Joint pain: arthritis is not synonymous with ageing!

It’s widely thought that arthritis is inevitable with advancing age, but the fact is, this joint disease is not restricted to our later years. Though undoubtedly more common among the over-65s, arthritis can develop much earlier in life¹. Indeed, it’s by no means rare to notice the first signs of arthritis before the age of 40. Some forms of the disease are also diagnosed in young adults, particularly in those who participate in intense sports activity. Characterised by the gradual degeneration of cartilage, arthritis manifests in pain in one or more joints. Contrary to popular belief, however, this is not something we just have to live with, since a number of natural solutions are available for relieving the pain of arthritis. Read on to discover the benefits of three plants highlighted by the Nutranews editor.

Ginger, a powerful ally against joint pain

Natural alternative to anti-inflammatory drugs
Chemical-based medications are often recommended for relieving the symptoms of arthritis. However, many of them cause unwelcome side-effects which is why scientists are working to identify natural alternatives. Among the options under investigation is ginger, the efficacy of which was recently demonstrated in a study comparing its effects with those of a treatment based on diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)².
A natural, safe and effective extract for relieving arthritis
The results of this comparative study were published in 2013 in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology.
Sixty arthritis patients were selected, and divided into three groups of 20:
- the first group was treated with diclofenac;
- the second was given ginger supplements;
- the third received a combination of the two. Using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index, the researchers evaluated the effects of these treatments at regular intervals, enabling them to measure the disease’s clinical progression.
After monitoring the volunteers for 12 weeks, the researchers observed significantly improved VAS and WOMAC scores in all three groups. This suggests that ginger is a natural, effective alternative for fighting the symptoms of arthritis. What’s more, no significant side-effects were observed in subjects receiving the ginger supplements.

Boswellia serrata, a natural resin for joint health

Ayurvedic pain relief for the joints
Extracted from the tree of the same name, Boswellia serrata is a resin with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-arthritic properties. While it has been attracting scientific interest for a few years now, its therapeutic use in traditional Indian medicine dates back thousands of years.
Today, the benefits of this natural extract are recognised and valued across the world in the field of phytotherapy. A number of studies have confirmed its benefits for combatting joint pain, as explored in our article “A medicinal plant for relieving joint pain ”. This highlighted the results of a study of Japanese adults suffering from knee pain³. According to the study’s authors, Boswellia serrata resin restricted the breakdown of hyaluronic acid in joints, thus maintaining joint health and comfort.
Natural resin with recognised effects against arthritis
An earlier study in 2003 also assessed the efficacy of Boswellia serrata supplementation among 30 arthritis sufferers⁴. Researchers here focused on osteoarthritis of the knee, one of the most common forms of the disease.
Published in the journal Phytomedicine, the results of this eight-week study showed that supplementation with Boswellia serrata, produced the following improvements in arthritis symptoms:

- relief from knee pain;
- less frequent swelling;
- increased knee flexion;
- improved mobility with increased walking distance.

Curcuma longa, natural anti-inflammatory against arthritis flare-ups

Traditional Ayurvedic remedy
Like Boswellia serrata, the plant Curcuma longa has been part of the Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia for thousands of years. It is used as a traditional remedy as a result of its anti-inflammatory properties and significant antioxidant activity. Keen to benefit from its protective effects, a number of scientists have been investigating its therapeutic potential in combatting joint pain, particularly during arthritis flare-ups.
Anti-inflammatory plant with positive effects
In 2016, a study highlighted the benefits of curcuma for arthritis patients⁵. Published in the journal Inflammopharmacology, the study monitored 160 volunteers with arthritis of the knee, who were either given curcuma supplements or a placebo.
The effects of the curcuma supplements were evaluated over four months via blood samples and radiography. Researchers also used the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index to monitor the disease’s clinical progression.
Using these various measures, they observed significant benefits from the curcuma supplements:

- alleviation of symptoms, with improved VAS and WOMAC scores;
- a decrease in inflammation markers and oxidative stress.

Together, these studies confirm the role phytotherapy plays in relieving the symptoms of arthritis. You can benefit from the effects of these medicinal plants by taking them as nutritional supplements, available from the SuperSmart catalogue: Super Gingerols, Super Curcuma and Super Boswellia. For optimal and long-lasting efficacy, they are offered in the form of capsules. However, for faster-acting and localised effects, we also offer a topical option called Smart joints cream which combines Boswellia serrata with two other beneficial compounds: glucosamine sulphate and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM).

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> Sources :
1. Inserm, Arthrose, Dossier réalisé en collaboration avec le Pr Francis Berenbaum, Avril 2012.
2. G. Paramdeep, Efficacy and tolerability of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in patients of osteoarthritis of knee, Indian J Physiol Pharmacol, 2013, 57(2):177-83.
3. M. Majeed et al., Effect of Boswelln Super on Knee pain in Japanese adults - A randomized double blind placebo controlled trial, ejbps, 2016, 3(10):293-298.
4. N. Kimmatkar et al., Efficacy and tolerability of Boswellia serrata extract in treatment of osteoarthritis of knee--a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial, Phytomedicine, January 2003, 10(1):3-7.
5. S. Srivastava et al., Curcuma longa extract reduces inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in osteoarthritis of knee: a four-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, Inflammopharmacology, December 2016, 24(6):377-388.