Review of Turmeric for Arthritis Symptoms and Pain

The use of turmeric as a natural remedy for arthritis may be effective because of its ant-inflammatory properties.

Turmeric is one of the main ingredients in curry and provides the spice with its distinctive golden color. Turmeric has also been used medicinally in India, China and Indonesia for thousands of years.

Traditional uses of turmeric include treating liver and digestive disorders. It was also sometimes used topically for skin irritations. Today, it is commonly used to treat inflammation associated with arthritis and to improve symptoms of joint pain.

The Natural Medicines database rates Turmeric as “Possibly Effective” for the treatment of osteoarthritis and notes that it can improve functionality and reduce the use of analgesics and NSAIDs.

Turmeric contains at least 235 phytonutrients (plant nutrients). Curcumin and its metabolites are the most studied and understood of these plant nutrients.

In laboratory and animal experiments, curcumin has been observed to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet (prevents platelet clumping) and immunomodulating properties. The effect of these properties on humans is still the topic of investigation.

Turmeric

Herbal Supplement

Joints

Heart Health

Anti- Aging

How It Works:

• Contains anti-inflammatory curcuminoids
• Promotes brain & cardiovascular health
• Supports the immune system & anti-oxidant enzymes

Dosage:

Between 400 - 1800 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

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Arthritis and Inflammation

Arthritis is an umbrella term used to describe a number of conditions that cause joint pain. There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, one of the common threads among these different forms of arthritis is inflammation. For instance, inflammation plays a role in two major types of arthritis: degenerative and inflammatory arthritis.

Degenerative arthritis, as the name suggests, is caused by the physical deterioration of the joint. The most common form of degenerative arthritis is osteoarthritis (discussed below), where the cartilage that acts like a cushion between your bones wears away and the bones rub against one another.

This triggers an inflammatory response that causes pain, swelling and stiffness – the hallmark symptoms of arthritis.

Inflammatory arthritis is the result of the immune system attacking the body’s joints. Inflammation is a generalized immune response that plays an important role in maintaining good health. When tissues are inflamed, blood and cells of the immune system rush to the injured area to clear out dead cells, tissue and fight any pathogenic bacteria.

Inflammation is an important part of the immune response, but sometimes our immune systems start attacking our bodies after misidentifying it as a danger. This condition is called an autoimmune disease.

A form of inflammatory arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In RA the immune system attacks the joints of the body causing pain, swelling, stiffness and possible damage to internal organs.

Turmeric for Arthritis Symptoms

Turmeric may be effective at reducing symptoms of arthritis. The most common form of arthritis is called osteoarthritis. It results from the normal wear and tear of the cartilage throughout life’s activities.

Cartilage is a naturally pliable substance found between bones and it absorbs the shock of motion. It also prevents the bones from rubbing together during physical movement.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage wears away to the point when the bones are making contact. Using turmeric for arthritis helps to retain existing cartilage by protecting the synovial fluid, which fills joint cavities, lubricates joints and nourishes cartilage.

Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most serious forms of arthritis. It is an autoimmune condition which causes the immune system to attack the body’s joints. In particular, the synovium is often attacked and damaged, which can impair function.

Without proper synovial fluid, the cartilage and underlying bone tissue can be damaged. The resulting inflammation and pain can exacerbate the symptoms of arthritis.

Turmeric and Inflammation

The bioactive component of turmeric is a compound called curcumin. Oral turmeric supplements are available in the forms of capsules (powders), tablets, tinctures and decoctions.

Curcumin is also available in supplement form. A high-quality curcumin supplement will be standardized to contain a specific concentration of curcuminoids – the group of compounds that includes curcumin.

Both turmeric and curcumin have been observed in the laboratory to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, which means the compounds may be helpful in reducing inflammation. Because inflammation plays a key role in the pain associated with arthritis, researchers have investigated whether turmeric or curcumin can provide relief of the symptoms associated with the condition.

In a human trial people were given a mix of herbs and minerals that included turmeric, winter cherry (Withinia somnifera), boswellia (Boswellia serrata) and zinc. Participants who took the supplement reported less arthritis pain, but it is impossible to know if turmeric was responsible for this outcome. [1]

In another study, turmeric was compared to ibuprofen as a treatment for the symptoms of arthritis. In the study, four 500 mg doses of turmeric per day were observed to be as effective as two 400 mg doses of ibuprofen per day in treating the pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. [2]

Comparison to Conventional Medications for Arthritis

Taking turmeric supplements has been found to reduce the usage of conventional treatments for arthritis. This makes it appealing to consumers who prefer natural dietary supplements to pharmaceutical agents for controlling arthritis symptoms.

Doctors often prescribe NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs), corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and other drugs to decrease the swelling, pain and other symptoms of arthritis. Some of these prescription medications include:

• NSAIDs like Anaprox (naproxen sodium), Celebrex (celecoxib, sulindac), Daypro (oxaprozin, salsalate), Feldene (piroxicam) and Voltaren (diclofenac);
• Methotrexate derivatives like Trexall, Rheumatrex, Rasuvo and Otrexup;
• Leflunomide derivatives like Arava;
• Hydroxychloroquine derivatives including Plaquenil;
• Sulfasalazine derivatives like Azulfidine;
• Injected DMARDs like Myochrysine;
• Immunosuppressants, including azathioprine (Imuran), and cyclosporine derivatives like Gengraf, Neoral and Sandimmune.

Doctors also routinely prescribe other FDA-approved drugs to treat the symptoms of arthritis, including: Rituxan (rituximab), Simponi (golimumab), Orencia (abatacept), Actemra (toclizumab), Remicade (infliximab) and/or Cimzia (certolizumab).

Is Turmeric Safe for Arthritis Treatment?

Turmeric is generally well tolerated and has been safely used in clinical trials of up to 8 months in duration. Reported side effects include diarrhea and gastrointestinal upset.

Turmeric may not be suitable for those with heart disease, hormone-sensitive cancer, diabetes mellitus type II or liver disease. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional before beginning to use turmeric for arthritis or any other condition.

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