When it comes to joint health and relieving the pain of arthritis and rheumatism, you know I like to follow my ABCs: ashwaganda, boswellia, and curcumin.
I recognized years ago that the individual benefits of these natural compounds are magnified when taken together, due to their synergistic effects.
Of course, there have been studies looking at the joint-health benefits of each nutrient by itself, taken one at a time (the way medical science typically approaches the problem, contrary to the everyday experience of real people).
But more recently, studies have focused on two of these ingredients taken together. And, as I predicted long ago, researchers have found that their benefits are indeed multiplied.
Most importantly, this research reveals that my ABCs help ease joint pain better and more safely than drugs.
The venerable Ayurvedic arthritis remedy
There have been literally thousands of modern studies on boswellia and curcumin (from the spice turmeric) not only for joint health, but also for lowering risk of cancer, dementia, diabetes, heart disease, and more.
However, despite the antiquity of ashwaganda in Ayurvedic medicine, it had not been studied to the same extent in modern research. But today, I’d like to share with you an important new study about this ancient herb’s remarkable effects on joint pain.
And I’ll also reveal what you should (and should not) eat and drink in order to help relieve arthritis and joint pain completely naturally…and why you do not want to take drugs or some so-called “arthritis” supplements.
A powerful, natural anti-inflammatory
The Hindi word ashwaganda translates to “mare sweat” — probably describing the tangy aroma of the roots. Known botanically as Withania somniferum, or winter cherry, ashwaganda belongs to the biologically active nightshade family, which also includes eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers.
In ancient Ayurvedic medicine, ashhwaganda is traditionally administered for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, such as arthritis and rheumatism, and as a general “tonic” to support overall health.
Of course, one of the keys to a botanical medical tradition like Ayurveda is knowing which part of the plant contains the most potent disease-fighting compounds. For ashwaganda, the roots have been reported to have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
There have been a few clinical trials that found positive effects of ashwaganda root extracts, in combination with other ingredients, for people with knee joint pain and disability.
One older controlled clinical trial showed that people with arthritis who took a supplement, containing ashwaganda root, had a significant reduction in pain and disability. This plant root also produced an analgesic effect that soothed the nervous system and reduced central pain responses.1
Interestingly, the new study I mentioned earlier looked at a water extract of ashwaganda roots plus leaves.2
Safe and natural joint pain relief after only four weeks
This new study included 60 men and women, ages 40 to 70, who had experienced knee joint pain for at least six months. The participants discontinued taking all pain treatments — including topical analgesics and NSAIDs — for seven to 10 days prior to the start of the study.
They were then divided into groups that were given either 250 mg or 500 mg daily of an ashwaganda root-and-leaves extract for 12 weeks. A third group got a placebo.
By the end of the study, both of the ashwaganda treatment groups showed significant improvements in knee pain, stiffness, and disability compared to the placebo group.
But the 500 mg ashwaganda group had even better outcomes than the 250 mg group. And they experienced those benefits sooner — after only four weeks of treatment.
In other words, ashwaganda shows benefits at different doses. It is just a matter of how long it takes to get optimal effects.
None of the participants dropped out of the study, suggesting that there weren’t any acute safety issues or side effects associated with ashwaganda.
Live longer, with less joint pain
Ayurveda, in Sanskrit, means the “science of longevity.” Ashwaganda is just one of the Ayurvedic remedies that can extend healthy lifespan.
Since joint pain typically increases with aging, you want to make sure you include joint health as you take steps to improve longevity. The rejuvenating properties of ashwaganda address both, especially in combination with boswellia and curcumin.
Along with these supplemental powerhouses, I also recommend following certain, specific dietary steps to keep your joints healthy and ease the pain of arthritis.
I outline these steps in detail — along with the specific doses of my ABCs, and dozens of other natural ways to relieve all sorts of pain — in my online Arthritis Relief and Reversal Protocol. You can learn more about this revolutionary program, or enroll today, by clicking here or by calling (866)747-9421 and asking for order code EOV3T400.
In the meantime, don’t forget your ABCs — ashwaganda, boswellia, and curcumin — every day.
5 “arthritis supplement remedies” that offer more
risk than relief
Knee joint discomfort and pain are the most common of the chronic rheumatic symptoms. In fact, knee osteoarthritis is estimated to be the fourth leading cause of disability for women, and number eight among men, in most countries around the world.4
The mainstream medical establishment approaches this problem with NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and Celebrex. But NSAIDs are associated with serious short-term adverse effects, particularly in the GI system. Longer-term NSAID side effects can include an increased risk of dementia and liver and kidney problems — but too many doctors are not aware of all these serious problems.
Opioid pain relievers are dangerous, and are presently at the center of a disastrous national epidemic of drug abuse. Injecting steroids is also dangerous, may not be effective, and presents serious practical limitations.
Diet and dietary supplements are the key for most people with joint pain, and for most everything else when it comes to your health. But there are some so-called “natural arthritis” supplements you need to avoid. I recommend you steer clear of the following:
Aconite can be dangerous when taken as an herbal infusion (because you can’t really control the dose). It may cause nausea and vomiting, as well as interfere with your heartbeat.
Arnica can relieve arthritis pain when applied directly to the skin. In tiny doses, it has long been approved as a safe homeopathic oral remedy by the U.S. Pharmacopeia, but I suggest using it only under the supervision of a knowledgeable homeopathic or health practitioner.
Cat’s claw can cause dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting, according to the Arthritis Foundation. It also thins the blood and lowers blood pressure. That’s why I never recommended this herb for anything.
Chaparral may be toxic to the liver. I never recommended this herb for anything.
Kombucha, which is black tea fermented with yeast and bacteria, can become easily contaminated. And there have been reports of liver damage, nausea, and vomiting in people who drink kombucha.
Note the common side effects of all of these treatments. Nausea and vomiting is an obvious sign the body is having a hard time digesting a substance, and liver damage is the first thing that happens when toxic constituents get into the blood from the GI tract.
Those are important signs that you should not be ingesting any of these supplements. And it’s certainly worth noting that many drugs, especially drugs for arthritis, have the same unpleasant side effects.
[SIDEBAR]
The politically incorrect way to slash your risk of rheumatoid arthritis 22%
Many nanny nutritionists recommend avoiding alcohol if you have joint pain. And of course, drinking to excess is associated with increased levels of C-reactive protein — a major indicator of chronic inflammation. But studies show that moderate alcohol consumption can actually substantially reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
In fact, a huge recent study of more than 100,000 nurses found that women who had three to five drinks a week had a 22% lower chance of being diagnosed with arthritis.3
For even more tips on preventing and reversing arthritis and joint pain, check out my online Arthritis Relief and Reversal Protocol (see page 2 for ordering information).
SOURCES:
Sources:
1“Treatment of osteoarthritis with a herbomineral formulation: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study.” J Ethnopharmacol. May–June 1991;33(1–2):91–95.
2“A randomized, double blind placebo controlled study of efficacy and tolerability of Withaina somnifera extracts in knee joint pain.” J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2016 Jul-Sep; 7(3): 151–157.
3“Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Incident Rheumatoid Arthritis in Women: a Prospective Study.” Arthritis Rheumatol. 2014 Aug; 66(8): 1998–2005.
4“EULAR Recommendations 2003: An evidence based approach to the Management of knee osteoarthritis: report of a task force of the standing committee for international clinical studies including therapeutic trials (ESCISIT).” Ann Rheum Dis. 2003;62:1145–1155.