Turmeric for Arthritis
Given the Scientific OK?
http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/arthritis
Amy Molnar (201) 748-8844/8852 (fax)
E-mail: amolnar@wiley.com
It appears that finally
science is taking an interest in a natural remedy for
arthritis. Turmeric has been used for centuries for
inflammation by those practicing natural medicine. The interest
in alternative medicine has been stimulated by a series of
mishaps by users of prescription drugs. Unfortunatley it has
taken years and many heart attacks and hospital admissions
later before the consumer switched their interest to
alternative medicine.
Because of consumer interests in alternative
medicine, studies are now being done on some of these
remedies.On one hand scientific studies to test the
efficacy of these remedies can only be commended, however, an
unfortunate side effect of these studies could result in
pharmaceutical companies mass producing these remedies using
only what they consider to be the curative element.
Holistic medicine administers the remedy in its
whole state, not in parts, for it considers that every part of
that remedy has a role to play in treating the
disease. Similarly the patient is treated holistically,
the central disturbance of the disease is to be treated, not
just the arthritic joint.
An early study by researchers at the University
of Arizona, Janet L.Funk and Barbara N Timmermann, found that
turmeric was capable of preventing joint inflammation in rats.
A later study showed that turmeric extract that was free
of essential oils showed positive results in both acute
and chronic arthritis. It was noted that joint destruction was
also inhibited. " It appears that turmeric dietary supplements
share the same mechanism of action as antiarthritic
pharmaceuticals, and in addition appears to block early
inflammatory responses".
Reference: " Efficacy and Mechanism of Action
of Turmeric Supplements in the Treatment of Experimental
Arthritis". Janet : Funk, Jennifer B Fye, Janice N Oyarzo,et
al. Arthritis and Rheumatism, November 2006;
54:11;pp.3452-3464; ( DOI: 10.1002/art.22180)
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