Natural Remedies for Osteoarthritis

Glucosamine is a naturally occurring substance in the body, the purpose of which is to stimulate the manufacture of collagen (the protein portion of a fibrous substance that holds joints together). Collagen is also the main constituent of articular cartilage. A large number of clinical studies have been conducted to quantify the effects of glucosamine on osteoarthritis. Results have been conflicting. A multi center clinical trial conducted by the National Institutes of Health in 2006, found that patients taking glucosamine HCl, chondroitin sulfate, or a combination of the two had no statistically significant improvement in their symptoms compared to patients taking a placebo. However, a secondary analysis suggested that supplementation with glucosamine may help to alleviate symptoms in patients with moderate to severe pain ( Clegg, et al. 2006).

Although glucosamine's effect on joint damage is still debated, many medical experts believe this supplement reduces pain and is safe. The usual dose is 500 milligrams three times a day

Glucosamine is a modified sugar produced by the body. It is used to form larger molecules called glycosaminoglycans, which are involved in the formation and repair of cartilage. They are also used as lubricants and shock absorbers by our joints. Synthetically produced glucosamine is used to address the imbalance between production and destruction of naturally occurring glucosamine in osteoarthritis cartilage. The two chemical forms available are glucosamine sulphate (Arthro-Aid Direct, Bioglan, Blackmores, Arthrogen, GoldenGlow, Healthstream and Procosamine); and glucosamine hydrochloride (Arthro-Aid and Osteo-Eze).

Glucosamine can be administered as a topical cream, an oral tablet, an intra-muscular injection, and as an intra-articular injection (directly into the joint). There have been a number of studies that have reported an improvement in joint discomfort with the use of glucosamine (Houpt JB, McMillan R, Wein C, Paget-Dellio D. Effect of glucosamine hydrochloride in the treatment of pain of osteoarthritis of the knee. Journal of Rheumatology 1999; 26 (11): 2423-2430. ). There have also been reports comparing glucosamine to ibuprofen. Each of these studies showed a similar amount of relief in patients administered glucosamine and ibuprofen. In one study, glucosamine was shown to be more effective than ibuprofen (Muller-Fassbender H, Bach GL, Haase W, Rovati LC, Setnikar L. Glucosamine sulfate compared to ibuprofen in osteoarthritis of the knee. Osteoarthritis cartilage 1994; 2: 61-9.).

Glucosamine is a safe, natural product that has exhibited few side effects. Those that have been shown have been gastrointestinal in nature (Reginster JY, Deroisy R,Rovati LC, Lee RL, Lejeune E, Bruyere O, Giacovelli G, Henrotin Y, Dacre JE, Gossett C. Long-term effects of glucosamine sulphate on osteoarthrits progression: a randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Lancet 2001; 357 (9252): 251-6). Click here to Learn More

Chondroitin is a naturally occurring molecule that is a component of cartilage. It helps keep the cartilage resilient by absorbing fluid into the connective tissue. Researchers also believe that chondroitin blocks the enzymes that break down cartilage as well as providing the building blocks for cartilage to repair itself.

(Busci L, Poor G. Efficacy and tolerability of oral chondroitin sulfate as a symptomatic slow-acting drug for osteoarthritis (SYSADOA) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 1998;6(suppl A):31-36).

Chondroitin supplements are not known to exhibit any side effects. Chondroitin is commonly sold as chondroitin sulfate in capsule or tablet form. It is also available in combination with various forms of glucosamine and sometimes manganese as well. A dosage of 400 mg twice per day is recommended.  Click here to Learn More.

Hylauronic acid is a fluid in the knee joint. A person with osteoarthritis of the knee has a reduced amount of hyaluronic acid in the joint. Injections are used to put more of the fluid into the joint and so provide more protection for it. The intended result for sufferers is that they experience relief from pain, which may last up to six months. However, the injections are very expensive, costing in the region of 0.

In a meta-analysis of eight hyaluronan trials involving 971 patients, outcomes in patients treated with hyaluronan were superior to outcomes in patients treated with a placebo at the end of the treatment cycles and after six months (George E. Intra-articular hyaluronan treatment for osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 1998;57:637-40). Other studies, however, have shown, little or no benefit. If you feel that you could benefit from this treatment, consult your physician.  Click here to Learn More.

For hundreds of years, ginger has been used as an anti-arthritis treatment. Ginger acts as an antagomist to prostaglandins. The dried rhizome of ginger contains approximately 1–4% volatile oils. These are the medically active constituents of ginger and are also responsible for ginger’s characteristic odor and taste. The aromatic constituents include zingiberene and bisabolene, while the pungent constituents are known as gingerols and shogaols.

(Bliddal H, Rosetzsky A, Schlichting P, Weidner MS, Andersen LA, Ibfelt HH, Christensen K, Jensen ON, Barslev J. A randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study of ginger extracts and ibuprofen in osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2000 Jan;8(1):9-12.).

Boswellia is an Ayurvedic plant that contains anti-inflammatory triterpinoids called boswellic acids. The aromatic gum resins from this tree have been used by practitioners of the Avurvedic system of medicine to treat arthritis for centuries. An Ayurvedic herbal combination of ashwagandha, boswellia , and curcumin was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, cross-over study in patients with osteoarthritis. Treatment with this formulation produced a significant drop in severity of pain.

(Efficacy and tolerability of Boswellia serrata extract in treatment of osteoarthritis of knee--a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial.Kimmatkar N, Thawani V, Hingorani L, Khiyani R. MS Orthopedics, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Nagpur, India. Phytomedicine. 2003 Jan;10(1):3-7.)

Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements are used to slow the progression of osteoarthritis and to lessen the pain associated with it. Glucosamine is sold in many forms, including glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride (HCl), and N-acetylglucosamine (NAG), and may also contain a potassium chloride or sodium chloride salt. However, there appears to be no conclusive evidence that one form is better than another. Chondroitin is typically sold as chondroitin sulfate. The supplements appear to be more effective when taken together.  Click here to Learn More.