STRUGGLING WITH JOINT PAIN? TURMERIC CAN HELP!

Sep 05 2015

Complimentary Medicine, Medical Supplementation

Turmeric can relieve joint pain and enhance your health

Considered a powerful and safe natural remedy, turmeric is known to exert anti-inflammatory effects, and studies suggest certain ingredients in this plant can act as preventing and healing agents in a series of conditions, from arthritis and joint pain to depression and Alzheimer’s disease.

We’ll therefore take a closer look at the health effects of this powerful natural remedy, then we’ll focus on the use of turmeric for joint health.

Proven Health Benefits Of Turmeric

With its warm and slightly bitter flavor and its oriental fragrance, turmeric is one of the most loved culinary ingredients in Asian countries, being used for preparing curries and sauces.

The yellow-orange relative of ginger has been used throughout history mainly as a condiment and taste-enhancer in western countries, but in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine systems, the plant has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal herb.

Turmeric contains a pigment called curcumin, which gives its yellow color, and has strong anti-inflammatory effects. Considered as powerful as hydrocortisone, the natural remedy comes without the side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs, being a non-toxic and affordable treatment option [5].

Proven to regulate the activity of compounds that trigger inflammatory processes inside the human body, curcumin has been shown to be effective in preventing autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative, pulmonary and metabolic ailments [1]. Given below are some conditions that can be prevented or treated with this natural remedy.

In people with pre-diabetes, turmeric may help in preventing diabetes [2]. A study conducted by researchers from Thailand found that adults with pre-diabetes who took curcumin capsules on a daily basis, for 9 months, experienced an improvement in the functioning of pancreatic beta-cells, which are responsible for insulin production and blood sugar regulation.

Turmeric may act as a natural neuroprotective agent, improving the cognitive function, preventing age-related brain damage and supporting neurogenesis [3, 4]. Studies on lab animals have showed that curcumin can stimulate the formation of new neurons, and human trials have found this medicinal herb to be effective in improving memory in Alzheimer’s patients [6].

Curcumin and turmeric implicitly have been found to exert protective effects on the cardiovascular system, being efficient in reducing the risk of heart disease and protecting against atherosclerosis [7]. This plant, thanks to its anti-thrombotic and anti-proliferative effects, can decrease bad cholesterol levels, preventing plaque from forming on the blood vessels walls and contributing to a healthier circulatory system.

Another condition that can be prevented and treated with turmeric is cystic fibrosis, a fatal disease that affects the lungs and interferes with the activity of the pancreas, altering the absorption of nutrients at the same time [8]. Curcumin can prevent these unwanted health issues by correcting a gene mutation that is responsible for the development of cystic fibrosis.

Besides these health applications, turmeric can also be used as a natural solution for arthritis and joint pain.

How Turmeric Relieves Joint Pain And Swelling

Curcumin has strong antioxidant effects, fighting against free radicals and preventing them from damaging the cells. Free radicals are one of the main culprits behind joint inflammation and arthritis, but are also the result of inflammatory processes; the damage caused by these particles causes inflammation, and chronic inflammation produces more free radicals, so it’s a vicious cycle which can only be stopped by focusing on its root causes.

By minimizing the impact of these harmful substances on the body, turmeric can prevent inflammation, relieve joint swelling and pain, reduce stiffness and improve joint lubrication, flexibility and mobility. Curcumin treatment was found to be safe and to cause no side-effects in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, this potent ingredient being proven to relieve RA symptoms in a more efficient way than drugs [9].

Curcumin can slow down the progression of osteoarthritis [12] by preventing collagen degradation [11]. At the same time, turmeric was found to reduce pain and improve function in patients with knee osteoarthritis, 6 weeks of treatment with this natural remedy leading to effects similar to those obtained through conventional drug-based treatments [10].

What is your experience with turmeric for joint pain? Did you use turmeric powder or turmeric tea as natural joint pain relief?

REFERENCES

Struggling With Joint Pain? Turmeric Can Help!

Struggling With Joint Pain? Turmeric Can Help!

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