Arthritis Pain Relief – New Study Shows Turmeric Supplement Reduces Pain and Stiffness

Arthritis Pain Relief - New Study Shows Turmeric Supplement Reduces Pain and Stiffness - Image via Wikipedia

The results of a recently concluded study indicated that the use of a compound containing extracts of turmeric was beneficial to patients affected by osteoarthritis. The study was conducted by researchers in Italy, and it found that the use of a particular turmeric formulation, known as Meriva, resulted in a significant decrease in pain, joint stiffness and inflammation in patients, who were able to reduce their dependence on pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs as a direct result of the use of Meriva.

Turmeric has been valued and used in Asia for centuries for its medicinal properties, and is also widely used in the traditional medicine of the region, known as Ayurveda. The characteristic yellow color of turmeric has been attributed to a compound known as curcumin, which belongs to a group of compounds which are collectively known as curcuminoids.

Mark Blumenthal, the Founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit American Botanical Council, which is an independent herbal medicine research and education organization in Austin, Texas, commented on the results of this study: “This is great news for people who suffer from osteoarthritis and the physicians who treat them. Turmeric has long been known to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties and this trial, on this special turmeric extract, is another important step towards validating the curcumin in turmeric as an increasingly popular herbal dietary supplement. When one considers the overall safety of turmeric extract and curcumin, especially compared to some of the pharmaceutical drugs which have had to be removed from the market due to serious safety concerns, the growing clinical evidence for the use of turmeric extract is compelling.”