Last Updated on Thursday, 30 October 2008 14:22

Alongside conventional medical therapy there are a number of supplements that can help to alleviate joint pain and support healthy joints.

If you have ever experienced joint pains, you know that it is a challenging condition. Our joints undergo age related changes that start at the onset of puberty and continue through out our lives. These degenerative changes usually accelerate during the third and fourth decades of life and can compromise the quality of your life.

Wear and tear of the joints caused by violent strain, gout, osteoarthritis, infections of the joint, and autoimmune disorder, is often the cause of this very painful condition.

Though there are no standard supplements that are available for the treatment of joint pains, a few are mentioned below that could help alleviate painful joint conditions.

Glucosamine

Our body requires glucosamine for the synthesis of glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans. These are present in the synovial fluid, ligaments, and other joint structures. Glucosamine sulphate is the dietary supplement most frequently used by patients who suffer from osteoarthritis and joint pains. Considerable research has shown that glucosamine sulphate effectively reduces symptoms and slows down the progression of the disease. The recommended daily dosage of this supplement is as follows – one capsule of 1500mg per day or three capsules of 500mg taken thrice a day.

Chondroitin

Chondriotin is a compound that is essential for the formation of our joints’ matrix structure. Long-term use of chondriotin supplements could slow the progression of the disease by slowing the narrowing of the spaces between joints. Though some studies show that chondriotin helps alleviate pain, reviews of pooled studies reveal inconsistent results. Chondriotin has not shown any benefit over glucosamine and can probably be just considered as a modest supplement to alleviate pain. The recommended dosage of chondriotin is 200mg to 400mg taken two to three times every day.

S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe)

S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is a naturally occurring compound that helps increase chondrocytes (cartilage cells) and cartilage thickness, and reduces cytokine induced chondrocyte damage, there by helping to reduce joint pains. Apart from its use in treating joint pains, it is used to treat other conditions like depression and liver disease. Research shows that SAMe supplements appear to improve symptoms of pain though it may take several weeks before there is an improvement. However, it is a relatively expensive treatment, and SAMe is an unstable compound. The butanedisulphonate salt of SAMe is the most stable formulation and the recommended dosage is from 500mg taken three times every day to 3g taken twice a day.

Ginger

Zingiber Officinale (ginger) may have anti-inflammatory properties; it works by inhibiting COX and lipoxygenase and decreases the synthesis of inflammatory prostaglandins. Do you know that ginger is the mainstay of several savoury dishes? It alleviates joint pains associated with standing or walking and 510mg of the standardised extract, taken daily, is the recommended dose.

Turmeric

Curcuma Longa (turmeric) is a spice that is widely used as a culinary herb. Did you know that turmeric has been used since ancient times to reduce joint inflammation? Turmeric contains the active ingredient curcumin, which exerts its anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting COX-2, prostaglandins and leukotrienes, thereby improving symptoms of joint pains. Though there is no typical dosage and there is insufficient evidence to support its efficacy in alleviating joint pains, turmeric can be safely consumed when added to food as a spice.

Rasna 

Did you know that plant based drugs have minimal side effects and have been safely used since ancient times, as prescribed in the Ayurveda? An example is the Pluchea lanceolata (Rasna), a medicinal plant that has long been used, as described in the Ayurveda, to alleviate joint pains and arthritis. The recommended dosage is 30ml of a decoction prepared from this plant, consumed thrice daily to reduce inflammation of the joints.

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