3 arthritis-fighting supplements to know

October 5, 2015

Anyone suffering from a chronic, painful condition such as arthritis is a prime target for sham treatments, and there's no shortage of mainstream remedies and herbs that claim they'll make your life "normal" again.

3 arthritis-fighting supplements to know

How to proceed

  • While it's smart to be skeptical, studies find that some remedies show promise for relieving pain and restoring mobility.
  • Few supplements have been studied rigorously either for effectiveness or safety, however, so it's best to explore supplements under the watchful eye of your medical support team.

Shark cartilage

  • If osteoarthritis makes you lose cartilage, why not replace it by eating more? That's one way to explain why taking supplements of cartilage ground from sharks or other animals might fight arthritis.
  • But shark cartilage also contains collagen II, chondroitin sulfate and calcium — all of which play a role in maintaining healthy joints or show promise in relieving arthritis symptoms.
  • Preliminary animal and lab studies suggest that shark cartilage may indeed have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, but no well-controlled studies in people have yet shown it to have any impact on arthritis.
  • Likewise, little is known about how much shark cartilage in capsules, tablets or powder you should take, though per-pill doses on the market range from 250 mg to 750 mg.
  • The most common side effects include gastrointestinal problems such as nausea and vomiting, but shark cartilage has also been known to cause low blood pressure, dizziness, high blood sugar and fatigue.

Stinging nettle

  • Approved by the German medical establishment for treating prostate problems in men, supplements made from the stalklike stinging nettle plant are also said to reduce inflammation and ease pain from arthritis.
  • In folk medicine, the irritating leaves of the plant were rubbed on the site of pain, which probably either triggered an anti-inflammatory reaction at the site or simply overrode one form of discomfort with another.
  • Today, fresh leaves have been replaced by extracts in capsules, teas and tinctures designed to ease pain without irritation. Research suggests nettle supplements may work.
  • One German study found that people who took a quarter dose of a prescription NSAID along with stinging nettle reduced pain from arthritis just as much as people who took the full drug dose.
  • Other studies also find that taking stinging nettle can reduce your need for pain medication.
  • To use stinging nettle, take 1/4 to one teaspoon (one to four millilitres) of tincture or make tea three times a day.
  • To make tea, mix 10 grams (two teaspoons) of finely cut herb in water, boil, steep for 10 minutes, strain and drink one cup.

Thunder God vine

  • For thousands of years, extracts from roots of this Asian plant (also called lui kong teng) have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to reduce pain and inflammation that go hand-in-hand with autoimmune diseases such as RA.
  • Now science is catching up: A 2002 study funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases found that 80 per cent of people with rheumatoid arthritis who took thunder god vine extract showed rapid improvement in their symptoms with minimal side effects.
  • Lab and animal studies suggest the vine hinders production of chemicals that contribute to inflammation.
  • Though studies into the use and effectiveness of thunder god vine use extracts of 30 milligrams, Western science has not yet established guidelines for safe doses, meaning that this supplement is something on the horizon, rather than a viable option at the moment.
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