Quality Assessment Of The Articles
The Cochrane tool was used to assess quality of the RCT articles included in this systematic review by determining the risk of bias .28 This validated tool consists of the following eight categories: random sequence generation, allocation concealment, blinding of participants, assessor blinding, reporting drop out or withdrawal, intention to treat, selective outcome reporting, and other potential bias. Each category was scored as H, high ROB, U, uncertain ROB, or L, low ROB. Three independent reviewers performed the quality assessment, and disagreement on scores was resolved through discussion.
Is Turmeric Really Any Good For Arthritis
Turmeric is not listed as an arthritis treatment by the NHS, and therefore is unlikely to be prescribed by your GP. However, there issome evidenceto suggest that it can be an effective treatment for arthritis symptoms.
Historically, the spice has been used by alternative healers to treat pain and swelling. This is because it contains a substance called curcumin, which is thought to possess anti-inflammatory properties.
One study of 107 people found that daily consumption of curcumin had an effect comparable to commonly used anti-inflammatory medicines. However, evidence is still limited, if youre thinking about taking turmeric, we recommend you speak to your GP or a pharmacist.
While more research needs to be carried out into curcumin and its effects on the body, in clinical trials turmeric has been safe to take in doses of 1-10g a day.
Testimonials From Some Of Fb Users Who Have Used Turmeric
my 12 yr old staffy has arthritis, she was on Metacalm but i started her on the mix, i dont cook it i mix it in an old yoghurt pot, 2 or 3 heaped spoons of turmeric, oil loads of pepper then i give her a half heaped teaspoon 3 times a day in a piece of cold meat, started off on quarter teaspoon, she is off the metacalm and walking really well, gets off and on the sofa ok too, it works a treat
My Staffy has arthritis in her back legs plus a swollen hock. She was on anti-inflamitory tablets but they did not take the swelling down but she is on tramadol for pain relief. I give her 1 teaspoonful of golden paste twice a day. In the morning she gets it in her sardines.
In the evening she gets it mixed into 3 teaspoonful of strawberry yoghurt. I have had no problems with her eating the golden paste. She has been on it now for about 3 weeks and she gets up and walks around more it still slow but more active in her walking and does not sleep her life away as she did before she started taking the paste.
Her disposition is a lot more cheerful as she always look depressed before the paste now she is my smiley wee girl again.
I hv a 75 kilo senior great dane. He gets a tablespoon of golden paste, which is put in a cup of boiling water and then soaked over his kibble am and pm.
His walking is greatly improved and manages the stairs much better. Most dane owners i know use golden paste on their dogs.
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How Does Turmeric Help In Canine Arthritis
Turmeric also known as Golden spice and a Miracle Herb native to Asia. It finds its use in cooking and in traditional medicine. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-allergic, anti-cancer, anti-microbial and many other pharmacological properties.
Curcuminoids are the active components of turmeric that give the spice a golden yellow hue and anti-oxidant properties.
Curcumin is the most important curcuminoid.
Turmeric oil also has fractions of therapeutic agents.
Following points suggest the ways in which turmeric could heal and help with your pets pain. Most of these studies are directed towards healing arthritis in humans. But that does not change the pharmacological property of turmeric which suggests that it can be used in animals too.
Turmeric For Joint Pain Relief
Curcumin has also been shown to have a strong antioxidant capacity. In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, patients with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis were given the curcuminoid and were compared to a group that received a placebo for 6 weeks. Researchers measured the levels of enzymes known to influence inflammation and malondialdehyde ). The treatment group showed significant changes in these enzymes suggesting that short-term supplementation with curcumin decreases oxidative stress.
Another randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of low or high dose bio-optimized Curcuma longa in 150 patients with knee osteoarthritis measured serum biomarkers of cartilage degradation . The high dose extract showed a transient but non-significant decrease in the cartilage degradation biomarkers. Moreover, pain improvement in the low- and high-dose extracts was better than in the placebo group after 90 days of treatment.
The effects of topical curcumin 5% ointment on osteoarthritis knee pain in patients older than 70 years was studied in a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial. Subjects applied either the ointment or a placebo twice a day for 6 weeks. The pain intensity was significantly lower in the group receiving the curcumin ointment than in the placebo group suggesting that this treatment may be considered for older adults with knee osteoarthritis.
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In What Amounts Is Turmeric Good For Arthritis
The systematic review and meta-analysis provided evidence that taking enough turmeric to get 1000 mg of curcumin daily for two to three months would be sufficient for reducing painful arthritis symptoms.
However, while taking curcumin to prevent or treat arthritis is a great idea, theres a catch. Its bioavailability is known to be poor. In other words, our blood doesnt absorb it very well.
That is unless we take it with black pepper! Studies have revealed an incredible 2000-percent increase in curcumins s bioactivity when we consume it with black pepper!.
So, should I have also recommended turmeric to my arthritic friend?
Definitely! Ill be reaching out to him to share my research about taking both ginger and turmeric, with a side of black pepper!
