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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