Many osteoarthritis patients are drawn to herbal treatments. They hope a natural approach to treating their disease will present a cure, as opposed to temporary symptom relief provided by traditional medications. But, according to a review in the January 2012 issue of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, few studies have evaluated the use of herbal medicines for osteoarthritis -- and the few that did were not high quality. For example, some included too few study participants.
While some patients claim they have been helped by taking herbal medicines, there is less than convincing evidence to generally support the use of herbal medicines for osteoarthritis. Existing clinical studies have suggested vegetable extracts, frankincense, and rose hips may be effective while having few undesirable side effects. Also, since herbal medicines can interfere with prescription drugs, you should discuss everything you are taking with your doctor.
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- Rose Hips for Osteoarthritis
- Alternative Medicine for Osteoarthritis Is Mostly Ineffective
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