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Eligibility Criteria For Studies Used In This Review
All prospective randomized clinical studies using turmeric and curcumin for the treatment of arthritis were included in this systematic review. Exclusion criteria included in vitro studies, in vivo studies in nonhuman species, studies that were only published in abstract form or included insufficient data to properly evaluate the outcomes, nonclinical trial studies, and studies in which arthritis was not the primary outcome measured, and then we eliminated the duplicates. A flow diagram of the article selection process is shown in Figure 1. Although no language barriers were imposed, all studies included in this review were written in English. Dissertations about randomized clinical studies were also included.
Flowchart of the selection process of the randomized clinical trials for systematic review.
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It Works As An Antioxidant In Osteoarthritis
Curcumin and other curcuminoids are natural antioxidants. Grover et. al have identified the utility of curcumin as an antioxidant supplement in osteoarthritis.
Oxidative stress is the imbalance between prooxidant and antioxidant agents in the body and this contributes to the progression of the disease.
A study published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements, 2016 demonstrated how curcuminoids supplementation reduces oxidative stress in osteoarthritis.
40 patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis were enrolled in the study. They were given 1500mg curcuminoids with 15mg piperine every day in 3 divided doses or matched placebo for 6 weeks.
At the end of the study, it was observed that curcuminoid supplementation improved antioxidant defenses by raising the level of antioxidant enzyme and reducing the levels of prooxidant enzymes.
Researchers concluded that this could be one of the ways by which curcuminoids relieve osteoarthritis symptoms.
What does this mean?Curcumin and other curcuminoids present in turmeric are natural antioxidants and can help improve antioxidant defences in osteoarthritis patients. This can indirectly relieve osteoarthritis symptoms.
What Does The Research Say
Turmeric contains several different compounds, including curcumin. Much of the available scientific research focuses specifically on curcumin rather than turmeric as a whole.
However, some studies do suggest that both turmeric and its compounds may be helpful for the symptoms of arthritis, including RA.
A 2016 systematic review examined data from eight randomized clinical trials that investigated the effectiveness of turmeric and curcumin extracts for treating symptoms of joint arthritis.
The authors concluded that there was enough evidence to suggest that taking 1,000 milligrams of curcumin each day for 812 weeks can help reduce pain and inflammation due to arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis.
The results also indicated that curcumin extracts might be as effective as taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen and diclofenac .
However, the authors stated that the small size and moderate quality of the studies mean that further research is necessary to confirm these findings. In the meantime, they recommend that people with arthritis use curcumin as a dietary supplement in addition to conventional therapy.
A 2017 study involving 36 people with RA tested a bioavailable formulation of curcumin. After 90 days of treatment, the participants who took curcumin reported significant improvements in their pain and inflammation compared with those in the placebo group.
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Turmeric Dosage For Arthritis
How much turmeric should you take for arthritis? The studies vary dramatically in this regard. Weve seen numbers as low as 200 mg of curcumin per day for treating osteoarthritis, and numbers as high as 2,000 mg as a recommended daily dosage. Both studies yielded impressive outcomes for arthritis and joint pain relief.
In past articles, weve also seen dosages of up to 8,000 mg of curcumin per day without adverse side effects or treatment-related toxicity. Depending on symptom severity, you should always start with a lower dosage, around 150-250 mg of curcumin per day, assess your results, and titrate upwards based on your needs.
Working Ginger Into Your Diet
Several forms of ginger can be used to flavor foods and potentially reduce certain forms of pain. These include fresh gingerroot, powdered ginger, crystallized ginger, and ginger juice. To routinely incorporate ginger into your diet:
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Add peeled, fresh, or powdered ginger to fruit, vegetable smoothies, and shakes.
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Add powdered ginger or ginger juice to tomato juice or soup, lemonade, and hot or iced tea.
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Use fresh or powdered ginger in stir-fries, curries, and meat marinades .
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Add chopped crystallized ginger to cereals, fruit salads, and nut-and-fruit mixtures, or eat out of hand.
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Use powdered ginger to make herbal tea.
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What Are Possible Side Effects Of The Drugs
A review study evaluating the efficacy and safety of NSAIDs that longer use of these medications yields better treatment response.But the study also reports that data regarding the safety of these medicines is lacking.
Gastrointestinal symptoms are the common side effects associated with these drugs. Carprofen causes erosion of the gastric lining of the colon .
One study reports occurrence of adverse events like diarrhoea, vomiting and loss of appetite with firocoxib treatment.
Administration of COX inhibitors with diuretics impairs kidney function in dogs. When administered as a painkiller prior to surgery, carprofen is found to mildly affectkidney function. However some studies state that it does not cause detectable differences. So, this point is still debatable.
One experimental study reports that NSAIDs like carprofen, meloxicam, and deracoxib can alter platelet function and thus should not be administered prior to surgery to avoid the risk of bleeding.
