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Stop arthritis knee pain with herbs
for arthritis and other
natural arthritis treatments

Arthritis pain is generally caused by inflammation of the joint, so pain relief is achieved by reducing the inflammation. Medical treatments often include steriods and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), however, undesirable side affects have been linked to these drugs. And in 2006, the FDA issued health warnings about anti-inflammatory drugs such as Celebrex.

This leaves many individuals looking for natural arthritis pain relief. Natural remedies for arthritis include herbs, which are available as supplements, as well as foods that lessen inflammation and arthritis knee pain.

On this page, we'll look at herbs and supplements known for natural arthritis pain relief. To learn about foods that can help relieve arthritis pain, click here.

Bromelain - from Pineapple
Bromelain is an enzyme extracted from the fruit and stem of the pineapple and has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. In Germany, doctors commonly prescribe bromelain to patients to reduce swelling and inflammation after nose or sinus surgery or injury.

In 2000, researchers conducted a study with 73 patients diagnosed with arthritis in the knee joint. The individuals were divided into two groups and given two types of treatments. Both treatments included bromelain, trypsin and rutin. For 3 weeks, the patients received the preparations with bromelain, and no other anti-inflammatory or pain relief medications were allowed. At the end of the three weeks, both groups experienced a reduction in acute arthritis knee pain.

An animal study in 1997 showed that a preparation containing bromelain was just as effective as ibuprofen in reducing joint swelling in rats with rheumatoid arthritis. However, the study found the animals that received the bromelain preparation has significantly less joint degeneration than those that were given ibuprofen.

Evitamins.com offers a 5-star rated supplement containing bromelain and other arthritis-fighting compounds (boswellia, glucosomine, evening primrose oil, devils claw). Read the product reviews to see how well natural supplements can work for arthritis knee pain.

Stop arthritis knee pain with Tart Cherries
Two recent studies have pointed to tart cherries as a natural treatment for arthritis. Researchers conducting an animal study at the University of Michigan found that tart cherries reduce inflammation-- a key to reducing arthritis pain. This research was published in Experimental Biology in 2008. And in March 2009, Texas-based Baylor Research Institute reported that tart cherry supplements brought relief for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Specifically, more than half of the patients enrolled in a human pilot study experienced significant improvement in pain and function after taking tart cherry supplements for eight weeks.

Traverse Bay Farms offers a tart cherry supplement that will be sent to you without any shipping charge. They offer a money-back guarantee. To learn more, click the image below.

Pine Bark extract: Pycnogenol
A study published in 2007 in Nutrition Research contains good news for those with arthritis knee pain. The double-blind research project involved 35 volunteers with osteoarthritis and pycnogenol, an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, pinus maritima. The study participants who received pycnogenol reported excellent results after three months receiving the supplement. Pain as measured by the WOMAC osteoarthritis index was down 43 percent, stiffness was down 35 percent and the volunteers experienced a 52 percent improvement in physical function.

Another study with 100 human volunteers published in the August 2008 Journal of Phytotherapy Research had similar findings but also concluded that the therapeutic benefit of pycnogenol on osteoarthritis knee pain continued even two weeks after supplementation was discontinued. Researcher Dr. Peter Rohdewald reported that an improvement in knee pain was noticed after one month with continued improvement up to three months. In this study, volunteers taking the supplement experienced a drop in pain of 40.3 percent and pain levels remained 36.1 percent lower two weeks after they stopped taking the supplement.

Pycnogenol contains a combination of bioflavonoids, procyanidins and organic acids and is available in a large variety of supplements.

Visit our page with 6 natural remedies for treating arthritis.

Turmeric - a common spice
If you're suffering with arthritis knee pain, you may want to try a supplement with the active ingredient in Turmeric, called curcumin or curcuminoids. Turmeric has been used as an anti-inflammatory in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for centuries. Today, science is confirming the benefits of turmeric as an option for natural arthritis pain relief. In 2006, researchers at the University of Arizona artificially created rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in mice, divided the animals into groups and treated them with various types and dosages of turmeric extracts. The rats given an extract containing only curcuminoids had the best results in terms of reduction in joint swelling. Turmeric supplements with only curcuminoids are reccommended by Dr. Andrew Weil, noted expert on natural health remedies and alternative medicine.

Glucosomine, Chondroitin and MSM
Many people give anectodal reports of these three supplements helping with their joint pain. My husband is one of those. He had severe arthritis knee pain and doctors said his arthritis was so pervasive he needed a knee replacement. We were starting to shop for a surgeon when he started taking supplements containing glucosomine, chondroitin and MSM. After about 6 weeks on the supplements, his pain had virtually vanished and two years later it has not returned.

