The following information may be useful for patients suffering from osteoarthritis
who are also currently under a physician's care.
Boswellia serrata tree is commonly found in India. The therapeutic value
of its gum (guggulu) has been known. It possesses good anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and analgesic activity. A randomized
double blind placebo controlled crossover study was conducted to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Boswellia
serrata Extract (BSE) in 30 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, 15 each receiving active drug or placebo for eight weeks.
All patients receiving drug treatment reported a decrease in knee pain, increased knee flexion and increased walking distance.
Phytomedicine 2003 Jan;10(1):3-7
The clinical efficacy of a herbomineral formulation containing roots of
Withania somnifera, the stem of Boswellia serrata, rhizomes of Curcuma longa and a zinc complex (Articulin-F), was evaluated
in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, cross-over study in patients with osteoarthritis. Treatment with the herbomineral
formulation produced a significant drop in severity of pain (P less than 0.001) and disability score (P less than 0.05 J Ethnopharmacol
1991 May-Jun;33(1-2):91-5
No direct evidence suggests glucosamine or chrondroitin cause regeneration
of cartilage in osteoarthritis. Use of glucosamine sulfate in knee osteoarthritis prevents joint space narrowing on radiographs.
Intramuscular chondroitin polysulfate prevents radiographic progression of finger osteoarthritis. Both chondroitin sulfate
and glucosamine sulfate stimulate chondrocyte growth in vitro and in animal models.
J Fam Pract 2003 Mar;52(3):237-9
Long-term treatment with glucosamine sulfate retarded the progression of
knee osteoarthritis, possibly determining disease modification. Arch Intern Med 2002 Oct 14;162(18):2113-23
Topical application of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate (with camphor)
is effective in relieving the pain from OA of the knee and improvement is evident within 4 weeks. J Rheumatol 2003 Mar;30(3):523-8
Glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate have sufficient controlled
trials to warrant their use in osteoarthritis, having less side effects than currently used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs, and are the only treatment shown to prevent progression of the disease. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 1999 Aug;10(3):673-703
Daily consumption of the nutritional beverage containing milk-based micronutrients,
vitamins, and minerals was beneficial in alleviating symptoms and dysfunction in subjects with osteoarthritis. Nutrition 2002
May;18(5):388-92
SAMe should only be used with caution: Several reviews and at least two
meta-analyses have examined the available evidence surrounding SAMe in the therapy of depression for trials completed prior
to 1994 and concluded that SAMe was superior to placebo in treating depressive disorders and approximately as effective as
standard tricyclic antidepressants. Ann Pharmacother 2001 Nov;35(11):1414-25
Sixty-nine patients (87%) rated the tolerability of the (Arnica montana)
gel as "good" or "fairly good," and 76% would use it again. Topical application of Arnica montana gel for 6 weeks was a safe,
well-tolerated, and effective treatment of mild to moderate OA of the knee. Adv Ther 2002 Sep-Oct;19(5):209-18
