How can turmeric help in the treatment of arthritis?

How can turmeric help in the treatment of arthritis?

Arthritis is a clinical condition which is characterized by swollen, inflamed and painful joints. The condition can affect anybody regardless of the age. There are several types of arthritis, and the most common ones include gout, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and infectious arthritis among others.

People with arthritis suffer from stiffness in the joints, inability to move and use the limb, muscle pain, fatigue and partial or complete loss of flexibility. People aged over 50 suffer from osteoarthritis since it is caused by the wearing down of cartilage in the bone. Gout is caused by the accumulation and subsequent deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints causing inflammation.

What are the most common treatments for arthritis?
If an individual is diagnosed with arthritis, doctors generally prescribe the steroids along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, these medications come with a host of side effects which sometimes become unbearable for elderly patients. Such people look for natural remedies for arthritis. If you are suffering from this painful disease, turmeric for arthritis can offer excellent results. With the turmeric for arthritis, you will notice that the common problems such as swelling, tenderness, intense pain and immovability of the joints are gradually alleviated.

What are the benefits of turmeric for arthritis?
Turmeric is a type of rhizome which is obtained from the plant called Curcuma longa. This plant is native to Asia and grown as a perennial herb. It is widely cultivated in India and China for its medicinal benefits.
Inflammation is one of the primary symptoms of arthritis. The wear and tear of the joints make way for the cascade of inflammation. This invariably causes the production of pro-inflammatory agents that make one suffer from pain, swelling and stiffness. The inflammation of the joints gradually spread to the lubrication of fluid in the joint which leads to a condition called synovitis. This makes the joints stiff and immovable.

Turmeric with its active ingredients, curcumin is a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient. It is the unique characteristics of the turmeric to inhibit the action of the important pro-inflammatory enzymes LOX and COX. The greatest benefit of curcumin is that it doesn’t cause gastric erosion which is a common side-effect of the popular NSAIDs.
Research shows that turmeric extract inhibits inflammation and degradation of joints by preventing the activation of the nuclear factor kappa-B. Also, a review study indicates that curcuminoids reduce the C-reactive protein which is an important cause of inflammation. A recent research report shows that a specialized formulation of curcumin may inhibit inflammation of the synovial fluid which lubricates the joints.

Curcuminoids and curcumin found in the turmeric are an excellent anti-inflammatory agent which helps in reducing the inflammation of arthritis and prevent it from spreading. It also helps in protecting the joints and the synovial fluid from the pain and inflammation without the possible side effects of the NSAIDs.

If you are looking for a viable alternative to allopathic treatment options, you can turn to turmeric for recovery from arthritis.

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