Herbs That Reduce Arthritis Pain
Choose from the following to decrease pain, stiffness and swelling, by blocking the inflammation. Many companies sell capsules containing a mixture of arthritic herbs.
• Curcumin extract – 400mg three times daily. This is a turmeric extract, and is as powerfully anti-inflammatory as any drugs, and without side- effects.
• Chinese Skullcap (scutellaria) – 2-4g three times daily. This is a potent anti-oxidant and its anti-inflammatory effect is similar to some cortisone drugs.
• Chinese thoroughwax (bupleuri fa1catum) – 2-4g, three times daily. This is a steroid’ type anti- inflammatory herb which also protects the adrenal glands and liver (in contrast to the drug forms of steroids).
• Ginger – 1-2g, three times daily, of powdered root, or make a tea from the fresh root, or cook with loz daily.
• Devil’s claw – l-2g of powder three times daily, or this can be bought as tablets. The herb also stimulates the lymphatic system.
• New Zealand green-lipped mussel 350mg three times daily. This is very effective, but sometimes six weeks go by before the initial effect is felt. Hospital trials have indicated 70% improvement in rheumatoid arthritis and 40% in osteo-arthritis with this mussel extract. It is anti-inflammatory and contains mucopolysaccharides, which repair the Gllagen part of cartilage.
• Guaiacum, celery seed, bogbean, wild yam, black cohosh, white poplar, prickly ash bark, willow bark, cramp bark and licorice. These can be bought in various combinations in tablet form.
Licorice is also known to enhance the effect of Chinese thorough wax and prevent the breakdown of adrenal hormones.
• Yucca - 2g, or golden seal – 19, three times daily, are potent against proteus etc.
• Flavonoid herbs, which repair the cartilage destroyed by arthritis are: blueberry – 4g powdered berries twice daily; hawthorn berries – 19 powdered berries, three times daily.
A poultice for swollen painful joints: mix two tablespoons mullein + two tablespoons slippery elm + one teaspoon cayenne + one teaspoon lobelia.