Ayurvedic Therapy - A Promising Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis?

No wonder patients get confused! When treating knee osteoarthritis, ayurvedic therapy may be safer and as effective as glucosamine or Celebrex. That claim is based on study results highlighted at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). But it comes on the heels of a report published in the August 27, 2008 issue of JAMA that warned certain Ayurvedic products may contain harmful levels of metal, including lead, mercury, and arsenic.

There were 440 patients with knee osteoarthritis in the study that was presented at the ACR meeting. Two types of ayurvedic therapy (SG’C & SG’CG), Celebrex, and glucosamine were compared in the study. Over a 24-week period, patients were assessed for active pain, difficulty and function, and side effects of treatment. None of the groups experienced serious side effects and those taking ayurvedic therapy showed fewer side effects in general. Researchers concluded ayurvedic therapy was a safe and effective treatment alternative for patients with knee osteoarthritis -- but as always -- advised talking to your doctor before beginning any treatment.

Related Resources:

• Ayurvedic Therapy for Arthritis
• Celebrex - What You Need to Know
• Glucosamine - 10 Things You Should Know
• Knee Osteoarthritis - What You Need to Know
• Ayurvedic Medicine May Contain Harmful Metals

Join the Discussion:

• Join Us in Our Osteoarthritis Forum / Message Board

_{Photo by Dmitry Rukhlenko (iStockphoto)}