What does science say about these supplements? A large 2005 study overseen by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that the combination of glucosomine and chondroitin sulfate is effective in treating moderate to severe arthritis knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. The study involved 1,258 individuals who had been suffering from osteoarthritis for an average of 10 years. Researchers determined that individuals who received 1,200mg of chondroitin sulfate and 1,500mg of glucosamine reported 25 percent less pain that individuals who received a placebo and 10 percent less pain than those given Celecoxib/Celebrex. Pain levels were measured using the WOMAC scale of evaluating pain levels.

MSM or Methylsulfonylmethane - A small 12-week clinical trial conducted in Arizona and published in 2006 showed that MSM reduced osteoarthritis knee pain and improved function. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled research project, participants had mild to moderate arthritis knee pain due to osteoarthritis. Individuals either received 3,000mg of MSM twice a day or a placebo. Clinical evaluations after 12 weeks showed the group given MSM had significant pain reductions and less difficulty with tasks related to daily living. Researchers reported no significant adverse reactions among participants.

We've compiled a diet for osteoarthritis. Take a minute to see what to eat and what to avoid.

Boswellia Herbal Supplement
The Boswellia serrata tree grows in India and is also referred to as Shallaki, frankincense or salai guggul. The tree bark's gummy resin contains anti-inflammatory properties that have been used for thousands of years to treat pain and inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Research has validated the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of Boswellia. A study published in 2003 in Phytomedicine involved 30 patients with arthritis knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. Half of the individuals received 333 mg of Boswellia and the other half received a placebo for a period of eight weeks. Subjects given Boswellia reported decreased arthritis knee pain, greater knee flexibility, decreased swelling in the knee joint and could walk longer distances. The group given the placebo did not report improvements. The study's conclusion was that Boswellia serrata "is recommended in the patients of osteoarthritis of the knee with possible therapeutic use in other arthritis."

I've discovered a natural herbal product that contains boswellia, glucosomine and devil's claw, all clinically shown to reduce joint pain. This supplement, JointEase Plus for Arthritis, is manufactured by Native Remedies in a state-of-the-art, FDA-approved pharmaceutical facility under the supervision of herbalists, naturopaths, homeopaths and responsible pharmacists. This product works so well that the Native Remedies website is loaded with testimonials from individuals who report their aching joints are much better or completely pain free after using JointEase Plus. This product comes with a one-year guarantee, and is part of a buy 2, get one free program. You may want to see if JointEase Plus is the herbal treatment for arthritis that will work for your arthritis knee pain.

Ashwagandha - Herb for arthritis
Traditional Ayurvedic medicine has used Ashwagandandha for centuries to treat rheumatoid arthritis and numerous other conditions including stress, fatigue, skin conditions, insomnia and pain. This herb grows in India, Pakistan, Srilanka and Bangladesh. One of the active ingredients in Ashwagandha is withanoloids, which consist of steroidal molecules which battle inflammation. An animal study found that Ashwagandha reduced degeneration of the joints and swelling in animals who had been given an arthritis-inducing drug.

Ashwaganda is a proven inflammation fighter, according to an April 2008 double-blind study with human volunteers. In this study, one group of volunteer were given a daily dose of 250mg of Sensoril, an Ashwagandha extract, another group received a placebo. After two months, the group receiving the Sensoril Ashwagandha extract experienced a 35.6 percent reduction in C-reactive protein, a marker of systemwide inflammation. High C-reactive protein levels are markers of inflammation and often used by medical professionals in diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease. Besides reducing inflammation, the Sensoril Ashwaganda extract was shown to reduce serum cortisol levels in the volunteers by 24.8 percent. Cortisol is often referred to the stress hormone and has been linked to weight gain.

Arthritis knee pain can also be lessened by consuming certain foods and drinks. Click here to learn more.

Green-Lipped mussels - Concentrated Omega 3 oils
Green-lipped mussels grow in the unpolluted waters off of New Zealand and contain a high concentration of omega 3 oils, which have been shown to benefit joint function, respiratory health, cardiovascular health, and cholesterol levels. Research finds that the omega 3 oils in green-lipped mussels are about 150 times more potent than fish oil, 250 times more potent than salmon oil and almost 400 times more potent than flax oil.