What Are Turmeric And Ginger
Turmeric and ginger arent new foods both have been consumed for thousands of years. Ginger has its origins in ancient China, where it was used as both a spice and a medicine. It was long considered an herbal remedy for motion sickness, nausea, pain and digestive distress. From there, it spread through Asia and on to Europe and is now a household staple for many. Turmeric has also been historically grown in southeast Asia, with India still being the primary producer. Both foods come from the part of the plant called the rhizome, a stem that grows underground and produces shoots off its sides, similar to a root system. Both plants actually grow beautiful flowers above the ground when they are ready to be harvested.
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It Protects From Gastrointestinal Problems
Research conducted on 35 healthy beagle dogs demonstrated that NSAIDs like carprofen and robenacoxib damage the lining of the large intestine. But administration of herbal remedies with these medications reduced the damage.
Speaking of herbs, lets check whether turmeric can be of help. Demethoxycurcumin obtained from turmeric suppresses inflammation and oxidative damage in the gut.
Both bisdemethoxycurcumin and curcumin help in healing gastric ulcers by preventing gastric acid secretion and protecting intestinal lining.
Ginger To Treat Arthritis
Ginger has been used for thousands of years in Asian, Indian, and Arabic traditions. Its use as an anti-inflammatory is more studied, widespread, and agreed on. This article from Healthline contains many references to supporting research.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the authorâs knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
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Turmeric Trials For Osteoarthritis
The 107 participants with primary osteoarthritis of the knee were randomised to receive either 2 g turmeric or 800 mg ibuprofen per day for six weeks.
- Both groups pain levels when walking and when climbing stairs improved, as did their knee function.
- Those who took turmeric found that their pain when climbing stairs improved more than those who received ibuprofen.
- There was no difference in reported side-effects between the groups, and the most commonly reported were heartburn and dizziness.
- Those who received ibuprofen were better at taking their treatment than those who received turmeric.
Turmeric And Arthritis: The Medical Evidence
- Both treatments relieved arthritis symptoms, with 94 per cent of those taking curcumin to report at least 50 per cent improvement.
- Participants reported fewer side effects when taking curcumin.
- No participants taking curcumin required treatment for stomach-related trouble, compared to 28 per cent of those taking diclofenac.
- Curcumin participants lost an average of two per cent of their body weight in four weeks.
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How To Use Turmeric
You can take turmeric as a supplement or use it as a spice.
Curcumin is more potent in a supplement because theyve extracted it from the turmeric, Hopsecger says. If you are buying turmeric in the store, it does have some antioxidant properties. While using it as a spice may not have a significant impact, it is a great way to season food without salt.
Not ready to commit to a supplement? While cooking with turmeric doesnt give you as big of a health boost, you can still benefit by adding it to:
- Smoothies.
Data Sources And Selection Criteria
The following electronic databases were searched: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Korean databases such as DBpia, the Research Information Service System , the Korean Information Service System , Chinese medical databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure and the Chinese Scientific Journals Database, the Indian Medical Journals and the Indian Journals. Dissertations were also included. The search was conducted in the databases using proper languages of English, Korean, and Chinese. The following keywords of Medical Sub Headings were used as search terms: curcumin,curcuma,turmeric,Curcuma domestica,Curcuma Longa,arthritis,osteoarthritis,randomized,controlled trial, and clinical trial. In the systematic review, all RCTs were included from the available databases up to April, 2016, that had examined the effects of turmeric and curcumin on arthritis.
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What To Know Before Taking Turmeric
Curcumin and turmeric are generally safe. Talk to your doctor if you are interested in taking curcumin supplements. While there are no reports of severe effects from high doses of curcumin, its still possible for side effects to occur.
Curcumin may also interact with prescription drugs. This can make your medication less effective and impact your health if you have certain conditions. Check with your doctor before taking turmeric if you take medicine for:
- cholesterol
- blood thinners
Some supplements may contain piperine, which also interferes with some medications, including phenytoin and propranolol .
Turmeric For Arthritis Pain
Turmeric, a yellow-colored spice found across the world, from American yellow mustard to spicy Indian curries, is one of natures most powerful anti-inflammatories. In fact, Dr. James Duke, a world-renowned ethnobotanist found that turmeric does a better job treating chronic inflammation than many current pharmaceuticals and it has very few side effects. Turmeric contains over 20 different compounds that fight inflammation with at least six acting as direct COX-2 inhibitors. Since the COX-2 enzyme causes inflammation leading to swelling and pain, turmeric can reduce these symptoms by blocking the COX-2 enzyme. Several studies have shown turmeric and curcumin to be effective in treating pain from all forms of arthritis. Turmeric may also help to prevent Alzheimers disease and certain forms of cancer. Turmeric can also help with pain from fibromyalgia.
Turmeric is usually taken as a dietary supplement with a dose of 500mg twice per day. For those of you that are a bit more adventurous, try brewing turmeric tea watch the video below to learn how. For more information of treating your arthritis, visit a board-certified Austin pain management doctor at Capitol Pain Institute.
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