Are there any natural medicines that can help arthritis pain?

Recently there has been more discussion about the use of natural therapy for managing painful arthritis. Most patients would rather avoid an operation if at all possible, so it is important to try all non surgical options to manage arthritis pain and loss of function. Medical management begins with drugs that have the least side effects, so what better way than to consider natural therapies first.

Here are some herbal remedies that have been studied for their efficacy in managing arthritis pain

1. Evening Primrose oil – this is a plant extract which contains essential fatty acids that work by reducing inflammation.
2. Flaxseed oil – rich in Omega-3 fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory properties
3. Ginger – a natural spice that is also known as an antioxidant that can clear impurities.
4. Turmeric – more specifically, the activated form called curcumin which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. In one clinical trial, turmeric was comparable to NSAIDS (anti inflammatories like Voltaren and Nurofen)