Turmeric for Arthritis: Short Guide

Arthritis sufferers fight a constant battle against pain and inflammation. Most people reach for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve the pain. However, there are all sorts of complications and side-effects that can develop when you use these drugs every day. With modern day research, scientist are rediscovering powerful anti-inflammatory effects many age-old remedies. One on these remedies is turmeric or curcumin.

Turmeric is a spice that is very beneficial for arthritis and joint pain. It is the yellow pigment (curcumin) in turmeric which has been proven to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Some studies show that it is at least as powerful as most of the common anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and celebrex. This is excellent news for those that are suffering severe side-effect form taking pain killers on a long term basis.

Turmeric works by blocking prostaglandins and leukotrienes leading to inflammation in the joints. This supplement is especially beneficial since it doesn’t block the ‘good’ COX-1, and blocks both COX-2 and 5-LOX. This means that it will not irritate the stomach lining like most painkillers do. This spice also mops up nitric oxide which also causes inflammation. Apart from this it is a powerful anti-oxidant- something that can also to a reduction in inflammation and pain. Indian traditional medicine has used it for hundreds of years to treat all kinds of diseases. If you suffer from arthritis, you can use it liberally. A tablespoon a day should be enough to have a therapeutic effect. Use it in you cooking, or just swallow it away with some water if you don’t mind the taste. Some sources say that taking turmeric with warm milk increases its efficacy. This supplement is also available in capsule form if you do not like the taste.

Other benefits of taking it daily may include a lowered cholesterol level, improved circulation, and improved concentration. Other sources claim that it can relieve stress, anxiety and depression, although these claims are hard to substantiate. Curcumin is rich in Vitamin B6 and prevents the oxidation of cholesterol thus protecting the heart from plaques that leads to a heart disease or stroke. Other claims include that turmeric may be helpful in treating heartburn, ulcers, gallstones and scabies. Its anti-inflammatory action and benefits for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are well documented. One caution is that it might not interact well with blood thinning medication like Warfarin, so check with your doctor.