Can Osteoarthritis Be Managed Better Using Curcumin?

In recent times the otherwise innocuous, predominantly Asian spice – turmeric has attracted much attention from the scientific research community. One of the reasons attributing to this rise in popularity is the anti-inflammatory property that this spice holds, all thanks to its chief constituent – curcumin. A natural polyphenolic pigment that gives turmeric the yellow hue that makes it so useful for the natural dye producing industry, curcumin is also responsible for bestowing upon turmeric numerous healing qualities.

As a result of these properties, curcumin has been a favourite amongst Ayurvedic medics and naturopaths for treating a variety of symptoms that range from common ailments like the flu to more complex conditions like cardiovascular issues and arthritis.

In the two decades that have gone by, several studies conducted by researchers all over the world have proved the efficaciousness of curcumin in attenuating the pain and discomfort associated with osteoarthritis. A degenerative disease that leads to the wasting away of cartilage that forms the joints causing symptoms like swelling, stiffness, and loss of motion, osteoarthritis is a debilitating condition that usually hits people in their old age.

It is typically seen to affect joints that carry a lot of weight like the hip joint and the knee joints as well as those joints that are used frequently like those in the hands and the feet. Aside from old age, the other factors that can trigger osteoarthritis are obesity, lack of physical exercise, and an external injury. This is an illness that threatens to reduce a person’s mobility by slowly gnawing at the tissue that is present around the joints.

While osteoarthritis cannot be treated entirely, there are several medical interventions that can help manage it better. However, most of the medical procedures that help osteoarthritic patients come with a hefty price tag. It is therefore essential to know about some natural remedies that can help control the pain and inflammation before going in for expensive medical therapies. Curcumin is one such natural remedy that can give arthritic patients a lot of relief from the pain without burdening them financially.

Here are some of the most astounding effects of curcumin when it comes to osteoarthritis –

1. Curcumin has strong anti-inflammatory effects. The anti-inflammatory nature of curcumin proves to be very useful for those suffering from painful arthritis. Curcumin has often been compared to standard painkillers because it’s the ability to reduce pain is almost the same as these drugs. The anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin is attributed to its ability to tone down the activity of pro-inflammatory enzymes in the body that are responsible for the body’s inflammatory response to stress, injury, or disease.
   The fact that curcumin, unlike NSAIDs, is gentle on the body and does not have any toxic side-effects, makes it all the more attractive for older people. It does not cause gastrointestinal problems like peptic ulcers or diarrhoea like most over-the-counter pain medications do and neither does it damage the cardiovascular system, thus making it a preferred option when it comes to managing pain on a daily basis.
2. Curcumin can help prevent osteoarthritis by protecting chrondocyte health. The degeneration of cartilage is the first sign of osteoarthritis. Therefore, it is important to boost cartilage health by fortifying those cells that help reconstruct the cartilage, also known as chrondocytes.
   Curcumin helps in improving the health of these chrondocytes by preventing premature chrondocyte death due to joint inflammation. As a result, these cartilage-building cells work better for a longer period of time thus keeping your joints fit.
3. Curcumin is a potent antioxidant that helps reduce oxidative stress. The cell membranes the surround the joints are negatively impacted by the heightened oxidative stress in your body. This oxidative stress can be reduced only when there is a balance between the pro-oxidant and antioxidant species in the body. Curcumin neutralizes the excess free radicals in the body and thus helps in lowering the level of oxidative stress considerably.

Calmya, a curcumin-based supplement that is specially crafted for people suffering from joint inflammation due to conditions like osteoarthritis, is a brilliant product that can be used without the fear of any side-effects. Made using organic curcumin that is grown locally at Bagdara Farms, Calmya is pure and truly unadulterated, therefore perfect for people of all age groups. By reducing your dependence on medication and improving the overall health of your joints and bones, Calmya can give you the relief that you have been in search of for a long.