Will green-lipped mussels help your arthritis knee pain? A study at the University of California published in 2000 found green-lipped mussel extracts reduced arthritic symptoms in rats and humans. A 2003 study at the Yonsei Medical Clinic validated the clinical effectiveness of green-lipped mussel extract given to patients with osteoarthritis. And in 1998, researchers from the United Kingdom published the results of their double-blind study finding that green-lipped mussel extract helped 76 percent of patients with rhuematoid arthritis and 70 percent of subjects with osteoarthritis.

A five-star green-lipped mussel oil supplement is available at evitamins.com. This product also contains glucosomine and MSM. Reviewers of this product say it really works for their arthritis joint pain.

Ginger
In addition to providing relief from nausea, ginger extract has been used in traditional medical practices to reduce inflammation. Many health care professionals recommend ginger for health problems associated with inflammation, including arthritis. In a 2001 University of Miami study of 261 people with osteoarthritis of the knee, those who received a ginger extract twice daily experienced less arthritis knee pain and required fewer pain-killing medications compared to those who received placebo. Ginger is available in extracts, tinctures, capsules, and oils. Fresh ginger root can also be purchased and prepared as a tea.

What causes arthritis? Get an easy-to-understand explanation with illustrations.

Seaweed Extracts
In 2008, a double-blind pilot study published in Nutrition Journal found that an ingredient in a red seaweed called Lithothamnion Coralloides improved measureable osteoarthritis symptoms by 15 percent in the patients participating in the study. The study was conducted in Minnesota and was designed to test the ability of the seaweed extract to improve arthritis knee pain in individuals with "moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis," according to lead author Joy Frestedt from the Minnesota Applied Research Center.

In another human trial with patients with knee arthritis, an extract of a brown seaweed, Ecklonia cava, found that the seaweed preparation was comparable to the effects of Celebrex, a prescription anti-inflammatory drug. This research was conducted by Dr. Haengwoo Lee.

I am personally acquainted with several individuals who take a whole food seaweed supplement that contains red, brown and green seaweed. These individuals report noticeable improvement in joint pain, and often report more energy.

Aloe Vera supplement
While most people think of aloe vera as a plant that helps skin conditions, aloe vera juice can be consumed orally and can help relieve arthritis knee pain and other joint pain. There have been at least 200 scientific studies conducted on this plant, which has been used medicinally for thousands of years. The sterols in aloe vera (lupeol, campesterol and beta-sitosterol) are known for their significant anti-inflammatory properties. One scientist who has completed many aloe vera experiments, Robert H. Davis, PhD, discovered the anti-inflammatory properties of this plant accidentally in the mid-1970s. Dr. Davis was researching natural anti-inflammatories as an alternative to steroid drugs and used aloe vera gel as the control substance. He found that the aloe vera group in his research experienced the most dramatic anti-inflammatory response he had ever seen with a natural substance.

A 1994 study published in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association discovered that aloe vera can help prevent arthritis and reduce the inflammation in joints affected by arthritis. Aloe vera also helped stop the autoimmune reaction in some forms of arthritis in which the body attacks its own tissue. One component in aloe reduced inflammation by 79.7 percent and another component shrunk swelling by 67.3 percent.

Is aloe vera safe? In 1997, a researcher at the University of San Antonio conducted an experiment with lab animals to see if there are any negative effects to consuming aloe juice. No harmful effects were found even at high levels. In contrast, the test animals receiving aloe vera daily had significantly lower levels of leukemia, heart disease and kidney disease, and they lived 25 percent longer than the rats that did not receive aloe vera.

One supplier of several varieties of organic aloe vera juice is evitamins.com. To see their rather large selection of aloe vera juices, click here. To get a better tasting product, you may want to get one that contains berry juice, or honey or stevia.

Soothing arthritis knee pain isn't the only use for aloe vera. Click here to learn about the amazing healing properties of aloe vera.

Gamma-linolenic acid (found in Borage or Evening Primrose oil)
If your arthritis knee pain is due to rheumatoid arthritis, you will want to read about gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which has been shown in a human trial to help joint symptoms associated with RA. Your body converts GLA to di-homo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), which helps the body produce a hormomelike inflammation-fighting chemical called prostaglandin E1. A 1996 study published in Arthritis and Rheumatism involved 56 patients with RA. Some received 2800 mg a day of gamma-linolenic acid and some received a placebo. After six months, the majority of the group taking GLA reported a 25 percent improvement in measurable symptoms.

Caution: GLA is an omega 6 fatty acid so if you take borage or evening primrose oil you need to also be supplementing with omega 3 oil to balance the omega 6 oils.

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The information on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice or diagnose or treat any health condition. The statements on this site have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.