pain when standing and walking plummeted. They also reported having less stiffness allowing to move around easier.11 And an impressive 63 percent of ginger takers reported pain relief when taking 255 mg of the extract in another trial.12
Stop putting your life on hold for joint pain. Give one of these proven natural pain relievers a try today and get back in the game.
References:
1. “Basil: Health Benefits and Nutritional Information,” medicalnewstoday.com, Accessed 3/2/2017
2. “Therapeutic uses of Ocimum sanctum Linn (Tulsi) with a note on eugenol and its pharmacological actions: a short review, Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2005 Apr;49(2):125-31
3. “Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Extracted Eugenol from Ocimum Sancrum L. Leaves,” Rasayan J. Chem, Vol.2, No.2 (2009), 472-474
4. “Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities A of eugenol essential oil in experimental animal models,” Rev. bras. farmacogn. vol.19 no.1b João Pessoa Jan./Mar. 2009
5. “Anti-inflammatory effects of eugenol on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory reaction in acute lung injury via regulating inflammation and redox status,” Int Immunopharmacol. 2015 May;26(1):265-71
6. “Chemical composition and antioxidant property of holy basil (Ocimum sanctum L.) leaves, stems, and inflorescence and their in vitro callus cultures,” J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Oct 31;55(22):9109-17
7. “Anti-inflammatory effect of rosmarinic acid and an extract of Rosmarinus officinalis in rat models of local and systemic inflammation,” Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2015 May;116(5):398-413
“Rosmarinic acid inhibits epidermal inflammatory responses: anticarcinogenic effect of Perilla frutescens extract in the murine two-stage skin model,” Carcinogenesis, 2004, vol.25 no.4 pp.549-557, 2004
8. “Effectiveness of Harpagophytum extract WS 1531 in the treatment of exacerbation of low back pain: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study,” Eur J Anaesthesiol. 1999 Feb;16(2):118-29
9. “Efficacy and tolerance of Harpagophytum procumbens versus diacerhein in treatment of osteoarthritis,” Phytomedicine. 2000 Jun;7(3):177-83
10. “A randomised, placebo-controlled, cross-over study of ginger extracts and ibuprofen in osteoarthritis,” Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2000; 8(1):9–12
11. “Effects of a ginger extract on knee pain in participants with osteoarthritis,” Arthritis & Rheumatology 2001; 44(11):2531–8
12. “The effects of Zintona EC (a ginger extract) on symptomatic gonarthritis,” Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2003; 11(11):783–9
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